You can apply online to search and copy documents held in the Supreme, District and Magistrates Courts, and certain specialist courts.
To find a document, you need the file/indictment number and/or defendant or party names.
If you don’t have this information, contact the relevant courthouse to find out what other information can help you in your search.
Applying to search and copy court files
You can apply to search and copy documents held in the following courts:
For civil or criminal cases in the Supreme and District or Magistrates Court you can make an online request.
What you can search and copy
The documents you can search and copy depend on the court, the type of case, and the relevant rules or laws, as follows:
| Court and documents | Rule (unless stated otherwise) |
|---|
| Supreme and District Courts | |
| Civil documents | 975G, 975H, and 975I of the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 1999 (UCPR) |
| Criminal documents | 29, 30, 31, 56, 56A, and 57 of the Criminal Practice Rules 1999 |
| Magistrates Court | |
| Civil documents | 975G, 975H, and 975I of the UCPR |
| Criminal documents | Section 154 of the Justices Act 1886 |
| Subpoenaed material and exhibits | 3, 30, 31, 56, and 56A of the Criminal Practice Rules 1999 Section 154 of the Justices Act 1886 |
| Planning and Environment Court | |
| All | 47A, 47B and 47C of the Planning and Environment Court Rules 2018 |
What you’re allowed to search or copy may also depend on court orders and whether you’re a party to the proceeding.
Fees for searching and copying
The fees for searching and copying depend on:
- which court holds the documents
- whether you’re applying for a civil or criminal document
- whether you’re a party to the proceeding.
Searching vs copying
In most cases, parties to a proceeding don’t pay search fees.
If you request copies of documents, we’ll contact you with the total fee and payment options.
Retrieval fee
If the document is kept offsite, you may need to pay a retrieval fee to have it brought to the courthouse. We’ll notify you if this applies.
Receipt of payment
Once payment is received, your application will be processed.
Fee details
For detailed fee information, visit:
What happens after you apply
It can take up to seven business days to prepare your documents, depending on the file or material you requested.
If you’ve requested copies by email or post, we’ll send them as soon as they’re ready.
If you’ve requested to view documents or collect copies in person, we’ll contact you when they’re ready.
Records we don’t hold
Some records are not held by the courts. For these, you’ll need to contact the relevant organisation:
