What is courthouse research?
Court research consists of finding information in the court archives that is relevant to your case, such as standing laws or a previous ruling. In order to contest a lawsuit, you may need to perform extensive court research and document retrieval. However, locating documents can take hours because older court records can be difficult to find.
What is record retrieval?
Record retrieval is the process of sorting through public records and collecting information on previous cases from the court system.
Who can use record retrieval?
Courthouse records are public records, and anyone who has access to the PACER or Public Access to Court Electronic Records can collect this data. However, access to the PACER is not free, and it can be tedious to navigate. That is why many people hire processes servers to retrieve records on their behalf.
How do you access court records?
You can access Federal public court records through PACER. You must be registered and pay ten cents for each page to use PACER. Experienced process servers know how to work the system and can save you time and hassle when retrieving your records.
However, records aren’t always so neatly stored or found. There is no standard for keeping or managing records, so that each jurisdiction may keep them differently. Records may be stored in small rooms or large storehouses, with or without security, or you may need a permit to obtain copies. Some records require certification that they are authentic copies of the original source. Many courthouses are ill-equipped to provide these documents in good condition or in good time.
Purpose of courthouse research and record retrieval.
The purpose of courthouse research and record retrieval is to help attorneys and private parties to build their cases. In addition, it is helpful for gaining information on similar cases, previous rulings, or other arguments. This information is what lawyers use to build a defense or prosecution in court.
What kind of documents can you retrieve?
There are several kinds of documents that you can retrieve. If the documents you need are not listed below, we suggest contacting us to double-check that we can retrieve the documents you desire. Some of the documents we deliver are:
Apostilles certificates
Articles of Incorporation
Bankruptcy Court filings
Certificates of good standing
Certified copies from secretary of state offices
Citations
City Planning & Permitting
Civil Case Filings
Civil Records
Condominium Declarations & Amendments
Court Motions
Criminal Records
Death Records
Deed Restrictions
Dismissals
Dissolution of Marriage
Divorce Records
Due Diligence
Easements
Environmental Studies
Formation documents for corporations, LLCs, and LPs
Judgment
Legal Descriptions
Liens
Marriage Records
Motor Vehicle Records
New Business Reports (Assumed Name)
Notices
Ownerships
Petitions
Police Reports
Probate Court Filings
Proof of Service
Recorded Plats
Recorder of Deeds Documents
Road Right of Way (including TXDOT)
Signed Orders
Subject & Ad joiners for Boundary Surveys
Subpoenas
Summons
Tax Liens
Tax status certificates
Temporary Restraining Orders
Transfer Stamps
Utility Plans and Profiles
Vital records
Water Certificates
Witness Testimony
Workman’s Compensation Documents
Writs
Zoning
The documents listed above are a small snapshot of the records we are able to obtain.
Why should you choose our services?
Retrieving legal documents can be frustrating and take loads of time. Lafayette Process Servers LLC helps our clients with this process by providing research services and by retrieving any documents from federal, state, and local courts, governmental agencies and departments, or public record archives.
Lafayette Process Servers LLC has been offering document retrieval services since 2004. Our team has expertise in obtaining documents from all city, state, county, and municipal offices throughout the State of Louisiana. In addition, we provide document research and retrieval services for law firms, financial institutions, insurance companies, corporations, and private parties.
Our experience and expertise allow us to know solutions to several critical questions within the retrieval process:
- Where can I find the information I need?
- In what form can you obtain your records, hardcopy or digital??
- How to retrieve old documents?
- Can special applications be made if records are too old to retrieve?
- What is the most affordable method to obtain records?
- Who can help assist with questions or documents that are challenging to find?
Thank you for listening and we’ll see you next time!
The foregoing podcast has simply been presented for informational purposes only. He or those at Lafayette Process Servers LLC, are not attorneys. If you seek further information about this topic, please make sure to contact an attorney in your local area.
