What is DocketLayer?
What is DocketLayer?
DocketLayer is a pay-per-query API that gives AI agents programmatic access to federal court docket monitoring. Agents submit a case identifier and court code, pay $0.99 in USDC via the x402 protocol, and receive structured docket data with change detection built in.
Who is DocketLayer for?
Who is DocketLayer for?
Developers building AI agents that operate in legal, financial, or compliance workflows — litigation monitoring, debt collection, bankruptcy tracking, insurance, and similar use cases where knowing the moment something is filed in a federal court matters.
Do I need a PACER account?
Do I need a PACER account?
No. DocketLayer handles PACER access internally. You need a Solana wallet funded with USDC and x402 configured for your agent. Document URLs in responses link to PACER directly — retrieving the actual document requires PACER credentials on your side, but monitoring docket activity does not.
How much does it cost?
How much does it cost?
$0.99 per successful query. Flat rate, no tiers, no subscriptions. Failed queries are never charged.
How do I authenticate?
How do I authenticate?
Payment is authentication. Include a valid x402 payment header with $0.99 in USDC on Solana. No API keys, no accounts, no onboarding required. See the authentication guide for setup details.
How current is the data?
How current is the data?
DocketLayer refreshes court data continuously, with a maximum 15-minute polling interval per court under normal conditions. Data is served from DocketLayer’s normalized cache — not queried from PACER in real time.
Which courts are covered?
Which courts are covered?
Phase 1 covers the highest-volume federal district and bankruptcy courts including the Southern District of New York, District of Delaware, and Northern District of California. Call
/v1/status for the current list. See the coverage roadmap for planned expansion.What is the /v1/monitor endpoint for?
What is the /v1/monitor endpoint for?
/v1/monitor returns a simple boolean — changed: true or changed: false. It is designed for agents running high-frequency monitoring loops who want minimal data transfer. Use /v1/case when you need the full filing details.What happens if PACER is down?
What happens if PACER is down?
DocketLayer returns a 503 with an estimated recovery time where available. You are not charged. The
/v1/status endpoint reflects PACER maintenance windows.Is there a rate limit?
Is there a rate limit?
60 requests per minute and 10,000 requests per day per wallet address. If exceeded, the response includes a
retry_after field. For portfolios requiring more than 10,000 daily queries, distribute load across multiple funded wallets.Can I use a callback URL?
Can I use a callback URL?
Yes. Include a
callback_url in your request and DocketLayer will push results asynchronously. Your endpoint receives a 202 immediately and the full payload when the query completes.Will DocketLayer support state courts?
Will DocketLayer support state courts?
Yes. Phase 2 targets state courts running Tyler Technologies Odyssey. Phase 3 covers remaining state and county courts. See the coverage roadmap for timeline.
How do I report an issue or request court coverage?
How do I report an issue or request court coverage?
Email [email protected] or open an issue on GitHub.
Should I stop monitoring a case once it is closed?
Should I stop monitoring a case once it is closed?
Yes. An agent monitoring a closed case will continue querying and paying $0.99 per cycle with no useful return. Build stop conditions into your monitoring logic — check for case closure status and remove cases from your portfolio when they are resolved.