Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.docketlayer.ai/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
US federal case numbers follow a standard format across all district and bankruptcy courts. Understanding the format helps you construct valid case_id values for DocketLayer queries.
For state and Canadian courts, case ID formats vary by court. Each court’s expected format and an example are available in the case_id_format field of the /v2/status response.
division:year-type-number
| Component | Description | Example |
|---|
division | Division number within the court | 1 |
year | Two-digit year the case was filed | 24 |
type | Case type code | cv, bk, cr |
number | Sequential case number | 01234 |
Case type codes
| Code | Type |
|---|
cv | Civil |
bk | Bankruptcy |
cr | Criminal |
mc | Miscellaneous |
ap | Adversary proceeding (bankruptcy) |
Examples
| Case ID | Court | Type | Description |
|---|
1:24-cv-01234 | nysd | Civil | Civil case filed in 2024, SDNY |
1:22-bk-11068 | deb | Bankruptcy | Bankruptcy case filed in 2022, Delaware |
5:20-cv-03010 | cand | Civil | Civil case filed in 2020, NDCA |
2:23-cr-00456 | cacd | Criminal | Criminal case filed in 2023, CDCA |
Finding a case number
Case numbers appear on all court filings and on the PACER docket sheet. You can look up case numbers on PACER using party name, attorney, or other search criteria.
Validation
DocketLayer validates case ID format on receipt. A malformed case ID returns a 400 error and no charge. Common mistakes:
- Missing the colon separator between division and year:
124-cv-01234 is wrong, 1:24-cv-01234 is correct
- Using a four-digit year:
1:2024-cv-01234 is wrong, 1:24-cv-01234 is correct
- Including spaces or special characters other than the colon and hyphen separators
