The records management policy for the U.S. Courts is established jointly by the Judicial Conference of the United States and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
If you are interested in retrieving an archived file from the Federal Records Center (FRC), you may choose one of the options below.
Option 1- Pay a copy fee and order direct from NARA:
The Regional Archives & Records Center offers the following options for civil, criminal, and bankruptcy case files.
Civil: The entire file can be copied for a fee. This includes all documents in the case file.
Criminal: The Regional Archives & Region offers two options for copies in criminal cases.
1. Entire File - Copies of the entire file can be ordered for a copy fee. This includes all documents in the case file.
2. Criminal Package - The criminal package includes copies of the following documents, to the extent they are contained in the case file: Judgment, Plea Agreement, Commitment Order or Sentence, and Indictment. No substitutions will be made for these documents.
Bankruptcy: The Regional Archives & Region offers two options for copies in bankruptcy cases.
1. Entire File - Copies of the entire file can be ordered for a copy fee. This includes all documents in the case file.
2. Bankruptcy Package - The bankruptcy package includes copies of the following documents, to the extent they are contained in the case file: Discharge of Debtor (or Order of Dismissal), Voluntary Petition, Summary of Debts and Property, Schedules D, E and F. No substitutions will be made for these documents.
Copies can be ordered from the Regional Archives & Records Center through one of the following means:
If you need case file information to order directly from NARA, contact the Clerk's Office at 208-334-1361.
Option 2- Order through the Court:
If you need a specific document that is not included in one of the packages above, the Court may order on behalf of a customer, for a retrieval fee. A search of records fee may also be applied. The retrieval and search of records fees can be found here.
If you need the entire file: To retrieve physical files from the Regional Archives & Records Center in Seattle, there is a retrieval fee per file. The fee must be paid in advance by either cash, check or money order made payable to "Clerk, US District Court." Please provide the Clerk's Office with the case number and case caption when presenting the retrieval payment. The files are generally sent to the Clerk's Office within 5-7 days of receipt of the fee and are held for a prearranged time period.
The fee amount can be found in the District or Bankruptcy Filing Fees, under the Miscellaneous sections.
When to use this method: