Official Court Portals Directory

PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records): https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ - Access federal court documents and case information.

U.S. Courts Forms: https://www.uscourts.gov/forms - Free federal court forms.

California: California Courts Self-Help (https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/) and Forms (https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/find-forms) - Family law forms, instructions, local court websites.

Texas: Texas Courts Online (https://www.txcourts.gov/) and Texas Law Help (https://texaslawhelp.org/) - Free forms and legal information.

Florida: Florida Courts Self-Help (https://www.flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Court-Improvement/Family-Courts/Family-Law-Self-Help-Information) - Comprehensive family law forms and instructions.

New York: NY Courts DIY Forms (https://www.nycourts.gov/courthelp/DIY/index.shtml) - Interactive forms for family court.

Illinois: Illinois Courts Self-Help (https://www.illinoiscourts.gov/self-help/) - Forms and instructional materials.

Pennsylvania: PA Courts Self-Help (https://www.pacourts.us/learn/self-help) - Family law resources and forms.

Ohio: Ohio Supreme Court Forms (https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/JCS/domesticViolence/forms/) - Domestic relations and family law forms.

Georgia: Georgia Legal Aid (https://www.georgialegalaid.org/) - Free forms and self-help resources.

North Carolina: NC Courts Self-Help (https://www.nccourts.gov/help-topics/family-and-children) - Family court forms and information.

Michigan: Michigan Legal Help (https://michiganlegalhelp.org/) - DIY divorce and family law tools.

When you find your state's court website:

• Official domain: Usually ends in .gov or .us
• Free access: State-provided forms are free
• Current forms: Check the revision date
• Local rules: Download your specific county's rules
• Filing instructions: Most sites include step-by-step guides
• Fee waiver forms: If you can't afford filing fees

• Charges for "access" to forms
• Promises to "file for you" for a fee (unless they're a real attorney)
• No .gov domain
• Outdated forms
• Generic advice not specific to your state

After finding state resources, search for: "[Your County] [Your State] court website"

Local court sites often have specific judges' preferences, local filing procedures, court calendars, e-filing portals, and contact information for clerk's office.

If you can't find what you need:

National: Legal Services Corporation (https://www.lsc.gov/what-legal-aid/find-legal-aid) - Find free or low-cost legal help in your area.

State-Specific: Search "[Your State] legal aid" - Most states have multiple legal aid organizations with income limits.

Caution: These portals provide forms and information, not legal advice. Using the right form doesn't guarantee the right outcome. When in doubt, consult with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Don't rely on out-of-state forms, as rules vary significantly.