Federal PACER Fees Rise 20% to Fund $750M Security Upgrade
PACER fees increase 20% to $0.12 per page starting January 2027.
Why it matters: The increase affects all users accessing federal court records electronically, raising cost and access concerns among legal professionals who rely on these records for their work.
- PACER fees rise from $0.10 to $0.12 per page, effective January 1, 2027.
- Fee hike funds a $750 million cybersecurity update for federal court systems over five years.
- Quarterly fee exemption rises from $30 to $40, shielding many individual users from charges.
- This is PACER's first fee increase since 2012, when fees went from $0.08 to $0.10.
The federal judiciary announced a 20% fee increase for PACER, raising the per-page cost from $0.10 to $0.12 starting January 1, 2027. This marks the first increase since 2012, when the fee rose from $0.08 to $0.10.
This adjustment will fund a $750 million cybersecurity overhaul approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States. The upgrade aims to modernize and better protect the judiciary's electronic case management and public document access systems, which face growing cyber threats.
The Judicial Conference’s announcement states the fee increase will remain active for five years and that the quarterly exemption threshold will rise from $30 to $40. This means individual users with less court record usage likely won’t pay higher fees.
PACER fees historically fund system maintenance because Congress has declined to appropriate funds for these court records. The system grants public electronic access to millions of federal court documents nationwide.
Legal experts express concern about the rising costs impacting researchers, law firms, and others who depend on electronic court records to perform jobs efficiently. Jeremy Barton, a legal technology consultant, told LegalTech Digest that "while the upgrade is necessary, the fee increase could challenge smaller firms or solo practitioners with limited budgets." He adds, "Balancing security needs with public access remains critical."
By the numbers:
- 20% — PACER fee increase from $0.10 to $0.12 per page
- $750 million — cybersecurity upgrade budget over five years
- $40 — new quarterly fee exemption threshold, up from $30
Yes, but: While the fee increase enables critical system modernization, higher costs may hinder access for some users despite the raised exemption threshold.
What's next: The new fees take effect January 1, 2027, with a planned review in five years to assess continued need and impact.