How to consult court records in Costa Rica

Before you start

This service tracks an existing judicial proceeding. It is different from searching case law in Nexus-PJ, obtaining a criminal-record certificate, consulting another agency’s administrative file or receiving legal interpretation.

Collect the complete case number, year, subject area and court office. For private access, have identification and either Gestión en Línea credentials or a Costa Rican digital signature.

The case number

Copy the entire number from a ruling, notice or filing receipt. It commonly incorporates a consecutive number, year, matter and office. One wrong digit, hyphen or year can produce no result or the wrong matter.

If you do not know it, a registered party may use “Mis expedientes” or the party-data search available in private access. You may also contact the court office and prove identity and connection to the proceeding.

Public search

1. Go to the Judicial Branch website.
2. Choose Trámites en línea, then Expedientes judiciales or Gestión en Línea.
3. Select public consultation.
4. Enter the requested search data exactly.
5. Open the case number and review the available information.

Public consultation does not use private credentials, but it displays only authorised basic data. Failure to find a public result does not prove the case does not exist.

Private access

Parties and authorised participants can see more detail, potentially including rulings, notices, submissions and electronic documents.

Username and password

The Judicial Branch says credentials can be requested once at a judicial office by presenting identity. Your correct identification must also be recorded as a participant in the proceeding.

Digital signature

In Gestión en Línea, enable digital-signature access and enter identification in the format requested. The official instructions say a national ID is entered with a zero before its first number; a residence identification uses the number on that document. Select the certificate belonging to the holder.

Never share credentials, signature files or protected downloads with unauthorised people.

What to check

• responsible court and current location;
• visible parties and participants;
• displayed procedural status;
• rulings and incorporation dates;
• notices and delivery method;
• filed submissions and receipt;
• hearings or office agenda where available;
• linked funds where the matter and permission allow.

Open the underlying document rather than relying on a status label. “In process,” “decided” or “archived” alone does not establish whether a deadline, appeal or compliance step remains.

Restricted files

Privacy rules protect certain proceedings and documents, particularly those involving minors, sensitive information, safety or statutory confidentiality. The Judicial Branch expressly identifies juvenile criminal matters as private and confidential; other matters and documents may also be restricted.

Being a relative, employer or acquaintance does not automatically grant access. The court determines who may inspect a file and which parts may be supplied.

Troubleshooting

Check the full number, year, hyphens and subject; confirm public versus private access; verify your identification matches the participant record; determine whether the office and file are electronic; test browser downloads/pop-ups; and review official maintenance notices.

If the problem continues, contact the court handling the case or the official 800-800-3000 information line. Provide the case number and error, but never post documents or credentials publicly.

Archived or paper files

The Judicial Branch Services Comptroller explains that an archived file may be requested for transfer from the Judicial Archive to the original court, or consulted at the Archive as appropriate. Call first to confirm identification, authorisation, appointment, copy process and transfer time.

Parties, lawyers and other authorised users may inspect files under the rules for the relevant matter. Juvenile criminal proceedings remain private and confidential.

Copies and electronic filing

Ordinary viewing is not a certified copy. Ask the court which request, fee and delivery method applies if certification is needed.

Gestión en Línea also supports claims or submissions for enabled services. Verify case, court, format, signature and attachments, and save the specific filing receipt. Merely opening a case or uploading a draft does not prove it was filed.

Security

• Enter through a poder-judicial.go.cr domain.
• Do not pay anyone to “unlock” a file.
• Never disclose passwords, PINs or signature certificates.
• Sign out on shared devices.
• Secure downloads containing personal data.
• Verify suspicious calls or email through the official directory.

Common mistakes

• Searching for a criminal-record certificate as a court case.
• Entering an incomplete number.
• Expecting the public view to display everything.
• Failing to request credentials despite being a party.
• Treating a status label as a final legal conclusion.
• Assuming a download equals notice or filing.
• Ignoring a deadline during a technical problem.
• Sharing confidential documents.

Frequently asked questions

Can anyone search a court file?

The public system shows authorised basic information. Detailed access depends on party, representative or authorised status and the privacy rules for the matter.

Where do I obtain a username?

Official guidance says to request it once, in person at a judicial office, with identification. Online access then depends on your identity being correctly associated with the case.

Is Nexus-PJ the same service?

No. Nexus-PJ primarily searches case law and institutional materials. Use Expedientes Judiciales/Gestión en Línea to follow your proceeding.

Does online access replace a lawyer?

No. It provides information and documents but does not determine strategy, deadlines or legal effects.

Official sources

• Judicial Branch online procedures
• Online access and digital-signature instructions
• Infographic: consult your electronic file
• File consultation and archived files
• Gestión en Línea manual

This guide is informational and does not replace legal advice or an official court communication.