# Using Supplemental Search

### Summary

Learn how to use the Supplemental Search tool to query a court directly and retrieve cases that may not yet be indexed in the Docket Alarm database.

### Why This is Important

Docket Alarm maintains a massive database of millions of cases, but we don't have *every* case ever filed, especially if it was filed very recently (e.g., today) or in a less active jurisdiction. **Supplemental Search** allows you to bypass our internal database and ask the court's system (like PACER or a state court portal) directly: *"Do you have this case?"* If the court says yes, Docket Alarm instantly downloads the case and adds it to our library for you.

### When to Use This Tool

* You have a valid Docket Number but it returns "No Results" in a standard search.
* You know a case was filed **today** or **yesterday** and want to see it immediately.
* You are looking for an older case in a jurisdiction that isn't frequently updated.

### Step-by-Step Guide

**Step 1: Select the Specific Court** You cannot run a Supplemental Search across "All Courts." You must be specific.

1. Click the **All Courts** (Jurisdiction Selector) button next to the search bar.
2. Click **Supplemental Search** to the right of the court.

<figure><img src="/files/067r325r13StU4II1Iww" alt=""><figcaption><p>The Supplemental Search button appears only after you have selected a specific court.</p></figcaption></figure>

**Step 2: Select the Court and Enter Case Details**

1. Select the intended court.
2. A new search form will appear tailored to that specific court's requirements.
3. Enter the **Docket Number** (recommended) or **Party Name**.
4. Click **Search**.

**Step 3: View and Import**

* Docket Alarm will connect to the court's live system.
* If the case is found, it will be displayed in the results.
* Click on the case title to import it into Docket Alarm. It is now permanently saved in our database and accessible to you.

{% hint style="danger" %}
**Note on Fees:** For Federal courts, Supplemental Search performs a live query to PACER. Standard PACER fees may apply depending on your subscription plan.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

### Related Articles

* [How to Search for a Case](/docket-alarm/docket-alarm-home/search-and-discovery/how-to-search-for-a-case.md)
* [Integrating ECF/PACER](/docket-alarm/docket-alarm-home/tracking-and-alerts/integrating-ecf-pacer.md)

### Need more help?

If Supplemental Search still does not find your case, please double-check the docket number format or contact Support to verify if the court's online portal is currently active.

**What's Your Next Step?**

| **New to** vLex Library **?**                                                                                                                                                                                   | **Already a** vLex Library **Customer?**                                                                                                                   |
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# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://support.vlex.com/docket-alarm/docket-alarm-home/search-and-discovery/using-supplemental-search.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.