# CourtAPI — Federal Court Data (npm · @courtio/courtapi-mcp)

Search and retrieve US federal court cases, dockets, claims, and documents via PACER

- Trust score: 67/100 (medium)
- Change this week: +61
- Registry status: active
- Liveness: live
- Owner verified: no
- Last scored: 2026-08-06

## Components

- npm · `@courtio/courtapi-mcp`: 67/100 (this document), [markdown](https://verifymcp.io/servers/courtio-courtapi-mcp/courtio-courtapi-mcp.md), [page](https://verifymcp.io/servers/courtio-courtapi-mcp/courtio-courtapi-mcp)

## Channel facts

- Registry: `npm`
- Package: `@courtio/courtapi-mcp`
- Version: `0.1.0`
- Transport: `stdio`

## Trust breakdown

How this component scores in each security and reliability category. Every signal is checked automatically from public evidence about the published package, including repeated runs of it in an isolated sandbox, and we only credit what we can confirm. Scores are 0–100 per category. Scoring method: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring (what has changed: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring/changelog)

Scored 2026-08-06.

- **Supply Chain Security**: 87/100
  - No malware found by supply-chain analysis.
  - Known CVEs were checked across the 95 of 99 dependencies we could resolve, so this covers what we could see, not the whole tree.
  - No install/post-install scripts declared.
  - Dependency health was assessed across the 95 of 99 dependencies we could resolve, so this covers what we could see, not the whole tree.
- **Provenance & Transparency**: 45/100
  - Source repository is publicly reachable at the declared URL.
  - Provenance check failed: no build-provenance attestation is published.
  - Clear OSI-approved license (MIT).
  - Actively maintained (last published 58 days ago).
  - Disclosure check failed: no security disclosure policy was found in the source repository.
- **Schema Quality & AI Usability**: 62/100
  - AI-judged instruction clarity (excellent).
  - Context-footprint check failed: tool/resource definitions use about 2348 tokens (~234/item across 10 items; 10 tools + 0 resources), over budget; trim descriptions and params.
  - Usage-examples check failed: none of the tools include examples.
- **Stability & Change Management**: 37/100
  - Stability observed for 11 of 30 days with no destabilising changes; credit accrues until the full window elapses.
- **Tool Coverage**: 92/100
  - 100% of tools have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the tool's name).
  - 75% of tool parameters carry a description.
- **Capabilities**: 100/100
  - Implements a supported MCP spec version (2025-11-25); the latest is 2026-07-28.

## Install

### Claude

```bash
claude mcp add courtio-courtapi-mcp -- npx -y @courtio/courtapi-mcp
```

### Codex

```bash
codex mcp add courtio-courtapi-mcp -- npx -y @courtio/courtapi-mcp
```

### opencode

```json
{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "courtio-courtapi-mcp": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": [
        "npx",
        "-y",
        "@courtio/courtapi-mcp"
      ],
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}
```

### OpenClaw

```bash
openclaw mcp add courtio-courtapi-mcp --command npx --arg -y --arg @courtio/courtapi-mcp
```

### Hermes

```yaml
mcp_servers:
  courtio-courtapi-mcp:
    command: "npx"
    args: ["-y", "@courtio/courtapi-mcp"]
```

### Other

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "courtio-courtapi-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@courtio/courtapi-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Changelog

Every change recorded for this component, newest first. Days that predate change tracking, or that we cannot explain, say so: "we were watching and nothing happened" and "we were not watching" are different claims.

### 2026-08-05 (score 67, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 30 to 33. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 9 days of observed history at the previous scan, 10 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-08-03 (score 66, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 23 to 27. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 7 days of observed history at the previous scan, 8 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-08-02 (score 65, +33)

- [security regression] Provenance: unverified → fail
- [security improvement] Install scripts: unverified → pass
- [security improvement] Known CVEs: unverified → partial
- [functional regression] Security disclosure: fail → unverified
- [functional regression] Tool coverage: 100 → unverified
- [functional improvement] Maintenance: unverified → pass
- [functional improvement] Schema quality: unverified → excellent
- [functional improvement] License: unverified → pass
- [functional improvement] Dependency health: unverified → partial
- [functional improvement] MCP protocol: unverified → pass
- [functional improvement] Stability: unverified → 0.23
- [functional] Licence: MIT

### 2026-08-01 (score 32, +27)

- [security improvement] Malware scan: unverified → pass
- [functional improvement] Tool coverage: unverified → 100

### 2026-07-31 (score 5, −1)

- [functional] We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server

### 2026-07-30 (score 6, −35)

- [security regression] Malware scan: pass → unverified
- [functional regression] Tool coverage: 100 → unverified
- [functional] First check of Schema quality: unverified

### 2026-07-27 (score 41)

First indexed and scored.

## MCP tools (10)

### `find_cases` (~220 tokens)

Discover federal court cases you don't have the court+number for yet. Pass a party/company name, a (partial) case number, or free-text keywords. Returns court_code + case_number needed by all other tools. No PACER cost. Note: keyword search (search-filings) charges 1 CourtAPI API call per 25 results returned. Examples: query='Sbarro', query='1:14-bk', query='retail chapter 11 2026'.

Input parameters:

- `chapter` (array): Bankruptcy chapters, e.g. [11] or [7, 13]
- `court_type` (string): Narrow to a court type. 'national' searches all courts.
- `date_filed_from` (string): MM/DD/YYYY
- `date_filed_to` (string): MM/DD/YYYY
- `page_number` (integer)
- `page_size` (integer)
- `query` (string, required): Party name, case number (full or partial), or free-text keywords. The tool picks the best search endpoint automatically.

### `get_case` (~243 tokens)

Get all metadata for a known case: title, chapter, judge, key dates (filed/closed/discharged), assets, liabilities, and links to sub-resources (dockets, claims, parties, etc.) with their last-modified timestamps. Always call this first after finding a case. The response includes a 'menu' object where each entry has a 'modified' timestamp (null = never purchased) showing what sub-resources are available. Free unless include_live_pacer=true.

Input parameters:

- `case_number` (string, required): Long-form case number, e.g. '1:14-bk-10557'. Always use the long form — PACER short forms like '14-10557' will not match. Use find_cases if unsure.
- `court_code` (string, required): Court code, e.g. 'nysbke' (NY Southern Bankruptcy), 'debke' (Delaware Bankruptcy), 'ilnbke' (IL Northern Bankruptcy). Use list_courts to find the right code.
- `include_live_pacer` (boolean): true = fetch fresh data from PACER (costs PACER credits). Default false = free cached.

### `get_dockets` (~375 tokens)

Get the docket sheet for a case — all filings in chronological order with dates, descriptions, and attached document info (is_cached, download_cost). The header includes judge, attorneys, trustees, and 341 meeting date. Supports keyword search and date/number range filtering. Free unless include_live_pacer=true.

Input parameters:

- `case_number` (string, required): Long-form case number, e.g. '1:14-bk-10557'. Always use the long form — PACER short forms like '14-10557' will not match. Use find_cases if unsure.
- `court_code` (string, required): Court code, e.g. 'nysbke' (NY Southern Bankruptcy), 'debke' (Delaware Bankruptcy), 'ilnbke' (IL Northern Bankruptcy). Use list_courts to find the right code.
- `date_filed_from` (string): MM/DD/YYYY
- `date_filed_to` (string): MM/DD/YYYY
- `docket_number_from` (integer)
- `docket_number_to` (integer)
- `include_documents` (boolean): When include_live_pacer=true: wait for document metadata (binder.documents) to be populated before returning. Slower but the response includes is_cached and download_cost for each PDF. Default false…
- `include_live_pacer` (boolean): true = purchase updated docket sheet from PACER (costs credits). Default false. Always pass date_filed_from when refreshing to only buy entries newer than what CourtAPI already has — omitting it buys…
- `page_number` (integer)
- `page_size` (integer)
- `search_keyword` (string): Filter docket text
- `sort_column` (string)
- `sort_order` (string)

### `get_document` (~273 tokens)

Get a PDF attached to a docket entry. Always checks the cache first. If cached (is_cached=true), returns download_url + preview_url + ocr_link at no cost. If not cached and purchase=true, buys from PACER and returns download_url + receipt. If not cached and purchase=false (default), returns cost info so you can decide. docket_seq comes from docket entries (e.g. '42.00000'). part defaults to 1 (main doc).

Input parameters:

- `case_number` (string, required): Long-form case number, e.g. '1:14-bk-10557'. Always use the long form — PACER short forms like '14-10557' will not match. Use find_cases if unsure.
- `court_code` (string, required): Court code, e.g. 'nysbke' (NY Southern Bankruptcy), 'debke' (Delaware Bankruptcy), 'ilnbke' (IL Northern Bankruptcy). Use list_courts to find the right code.
- `docket_seq` (string, required): Docket sequence number, e.g. '42.00000' or '42'
- `part` (integer): Document part, 1 = main doc
- `purchase` (boolean): true = buy from PACER if not cached (costs credits). Default false.

### `get_claims` (~291 tokens)

Get the bankruptcy claims register — all proofs of claim filed by creditors, with amounts (filed/allowed/paid), claim type (secured/unsecured), creditor names, and filing dates. Essential for Chapter 11 analysis and creditor research. Supports keyword search and date/number range filtering.

Input parameters:

- `case_number` (string, required): Long-form case number, e.g. '1:14-bk-10557'. Always use the long form — PACER short forms like '14-10557' will not match. Use find_cases if unsure.
- `claim_type` (string): Filter by claim type
- `court_code` (string, required): Court code, e.g. 'nysbke' (NY Southern Bankruptcy), 'debke' (Delaware Bankruptcy), 'ilnbke' (IL Northern Bankruptcy). Use list_courts to find the right code.
- `date_filed_from` (string): MM/DD/YYYY
- `date_filed_to` (string): MM/DD/YYYY
- `include_live_pacer` (boolean): true = refresh claims from PACER (costs credits). Default false.
- `number_from` (integer)
- `number_to` (integer)
- `page_number` (integer)
- `page_size` (integer)
- `search_keyword` (string)
- `sort_column` (string)
- `sort_order` (string)

### `get_parties` (~179 tokens)

Get all parties in a case (debtors, creditors, plaintiffs, defendants, trustees) and optionally their attorneys with firm name, contact info, and bar number. Useful for conflicts checks, service lists, and identifying who is involved.

Input parameters:

- `case_number` (string, required): Long-form case number, e.g. '1:14-bk-10557'. Always use the long form — PACER short forms like '14-10557' will not match. Use find_cases if unsure.
- `court_code` (string, required): Court code, e.g. 'nysbke' (NY Southern Bankruptcy), 'debke' (Delaware Bankruptcy), 'ilnbke' (IL Northern Bankruptcy). Use list_courts to find the right code.
- `include_attorneys` (boolean): Also fetch attorney records. Default true.

### `get_creditors` (~180 tokens)

Get the creditor list for a bankruptcy case — all creditors scheduled in Schedules D/E/F, whether or not they filed a proof of claim. Different from get_claims (which shows filed proofs of claim).

Input parameters:

- `case_number` (string, required): Long-form case number, e.g. '1:14-bk-10557'. Always use the long form — PACER short forms like '14-10557' will not match. Use find_cases if unsure.
- `court_code` (string, required): Court code, e.g. 'nysbke' (NY Southern Bankruptcy), 'debke' (Delaware Bankruptcy), 'ilnbke' (IL Northern Bankruptcy). Use list_courts to find the right code.
- `include_live_pacer` (boolean): true = refresh from PACER (costs credits). Default false.

### `ncl_search` (~338 tokens)

Search PACER's National Case Locator across all federal courts at once. More comprehensive than find_cases for party name searches — queries PACER directly. Costs PACER credits. Returns up to ~50 cases per page; pass search_id + page to paginate. Use for: finding a person's cases across all courts, SSN lookups, cross-court party searches.

Input parameters:

- `case_no` (string): Case number
- `chapter` (string): Bankruptcy chapter, e.g. '11'
- `court_code` (string): Limit to a specific court
- `court_type` (string): Which court type to search
- `filed_from` (string): MM/DD/YYYY
- `filed_to` (string): MM/DD/YYYY
- `first_name` (string)
- `last_name` (string): Last name or business name
- `middle_name` (string)
- `page` (integer): Page number (1-based). Requires search_id.
- `party_exact` (boolean): Exact name match only
- `party_name` (string): Full name 'last, first' — alternative to last_name/first_name
- `region_code` (string): PACER region code
- `search_id` (string): From a previous ncl_search response — pass to get the next page
- `sort_field` (string): Sort field, e.g. 'cs_date_filed'
- `sort_reverse` (boolean): Reverse sort direction
- `ssn4` (string): Last 4 digits of SSN (requires last_name)
- `ssntin` (string): Full SSN or TIN (requires last_name)

### `list_courts` (~106 tokens)

List all PACER courts with their court codes. Call this when you need a court_code and don't know it. Returns ~200 courts; use type to filter. Common codes: nysbke, debke, ilnbke, cacdbe, txnbke.

Input parameters:

- `test` (boolean): false = exclude training/test courts (recommended). Omit to include all.
- `type` (string): Filter by court type. Omit for all ~200 courts.

### `get_pacer_credentials` (~143 tokens)

Check or update PACER credentials stored in CourtAPI. PACER credentials are required before any include_live_pacer=true call. action='check'    → show stored username (password not returned). action='set'      → store pacer_user + pacer_pass. action='validate' → test credentials without storing. action='delete'   → remove stored credentials.

Input parameters:

- `action` (string, required)
- `pacer_pass` (string): Required for set/validate
- `pacer_user` (string): Required for set/validate
- `validate` (boolean): For action='set': whether to test credentials against PACER before storing. Default true.

## Diagnostics

Captured diagnostic sections: Provenance, Dependencies. The full working is on the page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/courtio-courtapi-mcp/courtio-courtapi-mcp#diagnostics

## Score history

- 2026-08-06: 67
- 2026-08-05: 67
- 2026-08-04: 66
- 2026-08-03: 66
- 2026-08-02: 65
- 2026-08-01: 32
- 2026-07-31: 5
- 2026-07-30: 6
- 2026-07-28: 41
- 2026-07-27: 41

## Links

- npm package: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@courtio/courtapi-mcp
- Socket report: https://socket.dev/npm/package/@courtio/courtapi-mcp
- Repository: https://github.com/courtio/courtapi-mcp
- Changelog RSS feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/courtio-courtapi-mcp/courtio-courtapi-mcp.xml
- Changelog JSON feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/courtio-courtapi-mcp/courtio-courtapi-mcp.json
- HTML version of this page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/courtio-courtapi-mcp/courtio-courtapi-mcp