Electronic Case Files: How to Track Your Case Online

This page is a translation of the original Portuguese text, provided for convenience. It deals with Brazilian law. If there is any discrepancy, the Portuguese version prevails. Read the original in Portuguese

Tracking the progress of a lawsuit is no longer a task reserved for lawyers. Today, any citizen can look up the status of a case directly in the courts’ systems, understand what each docket entry means, and tell when a filing is protected by confidentiality. Knowing how to read this information spares you needless anxiety and helps you act at the right time.

Where and How to Check the Status of a Case

Each Brazilian court maintains its own case lookup system, almost always available online at no cost. The federal courts mostly use PJe (the Electronic Judicial Process system), which is also used by a large share of the state courts and the labor courts. Some states still run local platforms, such as eproc and Projudi. Each has a different layout, but they all work on the same logic.

To find a case, you need its unique number in the format set by the National Council of Justice (Conselho Nacional de Justiça), which has twenty digits. This number identifies the case unambiguously anywhere in the country. It usually appears in the first notice you receive, whether that is a court notification, a letter, or a message from your own lawyer.

Once you have the number, simply go to the website of the court in charge and enter it in the public search field. Cases without restrictions display the full list of docket entries and let you download the main documents. When the system requires a login with a digital certificate or a special registration, there is usually some access restriction that deserves your attention.

One unified option is the website of the National Council of Justice itself, which brings together case searches from different courts in a single place. Even so, the most up-to-date information remains in the originating court’s system, so you should always check the primary source before drawing conclusions about deadlines or rulings.

What the Most Common Docket Entries Mean

A case’s timeline is made up of standardized entries that describe each step. Terms such as “conclusos” (submitted to the judge), “distribuído” (assigned to a court), “juntada de petição” (filing of a petition into the case record), and “expedição de mandado” (issuance of a court order) appear often, and they can alarm anyone unfamiliar with courtroom language. In practice, each expression points to a concrete action taken by court staff, the parties, or the judge.

When an entry says the case file is “conclusos,” it means the case has been sent to the judge for a decision, whether that is a procedural order, a judgment, or a ruling on an incidental issue. The phrase “juntada de petição” means that a document submitted by one of the parties has been added to the case file. That does not, by itself, mean a win or a loss.

Other entries deserve a careful reading. The word “intimação” (formal notification) signals that one of the parties has been officially notified of something, and often a deadline to respond starts running. Missing that deadline can have serious consequences, such as losing the right to appeal (preclusão), which is why the publication date matters so much.

Entries such as “trânsito em julgado” (the judgment becoming final) indicate that the decision has become definitive, with no further ordinary appeals available. At that point, the case moves to the enforcement phase, in which the court seeks to carry out what was ordered. Understanding this milestone helps you see that, as a rule, the debate over the merits is over.

Keep in mind that the terminology can vary from one system to another. The same step may carry slightly different labels depending on the court. That is why you should read the docket entries as a whole, rather than a single expression in isolation, to get an accurate picture of where things stand.

If you are unsure what a particular entry means, the safest approach is to write down the date and the exact text of the entry before seeking help. This simple note lets a professional quickly assess the context and advise you on whether a response is needed.

Missing that deadline can have serious consequences, such as losing the right to appeal, which is why the publication date matters so much.

Sealed Proceedings: Why Some Filings Don’t Appear

Not every case is fully public. The Brazilian Constitution makes the publicity of court proceedings the general rule, but allows restrictions when the protection of privacy or the social interest requires them. For that reason, certain cases proceed under seal (segredo de justiça, or judicial secrecy), showing only minimal information in a public search.

Cases involving family law, such as divorce, custody, and paternity investigations, usually proceed under seal to protect the privacy of the people involved. The same goes for cases with sensitive health data, situations that expose minors, or criminal matters in the early stages of an investigation.

When a case is sealed, the public search shows only that the case exists and often hides the names of the parties and the content of the rulings. Full access is reserved for the attorneys of record, the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público), and the parties themselves, always upon identification. This barrier does not signal any irregularity. It is a legal safeguard.

Beyond fully sealed cases, individual filings can be restricted within otherwise public cases. A document containing bank or tax information, for example, may be marked as restricted even though the rest of the case remains open. In those situations, the entry appears on the list, but the contents of the file are not available for public viewing.

When to Turn to a Lawyer to Interpret the Status of Your Case

Checking the system is everyone’s right, but correctly interpreting the legal consequences of each entry takes technical knowledge. A layperson’s reading can cause alarm over terms that sound negative but reflect normal steps. Or, conversely, it can overlook a decisive deadline hidden in a seemingly routine notification.

The most critical moment comes when a deadline starts to run. Notifications to file a defense, fulfill an obligation, or lodge an appeal usually carry strict deadlines counted in business days. Whenever an entry mentions a deadline, a notice, or a ruling, you should seek professional advice without delay, so that you keep your ability to respond.

It is also wise to seek help when a case goes a long time without any relevant activity, or when an order appears that you do not understand. A professional can check whether the lull is normal, whether there was a mistake in how the case was handled, or whether it makes sense to file a petition asking the court to move the case forward.

Following your own case closely does not replace technical legal work, but it strengthens it. A client who understands the basics of docket entries communicates better with their lawyer, asks more precise questions, and takes part in decisions with clarity. This combination of accessible information and qualified guidance tends to produce more consistent results.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a password to check the status of my case?

In most public cases, the search is open, and all you need is the unique number in the National Council of Justice format. A login with a digital certificate is usually required for sealed cases or to access restricted documents. If the system blocks the content, some legal protection is probably involved, and full access will depend on identifying yourself as a party or on a power of attorney filed in the case.

What should I do when a notification appears in my case’s docket?

A notification means that an official communication has been made and, often, that a deadline to respond has begun. The best course is to record the exact date of publication and seek legal advice right away, because many deadlines are counted in business days, and missing one can compromise your right to respond or appeal. Don’t talk yourself into thinking the matter can wait without first confirming how urgent it is.

Why does my case show so little information in the public search?

Limited information usually indicates that the case is under seal or that certain documents have been marked confidential. Family law matters, health data, and financial information are classic examples of protected material. This does not mean anything is wrong. It is a safeguard provided by law to protect the privacy of the people involved, with full access reserved for the parties and their representatives.

As informações deste artigo são de caráter informativo e não substituem consulta jurídica individualizada. Cada caso possui particularidades que exigem análise específica.