Electronic Case Files: How to Track the Progress of 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

Following a lawsuit no longer requires trips to the courthouse. Now that electronic case processing is well established in Brazilian courts, anyone can check the status of a case online using the case number and see the main developments in a few clicks. Understanding how this search works, what the terms in the case history mean, and when professional help becomes essential is what separates someone who merely watches from someone who truly understands where the case is headed.

What digital case processing is

Digital case processing has replaced the old paper case files with electronic files stored on court systems. Petitions, decisions, orders, and documents now exist in digital form, signed electronically and arranged in chronological order. Every act performed in the case is recorded with the date, the time, and the identity of whoever carried it out.

The main systems in use across the country are the PJe (Processo Judicial Eletrônico, or Electronic Judicial Process), adopted by the Labor Courts and by state and federal courts, along with proprietary platforms such as eproc and projudi in certain states. Although their interfaces differ, they all follow the same logic: gathering everything that happens in a case in a single environment.

This centralization brings transparency. You can follow your case from wherever you are, without depending on the clerk’s counter being open. The trade-off is that you need to learn how to navigate these tools and to interpret technical language that is not always intuitive for people who do not work in the field.

How to look up a case by its number

The starting point is the unified case number, standardized by the Conselho Nacional de Justiça (National Council of Justice). It follows a twenty-digit format, divided into blocks that identify the case, the year it was filed, the branch of the judiciary, the court, and the originating unit. This number usually appears on any document in the case, such as the first petition, notices, or filing receipts.

Once you have the number, you go to the website of the court that has jurisdiction. The websites of the state courts of justice always have a case search field, usually labeled “public search” (consulta pública) or “case progress” (andamento processual). All you need to do is enter the full number, and the system returns the basic information about the case.

It is important to know that not every case appears in full in the public search. Cases that proceed under seal (segredo de justiça), such as certain family, health, or cases involving minors, are restricted to the parties and their lawyers, who access the contents through a specific login using a digital certificate or a registered password.

When public search is available, the system displays information such as the parties involved, the type of action, the court responsible, and the list of case entries. Access to the full text of the documents, however, usually requires being registered in the case, a prerogative reserved for those with a recognized legal interest in it.

You can follow your case from wherever you are, without depending on the clerk’s counter being open.

How to understand the entries in the case history

The list of entries is the heart of the search. Each line represents a procedural act and comes with a date and a standardized description. Terms such as “conclusos para despacho” (submitted to the judge for an order), “juntada de petição” (petition added to the file), “expedição de mandado” (issuance of a writ), and “decorrido o prazo” (deadline expired) appear frequently and indicate different stages of the proceedings.

“Conclusos” means that the case file has been sent to the judge for some action, whether a routine order or a decision on the merits. “Juntada,” in turn, indicates that a document has been attached to the case, such as a filing from the opposing party or an expert report. Understanding this vocabulary helps you anticipate what comes next.

Another group of terms concerns deadlines. When the system records a “notice” (intimação) or a “publication” (publicação), a period begins to run during which the party must respond. The entry “decorrido o prazo” signals that this time has ended, whether or not the party responded, which can have significant consequences, such as the loss of a right to act (preclusão, or procedural preclusion).

Some entries also close out entire phases. “Sentença” marks the judgment at the trial court level. “Trânsito em julgado” indicates that no further appeals are available and that the decision has become final. “Arquivamento” (archiving) can be provisional or final, depending on the reason. Each of these milestones profoundly changes the situation of anyone involved in litigation.

Despite the standardization, the descriptions do not always reflect the actual content of the act. A generic entry such as “decision” can conceal anything from the scheduling of a hearing to the dismissal of the case. That is why reading only the summary of an entry is rarely enough to know what was actually decided.

Step by step: how to follow your case safely

Effective tracking combines routine with attention to detail. The first step is to record the case number in a safe place and to identify clearly which court and which system handle the case. Without this correct information, the search comes back empty or points to the wrong case.

The second step is to check the case history regularly. Many systems offer a “push” service, which sends automatic email alerts with each new entry. Signing up for this alert keeps you from missing important acts and reduces the need for frequent manual searches.

The third step is to write down dates and deadlines. Whenever a notice appears, it is wise to mark the start and end of the response period. Even those who have professional representation gain peace of mind by closely following the case’s key dates.

The fourth step is to keep copies. Saving the main filings and decisions to a file, when they are accessible, creates a personal record that makes conversations with your lawyer easier and serves as a reference if the system is briefly unavailable.

When to turn to a lawyer to interpret each step

Checking the case history is one thing; understanding its legal effects is another. The difference shows up precisely at decisive moments, when a seemingly simple term triggers consequences that a layperson would miss. That is when a technical reading becomes essential.

Interlocutory decisions, judgments, and appellate rulings (acórdãos) usually allow appeals with short deadlines and strict formal requirements. Determining whether a decision can be appealed, which type of appeal is appropriate, and which deadline applies requires knowledge that goes beyond the description shown on the screen. A mistake at this stage can make an unfavorable decision final.

There are also situations in which the case history points to the need to produce evidence, comply with a court order, or challenge a document filed by the opposing party. Assessing the best response and drafting it properly is work for a qualified professional, at the risk of harming your own claim.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can anyone look up a case by its number?

As a rule, yes, when the case is public. All you need to do is go to the website of the court that has jurisdiction and enter the unified number. The exception is cases under seal, whose contents are accessible only to the parties and their lawyers, through specific authentication in the system.

What does it mean when a case shows as “concluso”?

It means the case file has been sent to the judge for some action. It may be an order that simply moves the case forward or a decision that resolves important issues. The term alone does not reveal what will be decided; it only indicates that the case is under the judge’s review.

Do I need a lawyer to follow my case online?

Not just to view the public entries. The search is open and free of charge. Professional help becomes necessary to interpret decisions, identify appeal deadlines, access the restricted full text of documents, and take action in the case, such as filing petitions and appeals within the requirements of the law.

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