60-second version
- Open Advanced Search from the main navigation.
- Fill in one or more fields - even a single Phrase or Acts entry is enough to start.
- Click Search Judgments to see precision-filtered results from 190+ courts and tribunals.
In one sentence
Advanced Search lets you combine case name, parties, acts, judges, advocates, citations, and dates in one query - free for everyone, no login required.
Before you start
Anyone can use Advanced Search without an account. All fields are optional; leave blank anything you do not know. For a quick keyword-only lookup, Cases search may be faster - use Advanced Search when you already know specific details (party name, judge, act, court, or year range).
Steps
- Go to Advanced Search.
- Read the form sections: Case & Parties, Legal Substance, Counsel, and Date Filters.
- Enter at least one criterion - popular starting points:
- Phrase (e.g.
suit for partition) - Appellant / Petitioner or Respondent name
- Acts (e.g.
CPCorTransfer of Property Act) - Court from the dropdown (type in the filter box to narrow the list)
- Optionally add more fields to narrow results - for example, Year Range or Judge.
- Click Search Judgments.
- Review the results list; each row shows case metadata and a relevant excerpt.
- Click a case title to open the full judgment.
- To start over, click Clear All on the form or return to Advanced Search.
What you'll see
The results page is labelled Advanced Search Results. It shows the total number of matches, paginated case rows with court, date, and highlighted excerpts, and the criteria you used. A link back to Quick Search appears if you want a simpler keyword search instead.
Common mistakes
- Filling every field when you only know one detail - start with one or two fields and add more only if results are too broad.
- Typing the full citation format in Reported in - journal names like
AIRorSCCwork better than a full volume/page string; for exact citations use Citation Search. - Confusing Advanced Search with Organizer Advanced Search - the judgment Advanced Search at
/advanced-searchsearches the case database; Organizer search is a separate bonus feature for your client files.
Tips
- Combine Phrase with Court or Year Range to trace how a legal issue evolved in one forum or period.
- Use Advocate for Petitioner when researching arguments by a specific counsel.
- See Advanced Search field guide for what each field searches and example values.