PacerMonitor Removal 101: Everything You Need to Know
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This 101 guide covers how to submit a PacerMonitor removal request (and ensure it doesn’t show up on Google), how long it takes, and what to do if your request is rejected.
How to submit a PacerMonitor removal request
Before we get into the how, it’s important to note that PacerMonitor has stricter removal requirements than other legal platforms. Most requests are rejected unless there is supporting evidence that the case is not part of the public record.
Sealed and expunged records: PacerMonitor doesn’t have a removal request form. The only option is sending a well-crafted email to support@pacermonitor.com.
Your email should include:
“Removal/redaction request” as the subject line
Your full name and contact details
Case number and the URL of your record
A detailed reasoning for why removal is justified
An official order to seal/expungement documentation
In a few weeks, they’ll get back to you with their decision. If they approve your request, you can (and should) request that Google and other search engines remove the URL from search results.
All you have to do is search your name, find the PacerMonitor result, click on the three dots next to the URL, click “Remove result” in the panel that opens up on the right, and select the “It’s outdated and I want to request a refresh” option.
It can take up to 30 days for it to go into effect. But it will eventually stop showing up when someone searches your name.
For all other situations: PacerMonitor will likely not remove or redact your information. Your best bet is working with your lawyer to seal or expunge your case. After you get official court documentation, you can then submit a PacerMonitor removal request.
If your case is never going to be sealed or expunged, you can still shoot them an email. They’ll likely say no, but it doesn’t hurt to try.
Unfortunately, a PacerMonitor removal request is just the first step
Whether your removal request is accepted or not, there are dozens of other PacerMonitor alternatives out there – Justia, Trellis Law, UniCourt, and local news outlets to name a few.
If your information is on PacerMonitor, it’s likely on some (if not all) of those other websites.
Each one has its own removal requirements, process, and guidelines. You’ll need to submit a removal request for all of them.
I also strongly suggest starting a positive content campaign.
It’s the most effective way to defend yourself in the short and long term. The goal is to consistently create and publish content about yourself that pushes problematic search results (like your PacerMonitor case) to the second page and beyond.
Why just to the second page? Only 0.44% of people search beyond the first page. When negative content falls off page one, it’s essentially as good as gone.
Even if other sites obtain your information and publish it online, it will have to compete for a spot on the first page against all the positive content you’re publishing. Ultimately, it makes it significantly harder for damaging content to surface where people are actually looking you up.
There are two ways to make this happen: DIY or hire a pro.
How to DIY a positive content campaign (step by step)
None of the work here is hard or technical. The main challenge is that it requires sustained effort over six months to a year (at least). It’s also a lot to learn.
But if you can get through the first month and stick to a consistent schedule in the long-term, doing it yourself is 100% feasible.
Here’s where I recommend starting:
Build a website or two - use Wix or Squarespace
Establish a social media presence on every platform
Publish a blog post every week on your website(s)
Post 2-3 videos and social media posts each week
Focus on your interests, expertise, and achievements
Once you get into a good rhythm, you should start monitoring search results every few weeks or once a month. Use incognito mode and search for your name. Take note of which types of content are appearing on pages one, two, and three.
When you identify what’s working, amplify those efforts.
Check out this video for a more detailed explanation, including how people use search engines, the basics of SEO, and how it all works together.
If you don’t want to do it yourself, BetterReputation offers removal-only services (you only pay when we’re successful) and comprehensive reputation management solutions, including building and maintaining your websites, creating and publishing content, optimizing your social presence, monitoring, and more.
We’re fast, transparent, and significantly more affordable than most companies out there.
Fill out this form to get started.
What Is PacerMonitor and how does it have my info?
PacerMonitor collects information from PACER, which is the official database for US federal courts. It provides easy access to federal court cases, bankruptcy matters, and appeals.
Simply put, your records are on their site because they were scraped from the public record.
Even if you’ve never interacted with (or heard of) the platform, it’s entirely legal for PacerMonitor to publish information regarding you and your case.
The platform exists for a legitimate purpose: making it easier for legal professionals, journalists, and researchers to stay up to date on cases. But this ease of accessibility means your court records are indexed by search engines, often showing up in search results when someone looks you up.
How do I remove my information from PACER?
Because PACER is the official database for the US courts, removing your information is extremely difficult, if not impossible unless your case is sealed or expunged.
The only way to do this is contacting the court clerk.
How long does a PacerMonitor removal take?
It’s tough to say because there’s no official timeline. We’ve seen responses in as little as a week, but oftentimes it takes two or three weeks to hear back.
Submitting your request with all the required details and documentation is the best way to ensure the process goes as fast as possible. Other than that, there’s really no way to expedite your request.
If your request is approved and your case gets redacted or removed, it can take another three or four weeks for successful removals to disappear from search results, assuming you request a URL refresh (see above for how to do that).
While you wait, the absolute best thing you can do is start optimizing your online presence and publishing positive content right away.
Don’t want to deal with it? Contact us today and we’ll handle everything for you.
What to do if your PacerMonitor removal is denied
PacerMonitor is one of the stricter legal databases, so it’s not uncommon for them to deny removal requests. If your case is sealed or expunged, you should submit a new request and ensure you provide a copy of your official court order.
For unsealed cases, you should work with your attorney to get the case sealed or expunged and submit a removal request after.
If your case is not eligible for sealing/expungement, your focus should shift to suppressing the PacerMonitor record in search results so it doesn’t show up when people search for you.
The best way to do this is through a long-term positive content campaign.
Help! My court case appears on multiple websites
Each legal database has its own requirements and removal process. You’ll need to submit a separate request to each one. If your case is sealed or expunged, you should have no problem getting the records taken down.
It’s just a matter of taking the time to find them all… and fill out all those forms.
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon to spend weeks or even a month submitting requests on every site you can find, only to have a different site surface in search results later.
This is why publishing positive content over a long period of time is key. By addressing your entire online presence, you create a barrier around your name. With all that fresh content coming out every week, negative records have a lot more competition for a spot on the first page of search results.
It takes search engines a while to discover your new websites, social profiles, videos, and blog posts. So, it’s a good idea to start ASAP.
Don’t want the headache and hassle of doing it yourself? Get in touch with us – we’ll handle it all so you can get back to whatever you were doing before you got here.
TLDR: PacerMonitor removal options
Sealed/expunged cases: Submit a well-crafted removal request to support@pacermonitor.com including your court order for sealing or expungement. PacerMonitor has strict removal standards and they only remove records when legally required.
All other cases: Work with a lawyer to get your case sealed or expunged. Once you get an official court order, submit a removal request and attach all of your documentation. If you can’t get your case sealed, you can still send PacerMonitor an email, but they likely won’t respond in your favor.
Both scenarios: Create one or two websites, set up a profile on every social media platform, put your full name on everything, and publish fresh content across every channel on a weekly basis.
If you want to avoid managing all of this yourself, contact BetterReputation today for a fast, transparent, affordable, and discreet solution.