Litigation & Bankruptcy Search: API Quickstart

This guide walks through the full docket search implementation: submitting a search, retrieving results, and requesting case details and documents when needed. Before starting, review Litigation & Bankruptcy Search: Basics for an overview of how the product works, and Litigation, Bankruptcy, and Public Records for court and case terminology.

Prerequisites

An active Baselayer API key
A completed Business Search: you will need either the business_id or business_search_id from that result
Familiarity with Baselayer’s Business Search API: see Business Search: API Basics if needed

Base URL & Authentication

Production:  https://api.baselayer.com

All requests require an API key in the X-API-Key header:

X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY

Step 1: Submit the Docket Search

POST /docket_searches accepts three request variants depending on what identifiers you have available.

Option A: Search by `business_id`

curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.baselayer.com/docket_searches \
  --header 'X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
    "business_id": "f7688172-2e5f-400b-9e3f-8d2f93eabd79"
  }'

Option B: Search by `business_search_id` with `additional_search_entities`

Use the id from a Business Search response. This variant supports additional_search_entities to search linked individuals or alternate business names in the same call.

curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.baselayer.com/docket_searches \
  --header 'X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
    "business_search_id": "1504f313-9721-4006-b813-82faf6c6f02d",
    "additional_search_entities": [
      {
        "name": "Jane Smith",
        "type": "Person",
        "search_states": ["DE"]
      }
    ]
  }'

For full guidance on additional_search_entities, see Litigation & Bankruptcy Search: Best Practices and Litigation & Bankruptcy Search for Individuals.

Option C: Search by `person_id`

curl --request POST \
  --url https://api.baselayer.com/docket_searches \
  --header 'X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data '{
    "person_id": "f9458925-bea9-4551-9913-31c21658d3d7"
  }'

For a full guide on searching individuals, see Litigation & Bankruptcy Search for Individuals.

Scoping to Litigations, Bankruptcies, or Both

By default, Baselayer searches for both litigations and bankruptcy proceedings. Use the options field to scope the search if needed:

# Litigation only
--data '{ "business_id": "...", "options": ["Order.Litigations"] }'

# Bankruptcy only
--data '{ "business_id": "...", "options": ["Order.Bankruptcy"] }'

# Both (default — same as omitting the field)
--data '{ "business_id": "...", "options": ["Order.Litigations", "Order.Bankruptcy"] }'

Most customers search for both. Scoping to one type is useful when your workflow treats litigation and bankruptcy as separate decisioning steps, or when cost efficiency matters at high volume.

Execution Mode

Docket searches support both synchronous and asynchronous execution. Results are returned directly in the response body on synchronous requests. For async execution, consume results via webhooks (DocketSearch.completed) or by polling /docket_searches/{id}. See Synchronous & Asynchronous Request Execution for setup guidance.

Step 2: Retrieve Results

Synchronous (default): Results are returned in the POST response body. Skip ahead to Step 3: Parse the Response. Asynchronous: Consume results via the DocketSearch.completed webhook or poll /docket_searches/{id} until state is COMPLETED. See Synchronous & Asynchronous Request Execution for full guidance.

Step 3: Parse the Response

A completed search returns a response containing a dockets array. Example response:

{
  "id": "7b3c1a20-0001-0001-0001-000000000001",
  "state": "COMPLETED",
  "business_id": "f7688172-2e5f-400b-9e3f-8d2f93eabd79",
  "last_updated_at": "2024-06-01T12:00:00Z",
  "dockets": [
    {
      "id": "d0001111-0001-0001-0001-000000000001",
      "title": "First National Bank v. Acme Logistics Inc",
      "docket_number": "2023-CV-004521",
      "court": "DE Superior Court",
      "date_filed": "2023-04-10",
      "case_type": "Contract Dispute",
      "status": "Open",
      "normalized_status": "open",
      "is_bankruptcy": false,
      "bankruptcy_type": null,
      "risk_level": "medium",
      "match_level": "EXACT",
      "last_synced_at": "2024-05-30T08:00:00Z"
    },
    {
      "id": "d0001111-0001-0001-0001-000000000002",
      "title": "In re Acme Logistics Inc",
      "docket_number": "2022-BK-001234",
      "court": "US Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware",
      "date_filed": "2022-09-01",
      "case_type": "Chapter 11",
      "status": "Closed",
      "normalized_status": "closed",
      "is_bankruptcy": true,
      "bankruptcy_type": "Chapter 11",
      "risk_level": "high",
      "match_level": "EXACT",
      "last_synced_at": "2024-05-30T08:00:00Z"
    }
  ]
}

Key fields to evaluate on each docket:

Field	What to check
`is_bankruptcy`	Flag immediately if `true` - see Best Practices for threshold guidance
`risk_level`	`high` cases should always surface to underwriting
`normalized_status`	`open` cases with recent `date_filed` carry higher risk
`match_level`	`EXACT` for automated decisioning; `SIMILAR` for deeper due diligence
`case_type`	Use to classify and filter by your internal must-review list
`date_filed`	Recency matters - a 2-year-old open case is more material than a 10-year-old closed one

For full guidance on interpreting and acting on results, see Litigation & Bankruptcy Search: Best Practices.

Step 4: Request Case Details (Optional)

Case details provide the full chronological timeline of a case: all filings, hearings, motions, and court orders.

Most customers do not need case details for standard workflows. Request them selectively for cases that warrant deeper review.

Request details for a specific docket:

curl --request PUT \
  --url https://api.baselayer.com/dockets/DOCKET_ID/details \
  --header 'X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY'

This initiates retrieval and emits DocketDetailsSearch.submitted and DocketDetailsSearch.completed webhook events. Retrieve the details:

curl --request GET \
  --url https://api.baselayer.com/dockets/DOCKET_ID/details \
  --header 'X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY'

The response includes an updates array: a chronological record of all case events. Some updates may reference exhibits (court documents) associated with that event.

Step 5: Retrieve Exhibits (Optional)

Exhibits are court documents referenced in case details. Availability varies by court and jurisdiction. Check availability: Each exhibit in the updates array includes an is_available field. Retrieve an available exhibit:

curl --request GET \
  --url https://api.baselayer.com/dockets/exhibits/EXHIBIT_ID \
  --header 'X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY' \
  --output exhibit.pdf

If is_available is false, the document must be ordered explicitly:

curl --request PUT \
  --url https://api.baselayer.com/dockets/exhibits/EXHIBIT_ID \
  --header 'X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY'

Full Example: Business Docket Search (Synchronous)

import requests
from datetime import date, timedelta

API_KEY = "YOUR_API_KEY"
BASE_URL = "https://api.baselayer.com"

headers = {
    "X-API-Key": API_KEY,
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

# Step 1: Submit search — business + guarantor in one call
payload = {
    "business_search_id": "1504f313-9721-4006-b813-82faf6c6f02d",
    "additional_search_entities": [
        {
            "name": "Jane Smith",
            "type": "Person",
            "search_states": ["DE"]
        }
    ]
}

response = requests.post(f"{BASE_URL}/docket_searches", json=payload, headers=headers)
result = response.json()

high_risk = []
review_later = []
cutoff = str(date.today() - timedelta(days=365 * 5))  # 5-year recency threshold

for docket in result.get("dockets", []):
    # Only process EXACT matches by default
    if docket.get("match_level") != "EXACT":
        continue

    risk_level = docket.get("risk_level")
    is_bankruptcy = docket.get("is_bankruptcy")
    date_filed = docket.get("date_filed", "")
    normalized_status = docket.get("normalized_status")

    if is_bankruptcy or risk_level == "high":
        high_risk.append(
            f"[HIGH] {docket['case_type']} — {docket['court']} "
            f"(filed {date_filed}, status: {normalized_status})"
        )

    elif risk_level == "medium" and date_filed >= cutoff:
        review_later.append(
            f"[MEDIUM] {docket['case_type']} — {docket['court']} "
            f"(filed {date_filed})"
        )

if high_risk:
    print("HIGH RISK — escalate to underwriting:")
    for r in high_risk:
        print(f"  - {r}")

if review_later:
    print("MEDIUM RISK — include in underwriting file:")
    for r in review_later:
        print(f"  - {r}")

if not high_risk and not review_later:
    print("No material docket signals detected.")

Where to Go Next

Litigation & Bankruptcy Search: Best Practices: Risk classification, match level strategy, pattern recognition, and ticket-size frameworks
Litigation & Bankruptcy Search for Individuals: Searching litigation for sole proprietors, guarantors, and beneficial owners
Litigation & Bankruptcy Search: Basics: Full response field reference

GET STARTED

PARTNERS

KEY CONCEPTS

PLAYBOOKS

PRODUCT GUIDES

Litigation & Bankruptcy Search: API Quickstart

Prerequisites

Base URL & Authentication

Step 1: Submit the Docket Search

Option A: Search by `business_id`

Option B: Search by `business_search_id` with `additional_search_entities`

Option C: Search by `person_id`

Scoping to Litigations, Bankruptcies, or Both

Execution Mode

Step 2: Retrieve Results

Step 3: Parse the Response

Step 4: Request Case Details (Optional)

Step 5: Retrieve Exhibits (Optional)

Full Example: Business Docket Search (Synchronous)

Where to Go Next

​Prerequisites

​Base URL & Authentication

​Step 1: Submit the Docket Search

​Option A: Search by business_id

​Option B: Search by business_search_id with additional_search_entities

​Option C: Search by person_id

​Scoping to Litigations, Bankruptcies, or Both

​Execution Mode

​Step 2: Retrieve Results

​Step 3: Parse the Response

​Step 4: Request Case Details (Optional)

​Step 5: Retrieve Exhibits (Optional)

​Full Example: Business Docket Search (Synchronous)

​Where to Go Next

Prerequisites

Base URL & Authentication

Step 1: Submit the Docket Search

Option A: Search by `business_id`

Option B: Search by `business_search_id` with `additional_search_entities`

Option C: Search by `person_id`

Scoping to Litigations, Bankruptcies, or Both

Execution Mode

Step 2: Retrieve Results

Step 3: Parse the Response

Step 4: Request Case Details (Optional)

Step 5: Retrieve Exhibits (Optional)

Full Example: Business Docket Search (Synchronous)

Where to Go Next