---
title: "Search Cases"
method: GET
path: "/developer/cases/search"
tags: ["Developer", "Developer - Cases"]
---

# Search Cases

`GET /developer/cases/search`

Search cases in the customer's active case-management system.

Routes through the active CaseProvider (SmartAdvocate or Filevine), so
Filevine customers now see their own projects here instead of an empty
SA-only result set. Developer-only; used for manual match UI in dry-run.

Returns minimal case information for privacy:
- Case provider + local ID (+ back-compat smartadvocate_case_id for SA)
- Case number and name
- Phone numbers on file
- SA: plaintiff/defendant names. FV: primary contact name + phone.

## Query parameters

- `q` string, required — Search query (phone number, case number, or name)

## Response `200`

Successful Response

- CaseSearchResponse — Response from case search
  - `results` CaseSearchResult[] — List of matching cases
    - `case_provider` string, nullable — 'smartadvocate' or 'filevine'
    - `case_local_id` string, uuid, nullable — PK in the provider's local table
    - `smartadvocate_case_id` string, uuid, nullable — Internal case ID (SA only)
    - `case_number` string, required — Case number (e.g., 'BBLG-2026-000007')
    - `case_name` string, required — Case name (e.g., 'Bravo v. Defendant')
    - `phone_numbers` string[] — Phone numbers associated with the case
    - `plaintiff_names` string[] — Names of plaintiffs (SA) — empty for FV
    - `defendant_names` string[] — Names of defendants (SA) — empty for FV
    - `primary_contact_name` string, nullable — Primary contact name
    - `primary_contact_phone` string, nullable — Primary contact phone
  - `total` integer, required — Total number of results

## Other responses

- `422` — Validation Error

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/openintake/apis/fastapi.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/openintake/apis/fastapi/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc-service-production.skmtc.workers.dev/v1/apis/openintake/fastapi/revisions/4a81645b59f6/schema)