Frequently Asked Questions
What is Westlaw by credit card?
Westlaw by credit card is a document retrieval service from West. With
either a credit card or a Westlaw subscription, you have instant access
to an extensive array of materials on Westlaw, including state and federal
case law, statutes, and appellate briefs. You
can find a document by simply entering a citation, case title, or docket
number.
This service also provides access to KeyCite, the citation research service from West. You can quickly determine whether a case, statute, administrative decision, or federal regulation is good law and retrieve citing references.
What
is Westlaw?
Westlaw is West's premier online research service for the legal community.
Westlaw enables legal professionals to retrieve cases, statutes, and other
documents from West's vast library of legal and business materials. Westlaw
is available by subscription only, whereas Westlaw by credit card is available
to anyone with an Internet connection and either a credit card or a Westlaw
subscription.
What
is KeyCite?
KeyCite is West's citation research service and is available on Westlaw
by credit card. It allows you to trace the history of a case, statute,
administrative decision, or federal regulation and retrieve citing references,
including cases, secondary sources, and administrative materials.
The KeyCite service includes graphics such as status flags, depth of treatment stars, and quotation marks that enable you to focus your research on the citing references that are important to you.
What types of documents can
I retrieve using Westlaw by credit card?
Westlaw by credit card allows you to retrieve any of the following types
of documents:
Do I need to register before
using Westlaw by credit card?
If you want to charge your usage to a credit card, you must register. (Even
if you previously had charged usage in WestDoc or KeyCite.com to your
credit card, you must still register for Westlaw by credit card.)
If you have a Westlaw subscription and want to have charges billed to your Westlaw account, you don't need to register—just sign on.
If you have a Westlaw subscription and you also register, you determine your billing method at sign-on.
How much does it cost to use Westlaw
by credit card?
Pricing depends on whether you pay by credit card or have charges billed
to your Westlaw account, if you have one.
If you pay by credit card:
The cost of retrieving documents or KeyCite results varies, depending on the type of document. You will always be asked to confirm charges before your credit card is billed, and this prompt lists the price.
If your Find request retrieves a list of documents, you are not charged until you click a link to display a document from that list.
Print charges are included in the cost of each retrieved document. In other words, while you are viewing a document you can print it at no extra charge.
If you have charges billed to your Westlaw account:
The cost for retrieving a document and retrieving a KeyCite result depends on your current Westlaw subscription agreement. Consult your plan to determine pricing. If you retrieve a document outside of your current Westlaw subscription, you will be billed according to the credit card rates.
You will always be asked to confirm charges for documents outside your Westlaw subscription before your account is billed.
How do I pay for this service?
You pay for transactions in this service by credit card or by having charges
billed to your Westlaw account, if you have one.
If you want to pay by credit card:
You can pay for transactions with an American Express, MasterCard, or VISA credit card. The registration process includes supplying required credit card information. Billing for retrieved documents and KeyCite results will be applied monthly to this credit card.
If you are a Westlaw subscriber and want to have charges billed to your Westlaw account:
Simply sign on. (Register only if you also want to establish a credit card account.) Charges will be based on your current Westlaw subscription and will be added to your Westlaw bill. If you access a document that is not part of your Westlaw subscription, you will be billed according to the credit card rates.
Note: If you have a Westlaw subscription and you also establish a credit card account, you determine your billing method at sign-on.
How do I find a document using Westlaw
by credit card?
To find a document by citation, at the Home page type the citation for
the document you want to find in the Find this document by citation
text box and click GO. If you need assistance determining the correct
citation format, click Find a Document Using a Citation Template.
To find a case by title or docket number, click Find a Case by Title or Find a Case by Docket Number at the Home page.
To find a brief by title or docket number, click Find a Brief by Title or Find a Brief by Docket Number at the Home page.
How do I check a citation using
Westlaw by credit card?
At the Home page, do one of the following: (1) type a citation in the Check
this citation in KeyCite text box and click GO, or (2) click
Check a Citation Using a KeyCite Template, type the citation information
in the appropriate text boxes, and click GO.
What does a red or yellow
flag, blue H, or green C at the top of a retrieved document indicate?
A red or yellow flag, blue H, or green C indicates that KeyCite information
is available for the document. KeyCite is West's citation research service.
It helps you determine whether your document is good law and find cases
and other sources that cite it.
Click the KeyCite flag next to your retrieved document to access KeyCite information. For details, see KeyCite Status Flags.
What should I do if I
forget my username or password?
If you cannot remember your username or password, click Forgot password
at the Sign-On page. You will be prompted to provide your e-mail address
and the answer to the security question you supplied at registration.
West will then send you the information via e-mail.
Whom do I contact if I have
a question or problem using Westlaw by credit card?
If you have a general or technical question, call West Customer Technical
Support at 1-800-WESTLAW (1-800-937-8529) or e-mail west.support@thomson.com.
Whom do I contact if I have a
question or problem regarding billing in Westlaw by credit card?
If you have a question concering billing, call West Customer Service at
1-800-328-4880 or e-mail west.customer.service@thomson.com.
Related Topics
About Westlaw by Credit Card