Some big changes have occurred across North Carolina judicial districts, including the rollout of eCourts in several counties. Courts have begun transitioning from a paper system to the Enterprise Justice (Odyssey) electronic system. The hope and purpose behind this new system in parts of North Carolina is to provide easier access to court records and documents for attorneys, public users, and employees, enable remote testimony, streamline the court process, and provide many more benefits to North Carolinians. With change, however, comes uncertainty and adjustment for all users, so here is everything you should know about eCourts in North Carolina.
How eCourts Started in North Carolina and Where eCourts Will Be Implemented
The first rollout of eCourts occurred in February 2023, and eCourts were piloted in Wake, Johnston, Lee, and Harnett counties. Since then, there have been eCourts rollouts in 34 additional counties, adding to the increase of electronic courts throughout North Carolina. By the end of 2024, a total of 49 counties will have eCourts in place, meaning almost half of the state will now be fully electronic, including all of the following counties:
Alamance, Anson, Beaufort, Buncombe, Cabarrus, Camden, Chatham, Cherokee, Chowan, Clay, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Durham, Franklin, Gates, Graham, Granville, Guilford, Harnett, Haywood, Henderson, Hoke, Hyde, Jackson, Johnston, Lee, Macon, Martin, Mecklenburg, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Person, Polk, Randolph, Richmond, Scotland, Stanly, Swain, Transylvania, Tyrrell, Union, Vance, Wake, Warren, and Washington.
How Do I Access and Use eCourts?
As with any change, it can be puzzling to adjust and learn the court system. All court documents, with a few exceptions, are filed and kept electronically. This means that attorneys and pro se litigants are no longer able to receive printed copies of filings from the courthouse.
Instead, court documents and filings may be accessed through the ePortal. The ePortal is a viewing-only option for users, so users can look up any public case to view court judgments, court dates, or case information. To look up a certain case, users must either the record number or a listed party’s first and last name. The ePortal can be accessed from a smartphone, tablet, personal computer, or the kiosk located in the courthouse.
eFile & Serve, however, is where users will submit court documents, pay filing fees, and receive filing status updates via email. Whether it is a new case or an outstanding case, eFile & Serve is where users will file any new documents. If a user is a pro se litigant, then the user will have to register for an account to access eFile & Serve. Likewise, attorneys who practice in counties that have courts are required to use the eFile & Serve, so they must register for an account.
While the ePortal and eFile & Serve may be challenging to navigate at first, there are several resources to help pro se litigants and attorneys navigate them. For example, Guide & File is a free online resource that is accessible 24/7, and it combines all the necessary information about ePortal and eFile & Serve. Users may interact with Guide & File by asking questions online, much like a Google search.
At King Law, we are here to help if you or someone you know is involved in or may become involved in a legal dispute. We understand the sensitivity and complexity of these situations and are here to help. Our experienced attorney can guide you through the service process and the rest of your legal issues. Contact King Law Offices today at (888)-748-KING (5464) for a consultation