People who have taken legal matters to court – whether civil or criminal – understand the amount of preparation and the process required to settle an issue. Nearly any legal matter includes paper-based processing systems, short deadlines and time-consuming, in-person court visits. Many of these practices are quickly becoming outdated and affecting people’s lives.
North Carolina is taking advantage of the digital age by introducing the ability to resolve legal matters electronically. People who have a legal matter may need to prepare for an e-court filing process. To learn more about how an e-court system can affect you, you may need to read the following:
What is an e-court?
E-courts allow people to file legal documents and move through legal processes digitally, providing flexibility and convenience for all parties. Some of the key factors of e-court include:
- Readily accessible information about cases
- Digital paperwork filing
- Online payment options
- Search engine for legal documents
- Remote appearances
- Electronic signatures
This new electronic system seeks to replace a lot of the physical aspects of legal matters, such as paper filing, frequent court visits and in-person trials. The shift from paper filing to e-filing allows these systems to be accessible just about anywhere, saving people time and money.
In North Carolina, the e-court systems have been accessible by 62 counties as of 2025, allowing many of the state’s population access to online filing, payment and search options. These systems are on track to expand to all 100 counties, allowing anyone in North Carolina to access cloud-hosted systems for electronic filing and record searching.
E-court allows both civil and criminal matters to be done electronically. This means that a person can manage a legal case regardless of whether it is related to a personal injury case, family law issue or criminal defense.
How can people prepare for their e-court?
It can be difficult for many people to adjust to new e-court systems. As with any attempt to revolutionize technology, there are frequent issues to help ensure systems work. Furthermore, many people struggle to adapt to changes. Legal guidance can help people adapt to new electronic court accessibility features.