​Virtual registry open anytime anywhere

Issued: 11 February 2014
[PDF, 112kb]

Lodging and managing civil claims will be easier, more efficient and faster under the new NSW online courts registry, Attorney General Greg Smith said today.

“The Online Registry has been successfully trialled by selected users over the past year, but will now be open to the public – that is anyone involved in a civil case in the Local, District of Supreme Court, or their legal representatives,” Mr Smith said.

“It will save time for lawyers and companies such as debt collecting firms, as well as self-represented litigants, who can file 42 commonly used civil forms online in minutes without having to queue at a court registry.”

“Lawyers, paralegals and others involved in court proceedings no longer have to structure their day around the court’s working hours,” Mr Smith said.

“Instead, they can file the necessary documents at any time, from wherever they have internet access.”

Already, more than 7500 users have registered to use the Online Registry to date. Users undergo strict identity verification and will be able to access information only about their own cases.
Reflecting the changing nature of court administration, more than 44,000 civil court forms and probate notices have been filed online since January 2013. This means online filing accounted for about 11 per cent of the relevant forms. Last week about 1,000 forms were filed online, a figure set to rise steadily.
The most popular forms include statements of claim, subpoenas, affidavit of service, notices of motion relating to debt collection, as well as administrative forms such as requests for a copy of a court order, or notices of change of solicitor.
More civil forms are expected to become available to be lodged online in coming months.

The Online Registry is also available for the public to search court lists across NSW and publish and search NSW probate notices.

Mr Smith said court users could now easily track the progress of their case, see which documents have been filed, and view court orders.

“The Online Registry makes dealing with the courts easier and more efficient, and improves access to justice across NSW,” Mr Smith said.

Litigants, legal representatives and people acting on behalf of companies involved in civil suits, can use the Online Registry to:

• File over 40 forms for civil cases

• Receive court-sealed documents by email

• Request copies of judgments and orders

• Check which documents have been filed for a case

• Publish and search NSW probate notices (mandatory advertisements relating to wills and deceased estates)

• Check lists of subpoenaed documents and things (items brought to court to be considered as evidence)

• Pay court filing fees by credit card.

For more information visit www.onlineregistry.lawlink.nsw.gov.au