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Digital affidavit online filing rollout by Courts Service

The Courts Service has launched a digital interaction system with the introduction of the Courts Portal for Circuit Court Family Law applications in Dublin.

This marks the beginning of a pilot phase aimed at modernising court processes, with further rollouts planned for other areas of law in the future.

Digital Court Rules that allow for end-to-end digitisation of court processes and make online filing, payments, and tracking of court documents and cases possible, have also been published.

Eliminating physical visits

The Courts Portal enables legal practitioners to file documents, make payments, and serve documents online, eliminating the need for physical visits to court offices.

While family-law cases are currently exempt from digital fees, the new system supports the electronic filing of all Circuit Court Family Law applications and supporting documents in Dublin.

Practitioners will receive digital receipts and acknowledgements upon submission of paperwork.

In parallel with the portal's launch, the Digital Court Rules have been published, enabling end-to-end digitisation of court processes.

These rules introduce key features such as online filings, digital payments, and the digital serving of documents.

They also include the provision for a Statement of Truth, which serves as the online equivalent of an affidavit.

The development of the Courts Portal is part of the ongoing digital transformation of the Courts Service.

Courts Service chief information officer Owen Harrison said that the project had been the result of extensive collaboration with court staff, the judiciary, and legal practitioners.

User-friendly

He stressed that the system was designed to be user-friendly and open to continuous improvement based on practitioner feedback.

“This is just the beginning. We are keen for practitioners in Dublin to begin using the portal, and we welcome their feedback as we continue to refine the system,” said Harrison.

The next steps will involve the nationwide rollout of the portal for Circuit Court Family Law once the Dublin pilot phase is complete.

Future expansions will include probate and other areas of law, with the goal of offering a fully digital-first court experience across the country.

The Rules Committees, consisting of the judiciary and legal professionals, has also worked to ensure that the new digital rules integrate smoothly with existing court procedures covering the issuing of summonses, service, and the perfection of orders.

The system is expected to increase efficiency, reduce delays, and provide greater accessibility for court users across Ireland.

Circuit Court Family Law practitioners and the self-represented in the Dublin area can access the portal through courts.ie.

Anyone with any queries should contact: portal@courts.ie

To understand more watch this video with Courts Service Chief Information Officer Owen Harrison.