Rutherford County Clerk of Court Announces Service Disruptions Ahead of eCourts Launch

Rutherford County court services will undergo temporary disruptions as the county prepares for the statewide launch of eCourts on Oct. 13, Clerk of Superior Court Steve Owens told WCAB News. 

From Oct. 1 through Oct. 13, the Clerk’s Office will not accept credit card payments in person or online, and all other online services will be unavailable. Payments will be accepted in the form of cash, money orders, or certified checks in accordance with North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC) guidelines.

The changes come as Rutherford joins all other counties in transitioning to eCourts, a new digital case management system that will replace legacy platforms such as the Civil Case Processing System (VCAP), Automated Criminal Infractions System (ACIS), and the Court Information Public Records Search (CIPRS). The system introduces Enterprise Justice, a statewide database that allows for electronic filing and case tracking. CIPRS, a public terminal only available at courthouses, was launched in 2016. It was replaced by the newer Odyssey system as part of the broader eCourts initiative.

Steve Owens - Clerk of Court

After Oct. 13, members of the public will be able to use the eCourts Portal to look up information on cases initiated after the launch date. Users can search cases from anywhere in the world with internet access without an account, but signing up will provide additional features, including case tracking. Attorneys can register now for elevated access, and self-represented litigants will be able to file electronically using eFiling (File & Serve).

Legacy systems in Track 10 counties will shift to “inquiry only” mode starting Oct. 8 at 7 p.m., according to a memorandum from NCAOC Director Ryan S. Boyce. Paper filings during the migration period will be manually filed and entered into the new system later, which may result in brief delays.

Owens urged the legal community and residents to prepare in advance. “Please make sure any electronic accounts are set up and ready,” he said. “During this transition, some services will be limited, and early preparation will help avoid disruptions.”

Training sessions and resources for attorneys and other court users are available at NCcourts.gov/eCourts.