Rutherford Joins All North Carolina Counties Going Digital With Court Records and Services Starting Monday

Starting Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, all 100 North Carolina counties — including Rutherford and McDowell — will have online access to court records and filings for the first time.

The statewide eCourts system, launched by the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC), is now fully implemented after a multi-year rollout. The final group of counties to go live includes Alexander, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, McDowell, Rowan, and Rutherford.

“Saving North Carolinians countless trips to the courthouse and expanding access to court records through convenient online services was the foremost priority, and proud legacy, of the eCourts conversion,” said NCAOC Director Ryan S. Boyce. “Online court records are a vital resource for millions of people in our state seeking access to justice.”

For more than 200 years, court users had to visit courthouses in person to file documents or look up case information. Now, with the completion of Track 10, residents can file and access records anytime through the eCourts Portal. The system connects every courthouse in the state through a single cloud-based network that supports both public and law enforcement use.

Law enforcement agencies across North Carolina rely on the system’s eWarrants and Enforcement Mobile applications, which now serve more than 47,000 registered users. It also links to statewide public safety databases, including the Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Automated Data Services (CJLEADS), allowing officers to issue and serve warrants and citations electronically.

The eCourts platform is also integrated with major state partners — including the Department of Public Safety, DMV, State Bureau of Investigation, Department of Information Technology, and Department of Health and Human Services — streamlining data sharing and coordination.

So far, more than 5 million online searches are conducted each month through the eCourts Portal, reducing calls and foot traffic at courthouses. The system also includes Guide & File, an online interview-style tool that walks people through filling out and submitting common court forms. More than 120,000 documents have been created using the tool since its launch.

According to the NCAOC, the statewide transition improves efficiency, transparency, and security in the court system by offering:

• 24/7 online access to court records and eFiling

• Standardized electronic processes across counties

• Reduced travel and courthouse congestion

• Enhanced cybersecurity and data backup

• Real-time connectivity with law enforcement systems

• Improved access for judges and staff during emergencies

  
  

Court officials, attorneys, and the public have been preparing for months through live trainings, infrastructure upgrades, and data migrations to the cloud.

Training materials and user guides for attorneys and residents are available at NCcourts.gov/eCourts.

With this final rollout, the eCourts project marks a new chapter for North Carolina’s justice system — bringing online access, digital filings, and real-time information sharing to every county in the state.