The Courts Portal provides a secure and modern way for legal practitioners and self-represented users to file, issue, serve and manage court documents online. Digital service and related online processes are underpinned by the Digital Court Rules 2025, which create the legal framework for electronic filing, issuing and service of documents across the Superior Courts, Circuit Court and District Court.
What is service of documents?
Service of documents is a required legal step in court proceedings. It ensures that the person being served is properly informed of filings or applications made against them, and that they have an opportunity to respond or appear in court.
Digital service does not change this legal requirement — it simply provides a faster, more secure way to perform service while preserving all legal safeguards.
How digital service works
- Serving documents digitally
When a document has been filed and issued through the Courts Portal, it can be served electronically on the relevant party.
How it works
- The serving party selects the party they want to serve within the portal and provides an email address for service. This can be the email address of the solicitor representing the party, if known.
- An email is sent to the address provided, informing the recipient that documents have been served on them through the portal. It also provides information about how digital service works.
- If the receiving party already has an account registered on the Courts Portal, they can sign in using the link in the service email to view the served documents.
- If they don’t already have an account, they can click the link in the service email and sign up in the Courts Portal to create one. There is an approval step for solicitors when they sign up. After completing this step, it can take 1–2 business days for registration to be approved.
- When accessing served documents in the portal, solicitors are prompted to confirm that they are authorised to represent and accept service on behalf of the party that was served.
- Notification when documents are accessed
The system automatically tracks whether and when the served party has accessed the documents. The status of service is shown as Pending until the served documents have been accessed.
The portal notifies the serving party when:
- Served documents are accessed.
- Served documents have not been accessed within 72 hours, prompting them to consider traditional service options (registered post or personal delivery).
This helps ensure fairness and compliance while maintaining the legal validity of service.
- Viewing and responding to served documents
If you have been served digitally
- You will receive an email explaining that you have been sent documents in the Courts Portal. The email will have a link and a code you can use to access the documents.
- If you already have an account registered on the Courts Portal, you can follow the link in the service email or sign in to the portal and enter the access code manually to view the served documents.
- If you don’t already have an account, you can click the link in the service email and sign up in the Courts Portal to create one. If you’re a solicitor or legal executive, there is an approval step when you sign up. After completing this step, it can take 1–2 business days for registration to be approved.
If you have been served physically
- You should receive a cover sheet with the paper documents that were served on you. The cover sheet contains an access code and instructions for accessing the documents in the portal.
- You can visit the Courts Portal, create an account (if you don’t already have one) and, once signed in, enter the access code from the cover sheet to view the served documents. These should be the same as the paper documents that were served on you physically.
Accessing served documents through the portal allows you to file responding documents online in the same proceedings. It also means you will receive updates through the portal in relation to the proceedings.
Consent to digital service
Consent to accept digital service through the Courts Portal is part of the Terms and Conditions of use of the Portal. This means that portal users have already provided their consent.
When you serve someone who is not a registered portal user, they can sign up in order to view the served documents. Signing up means they have consented to digital service.
Other means of service
Documents that are filed digitally can still be served by traditional means such as personal hand delivery or registered post.
If you are concerned about acceptance of digital service by served parties, you should consider serving in the traditional way.
If you want to serve documents physically, the portal provides a facility to download the issued documents along with a cover sheet. The cover sheet has a code and instructions that enable the served party to access the documents in the portal if they wish. Using this code, they will also be able to file responding documents through the portal.
