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Electronic Court Filing Progresses in New Hampshire

The new system allows the public to file cases from their home or business computers — even at night or on weekends — without having to travel to court.

(TNS) -- New Hampshire's new electronic court system has reached a milestone with the filing of small-claims cases in Rockingham County.

Circuit courts in Derry, Salem and Plaistow were among the last in the state to go online last month as the New Hampshire Judicial Branch seeks to attain its goal of improving efficiency and reducing costs, according to Edwin Kelly, administrative judge of the circuit court system.

All 32 circuit courts in the state have switched to the electronic filing, or e-Court, since it began July 30 at courts in Plymouth and Concord.

That meant the judicial branch met its goal of launching small-claims filing by year's end, Kelly said.

It allows the public to file cases from their home or business computers — even at night or on weekends — without having to travel to court.

Anyone who does go to a circuit court can file their case at a computer installed in kiosks put in each building. Court staff have been trained to assist anyone who needs help, Kelly said.

The $80 filing fee can be paid online as well.

Small-claims cases, which are the most commonly filed, involve assets worth no more than $7,500. That amount increases to $10,000 in July.

"People seem to be taking to it," Kelly said.

More than 850 small-claims cases have been filed electronically in the last five months, he said. There have been no major glitches,he said.

In 2013, there were 13,1118 small-claims cases statewide — all on paper, he said.

Most of the cases are filed outside the courts because it's more convenient for the public, Kelly said. No figures were available.

"We are seeing a lot of weekend or evening filing," he said. "It's sort of what we expected."

The 18-phase e-Court project was proposed several years ago, but its development was delayed because of limited state funding and technological challenges. About $5.1 million was allocated by the Legislature and court filing fees were increased to help fund the system.

The increased efficiency of the court system is expected to lead to a 20 percent reduction in court personnel over the next five years through attrition, with no layoffs planned, according to Kelly. The court system employs nearly 500 people.

The ultimate goal is for the judicial branch to be completely paperless by 2019, he said.

But, like anything new, there's been a learning curve along the way as court staff and the public adjust to the system, he said.

Plus, word is just reaching the public that they have to file electronically.

Mark Robinson learned that lesson Monday.

Robinson, manager of VIP Tires & Service stores in Derry and Londonderry, visited 10th Circuit in Derry to file a small-claims case against a customer who had not made payment.

Robinson expected to file the case on paper with the clerk, a process he said usually takes 10 to 15 minutes.

"They did all the paperwork," he said. "I walked in and expected to do it at the window. I heard electronic filing was an option, but I didn't realize it was the only option."

Robinson, 44, said he's computer savvy, but didn't realize it would take more half an hour to fill out the online form.

Then, he hit a stumbling block and had to request help from clerk Robin Pinelle and another court employee when he was asked to attach a form to prove he was authorized to file the claim.

Robinson's questions were answered within minutes, but even the court employees had questions and had to consult someone elsewhere in the judicial branch.

Pinelle told Robinson she appreciated the fact he asked for help.

"It helps us, too," she said. "We are all working together. We are still in the learning process."

Robinson had to leave and to get the authorization he needed from his employer.

Kelly said Robinson would need that information whether he filed electronically or on paper. With e-Court, he can now file that form electronically with his application instead of returning to the court.

If the case had been filed on paper, it may have taken the system a while to realize Kelly did not have the necessary authorization, potentially delaying resolution of the case, he said.

In March, the judicial branch will begin accepting the electronic filing of pleas in New Hampshire State Police cases, Kelly said.

That is to be followed in May with the electronic filing of guardianship cases, he said.

©2015 The Eagle-Tribune (North Andover, Mass.)