Court Online basics for first-time users

Court Online is the South African judiciary's electronic case-management platform for civil matters in the High Court. CaseLines is the integrated digital evidence and bundle-management system. Together they have changed how matters are filed, managed and heard. This is a practical first-time user walkthrough.

1. Registration

Visit courtonline.judiciary.org.za and click Register. You will need a valid email address, a South African ID or passport number, and your professional details if you are an attorney, advocate or candidate attorney. Self-represented litigants register as 'individuals'. Verify your email and complete the profile.

2. Profile and roles

Set your correct role (attorney, candidate, advocate, individual). Attorneys must link to their firm. Add your physical address, service address and contact details — these become the default on every filing.

3. Issuing or uploading a case

• Click 'Issue a new case' to create a new matter (e.g. summons, motion).
• Select the correct division and court.
• Capture parties accurately — name, capacity, attorneys.
• Upload your originating process (signed PDF).
• Pay any applicable fees. Court Online will issue and return a stamped copy.
• For existing matters, search by case number and 'request access' to be added as a party.

4. Filing further documents

Once you have access, use 'File a document' to upload notices, affidavits, pleadings and applications. Always file in PDF, properly paginated and OCR-searchable. Use clear file names that match the document type.

5. Service

Court Online does not replace formal service in every instance. Originating process generally still requires the sheriff. Subsequent filings between parties already on Court Online are served electronically through the platform. Always check the practice directives for your division.

6. CaseLines bundles

• Each matter has a digital bundle in CaseLines.
• Upload documents into the correct section (pleadings, notices, affidavits, exhibits).
• Paginate so every page has a unique reference (e.g. 001-1, 002-1).
• Use the index feature so the judge can navigate.
• Update the bundle ahead of every hearing and notify the other side.

7. Common pitfalls

• Filing scanned images instead of OCR-searchable PDFs.
• Wrong division or court selected at issue stage.
• Failing to serve hard copy where the rules still require it.
• Last-minute CaseLines uploads — judges expect bundles to be ready in advance.

Training and support

We offer Court Online and CaseLines onboarding for firms, paralegals and self-represented litigants — registration help, single-filing assistance, group training and written playbooks. Book a session to get your team running.