First online probate applications on the way
The Courts Service says that it has expanded its courts portal to receive its first probate applications on a pilot basis.
The organisation says that, at this pilot stage, it is working very closely with a small number of solicitors to register them on the new portal to support the filing of probate applications online.
The pilot will evaluate and validate the initial applications submitted through the portal by solicitors in the Dublin area, ensuring they are accurately received and effectively processed by the Probate Office.
Feedback
The courts body says that the aim is to learn, adjust, and improve the system, based on feedback from users and the Probate Office, before deploying it to the rest of the country.
Owen Harrison (chief information officer, Courts Service) described receiving probate applications online as “a real milestone”.
“This is only the beginning, as we are taking an incremental approach. It is important that we progress and improve the pilot, based on user feedback and the experience in the Probate Office,” Harrison said, adding that the courts body would roll out the service nationwide when the pilot had reached a satisfactory level.
“Apart from the handful of solicitors we are working with on the pilot, others will not notice a difference for the time being,” Harrison stressed, as the Probate Office will continue to process probate applications in the usual way.
Revenue data exchange
The Courts Service says that its ultimate aim in digitising the probate process is to offer users the opportunity to reduce errors and improve efficiency.
Part of the project is to ensure that the portal will be compatible with a data exchange with Revenue.
“Facilitating the population of the information provided to Revenue on our portal should reduce errors and make it easier for those applying,” Harrison stated.
Modernisation programme
The courts portal for external users is being rolled out across different areas of law as part of the service’s modernisation programme.
A pilot for Circuit Court family law has already been introduced and is currently running in Dublin. It is set to go live nationwide in the coming months.
Across civil and family law in the next few years, the Courts Service expects the portal to facilitate e-filing, e-serving, making e-payments, and the collection of digital orders.
Other key elements of the modernisation plan are a new unified case management system (UCMS) for Court Service staff and a similar system for the judiciary.