Page 44 - November 2019 BarJournal
P. 44

FEATUREEXTRA







        CUYAHOGA COUNTY


        DOMESTIC RELATIONS

        COURT LAUNCHES

        MOBILE APP




        COURTCONNECT




        CONTRIBUTED BY
        THE DOMESTIC RELATIONS COURT



                  he Cuyahoga County Court   court in Ohio, and possibly the first in the   •  In real time, lawyers can view the status
                  of Common Pleas, Domestic   U.S. “Hopefully our prototype will be used   of their cases/case dockets, and review a
                  Relations Division announced   in  other  courts  throughout  Ohio  and  the   list of pending cases they are involved in.
                  earlier this year the launch of   country,” Judge Goldberg said.  •  Litigants can register for e-filing to view
        TCourtConnect, a free mobile app      There  are  two  ways  to  login  to   document images from their own cases online.
        designed to connect to litigants and attorneys   CourtConnect:  through  an  email  address
        with  the  Court.  CourtConnect  provides  the   or with an e-file account. Both methods   Domestic Relations Court Services
        public with quick, easy, 24/7 on-the-go access   will allow users to flag cases, receive push   •  Domestic Violence (DV) Department
        to court-related information through their iOS   notifications regarding court dates and     – DV information link(s)
        and Android mobile devices.         docket updates, and learn what is happening     – FAQs
          “CourtConnect is bringing our courtrooms   with their cases in real time. An e-filing     – Case management modification
        to the palm of your hands. Through this   account also allows users to view docket
        technology  and  innovation,  we’re  helping   images in real time.    Child Support
        families navigate the legal system and conserve   This is the first version of CourtConnect;   •  Users can access a link to Ohio
        their  resources,  while providing easy access   Judge Goldberg and her team welcome   Department of Jobs and Family Services
        to important information about their cases,”   feedback from users so they can build on the   (ODJFS) website portal, then access child
        said Judge Goldberg, who spearheaded the   technology and make it better.  support payment information.
        app’s development.                    CourtConnect’s key features include:    – At  the  ODJFS  website,  users  can log
          CourtConnect  is intended to  make  the                                  in to view status of their child support
        experience of navigating a DR Court case   Case Searches                   payments or make child support
        more convenient and less stressful. She was   •  Lawyers can log into the app using their   payments online through Ohio Child
        motivated to develop CourtConnect because   e-File account ID and password.  Support Payment Central.
        of two major issues in DR Court—the high   •  Obtain case information including:
        number of self-represented litigants and the   Parties, Docket, Service and Costs/Billing  Court Fees
        inability for individuals to pay child support   •  Non-lawyers can register for an account   •  Users can see the court cost information
        in the courtroom.                    using their valid email address, then   for their case, including their total court
          Self-represented  litigants  receive  flag  individual  cases  to  receive  push   costs, current balance due, and billing/
        assistance in the Court’s Help Center,   notifications:                  payment history.
        launched in 2017 to provide resources for     – When new documents are filed in your   •  Users can pay court costs online.
        parties who don’t have lawyers. However,   case
        Help Center staff are not permitted to give     – Hearing dates scheduled
        legal advice or strategy. CourtConnect     – Journal Entries filed     For more information, please contact Ashley
        levels the playing field.               – Cases referred to Mediation or Family   Monaco at (216) 443-3157 or amonaco@
          CourtConnect’s cutting-edge technology   Evaluation Services         cuyahogacounty.us, or visit the Court online
        is the first of its kind for a domestic relations     – Continuances granted by the Court  at: http://domestic.cuyahogacounty.us/.

      44 |  CLEVELAND METROPOLITAN BAR JOURNAL                                                    CLEMETROBAR.ORG
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