eCourts Portal of Western Australia - Help: Search for Civil Matters/Files

Search for and View a Civil Matter/File

If you are the party to a civil matter, or the legal representative to a party on a civil matter, then there is an option to view one of your matters in the My Current Matters screen. Otherwise, civil matters can be searched for and viewed via the eLodgment Quick Matter Search.

01. After logging in, from the eCourts Portal home page click on eLodgment.

The eLodgment home page displays.

02.   In the Search for Matters search enter the following details of the matter:

  • Jurisdiction
  • Division
  • Location
  • Matter Ref (matter type, index number and year) or File Ref (Family Court file index number and year)

NOTE: Some matter types have been deliberately excluded from the search screen due to confidentiality reasons.

Or enter the full name of a party on a matter into the Party Name field.

03. Click Search.

The matter(s) displays in the Find Matter screen.

04. Click the View link in the View Matter column.

Details of the matter are displayed.

05. To view the full list of documents that were lodged on the matter click the View Document List link.

The Documents screen displays.

If there are a lot of documents on the matter use the search criteria to help find the one you wish to view.

06. To view the PDF version of one of the documents click the View link next to the relevant one.

The PDF downloads to your browser.


Why can’t I find a matter through the Quick Matter Search?

The ‘Quick Matter Search’ is for searching for non-criminal matters. However, the jurisdictions have different business rules that determine who can search for what:

  • Children’s Court – no one is allowed to search for or view children’s court civil matters.
  • Criminal Injuries Compensation - only parties and legal representatives are allowed. No one is allowed to view the matter. Use this search to see the matter’s current status.
  • District Court - parties, legal representatives and law firms can all search for and view matters. Law firms who aren’t representing anyone cannot view the electronic content of the file.
  • Family Court - only parties and legal representatives are allowed.
  • Magistrates Court - only parties and legal representatives (plus real estate agents on RSTN matters) are allowed.
  • Restricted Publications - only parties and legal representatives are allowed.
  • Supreme Court – parties, legal representatives and law firms can search for and view matters. Law firms can only view the electronic content of a file on which they are representing a party. This search functionality is limited to matters in the civil jurisdiction for which there is an electronic file. Matters in other jurisdictions of the Court, where no electronic file exists, cannot be searched using the Quick Matter Search.
  • State Administrative Tribunal - only parties and legal representatives are allowed. Some matter types are hidden entirely (e.g. GAA and MH).

NOTE: In addition to the above rules a Court/Tribunal can also manually block a particular party/legal representative from viewing a particular matter.