For many North Carolina lawyers, the courts’ e-filing system remains a source of daily frustration. Even experienced attorneys find that small missteps – missed notices, incomplete searches, or assumptions about service – can create outsized risk.

The reality is this: many of the challenges lawyers face with e-filing are systemic, county-specific, and not intuitive. Understanding where those risks arise – and how to manage around them – can help lawyers protect their clients and themselves.

The following practice tips are drawn from real-world experience shared by Lawyers Mutual Community Board member and litigation attorney Amy Hunt of Alexander Ricks PLLC, who regularly works with the Odyssey system and has seen firsthand where attorneys most often run into trouble.

Managing Search-Related Risks

One of the most common pain points in Odyssey is search functionality. Lawyers often assume that if a case or party exists, it should be easy to locate. Unfortunately, that’s not always true. 

Searching Individuals:

• Always end searches with an asterisk (*).
• Use a last name plus part of a first name rather than a full name. If you run a search with only a last name, it will return no results. You must add at least a first initial and asterisk.
• Be flexible and try multiple variations if a search doesn’t immediately return results.
• Also note that searching in the “Smart Search” / “Search Criteria” bar that appears when you click on the “Smart Search” icon is different than searching by party name under the “Advanced Filtering Options.”  The latter will require more than a first initial of the first name. This can be especially tricky if you are searching a name with three or fewer letters in it.
• We find using the general search on the first page to be more user-friendly when searching by party names.

Searching Businesses:

When searching for business entities, there’s an additional trap. Odyssey requires users to scroll down and select a small checkbox labeled “business search.” If that box isn’t selected, relevant cases may not appear at all – leading attorneys to believe, incorrectly, that nothing exists.

Searching by Case Number:

Case number searches can also be misleading. A missing zero or using “CV” instead of “CVS” may prevent a case from appearing. To complicate matters, both designations exist in the system, so lawyers may need to try more than one version. Typically, if a case was filed before Odyssey was implemented in that specific county, it may have “CVS.” All cases filed after Odyssey was implemented in that county should have a “CV” designation.

Risk reminder:Don’t give up if your first search produces no results. Try more than one combination of letters and do not forget the asterisk!

Not Everything Is Linked—or Noticed

Another common issue is the lack of consistent linking between related filings. For example, Notices of Lis Pendens and the underlying lawsuits are not always clearly connected in Odyssey. This varies by county, but it can create confusion and increase the risk that attorneys miss related matters.

When submitting a Notice of Lis Pendens, it all depends on the county.

• Some counties require you to first file an NLP in District Court, even for Superior Court cases. This will docket the NLP as a judgment. It is then best practice to upload the filed Notice of Lis Pendens in the related Superior Court action.
  • However, some counties reject filing a Notice of Lis Pendens in the related action. If this happens, the Notice of Lis Pendens should be related back to the underlying action by simply adding a comment to Odyssey when you file a description of the document in the “Filing” section. You can also call the Clerk to ask them to link the Notice of Lis Pendens to the underlying case.
• Some counties will allow you to file the NLP directly in the underlying actions.
• Some counties do not allow any form of linking the Notice of Lis Pendens to the underlying action, as it is assumed that all attorneys will check both pending action and judgments. 

Notices and Orders:

County-specific practices also play a significant role in the entering of administrative notices, scheduling orders, or other documents. Some counties enter these items without triggering any meaningful attorney notifications, placing the burden solely on the attorney to keep up with each case. Even in counties where a notice is generated, it may simply direct the attorney to the case without explaining what was entered. You must then go into the case portal and review.

Attorneys may upload proposed orders and then wait, sometimes for weeks, checking periodically to see if the judge has signed and entered the order. This is particularly risky when calculating appeal deadlines. Pay close attention to Rule 3 of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure and service of orders.

Best practices:Attorneys cannot assume that Odyssey will alert them to every development. The burden remains on lawyers to proactively monitor their cases. It is best practice to do a weekly search in the “Search Hearings” section of Odyssey using your bar number or name, if you had made an appearance in a particular case. This search will yield results for administrative notices, trial and hearing dates, scheduling orders, and orders entered by the Court. It is also important when searching a case, that you also search judgments to make sure you are aware of any improperly-linked (or not linked) Notices of Lis Pendens. While these can be time-consuming tasks, they are essential to avoid missing notices.

Understanding Rule 5 Pitfalls

When uploading a document, Odyssey provides options to “file,” “file and serve,” or “serve only,” so make certain you are choosing the correct option. There have been situations where attorneys believed they had completed service through Odyssey, only to learn that opposing counsel never received notice. This could be a result of checking the wrong option, it could be that opposing counsel’s information is not properly input into the case, or it could be a technical glitch. This is especially problematic now that Rule 5 calls for service via Odyssey. 

Best Practice:Never assume service was completed simply because a filing was accepted. Confirm service independently when deadlines or rights are at stake. Also, if you are counsel of record (especially defense counsel), confirm you are in the service contacts. In the e-File platform, select the case, choose “Actions,” and then review “View Service Contacts.” If your name does not appear, you are not getting e-service, even if you previously filed in the case.

A Risk-Management Mindset for E-Filing

The most important takeaway is not a technical trick – it’s a mindset.

Lawyers should assume that:

• Searches may be incomplete unless multiple variations are tried
• Notifications may be delayed or nonexistent
• Orders may be entered without notice
• Service requires verification 

In short, Odyssey does not replace active case management.

Risk-Management Takeaways

• Use multiple search variations, including partial names and asterisks
• Always select “business search” when applicable
• Do not rely on Odyssey notifications alone
• Actively monitor cases awaiting orders – especially those with appeal implications
• Confirm service independently 
• Be especially cautious when practicing in multiple counties

Additional Resources 

Lawyers seeking additional guidance or experiencing challenges with North Carolina’s e-filing system are encouraged to use the training and support resources available through the NC Administrative Office of the Courts (NCAOC). The NCAOC provides e-filing helpdesk support, online guides, FAQs, and training materials. The NCAOC also welcomes questions and feedback from system users as eCourts continues to evolve.