The pandemic restrictions have encouraged courts to innovate in the area of ​​remote access to legal proceedings. The innovation that allows for the study of case documentation online is one of the key improvements.

How to review case materials in arbitration court online

Who can review online?

Access to digital court case files is only possible for persons with the status of participants in the process. According to the Arbitration Procedure Code of the Russian Federation, these include:

• plaintiffs,
• defendants,
• persons with legitimate interests in special cases (as in bankruptcy and similar procedures),
• third parties,
• representatives of the prosecutor's office, state and local authorities, organizations and citizens in accordance with the law.

The right of access to materials for other persons usually requires individual consideration and must be supported by a petition.

Important! We provided assistance in accessing documents on a past case for a client who was not a direct participant in the process. The request was motivated by the need for evidence for another trial. The right to examine documents may also be granted to witnesses, experts or heirs of the parties to the proceedings.
Authentication in the “My Arbitrator” system
Access to the system is through authorization on the public services portal. You can log in to the system through the page, the login button is located in the upper right corner of the interface.

It is important to note that a verified account on the public services portal is required to log in to the system. If the system is accessed through the account of a representative acting on behalf of another person, a notarized power of attorney is required. Through the representative's account, you can manage documentation for one or more principals, including both individuals and legal entities.

Setting up and activating email for notifications

Before starting the application process, check and activate your email in the personal account settings on the “My Arbitrator” service. This is necessary so that you can start receiving notifications with access codes and information about the status of your request.

The activation process is as follows:

• In the “Personal Settings” section on the platform, enter your email address and save the changes.
• Then go to the “Electronic Guard” service, where in the upper left corner you will find the “Activate” option, which will be available if the address has not been activated before.
• After sending the activation request, wait for the notification to your email address and follow the steps specified in the letter to complete the activation process. Remember that email notifications will start arriving at the activated address from the day after activation.

Filing an application for access to legal documents

Access to case documents can be requested via the My Arbitrator online platform by sending a paper application by mail or by submitting it in person to the court office. It is possible to review documents included in the case, audio recordings of hearings, court decisions and full case materials, provided that their number does not exceed two volumes (300 pages).

Exceptions may apply to cases stored in the archive, considered behind closed doors, related to bankruptcy, exceeding the established volume or located outside the court. The decision on access is made by each court individually.

Access to legal case documents

Once the petition is completed and filed, the responsible employee of the judicial apparatus registers it in the system. A registered petition will trigger an automatic notification to the case participant's email address, confirmed in their personal account on the "My Arbitrator" platform.

If the petition is approved by the judge, the participant receives temporary 24-hour access to the necessary case documents. The access code is sent to their email address and must be entered in a specialized section on the website. In case of refusal, the user receives a notification explaining the reasons for the refusal.

To activate and use access to the materials, the participant must enter the received access code on the "Arbitration Case File" portal, where the search function by case number is available. If the code has already been activated earlier, access to the documents is provided automatically, which is reflected in the "Code Specified" status in the system.

The online access functionality to cases ensures stable and efficient operation throughout Russia, although there may be some peculiarities in certain regions, for example, in the Moscow Arbitration Court. The process of familiarization with cases online has already been tested by time and has proven to be highly effective. Access denials may be due to the limited technical capabilities of individual judges or the workload of the judicial system.

During the pandemic, the online access function is especially important, as it allows you to prepare for court hearings, observing social distancing measures and maintaining the health of the participants in the process.

Оставить заявку на ознакомление