Real-Time vs Database: the CourtTrax Advantage

When it comes to getting the court information you need, nothing beats being on the exact same page – and at the exact same time – as the court itself.

Many companies use in-house databases as their primary source for court records: static repositories of case information that are only as current as the last time they updated the database. Depending on the court or service providing the updates, their database information may be stale by a day or even as long as several months in its currency. This is known as data latency.

By contrast, CourtTrax’s online service connects our users in real-time to the case management systems of the courts themselves. So when a name or case number search is conducted using CourtTrax, our users can be assured that they are getting the most up-to-date information from the court of record the second they click the ‘Submit’ button. This is known as Real-Time data. Our customers demand Real-Time data for their Mission Critical business purposes; anything less than Real-Time data adds risk to their business, jeopardizing their business decisions. So why take the risk of data latency?

This also means that when you ‘Watch’ a specific court case using our Custom Case Watch feature, you know that the alert you get when a case is updated means that the case was updated by the court since your last search, giving you the benefit of a timely notification rather than having to wait for the next database update.

For very specific instances, CourtTrax will provide a database option, but only when it compliments or enhances one of our real-time offerings. And CourtTrax always provides a very clear notice when we are using a database and when the database was last updated. In Washington State, for example, the Administrative Office of the Courts maintains an Index of party names and case numbers in Superior Court, which is updated weekly. We offer our users the choice to use this Index as a faster, more affordable option for when they need to perform broad name searches statewide or in multiple counties, but who do not require real-time case filing information.

Questions?
If you have any questions about access to real-time court records, Custom Case Watch, or if you would like more information about any of our other products and services, contact us at customerservice@courttrax.com or give us a call: 866-643-7084 (Option 2).