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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Fx2wsC8TKUyDlaWfy2OrdOhOEec3DHElVWEgF1B4TTr08om3iWlIB6p79w38hVIO
 Q8kf6ZkdUtzpN5bK/cOo8Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001181431-04-016513.txt : 20040319
<SEC-HEADER>0001181431-04-016513.hdr.sgml : 20040319
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040319095808
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001181431-04-016513
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040317
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040319

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BYRNES JAMES A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217589

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22081
		FILM NUMBER:		04678942

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EPIQ SYSTEMS INC
		STREET 2:		501 KANSAS AVENUE
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66105-1309
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9136219500

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EPIQ SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001027207
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING SERVICES [7371]
		IRS NUMBER:				481056429
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 KANSAS AVENUE
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			KS
		ZIP:			66105-1309
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9136219500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		501 KANSAS AVENUE
		CITY:			KANSAS CITY
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			66105-1309

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ELECTRONIC PROCESSING INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19961116
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>rrd37019.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001027207</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EPIQ SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EPIQ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217589</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BYRNES JAMES A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>501 KANSAS AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KANSAS CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KS</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>66105</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.05</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-03-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-03-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options become exercisable in five equal annual installments, commencing one year after the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not fully vested in all options</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>//s/ James A. Byrnes</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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