Following Up On Pro Se Filing

by Jim & Judith Hinkle
(Hinkle Legal Document Preparer
Sebring, Florida, Highlands County)

Dear Fellow Document Preparers:

We have come up against a real snag in the Pro Se process. Once a document has been filed, we have no way to track its progress through the system.

For instance, we have a client we are helping to process an eviction. All the papers have been served and the proper forms filed. We are simply waiting on the judge’s signature.

We are not allowed to inquire with either the clerks or the judges’ assistants as to the status of the documents. However, our client simply feels we are giving him the runaround – that WE haven’t done our part.

One of our past clients took matters into her own hands and bombarded the clerks and the judge’s assistant for a progress report, to the tune of us being warned to have her back off. Too many of these incidents in the past have caused a Preparer to lose credibility with “hizzoner”. We all know that, in his or her position, a judge is akin to a god (small ‘g’).

Has anyone got an idea for a way to follow up on filing without causing offense?