Posted by Pierces Notary Services on 9/23/10 2:20pm
Msg #353644

Document retrieval from courthouse

Does anyone do this type of work for anyone? If so, for who? I work 2 blocks from the courthouse and thought maybe this is something I could do during my lunch breaks.

Reply by PAW on 9/23/10 2:33pm
Msg #353652

Good question ...

I too am very close to our county courthouse, but most of the records are on-line, so I don't know how viable this would be. I too am interested in hearing if anyone is doing this type of thing.

Reply by Cari on 9/23/10 2:50pm
Msg #353662

Um no. Not all documents are available on-line...

and not all courthouses participate in on-line case retrievals. And not all cases are scanned in and made available. And some even charge a nice little fee for downloading the document.

For example, in Cook county, criminal cases are not readily available on-line, so I have to go to the criminal court house and physical obtain the documents, and copy them. (sux because I can't bring in any electrical items, only my cell phone, so no scanning, and lotsa of quarters.

And, the clerks who scan these documents into the court system, often times screw up and accidentally omit certain documents or take their time scanning them in, etc. Or after its scanned, the pdf or whatever format, cuts off the document, etc.

You name it, I've seen it!

So yeah, its a viable source of making a few extra bucks. But if you do not have any knowledge of legal pleadings, it may be sort of hard.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 9/23/10 2:52pm
Msg #353664

I think Paul was referring to FL...and the

databases are pretty comprehensive...not much you can't get from their online sites.

Reply by jba/fl on 9/23/10 9:41pm
Msg #353753

Re: I think Paul was referring to FL...and the

Can't get criminal in FL - only summary of pleadings. For dispositions have to go to courthouse, get pulled, decide what you want, get copied and pay on the spot. Orange Co is $1 page. Took a criminal paralegal friend with me when I needed 3 cases so I wouldn't copy unnecessary pages. Thank heavens she went with me - I probably would have paid over $100 and thrown most of it away as I just didn't have a clue.

Reply by Cari on 9/23/10 11:28pm
Msg #353769

But there are limits Linda, which makes being a clerk or

court runner a good side job. And its all the more reason to advertise specifically those in the legal biz and also the general public.

If you can get certain docs on-line, that would be perfect for the person who resides out of state, and not familiar with county court houses, or for the folks that do not own a computer (and there are lots). You can charge those folks a modest download as well as mailing fee, and still make a little money.

You can't get rich clerking or court running, but its a good side job, again, especially for those that know and can recognize legal pleadings.

Reply by Pierces Notary Services on 9/23/10 3:09pm
Msg #353674

Re: Good question ...

I know there is a service where our title searcher can access real estate documents online. I might consider that option if I had enough work to warrant the cost.

Reply by Cari on 9/23/10 2:36pm
Msg #353655

I do, but there's no notary work at all. I do this as part of my freelance paralegal biz (22 years)

I bring my laptop, with a fully charged battery and a portable scanner. I mainly provide these services for attorneys and various companies like insurance, or investigation firms. But I'll work for whomever pays me my fees. I charge by the hour and a flat fee, but it depends on what I'm scanning that is pages.

Advertise to attorney's in your area, put an ad on CL, etc., you'll get calls. But charge a fee that is equivalent to the worth of your time.

Reply by Mary Ellen Elmore on 9/23/10 2:54pm
Msg #353666

Great question! It made me think. I am not far from my county courthouse and know about public records abstraction and court pleadings as I worked as a Legal Secretary at one time.

Great advice given also.

Reply by Stamper_WI on 9/23/10 4:18pm
Msg #353696

I recently did one for a tc in CA. I had to get doc's from probate to determing heirs and a certified copy of a death certificate. None of that is online.
Apparently the deceased once owned property in CA with her 2 brothers and it was not clear if she signed off on it.