E-FILING REQUIREMENTS/QUIRKS
Instructions for formatting, and presenting orders and documents for the Judge's signature
When formatting, preparing, and filing an order, or a document containing an order, do not start your Order with a date line reference, such as, “On this ___ day of _____, 20___, came on to be ….”. Just start it out as follows: “On this date, came on to be ….”. Don’t give your judges more blanks to fill in than are necessary. The reason is that with electronic signing and dating, every single blank requires a new action. Most e-dating apps and programs will drop in the date with a single action, in the proper format. Therefore, don’t use a date group at the beginning of your document; only at the end. If you feel compelled to use a date at the beginning, use a simple blank line.
The same rule applies on closing a document or order. In the past we’ve seen the document read, “Signed this ______ day of _______, 20___.” In that instance, three separate actions are required for a judge to input a date when e-signing. The better format is as shown below using a single date line. It is faster and cleaner. Therefore, for e-signatures and e-dating on “fill-in-the-date-blank” type documents, submit the date blanks in a format as follows:
DATED: ___________________________
________________________________
TUCK MCLAIN - JUDGE
GRIMES COUNTY COURT AT LAW
Using this format, only one action is needed as most e-signing and e-dating apps will drop in the date in one action. This is much quicker and cleaner.
On Search Warrants, Subpoenas, Orders for Assistance, Temporary Restraining Orders, and other documents requiring a “certification” statement and a time, the format should be as follows:
ORDERED and certified this date and time: ______________________________________
Then finish with the judge’s signature line.
When formatted as above, documents will be cleaner, clearer, and more accurate. Even if an Order is ultimately signed in a hard-copy format, the date and time with this new format will still work.
INCOME WIHTHOLDING FORMS
Prior to e-filing - please fill in the judges name (Tuck McLain), and title of Judge (Judge - Grimes County Court at Law) in Section V under "If required by State or Tribal Law".
