Fort Myers, FL asked in Civil Litigation for Florida

Q: I need to prepare an Exhibit Folder for a Small Claims Court hearing in front of a judge. I will be doing this pro bono.

When I filed with the Small Claims Court initially, I had to make copies of my documents to give to the Defendant, which I did and sent them to him via Certified Mail. I need to mark each document with an Exhibit Number, but once this is completed, do I need to resend the same documents to the Plaintiff. I understand that I will need a copy of the documents for the judge.

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2 Lawyer Answers
Paul C. Jensen Jr.
Paul C. Jensen Jr.
Answered

A: When appearing in small claims court, I would recommend preparing at least three identical exhibit binders: one for the judge, one for yourself or any witnesses, and one for the opposing party. I would use binder dividers with tabs to separate each exhibit, and include an index in the front. The goal is to make sure everyone is on the same page (literally) in an efficient and expedient manner. Bring the three binders with you on the date of the trial.

The above information is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be used as legal advice applicable to the reader’s specific situation. The provision of this information to the reader in no way constitutes an attorney-client relationship.

Tim Akpinar agrees with this answer

Terrence H Thorgaard
Terrence H Thorgaard
Answered
  • Freeeport, FL
  • Licensed in Florida

A: You are either the plaintiff or the defendant; it doesn't make any sense to ask about sending the documents to both. And you apparently are pro se (which means you are representing yourself instead of being represented by an attorney), not pro bono (which means an attorney representing someone without charge).

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