Doxpop - Tools for Attorneys and Public Information Researchers

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

A better recorded document result page

Today Doxpop is releasing several changes to our recorded document search that we think you'll like. Here is what changed:

  1. A cleaner format, designed to work with wider screens.
  2. No document is presented more than once. Previously, if a search for a partial name matched two parties, the document would be displayed once for each matching party. Now, there are no duplicates.
  3. More documents returned. Previously you were limited to 200 results for each search. Now up to 500 results can be displayed.
  4. Sorting! You can reorder the results by clicking at the top of any column. (Note however, that if more than 500 results are returned, sorting can't be used









Thursday, June 5, 2014

Supporting the public with public information

At a recent meeting of the the Judicial Technology Oversight Commission, Doxpop fielded a question from a committee member who asked if  "Joe Public" could use Doxpop for free.

The answer is "yes!"

We call our free service the "Informed Citizen" account, but maybe we should change the name to the "Joe Public" account, because (when you include Josephine) that's exactly who we had in mind.

This free account has been a hit, and since we've introduced it, people have signed up for 33,000 "Joe Public" accounts. Each week more than14,000 searches are done using these accounts. The free account level includes access to all of our features, including unlimited support over the phone or eMail to make sure you find what you need. One commonly used feature is the ability to "save" a case, set an alert on it, and come back to it any number of times in the future - all for free.

It only takes a minute to get started with a free account-

Sign up at this page: https://www.doxpop.com/prod/common/NewSubscription. Make sure you select the plan that costs $0/month.

We were surprised that a member of the Judicial Technology Oversight Commission didn't know about this service, but it underscores the need for us to spread the word, so please help us encourage people to make use of Doxpop's free service by sharing this post with your friends.


Thursday, May 29, 2014

Memories of Jim Fielder.

Jim Fielder was one of the first clerks we worked with when Doxpop was just getting started. We couldn't have had a better introduction to the hardworking and kind people who choose a life of service in county government.

In the past 11 years, no visit to Monroe County has been complete without a visit to Jim's office, either as Clerk, or later, as Recorder. It didn't matter whether we actually had any business to conduct- We would go see him for the selfish reason that he would always make the day better. If we went into his office feeling cynical about government, we would leave feeling hopeful and reminded that no matter what mischief the national politicians have been up to, the folks who work quietly in the county courthouses keep the services we really need working.

The poet Kenneth Rexroth could have had Jim Fielder in mind when he wrote "The mature man lives quietly, does good privately, assumes personal responsibility for his actions, treats others with friendliness and courtesy, finds mischief boring and keeps out of it. Without this hidden conspiracy of good will, society would not endure an hour."

Anyone who has seen Jim's impish smile knows he was part of the conspiracy of good will.

I don't know how long they'll leave the picture up, but this image from the Herald Times captures his spirit well.

It's also worth taking a moment to read this remembrance from Rachel Bunn at the Herald Times. When I went looking for the picture link above, it was comforting to find several articles like this one, eulogizing Jim as a courageous and honest public servant.



Thursday, May 22, 2014

What the document image links do.

We have recently changed the labels on the links you use to get to recorded document images. Here are the new labels, and what they mean:


The View link is only available for counties where you have purchased access to the "unlimited view" feature. It will take you to a full-sized document image that you may view, but not print.

Preview is the link you will use most often. It is available in all counties, and takes you to the "sliding window pane" viewer that allows you to look at any portion of  the document without viewing the entire page. This is also the link you should follow if you want to purchase one or more pages of the document.

The Printable link will appear next to a document if you have already purchased one or more pages through the "preview" link. This link will take you to a printable version of the pages you previously purchased.

As always, if you have any questions, give us a call at 866-369-7671 or eMail support@doxpop.com if you have any questions. Friendly people are standing by to help!

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Welcome aboard, Carroll County!

Today, Doxpop welcomes the Carroll County Recorder's Office to our network of local government partners. Carroll County is the 31st Recorder's office we've worked with, and they pushed our count of Recorded Documents available through Doxpop to over ten million! 

Carroll County's recorded document index dates back to January 1, 1994, with images of most documents scanned and available in digital form from that date forward as well. People seeking on-line access to Carroll County's information can find it at http://www.doxpop.com.

In addition to making the Recorded Documents in her office available online, Recorder Mary Ann Burton is now providing the Doxpop Property Watch Service to residents of Carroll County at no cost. The Property Watch service allows anyone to set a watch on her or his name and property that provides notification when a document is filed that references either. The Property Watch service may be found at http://watch.doxpop.com.

We've enjoyed working with Marry Ann and her first Deputy, Teresa as we added their county. Every new county we work with expands our circle of friends and makes coming to work each day even more fun!



Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Carroll County's Recorded Documents will be available on Doxpop soon.


Julie and Nick stopped by the Carroll County Courthouse today in Delphi for a meeting with the Commissioners and Mary Ann Burton, Recorder. The Commissioner's approved our contract, so you can look forward to Carroll County Documents being available some time next week. 


Carroll County has a beautifully maintained courthouse with a 3-story rotunda topped by a stained glass skylight.



This was an early morning trip, so we celebrated with breakfast at the Stonehouse Restaurant and Bakery before leaving Delphi. Next time you're in Delphi, take the time to visit this restaurant. At first glance, it looks like an old drugstore with a soda counter. However, it turns out that the history of this building is a bit less wholesome, as it was a bar & bordello back in the day. When you go over for a closer look at the "soda counter", you'll realize that it's actually a massive bar made out of a single slab of walnut about 20 feet long and two feet wide.  The food and service was excellent!

Friday, April 11, 2014

Today is Information Day

Did you know that Today, April 11 (411), is Information Day? At Doxpop, our mission is to help provide you with access to the most accurate public information available. To celebrate, we are offering a special promotion over on our Facebook page today. Share with us a fun fact or piece of information, and we'll add 10 free searches to your account!

Head over to www.facebook.com/doxpop, or leave a comment here to chat with us.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Today is "Be Kind To Lawyers Day".

We suspect this holiday was created by those sneaky florists or greeting card companies, but we're always ready for an excuse to celebrate and use up the leftovers from yesterday's celebration of the 81st anniversary of the effective date of the Cullen-Harrison act.


So... in honor of "Be Kind to Lawyers Day", Doxpop is doing the following:

  • During the day of April 8th, We'll add 20 free searches to the account of any attorney or law firm that comments on this post or emails us at support@doxpop.com.
  • If you don't already have a Doxpop account, convince us that you're a lawyer, and we'll set you up with a free account that's good for 60 free searches during the next month (Yes, that's a nod toward "National Thinly-Veiled Marketing Day", but you might as well take advantage of the opportunity.)
  • We promise to cease and desist from telling lawyer jokes for one day on or about April 8, 2014.
From a more serious perspective, we really do appreciate the attorneys we work with. People love to poke fun at attorneys, but we're in the camp that thinks a confrontation in a courtroom is a vast improvement over a fistfight (or worse) in the street.

The practice of law can get ugly sometimes, but we must never forget that the alternative is much uglier.

Have a great day!

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

The six steps to license reinstatement following a suspension for non-payment.

Doxpop's main business is providing on-line access to Indiana Court information, but we also provide an on-line payment service for citations that currently covers 27 Indiana Counties.

For most people, the process is simple. They pay their ticket and get on with their lives (hopefully with less speed & more care.)

However, we often work with people who neglected a ticket for too long and now have a license suspension. These people are in a world of hurt because this can't be fixed in one day or even a few days. However, paying via Doxpop is usually the fastest way to get the process started. Over the years, we've learned something about the process. Here's how it works, and a few key pieces of information to help you along the way:

First, make sure you acknowledge the whole problem. This process is straightforward for a single overdue ticket, but if you've got a more complicated situation, you should really be looking for an attorney instead of an on-line payment service.

1) When you've decided to pay, get it done quickly.
You can either pay your ticket at the clerk's office with cash, certified check, or money order, or you can use Doxpop's Fine Payment Service to pay it on-line. Payments through Doxpop are sent to the clerk's office and receipted on your case within 15 minutes, so we're usually the fastest method. Doxpop charges a convenience fee for our service, so if you are not in a hurry, you can save money by going straight to the clerk. If your citation is not filed in one of the counties we work with, you might be able to pay it through the State Court's payment site.

2) If you are in Indiana, wait one full business day.
All of the clerks we work with are excellent about reporting your payment to the BMV quickly. Depending on local business processes, all payments are reported either in the late afternoon or early morning following payment during a business day. These notices are sent electronically, so the BMV can process them automatically.

3) If you are outside of Indiana, the Indiana BMV will contact your State Motor Vehicle Agency.
As a general rule, State Motor Vehicle Agencies will not accept proof of payment from you or Doxpop. It is just too easy to fake these documents, so they only accept them if they come directly from another government agency. Currently, the Indiana BMV is processing payment information and notifying other States electronically in two working days, so if it is after day three, and the information has not appeared at your State Agency yet, call the Indiana BMV to find out what happened. Their number is 888-692-6841.

4) Whether you are in Indiana or elsewhere, you will need to get in touch with the BMV and pay a reinstatement fee to get your license back. In Indiana, you will find information on suspension and reinstatement on the BMV web site:  http://www.in.gov/bmv/2330.htm. You can call the Indiana BMV at 888-692-6841. Other contact information may be found at their web site: https://secure.in.gov/BMV/mybmv/Contact.aspx

5) In Indiana, you may also need to submit proof of insurance. The BMV will only accept this if it is sent directly from your insurance company, so plan for this in advance by contacting your agent to make sure they are prepared to submit this on your behalf.

6) Did we remember to say "Be Nice"? We know you need to be able to drive to work, and care about helping you get this taken care of quickly. However, you should prepare to be patient and kind to everyone you speak to. Even on their best day, nobody calls a Clerk's office or the BMV to compliment them or ask them to relax, so know in advance that grumpy and impatient won't make you stand out from the crowd.

Finally, please don't interpret any of what's been said above as legal advice. We are not attorneys, and we are only telling you the mechanics of how the accounting process works after you have already made a decision to pay the ticket. If you have a question about that decision, seek an attorney to advise you.

Friday, March 28, 2014

New Castle Courier Times prints nice article about Doxpop's Property Watch Service.

Following up on a recent public demonstration, the Courier Times in New Castle Indiana has published a nice article describing the property watch service that Doxpop provides at no cost to recorders who partner with us for their public access needs:

http://www.thecouriertimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=45&ArticleID=286059

Doxpop's Property Watch Service may be found at http://watch.doxpop.com. The service allows people to set a watch for any documents filed in their local recorder's office that affect their property. The Doxpop Property Watch Service provides eMailed notification within 10 minutes of the time that the document is filed.

There is no cost to either the county or the users of the property watch service. This allows recorders to add a valuable service for their constituents without increased use of public funds.