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The workbook

The Pro Se Field Workbook

The questions to ask before you file, while you wait, and after the ruling. By M. E. Kincaid with Pro Se Posse.

Cover of The Pro Se Field Workbook

Most costly mistakes in court are about timing and order, not about being wrong. This workbook doesn't tell you what to do in your case. It asks the questions people representing themselves wish they had asked sooner, explains why each one matters, and shows you where the answer is found for your own court.

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Not sure yet? Read Chapter 4 free.

  • Printable PDF
  • 104 pages
  • 6 × 9 in
  • Any state
  • 67guided questions, one per page, with room to write
  • 10chapters, in the order you'll need them
  • 4trackers: deadline log, master timeline, contacts, filing & service
  • 1plain-language glossary: movant, entry, stay and more
The path through the book

Ten chapters, start to finish

From deciding whether to go it alone, through filing and deadlines, to the day a ruling arrives and what comes after.

  1. Getting ready · 8 questions

    Chapter 1: Can I do this myself?

    An honest look at time, money, energy and risk before you commit. There are no right answers here, only honest ones.

  2. Getting ready · 8 questions

    Chapter 2: Words and the court ladder

    Court has its own vocabulary. Learn the words, learn who decides what, and the papers start to make sense.

  3. Getting ready · 7 questions

    Chapter 3: Your paper trail

    A simple system you set up once and use every day. It is the most useful thing you can do before anything else.

  4. Filing · 8 questions

    Chapter 4: Before you file

    What to know before anything goes to the court. Most filing problems start here, not in the courtroom.

    Free sample

  5. Filing · 8 questions

    Chapter 5: Timing and deadlines

    Most costly mistakes are about timing, not about being wrong. These questions help you find, count and protect every date.

  6. Filing · 8 questions

    Chapter 6: Motions

    A motion is a written request for the court to do something. Each side has a turn, and each turn has rules.

  7. After the ruling · 7 questions

    Chapter 7: Waiting, decisions, and the day a ruling arrives

    The quiet stretch after papers are in, and what to do the moment a decision lands.

  8. After the ruling · 7 questions

    Chapter 8: Appeals

    Asking a higher court to review a decision. Appeals are about the record and about strict timing.

  9. Every step · 6 questions

    Chapter 9: Staying credible

    Your tone and honesty are part of every paper. Courts notice both.

  10. Your court · Fill-in pages

    Chapter 10: Your State Edition

    Fill these pages in once, from official sources, and keep them current. Write the date you checked each one.

Inside a question page

Every question works the same way

Five parts, so you always know why it matters, where to look, and what to write down.

Chapter 5 · Question 5.2

What starts the clock?

1Why it matters
A clock can start from the decision, the clerk's entry, or the date notice was served. They can be different days.
2Where to look
The wording of the rule that sets the date.
3Write it down
Starts from: ☐ decision  ☐ entry  ☐ notice servedThat date:Source & date checked:
4Watch for
Counting from the day you opened the envelope.
A page from Chapter 5, shown as an example.

A few more questions inside

  • Question 4.2Is there something for the court to act on yet?
  • Question 6.7What may a reply add?
  • Question 8.3When does the time to appeal start, and when does it end?
Watch Question 5.2 explained in under a minute. More on our YouTube channel.
Is it right for you?

Who it's for

General and state-neutral, for people representing themselves in any state. New York readers can also use our New York reference library.

It's for you if

  • You're representing yourself, or deciding whether to
  • You want to understand the process before you file anything
  • You keep wondering what you're missing, especially about dates
  • You'd like one place to keep deadlines, contacts and filings

What it won't do

  • Tell you what to do in your case
  • Predict how a judge will rule
  • Replace your court's own rules, which you look up and write in
  • Replace a lawyer, legal aid or a court help center

Start with the right questions.

67 questions, 10 chapters and the trackers to keep every date in one place.

$9.99 $14.99
Sale price for the printable PDF through . Use code at checkout.

$14.99
Printable PDF.

Get the printable workbook
  • Printable PDF
  • 104 pages
  • 6 × 9 in
  • Any state

What it isn't. It is educational, not legal advice. It does not tell you what to file or predict a result. If you have a deadline soon, contact a court help center, legal aid, or a licensed attorney.

Last checked: October 26, 2026.