Approximately 2 months ago my dear mother in law needed to check some information about a closed estate in the Cuyahoga County Probate Records. I of course volunteered to obtain the information being the good son in law.

Easy enough some would think. After the rude clerk advised me it was on microfilm and where I could review the docs, I picked out about half of the documents I wanted copied. I politely approached the nice clerk and advised her I needed copies of these documents and by the way, I would like them certified.

No kidding, 30 minutes later I got half of what I needed and none of them certified. I asked the nice lady why she did not certify the documents I requested and her reply was, "Why do you need these documents and I'm not obligated to certify them".

Well..... is that so, I thought to myself. I checked my cell phone for the time and realized I had the proverbial "all afternoon" at my disposal. So...

I asked the kind lady if my writing was sufficiently legible and then asked her if someone else in the office could certify the documents. I then explained to her the reason for my retreiving the documents were none of her business.

Of course this didn't sit well. She actually got up in my face and said she didn't have to certify anything and that in fact she can't certify probate documents until she assertained to her satisfaction what my intent was with those documents. At this point pleasantries flew out the window and I began to advise her that I have forgotten more about title insurance, public records and probate law and filings then she will every learn in her slothlike public service existence. 

Yes, every single clerk looked up in absolute shock and horror including every attorney sitting in line on the bench. They at least cracked a smile over my tirade. 

So of course in true public servant fashion she advised me that if I had a problem with the policy I could speak with the almighty Magistrate (as if I was going to quake in my boots). I gladly accepted.

To make this long story short, I walked out of the magistrates office 30 minutes later with all my copies and evrything signed and certified. I walked down to the cashier and he sheepishly asked me if I got everything I was after and I proudly proclaimed of course I did. He smilingly took my money and I nearly got a standing ovation leaving the clerks office.

I guess it goes to show, if you keep letting these public officials walk all over you, they will stop once you hit them with common sense and reality.