Failure to Fix Mistakes, Failure to Appear

I got a notice to appear downtown next month for grand jury duty service, but the notice isn't really for me. It was addressed to my previously married name. I changed my name when I got married in 1992 and notified all the appropriate authorities to change their records. Under no circumstances do I go by my previously married name. Every once in a while I get junk mail and political propaganda addressed to my old married name, but I've never received a notice for jury duty under that name.

I'm been terminally ill and disabled since 2004, diagnosed in 1996. I'm homebound and mostly bedridden now. I AM excused from jury duty under my legal name. The hospital where my records are kept have no record of me under my married name - my doctor is unavailable. They don't have the authority to fill out any excuse forms for what is basically a fictitious name.

However, if I don't appear in court or produce a medical excuse, I will be FINED. I don't have someone who can drive me around, and I can't take public transportation.

It's not MY fault they haven't corrected their records since 1992! I refuse to ask my husband to take off work to do all the footwork for me - he could lose his job. I refuse to ask my son to take off school to do all the footwork for me - he's already got way too much on his plate.

There's no way I'll be able to show up for jury duty, and there's no way I'd be able to get in a medical excuse. I don't want to be fined for something that is NOT my fault and I have no power to fix!!!

I can see how frustrating this must be for you ((KathyM)). Have you tried to call or email them to tell them of this mistake and explain your medical/transportation difficulties? I hope this get resolved soon for you.

You should have some record of your name change don't you? With that you may be able to make a copy of the documentation and have a copy of your disability notice from your doctor sent to you. You could then mail the documentation to the court requesting that you be excused.

Thanks Lynn. I called the number on the summons and managed to get a "real person," but she told me she had no authority to do anything other than to tell me to show up or pay up. I spoke with her supervisor, and he told me the same thing - even refused to pass on a message explaining my predicament.

Thanks MacMurphy. Yes, I used to be the organized one in the family and kept records of everything. My illness (amyloidosis) has interfered with brain functioning, so my organizational skills have been sadly lacking for quite some time now.

When my husband officially adopted our son in 1998 (my son from my previous marriage), we had to pull out and bundle up all those records - our marriage records, my previous marriage records, as well as all my son's records. Most of those documents made it back into their original spot, but not all. I'm going blind, and it makes me physically sick to my stomach/dizzy to search for something for more than a few minutes. I can't even remember where those important documents are kept, much less find the ones that got lost. Things have been moved around and files reorganized quite a bit in this house over the years, and we've gathered far too many important documents for me to have them all on hand.

My doctor can't help me because: 1) he is unavailable, and 2) there is at least a five-month waiting period to see him (I'm a clinic patient, he does not have a private practice).

E-mail your congressman! That may be one way to get some help. Just a wild asssss suggestion, hope you can get it straightened out KathyM.

I know it has to be very frustration for you. I'm thinking of you today.

Since you don't have any documentation proving that you are the person that they sent the summons for, they would be hard put to fine or arrest you because your ID is your current name & you don't have any documentation saying that you are the person who they summoned.....therefore, it doesn't seem like they could possibly even fine someone who doesn't exist???? If they put out a bench warrent for your arrest, all you have is your ID of who you are now, so there is no way they can prove you are who they think you should be.

Woah......now my head's spinning with all that reversed logic.....

I am sure this can be straightened out easier than it seems at this moment without imposing on any of your family. The court system usually takes that information from the drivers license information from what I remember......wonder where they really got your old name from???? "very interesting......but stupid"...think that was a quote off a TV show ages ago.

Wishing you the best of luck in this crazy situation....know it will all work out even if it doesn't seem like it at this moment

Thanks Beholden - I'm thankful I don't live in Kansas, particularly the district of Virgil Peck. He'd probably tell me to "Show up or else be shot from a helicopter!"

Thanks Eskielover. It crossed my mind to let it go, but it came as a certified letter. It's not a good thing to fool with mother nature, and it's not a good thing to fool with the government. I'd hate to get hit with an even larger fine (or imprisonment) further on down the road for neglecting this matter now. Besides, that supervisor was snarky with me and pointed out my (recorded) phone call was verification I DO exist.

I managed to track this down to the county board of elections. They are the ones who provide the courts with names for jury duty. I was so angry and flustered by the time I spoke with the woman in charge, but I was blessed with an angel. Even though I was blabbering almost incoherently, she listened enough to understand what I was saying and needed. Even more, she understood my predicament.

She had the district attorney call me. I told the DA of my illness and status. She told me to fax the summons and proof of my medical disability to her office and she will make sure the matter is cleared.

I do have my medical disability papers, so that's not a problem.

I allowed myself to relax and calm down. I took my mind off of the situation by folding some pillow cases. I got up to put them in the linen closet, when I noticed some scattered paperwork in a file on one of the shelves. I brought it back to my bed, opened the file....and found my official marriage certificate from 1992!

My son made copies of all the documents yesterday, and my husband will fax them out today. YIPPEE!!!!

Let's hope these documents make it back to their rightful place!

Thank goodness for the pillow case 'case'.

Good job. Sometimes I think it's important to keep talking about unsolved problems because somewhere, somehow along the road, there will be just the right person who has contact with just the right person (like you had happen with this)......all the more reason why women's talking about their problems gets them solved. Add to that the housework that needs to be done (the pillow case folding) & poof....it's so exciting when the things we need show up right where we are doing other work.

Don't know about you, but when I search specifically for things, I WILL NEVER find them, but when I'm doing something else unrelated....that's when I find things that have been LOST for so long.

I am sure that the DA will take care of the whole situation for you & easier than through any other ways......I just love how it all fell into place for you.....thank you for sharing....always love the miracles that happen in our lives.

How very upsetting and frustrating for you! I'm glad you found a way to fix it in time so you didn't have to deal with the whole fine thing hanging over your head.