which can be retrieved by a client computer 20 39 preferably but not necessarily through the internet 18 39 the client enters a reminder identifier a command for management of the reminder and if desired a request to perform a professional service and then transfers this information 78 back to central computer 74 again preferably through the internet 18 39 the reminder identifier is indicative of a particular matter for which the professional is responsible for example in the case of an intellectual property attorney the reminder identifier may include an intellectual property identifier which may be a patent number or a trademark number the command for management of the reminder may be for example a command to add data to the reminder delete data in the reminder or modify data in the reminder the request to perform a professional service may include in the intellectual property attorney example a request for payment of an annuity or maintenance fee or a request to file an intellectual property application the information 78 supplied by the client is received by central computer 74 which has software 80 executing thereon for determining a reminder date and client identifier from the reminder identifier the reminder date reminder identifier and client identifier are then stored indicated as 82 on docket database 14 34 thereby adding to deleting from or.