Temporary and Permanent Guardianship in California

By Sandra McCarthy|July 28th, 2019|Family Law|

When parents are unable to care for their children, the court may appoint a guardian for those minors. Temporary and permanent guardianship represent two options. Requesting the right type of guardianship plays a significant role in the success of a case. In some situations, however, you may not need to get a court-appointed guardianship. California offers informal guardianship solutions for short-term guardianship needs. Here's what you need to know about temporary and permanent guardianship in California.

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Types of Guardianship for Minors in California

By Sandra McCarthy|March 30th, 2021|Family Law|

When establishing guardianship for minors in California, it is important to understand the different options available and how each affects the legal rights of all parties. Read on to learn more about informal and legal guardianship, how to obtain each, and how A People's Choice can help.

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Steps to File Guardianship in California

By Sandra McCarthy|November 27th, 2017|Family Law|

Learn the steps to file guardianship in California. Se how hiring a legal document assistant can be less expensive than hiring a lawyer when filing guardianship in California.

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Alternatives to Guardianship in California

By Sandra McCarthy|January 18th, 2018|Family Law|

Guardianship allows a non-parent to make decisions and care for a minor legally. There are circumstances, however, when the formal court appointment of a guardian may not be necessary. What are the available quick and inexpensive alternatives to guardianship in California? Here's what you need to know.

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Guardianship

By Sandra McCarthy|April 21st, 2014|

Guardianship in California The purpose of filing a guardianship in California, is to obtain a court order that legally establishes an adult who is responsible for a minor child. A guardianship is not filed for an adult who cannot take care of themselves (see Conservatorships). Guardianship in California is the court [...]

How to Petition for Visitation in Guardianship Cases

By Sandra McCarthy|August 5th, 2020|Family Law|

Parents and grandparents who have trouble visiting their children or grandchildren may choose to petition the court for visitation rights. Usually, unless a parent is abusive or threatening to a child, the court will grant the parent visiting rights. Also, there are specific circumstances under which grandparents may be granted these rights. Read on to learn more about guardianship visitation rights and how a legal document assistant can help with the process.

Temporary Guardianship in California: Options for Minor Children

By Sandra McCarthy|March 16th, 2021|Family Law|

Are you considering your options for temporary guardianship of a minor child in California? Here are just a few of the options available to you. Once you've decided which route to take, be sure to contact A People's Choice for assistance completing and filing your legal documents!

Guardianship Document Pricing

By Sandra McCarthy|April 30th, 2017|

Pricing for Guardianship Document Preparation One of the most important questions when considering getting professional help for legal document preparation service is...how much is it going to cost? All of the services offered by A People's Choice are quoted on a flat fee. This fee includes preparing the standard paperwork as [...]

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Protected: Interview -Termination of Guardianship

By Sandra McCarthy|December 28th, 2020|

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California Guardianship Blog And News

By Sandra McCarthy|February 26th, 2018|

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Conservatorship vs Guardianship in California: Which Is Right for Me?

By Sandra McCarthy|February 2nd, 2022|California Courts, Family Law, Probate|

Most people have no idea what conservatorship or guardianship is, let alone the difference between the two. And for good reason! These two words can mean completely different things depending on which state you live in. For example, California and Texas have totally separate interpretations of guardianships. This makes the conservatorship vs guardianship question a [...]

What Is Guardianship and Conservatorship? An Explanation in Plain English

By Sandra McCarthy|February 14th, 2022|Family Law, Probate|

Guardianships and conservatorships exist to help people who can't always help themselves. However, unlike other states, California defines guardianship and conservatorship as two completely different arrangements. Both have to do with caring for someone who can't care for themselves, but they have separate meanings and applications. So, what is guardianship and conservatorship in the [...]

Conservatorship For Someone With Dementia

By Sandra McCarthy|April 28th, 2019|Probate|

Are you trying to get a conservatorship for someone with dementia? Nearly 50% of people over the age of 85 suffer from some form of dementia. Dementia can become severe and result in a person being unable to care for themselves. Unfortunately, when a person with dementia loses the ability to care for him/herself, a family member or some other person may need to intervene and set up a guardianship or conservatorship. If you have a family member suffering from dementia, here is some important information you need to know.

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Why You Should Transfer Real Property Into A Trust

By Sandra McCarthy|April 25th, 2020|Estate Planning|

Transferring real property into a trust helps avoid probate, estate taxes, guardianship or conservatorship, and much more. If you're worried about what will happen to your assets after your death, considering transferring your property into a trust. This act could help save your loved ones from stress and difficulty when settling your estate.

Conservatorship of a Minor in California: Everything You Need to Know

By Sandra McCarthy|December 16th, 2021|Probate|

Life isn't perfect. That's why sometimes, someone may need extra help and require another person to lend a hand. And sometimes, that person is a minor. In some states, that's where the conservatorship of a minor comes in. In California, when an adult is subjected to protective care following incapacitation, we call it "conservatorship." But [...]

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What Is a Permanent Managing Conservatorship?

By Sandra McCarthy|November 15th, 2021|Probate|

There are many reasons why someone may be unable to care for themselves. The government knows this, which is why the constitution of most sovereign states or nations makes provisions for people in this category. In the US, when someone is unable to take care of themselves (be it minor or adult), there are [...]

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When a Minor Inherits Property in California Probate

By Sandra McCarthy|November 11th, 2016|Probate, Estate Planning, Family Law|

It is not uncommon for a minor to inherit property in California probate. Minors usually inherit property in probate when the decedent dies unexpectedly or when assets are not put into a trust properly. Under California law, when a minor inherits property or a large sum of money, an estate guardian must be appointed. Upon [...]

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California Legal Document Pricing | A People’s Choice

By Sandra McCarthy|September 10th, 2016|

Pricing for California Legal Document Preparation One of the most important questions when considering getting professional help for legal document preparation service is...how much is it going to cost? All of the services offered by A People's Choice are quoted on a flat fee. This fee includes preparing the standard paperwork [...]

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How to Find Probate Records Online – Find Your Records Quickly

By Sandra McCarthy|May 21st, 2021|Probate|

How to Find Probate Records Online? Is it Possible? If you know anyone who has been mired in a probate case, you may have heard them talk about the horrors of probate. Probate gets a bad rep because of how expensive and time-consuming it can get, but it has existed in America since 1784, [...]

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Is It Time to Set Up an Elderly Conservatorship?

By Sandra McCarthy|February 23rd, 2022|Family Law, Probate|

Aging may be a privilege denied to many, but not many people like to admit they're enjoying that privilege. For plenty of people, part of the aging process is becoming subject to a conservatorship. If you have a loved one who is becoming unable to care for themselves, you may wonder: is it time to [...]

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Will Documents

Description of Will Documents (Notary fees additional)	Price
Will (individual)	$200
Codicil to Will	$125
Will package (individual) includes Will, Healthcare Directive and Financial Power of Attorney	$250
Will package (couple) includes 2 Wills, 2 Healthcare Directives and 2 Financial Powers of Attorney	$399
Other Services	Call for Quote

Trust Documents

Description of Trust Documents (Notary fees additional)	Price
Revocable Trust or Restatement of Revocable Trust (Individual) Trust or Trust Restatement only (you must have an existing revocable trust)	$300
Revocable Trust or Restatement of Revocable Trust (Couple) Trust or Trust Restatement only (you must have an existing trust)	$400
Revocable Trust or Restatement of Revocable Trust Package (Individual) Includes Trust, Pour-over Will, Certificate of Trust, Healthcare Directive, Financial Power of Attorney and estate folder	$499
Revocable Trust or Restatement of Revocable Trust Package (Couple) Includes joint trust, 2 Pour-over Wills, Certificate of Trust, 2 Healthcare Directives, 2 Financial Powers of Attorney and estate folder	$650
Special Needs Trust Designed for beneficiaries with physical or mental disabilities.	$700
Irrevocable Medi-Cal and/or VA Planning Trust	$700
Trust Transfer Deed and Preliminary Change of Ownership (California property)	$200 ($50 discount w/trust pkg)
Trust Transfer Deed (Out-of-State property)	$275 ($50 discount w/trust pkg)
Trust Transfer Deed (Timeshare)	$275 ($50 discount w/trust pkg)

Individual Estate Documents

Description of Individual Documents (Notary fees additional)	Price
Will	$200
Healthcare Directive	$125
Financial Power of Attorney	$125
Codicil to Will	$125
Trust Amendment	$200 and up
Trust Transfer Deed and Preliminary Change of Ownership (California property)	$200
Trust Transfer Deed (Out-of-State property)	$275
Trust Transfer Deed (Timeshare)	$275
Other Services	Call for Quote

Conservatorships Services We Offer	Price
Standard Conservatorship of Person AND/OR Estate (1 Petitioner) with or without Dementia Orders (Documents Only)	$1500
Limited Conservatorship for Developmentally Disabled (Documents Only)	$1200
Add-on Fees for Emergency Ex Parte Conservatorship (limited or standard)	+$450
Additional co-petitioner fee to any Conservatorship Petition	+$200
Add-on Fees for application for notice waivers and order	+$300
Add-on Fees for case management through Petition phase. Services include scheduling of any associated hearings, facilitating filing of documents with the court and other management services typically required to complete your Petition request	+$750
Standard preparation time is 10-14 business days. Rush preparation of all documentation is available for additional fee	$350+

Estate Administration Services	Price
Trust Administration (1 real property) each additional property +$200	$499
Probate Transfer by Affidavit (non-court, for estates with personal property only. This process cannot be used for estates with real property. Property must be valued under $166,250/$184,500)	$225
Simplified Probate Proceeding to Transfer Real Property Not Exceeding $55,425/61,000 (up to 2 Petitioners; 1 real property)	$649*
Simplified Probate Proceeding to Transfer Real Property Not Exceeding $166,425 (up to 2 Petitioners; 1 real property)	$799*
Spousal Property Petition (1 real property)	$749*
Heggstad Petition (1 Petitioner, 1 real property)	$1500**
No frills Probate Petition Documents Only for California Probate with Order of Probate and Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary (document prep only with instructions. No court filing or additional support services.)	$750**
Phase 1 California Probate Petition (Full Service with court filing assistance, arranging publication, notices and case management) up to Order of Probate and Letters of Administration or Letters Testamentary	$1500**
Most Popular Full service, complete California Probate, facilitation of court filings, arranging publication, administrative notices, and ongoing case management services	$3900**
Probate Phase 2 or Phase 3 Full Service	$1500.00+/phase
Report of Sale and Petition for Order Confirming Sale Real Property (for matters with limited authority)	$1500.00 +costs
Notice of Proposed Action (up to 5 notices)	$250
Supplements to Petitions	$250 min. and up
Other Probate Services	Call for quote

*In these alternative small estate probate proceedings, if estate has more than 1 real property or 2 Co-Petitioners, additional fees will based on the following: +$75/each Petitioner over 2; +$150/each additional real property over 1. **In full probate proceedings, the following additional fees will apply, if applicable: +$250/each additional real property over 1; +$250/co-Petitioner; +$100/each beneficiary over 5. Fee covers all standard documents for routine proceeding but does not cover specialty services that may be required in some proceedings. Fees are based on all heirs waiving bond, waiver of accounting by all beneficiaries, and all creditors paid in full prior to filing Petition for Final distribution. Phase 3 Petition for Final Distribution may have add-on fees based on extraordinary actions or requests by the administrator prior to distribution. Annual surcharge fee of $500 will be assessed for each year or partial year the case remains open after 12 months.

Business Services We Offer	Price
General Corporation Includes standard minutes, bylaws, resolutions, stock certificates and corporate folder. Secretary of State fee: $100.00	$275
S-Corporation (Includes S-Corp election) Includes standard minutes, bylaws, resolutions, stock certificates and corporate folder. Secretary of State fee: $100.00	$310
LLC Includes Operating Agreement and corporate folder. Secretary of State fee: $70.00	$399
Professional Corp Includes Bylaws. Secretary of State fee: $100.00	$499
Non Profit Corporation Includes standard minutes, bylaws and corporate folder. Secretary of State Fee: $30.00	$499
501(C)(3) Non Profit Federal Tax Application	$599
Dissolve Corporation	$200
Walk Through Service with Secretary of State (turn around time 7-10 days)	$165
Registered Agent for Service (Annual) Click here to sign up.	$175
IRS S-Corp Election only	$50
Obtain Tax ID Number	$50
Statement of Information	$50
Fictitious Business Name Includes facilitating processing and publication (filing fee and publication fees vary from county to county).	$175
Basic Partnership Agreement	$300
Business Sales Agreement	$300
Copyright Standard Application	$150
Other Business Services	Call for Quote

Agreements	Price
Marital Settlement Agreement only	$275+
Stipulation and Order	$350+
Stipulation/Order with Paternity petition	$624
Pre or postnuptial Agreement (basic)	$299
Nuptial Agreement with complex, custom clauses	$999

Paternity Matters	Price
Paternity Petition only	$300
Stipulation and Order only	$350
Paternity Petition with Stipulated Judgment	$575
Paternity Petition with Request for Order/Motion for custody, visitation, support	$875

Marriage and Domestic Partnerships Proceedings	Price
Short term Marriage/Domestic Partnership (no personal property, children or real property)	$499
Marriage/Domestic Partnership with personal property (NO children, includes written Agreement)	$624
Marriage/Domestic Partnership with children (Includes written Agreement)	$624
Marriage/Domestic Partnership with 1 real property (Includes written Agreement	$775
Summary Dissolution (Please check qualifications for Summary Dissolution)	$499
Termination of Domestic Partnership through Secretary of State (Please check qualifications for Secretary of State procedure)	$499
Petition Only OR Response to Dissolution	$200-$300
Application to Serve by Publication	$275

NEW "DOCUMENTS ONLY" SERVICE for Marriage and Domestic Partnerships Proceedings. Budget option for documents only. Services do not include any case management or filing services.	Price
Preparation of standard dissolution or legal separation documents for short-term marriage or domestic partnership (no personal property, children or real property, with filing instructions). Includes all standard documents from Summons to Judgment.	$250
Preparation of standard dissolution or legal separation documents for marriage or domestic partnership (with filing instructions.) Includes all standard documents from Summons and Petition through Judgment based on parties signing a drafted Marital Settlement Agreement (does not address any separate or community real property.)	$400
Preparation of standard dissolution or legal separation documents for marriage or domestic partnership (with filing instructions.) Includes all standard documents from Summons and Petition through Judgment based on parties signing a drafted Marital Settlement Agreement which addresses separate or community real property division.)	$550

Motion/Contested Matters (does not include preparation of Orders After Hrg)	Price
Custody or Visitation Motion (RFO)	$475
Custody, Visitation and/or Support Motion (RFO)	$575
Emergency Custody or Visitation Motion (RFO) Includes request for temporary orders.	$900 min. (incudes RUSH processing)
Emergency Custody, Visitation, Support Motion Includes request for temporary orders.	$975 min. (includes RUSH processing)
Custody, Visitation and Support Motion with Paternity Petition	$875
Ex Parte to Terminate Child Support at 18	$250
Motion for Change of Venue	$575
Motion for Gillmore Election	$775
Other specialty motions	$575+ requires quote
Motion for Bifurcation and Final Judgment documentation	$825
Restraining Order- civil or domestic (no children)	$400 min.
Restraining Order (with children)	$575 min.

Guardianship Services	Price
Guardianship Affidavit or Power of Attorney (non-court)	$175
Guardianship of Person AND/OR Estate (1 Petitioner)	$1200
Add-on Fees for Co-Petitioners (per additional petitioner)	+$200
Add-on Fees for additional Minor(s) per minor	+$400
Add-on fees for Temporary ExParte Guardianship Request	+$300
Terminate Guardianship of Person and/or Estate	$399
Other Guardianship Services	Call for Quote

Expungement Services	Price
California Expungements	$399; +$200 ea. addtl. (same case #)
Felony to Misdemeanor reduction	$399
Criminal Prop 47 Resentencing or Reduction	$399; +$200 ea. addtl. (same case #)
Motion to Terminate Probation Early	$575
Petition to Seal Record	$499
Petition for Certificate of Rehabilitation	$399; +$50 each additional felony

Name Change Services	Price
Adult Name Change (individual)	$399
Combo Adult Name Change with 1 child – If more than one child, add $100.00 for each additional	$450
Name change for Minor Child – If more than one child, add $100.00 for each additional	$399
Name change after Divorce (Certified copy of Order extra)	$100

Title Transfers	Price
Grant Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Affidavit Death of Joint Tenant, Trust Transfer Deed, Transfer on Death Deed or other California deed Includes preparation of Preliminary Change of Ownership Report	$200
Warranty or Out-of-State Deeds (Non-California Deeds)	$275
Timeshare Deeds	$275

Other Matters	Price
Claim for Exclusion of Reassessment (parent/child or grandparent/grandchild)	$125 (discounted to $100 if prepared with deed)
Promissory Note secured by Deed of Trust	$325
Request for Special Notice re Deed of Trust	$125
Order copy of last transfer document/deed	$30

Civil Complaints and Answers	Price
Small Claims Package Includes preparation of claim, submission of documents to court, scheduling of hearing and arranging service of process	$250 plus $25 each defendant over 1
Civil Complaint Limited with 1 cause of action Each additional cause of action	$250 +$75
Response to unverified Civil Complaint with affirmative defenses	$250
Response to verified Civil Complaint with affirmative defenses	$350 (1 cause of action)

Other Civil and Misc. Matters	Price
Propounding Discovery Interrogatories, Request for Admissions, Production of Documents	$500 up
Responding to Discovery Interrogatories, Request for Admissions, Production of Documents	$500 up
Motion to Set Aside Default Judgment	$575
Civil Restraining Order	$499; $25 each addtl. protected person
Renew Judgment	$350
California Sister State Judgment	$300
Other Collection Proceedings	Call for quote
Expungement	$399
Other Services	Call for quote

Copyright Services	Price
Federal Copyright Application	$150
Government Filing Fee	$45-$65

Copyright Services	Price
Federal Copyright Application	$150
Government Filing Fee	$45-$65

Adoption Services We Offer	Price
Uncontested Stepparent Adoption - one minor child (for each additional minor child add $150)	$499*
Petition to Terminate Parental Rights of unknown father	$599
Petition to Terminate Parental Rights (Willful Failure to Support or Abandonment)	$599
Adult Adoption - 1 adoptor & 1 adoptee (add $150 if there are 2 co-adoptors)	$599
Independent Adoption	$650*
Other Adoption Services	Call for Quote

Grandparent Visitation	Price
Petition for Grandparent Visitation within existing Active Family Law Case	$850
Petition for Grandparent Visitation without Active Family Law Case	$1000

Misc. Documents/Services	Price
QDRO	$499
Joinder only	$350
QDRO with Joinder	$825
Preliminary or Final Disclosure Package	$375
Application and Order to Serve by Publication	$275
Guideline Support Calculations (3 report variations)	$150
Trial Brief for family law trial (summary of issues only)	$500 min. (depending on issues)

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