About Sandra McCarthy

Sandra M. McCarthy, founder of A People’s Choice, has worked exclusively in the legal field since 1976. She served as the 2004-2005 President of CALDA (California Association of Legal Document Assistants). She obtained a Paralegal Certificate from the University of California, Santa Barbara. During her career in the legal field, she has worked as a freelance paralegal, law office manager and paralegal studies teacher. She has co-authored numerous legal publications and written hundreds of self-help legal articles and is dedicated to the expansion of affordable, low-cost, self-help document preparation.

What Are The Benefits of a Nonprofit Organization?

There are several benefits of forming a nonprofit organization in California. For example, most nonprofits help improve the quality of people’s lives by providing them with food, shelter, and educational tools to succeed in life. If you are interested in forming a nonprofit in California, read on to learn more about the many benefits of [...]

By |August 4th, 2015|Business|Comments Off on What Are The Benefits of a Nonprofit Organization?

Steps to Start a Nonprofit in California

There are many steps to start a nonprofit in California. From choosing a corporate name, to filing articles of incorporation, following the right steps will help make sure your nonprofit is properly formed and obtains its federal and state tax exempt status. Read on to learn which steps you should follow to start a nonprofit [...]

By |August 4th, 2015|Business|Comments Off on Steps to Start a Nonprofit in California

Filing for 501c3 Status in California

If you are considering obtaining 501(c)(3) status for your California nonprofit, contact A People’s Choice for help. Below is a detailed overview of filing for 501c3 status in California for your nonprofit organization. Read on to learn more. 501c3 Tax Exempt Purpose The IRS grants 501(c)(3) status to a nonprofit that meets a tax exempt [...]

By |July 18th, 2015|Business|Comments Off on Filing for 501c3 Status in California

How to Divorce in California

Divorce is something you can’t avoid especially when in a toxic marriage relationship. You can seek divorce if your marriage or domestic partnership has hit a dead end. It’s believed that 50% of marriages end up in divorce in the world. Recent reports suggest a lower percentage, however. What are the steps for how to [...]

By |July 6th, 2015|Family Law|Comments Off on How to Divorce in California

The Difference Between Annulment and Divorce: What You Need to Know

The short 20-minute video will provide an overview of the difference between divorce legal separation and annulment in California. We discuss the legal basis needed to file an annulment in California, why some people choose to file a California legal separation proceeding and provide an in-depth discussion of the California divorce process for an uncontested divorce with a marital settlement agreement.

Getting Your Spouse to Move Out of the House

Getting your spouse to move out of the house may be more difficult than you would hope. However, there are certain circumstances that warrant the court to order a spouse to move out of the house during a divorce proceeding. For example, if you have filed for divorce and suffer from domestic violence, you [...]

By |June 28th, 2015|Family Law|Comments Off on Getting Your Spouse to Move Out of the House

Does a Will Have to be Probated in California?

What Constitutes a Will? The contents of a typical will could include: *The deceased’s real estate holdings *Stocks and bonds *Cash or cash accounts *A life insurance policy *Pension benefits, death benefits *Personal belongings *Bank account funds or funds with any financial institution, and retirement accounts. Probate is legal term that refers [...]

By |June 7th, 2015|Estate Planning|Comments Off on Does a Will Have to be Probated in California?

Common California Family Law Request For Orders

It is not uncommon for parents to have to return to court post-divorce to have existing court orders modified due to a change of circumstances. For example, California family law courts routinely hear cases requesting a modification of child custody and spousal support, in addition to a move-away order. If you are looking to [...]

By |May 24th, 2015|Family Law|Comments Off on Common California Family Law Request For Orders