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About A People's Choice

A People’s Choice Legal Documents Inc. was originally founded by Sandy McCarthy in early 1980. Ms. McCarthy 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 worked as a freelance paralegal, law office manager and paralegal studies teacher. She co-authored numerous legal publications and wrote hundreds of self-help legal articles and blogs dedicated to the expansion of affordable, low-cost, self-help document preparation. She retired in 2020 when she sold the company to Ian Corzine, a California attorney.

What Is Guardianship and Conservatorship? An Explanation in Plain English

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 [...]

By |February 14th, 2022|Family Law, Probate|Comments Off on What Is Guardianship and Conservatorship? An Explanation in Plain English

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

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 [...]

By |February 2nd, 2022|California Courts, Family Law, Probate|Comments Off on Conservatorship vs Guardianship in California: Which Is Right for Me?

Estate Planning 101 for Californians: Here Are the Basics

Do you have an estate plan? If you live in California, do you know the basics of estate planning in the Golden State? If your answer is "no," it's time for Estate Planning 101. An estate plan is a must for every adult, but before planning your estate, you need to understand the estate [...]

By |January 25th, 2022|California Courts, Estate Planning|Comments Off on Estate Planning 101 for Californians: Here Are the Basics

What Is an LPS Conservatorship?

Illness and injuries can alter the course of our lives. That's why it sometimes comes as a relief to the sick and disabled when a loved one steps up to care for their needs and manage their affairs. In California, there are legal arrangements in which the court appoints such a caregiver. One of these [...]

By |January 24th, 2022|Probate|Comments Off on What Is an LPS Conservatorship?

SLAT Estate Planning: A Great Option for Large Estates

There are many estate planning strategies out there, but which one is best? To be honest, it really depends on your situation. While most real estate strategies are designed to grow and successfully transfer assets, some are meant to look even further ahead to future generations. One of the latter, spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT) [...]

By |January 17th, 2022|California Courts, Estate Planning, Probate|Comments Off on SLAT Estate Planning: A Great Option for Large Estates

What Is a Conservatorship Bond?

When people have to enter into conservatorship arrangements, they often have some concerns. These fears are very valid because, unfortunately, there have been quite a few instances of the conservatee falling victim to conservatorship mismanagement and fraud. The bad experiences have, however, given rise to solutions, including a conservatorship bond. What is a conservatorship [...]

By |January 13th, 2022|Family Law, Probate|Comments Off on What Is a Conservatorship Bond?

State Specific Estate Planning Laws for Californians: What You Need to Know

Are estate planning laws the same in every state? Definitely not! That's why if you've recently moved from one state to another, let’s say North Dakota to California, you might have some reading about state specific estate planning laws ahead of you. The same goes if you own a business with outlets in many [...]

By |January 12th, 2022|Estate Planning|Comments Off on State Specific Estate Planning Laws for Californians: What You Need to Know

Why and How You Can Plan Your Estate Today

According to Forbes, most people avoid estate planning. They might feel they're too busy and will get it done at a later time in their lives. They may also fear the expense. Finally, some people also perceive estate planning as some kind of jinx. If you're like the average Joe, you may prefer to live [...]

By |January 10th, 2022|Estate Planning|Comments Off on Why and How You Can Plan Your Estate Today

What Are Letters of Conservatorship in California?

What happens when a person becomes incapacitated in California? Are there laws under the California probate code that state how such individuals can receive special care? Yes, of course! Conservatorship is the answer to anything pertaining to the incapacitation of an individual, and letters of conservatorship are an important part of that arrangement. Personal conservators [...]

By |January 5th, 2022|Probate|Comments Off on What Are Letters of Conservatorship in California?