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.

Looking For an Alternative to LegalZoom?

Most of the complaints about LegalZoom are about poor customer service, not being able to talk to someone, not receiving a return call or a reply to emails, bait and switch tactics, and added fees for this and that. The Importance of Customer Service A People’s Choice is all about customer service. When you contact our [...]

By |February 23rd, 2015|California Courts|Comments Off on Looking For an Alternative to LegalZoom?

Agency Authority and How It May Affect Your Business

Permission is an important concept in our daily interactions.  Whether it is a parent and child arguing over curfew, or two spouses arguing about a large purchase, a misunderstanding of what is and is not permitted can lead to a lot of confusion and heartache.  When the disagreement shifts to what an employee/agent of your California [...]

By |February 21st, 2015|Business|Comments Off on Agency Authority and How It May Affect Your Business

Lawsuit Allegations: Yelp Hurts Small Businesses and Their Online Reputations

Recently, a U.S. District Court of Appeals in San Francisco dismissed a lawsuit against Yelp, the online business review site. Four small businesses brought suit against Yelp claiming that the company used advertising payments to extort small business owners in exchange for the favorable manipulation of online reviews about a business on Yelp’s website. The [...]

By |December 12th, 2014|Business|Comments Off on Lawsuit Allegations: Yelp Hurts Small Businesses and Their Online Reputations

The Basics of a Limited Conservatorship

A limited conservatorship in California is when a court has appointed someone to oversee the care of an adult who does not have the ability to fully take care of themselves. If an adult is caring for another adult with special needs, the caregiver can ask a court of law to appoint him or her as a conservator of [...]

By |November 24th, 2014|Estate Planning, Probate|Comments Off on The Basics of a Limited Conservatorship

Dissolving a California Limited Liability Company

If for some reason things have not worked out as you hoped, and your small business is not a resounding success, you may decide it is time to move on to other things. Alternatively, your business could be growing in a new direction, and you may wish to change its structure, and do so by [...]

By |November 10th, 2014|Business|Comments Off on Dissolving a California Limited Liability Company

Choosing a Registered Agent for Your Business Entity

Most new businesses must jump through several hoops before they can legally register in their state of operations. Business entities such as corporations and limited liability companies (LLC) are required by law to register with the California Secretary of State to conduct business in the state. Part of the requirements for registration is that [...]

By |October 27th, 2014|Business|Comments Off on Choosing a Registered Agent for Your Business Entity

Should You Have a Post Adoption Contact Agreement?

A child’s contact with his or her biological parents after adoption is not always the norm. In many cases, an adopted child begins a new life, and only sees former family members if the child later chooses to seek them out. For all intents and purposes, an adopted child becomes a part of his or [...]

By |September 15th, 2014|Adoption|Comments Off on Should You Have a Post Adoption Contact Agreement?

Disinheriting a Family Member

There are several reasons a person could feel a need for disinheriting a family member. There may be family arguments leading to estrangement, financial reasons, or even to protect one child over another. When someone decides to disinherit a family member such as his or her spouse or children, they need to do more than simply leave them [...]

By |September 5th, 2014|Estate Planning|Comments Off on Disinheriting a Family Member