(This form contract was prepared by the Department of Consumer Affairs and is required to be executed by all parties and before any legal paperwork can be prepared by a California registered legal document assistant, pursuant to Business and Professions Code Section 6410 which became in effect January 1, 2000)
LEGAL DOCUMENT ASSISTANT
CONTRACT FOR SELF-HELP SERVICES
This is a contract between A People’s Choice Legal Documents Inc., and you, for the self-help services described in Part I below. I am the “legal document assistant” and you are the “client.”
IMPORTANT NOTICES
1. You should read and understand this entire contract before you sign it. You should understand the kinds of services that I can and cannot perform for you (see Part I below).
2. I am not an attorney. I cannot perform the legal services that an attorney performs. I cannot engage in the practice of law.
3. The county clerk has not evaluated or approved my knowledge or experience, nor the quality of my work.
4. I cannot keep your original documents if you request that I return them to you. I cannot keep your original documents if you and I do not sign this contract or if this contract terminates (ends) for any reason. I cannot keep your original documents after all of the contract services have been provided (see Part I below). It is a violation of California law if I keep your original documents under any of these circumstances.
5. It is a violation of California law if I make any false or misleading statement to you.
6. I cannot obtain special favors from, and I do not have any special influence with, any court or any state or federal agency.
7. As required by law, I have filed a bond or made a cash deposit and have registered as a legal document assistant in each county where I will perform services on your behalf.
I - SELF-HELP SERVICES
Kinds of services that I can perform for you: I can perform the following self-help services for you in connection with a legal matter in which you are representing yourself: I can type or otherwise complete, as you specifically direct, legal documents that you have selected. I can provide you general published factual information that was written or approved by an attorney, to help you represent yourself. I can provide you published legal documents. I can file and serve legal forms and documents as you specifically direct.
I cannot provide for you any other services. The above-mentioned services are the only kinds of services that I may perform for you. If you need additional services, then you require the services of an attorney.
Kinds of services that I cannot perform for you: I cannot provide you any self-help service unless you are representing yourself in a legal matter and the self-help service relates to that legal matter.
I cannot engage in the practice of law. This means that I cannot give you any kind of advice, explanation, opinion or recommendation about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, strategies or options that you may have. I cannot give you any advice, explanation, opinion or recommendation regarding selection of forms.
I will provide you all the following services:
Description of Document Preparation Services:
Typing documents and forms, at client’s specific direction, consistent with self-help brochure or other informational materials that have been written or approved by an attorney; and perform other associated administrative tasks as follows:
Package Option Selected: Services Selected: Services must be completed within 12 months to avoid a extended case fee surcharge.
Unless otherwise stated, most flat fee packages include specified allowances for routine communication by email. Cases are worked on in the order of generated activity.Timely client cooperation during all aspects of the case is required. Unreasonable delays as the result of client's inaction or multiple failures by client to respond to communications will result in the file being closed and fees forfeited.
NOTICE: Court forms are updated periodically (1 or 2 times per year) by the Judicial Council of California. A form updated after form preparation may result in a small reprocessing fee. Proceedings extending beyond the normal processing time due to inactivity or delays by client may also require additional service fees.
You are paying me only for those services listed above and no others. It is unlawful for me to make any guarantee or promise to you unless it is written in this contract and unless I have a factual basis for making the guarantee or promise.
II - FEES AND EXPENSES
You agree to pay me the following fees, costs and expenses:
FEES: (payable on execution of contract by cash, check or credit card)
a Flat Fee in the total amountof $0.00* for document preparation services to be paid as follows:
Fees: Fees are due and payable in full upon execution of this contract. Fees are for document preparation only and include limited communication by email and facilitating court filing of paperwork. Add-on services such as incoming phone calls, special appointments, reprocessing of documents, rush or expedited services and costs (see below) are not part of our flat fees. Any additional fees incurred will be required to be paid as incurred or prior to the conclusion of the case. Fees are non-refundable unless subject to the cancellation provisions of this contract.
Costs: Your estimated costs will vary.Anticipated costs for in a divorce, legal separation or annulment include filing fees of $435.00, postage, Efiling fees, etc. (vary)
Third party costs are not included in our document preparation fees unless specifically stated under Description of Document Preparation Services above. Costs may include recording fees, court filing fees, notary fees, postage, efiling fees and other third party costs that may be associated with your legal proceeding. Our fees include a minimal fax, scan and photocopy allowance. These allowances cover standard faxing and photocopying, however some clients may have needs that exceed these standard allowances. If your needs exceed these minimums, you will be notified of any additional costs before they are incurred.
*If contract is cancelled during cancellation period, (see III below) services for which we are entitled to compensation shall be calculated as follows: All appointment, telephone time and/or other work performed prior to receipt of cancellation charged at the hourly per staff rate of $150/hour (legal assistant) or $75/hour (support staff) plus a fee of $150.00 for opening file. If documents are substantially completed during the 24-hour period following execution, no refund will be due.
NOTICE TO CLIENT: All or the majority of the above-referenced documents may be substantially prepared at your appointment or within the first 24 hours after the receipt of your signed contract (see cancellation/refund clause.) Please make inquiry as to the expected time for completion based on our current case load.
III - CANCELLATION
You may cancel this contract for any reason within 24 hours after we both have signed it. If you cancel the contract, I must immediately refund any fees which you have paid me. The only fees that I may keep are fees for services which I have actually, necessarily and reasonably performed on your behalf during the 24-hour period. I cannot keep any fees for services performed during the 24 hour period unless you knew that I would perform those services and you agreed in this contract that I would perform them.
To cancel this contract, send me a written notice stating that you are canceling the contract. Mail the notice by first-class mail with the correct postage, and send it to me at my address (see Part V below). Cancellation takes effect on the date of the postmark on the notice. You can also cancel this contract by delivering a written notice of cancellation to my address within the 24-hour period.
You may also cancel this contract at any time if I:
• Fail to give you a copy of this contract before providing any services to you, or
• Fail to specify in the contact the services which I will perform and the costs of those
services, or
• Fail to give you a copy of the contract in English and in any other language that you understand and that was principally used in any oral sales presentation or negotiation leading to execution of the contract.
If you cancel this contract for any of these reasons, I must immediately refund in full any fees which you have paid me.
You may also cancel this contract at any time if you have legal cause.
IV - ATTORNEY’S FEES AND COSTS
In the event of suit or damages arising from this contract or to enforce any of its provisions, the court may award the prevailing party his or her reasonable attorney’s fees and costs.The venue for any disputes about this contract is the county where you live in California.
V - DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTIES
| Full Name of Legal Document Preparer:
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A PEOPLE’S CHOICE LEGAL DOCUMENTS INC.
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| Business Name:
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A PEOPLE’S CHOICE
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| Street address of Business: (corporate)
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1000 Town Center Dr., Suite 300
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| City, State, Zip
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Oxnard, CA 93036
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| Telephone Number:
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805-648-5540
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| Fax Number (if any):
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805-244-9206
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| Registration # in County where services will be provided:
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LDA #121,(Ventura)
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| Date of Expiration:
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1/29/24
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| County:
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Ventura
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| Name of Client:
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| Street address:
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| City, State, Zip:
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, |
| Your Telephone Number:
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| Your Email:
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Title or brief description of the legal matter in which the client is representing himself or herself, if applicable: Marriage of:
VI - SIGNATURES
Executed at Ventura County, California. Date: 06/01/2023
A PEOPLE’S CHOICE
Notices to Client
You may obtain information from the local bar association or a legal aid or legal services office regarding free or low-cost representation by a lawyer. You may contact the local police, sheriff, district attorney or legal aid or legal services office if you believe that you are the victim of fraud, unauthorized practice of law or other injury.
THIS CONTRACT IS NOT VALID OR BINDING UNTIL THE LEGAL DOCUMENT ASSISTANT HAS GIVEN ALL CLIENT PARTIES A FULLY EXECUTED COPY OF IT, INCLUDING AN ACCURATE TRANSLATION OF IT IN ANY LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH THAT THE CLIENT UNDERSTANDS AND THAT WAS PRINCIPALLY USED IN ANY ORAL SALES PRESENTATION OR NEGOTIATION LEADING TO EXECUTION OF THE CONTRACT.
NOTE: Authority cited: Section 6410, Business and Professions Code. Reference: Sections 6401.6, 6402, 6405, 6408, 6409, 6410, 6411, Business and Professions Code.
Date Executed: 06/01/2023
