Are Divorce Records Public in California?

By Sandra McCarthy|February 26th, 2021|Divorce|

Divorced couples in California may wonder: are divorce records public? After all, many people value their privacy, and divorce is often a messy topic. The short answer is yes: divorce records are public in California. This means anyone can obtain a copy of your divorce decree. This can be a nightmare for people who [...]

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‘Kimye’ No More: Kim Kardashian Officially Divorces Kanye in California

By Sandra McCarthy|February 24th, 2021|Divorce|

It’s official: Kim Kardashian West has filed for divorce from Kanye West after nearly seven years of marriage. A court clerk for the Los Angeles Superior Court confirmed the filing on Friday. A representative from Kim’s camp also verified the story. Kim, 40, and Kanye, 43, are both international celebrities in their own [...]

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Quick and Easy Way on How to Get a Divorce in California

By Sandra McCarthy|February 8th, 2021|Divorce, Family Law|

The decision to divorce can be a painful one, so many people want to finish the process as quickly as possible. However, there is a specific timeline couples must follow before official termination of their marriage. Hiring a legal document preparation assistant can help you get a judgment within 45 days and avoid further waiting time for incomplete or incorrect forms.

I cannot locate my spouse to serve divorce papers

By Sandra McCarthy|February 3rd, 2021|Top Divorce FAQs, Divorce Column 1, Divorce FAQs|

In order to complete the California divorce process, the other party must be provided legal notice of the divorce proceedings. This can be done by 1) voluntary acceptance of the documents, 2) personal service of the documents, or 3) legal publication. Using Investigator in California Divorce To Locate Spouse If you have filed a California divorce, cannot [...]

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What document is considered my divorce decree?

By Sandra McCarthy|February 2nd, 2021|Divorce FAQs, Top Divorce FAQs, Divorce Column 1|

When a California divorce Judgment has been entered, there are two important documents. Judgment (FL-180) Notice of Entry of Judgment (FL-190) The Judgment has the details of the division of assets, debts, child support, custody, visitation, etc. If the parties sign a Marital Settlement Agreement, that is typically attached to and is a part of [...]

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How long does it take to settle an uncontested divorce?

By Sandra McCarthy|January 30th, 2021|Top Divorce FAQs, Divorce Column 1, Divorce FAQs|

Most uncontested divorces can be resolved within 2 to 7 months. California family law requires a six-month period from the time the respondent is served with the court summons and divorce papers to allow a divorce to be finalized. This means a judgment for divorce can be entered six months from the day the respondent [...]

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How soon can a Judgment of divorce be entered in California?

By Sandra McCarthy|January 30th, 2021|Top Divorce FAQs, Divorce Column 1, Divorce FAQs|

Once you file the divorce petition and serve it on your spouse, the earliest effective date of termination of marital status will be six months and 1 day from the date your spouse was served the divorce papers. The actual Judgment can be entered prior to this termination date and can be submitted to the [...]

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Do I need to hire an attorney to file for a divorce?

By Sandra McCarthy|January 20th, 2021|Divorce FAQs, Divorce Column 2|

If you and your spouse agree to all the issues, you do not need to hire an attorney to file an uncontested divorce. Most people can navigate through the family law system on their own accord with the help of A People’s Choice for the paperwork. On the other hand, if the matter becomes contested, [...]

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My spouse cheated. Do I have to still pay support?

By Sandra McCarthy|January 19th, 2021|Divorce FAQs, Divorce Column 2|

The faithfulness of a spouse generally has no bearing on child or spousal support. California family law requires both parents to pay child support. However, one parent may be required to pay more support than the other if he/she earns more money and spends less time with the child.

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Understanding the California Divorce Process in Simple English

By Sandra McCarthy|December 24th, 2020|Divorce|

Key elements of the California divorce process explained. Notice that none of them has to involve a lawyer. In California, you can have a non-attorney legal document assistant handle your divorce documents for an affordable price.

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Helpful Tips and Information about California Divorce Forms

By Sandra McCarthy|December 20th, 2020|Divorce, Family Law|

Anyone starting a marital dissolution in the state of California should expect to complete anywhere from 10-20 documents during the divorce process. Luckily, at A People's Choice, we provide our clients with a full set of forms and walk them through each one. Looking for help with California divorce forms? Contact A People's Choice today!

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How to Succeed in a Do-it-Yourself Divorce

By Sandra McCarthy|December 9th, 2020|Divorce|

How easy it is to accomplish a do-it-yourself divorce depends on how you define “do-it-yourself.” Doing everything by yourself without involving any professionals is at least as difficult as it sounds. If by “do-it-yourself” you simply mean not involving lawyers, the goal becomes much more attainable, especially in California, where professional legal document assistants can provide document preparation services for a reasonable price. The best solution is to work out the terms of your divorce with your spouse but to leave the legal document preparation to a non-attorney legal document assistant.

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Legal Aid for Divorce: How to Get Free or Inexpensive Help

By Sandra McCarthy|December 9th, 2020|Divorce|

Do not stay in an unhealthy marriage just because you are worried that you cannot afford the costs of divorce. There is plenty of legal aid for divorce available for people who do not need lawyers. All you need is a licensed California legal document assistant.

Annulment vs. Divorce: What You Need to Know

By Sandra McCarthy|November 22nd, 2020|Divorce, Family Law|

When a court issues you an order of dissolution (divorce) or annulment of marriage, you become legally single. Therefore, you gain the right to enter a new legally valid marriage. The difference is that, in a divorce, you are considered to have been legally married before the divorce judgment. An annulment means that the court declares that your marriage was never legally valid.

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The California Divorce Process: What You Need to Know

By Sandra McCarthy|November 22nd, 2020|Divorce|

Divorce is never truly painless in the way that getting a flu shot can be painless. It does not have to be financially ruinous, though. Sometimes, the hardest part of the California divorce process is getting started. If you choose a professional legal document assistant to prepare your divorce documents, you can be sure that you are following the California divorce process correctly, so that it will not cost you any more time and money than it needs to.

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What is a Divorce Decree in California? Simplified Explanation

By Sandra McCarthy|November 19th, 2020|Divorce|

It It is possible to get divorced without lawyers, without going to court, and for much less money than members of the “high net worth divorce crowd” pay. With this in mind, finalizing your divorce may actually be closer within your reach than you think! A California legal document assistant can help you get your final divorce decree easily and hassle-free by preparing your divorce documents.

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Child Custody and Support in Military Divorce

By Sandra McCarthy|October 14th, 2020|Divorce|

Military divorce is often complicated by one spouse's potential deployment and active duty status. Read on to learn how military service impacts child custody and support orders during divorce. Then, discover free resources to help your military divorce run smoothly.

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An Explanation of Important California Divorce Forms

By Sandra McCarthy|October 14th, 2020|Divorce|

Like most legal proceedings, the required documents for California divorces will vary based on the circumstances at hand. However, there are some forms that most - if not all - California divorcees will require. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean they're simple. Read on for an explanation of some of the most common California divorce forms. Then, contact A People's Choice for help completing and filing your paperwork!

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Divorce Advice for Men Fighting for Custody

By Sandra McCarthy|October 11th, 2020|Divorce, Family Law|

Divorce is not easy for men OR women; however, battling for child custody can be even more difficult for fathers. For example, many people automatically assume a mother will be granted sole physical custody of their child after a divorce. As a result, it's important for men to learn how to increase their chances of acquiring custody, granted that it is in the child's best interest.

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Is it Helpful and a Good Idea to Hire a Divorce Paralegal?

By Sandra McCarthy|October 7th, 2020|Divorce|

What is a divorce paralegal, and how can one actually help with your legal proceedings? The answer might surprise you. Learn the limitations of paralegals and why a legal document assistant may be the better option to assist with your divorce paperwork.

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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)	+$300
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	+$250
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

QDROs and Retirement Division	Price
QDRO	$499
Joinder only	$350
QDRO with Joinder	$825

QDROs and Retirement Division	Price
QDRO	$499
Joinder only	$350
QDRO with Joinder	$825

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