Understanding California Child Custody Laws

By Sandra McCarthy|February 7th, 2021|Family Law|

Getting involved in child custody litigation is no fun, but it is some consolation that many people represent themselves in child custody cases, so it is not necessary to spend money you do not have on a lawyer. It is, however, a wise and affordable investment to have a California non-attorney legal document assistant prepare the court documents for your child custody case and navigating California child custody laws.

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What Is A California Legal Document Assistant?

By Sandra McCarthy|February 7th, 2021|

California Legal Document Assistant vs. Paralegal What is a Legal Document Assistant (LDA)? On September 30, 1998 former Governor Pete Wilson signed California State Senate Bill SB1761, regulating the legal document preparation profession in the State of California, and creating a new formal title, Legal Document Assistant. Today, the legal document assistant profession [...]

California Estate Planning for Single Parents

By Sandra McCarthy|February 6th, 2021|Estate Planning|

Every parent worries about what will happen to his or her children after the parent dies, but single parents have double the worries. If you are married, the default option is that your children will stay with your spouse. They may remain living in the same house, and your spouse will most likely continue to work to take care of them financially. As horrible as it is to think about your spouse and children having to adjust to life without you, it is even scarier to think about your children’s future without you if you are a single parent. Therefore, it is important for single parents to get started on estate planning — even single parents who are young and healthy.

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Get a Cheap Divorce in California

By Sandra McCarthy|February 5th, 2021|Divorce, Family Law|

Cheap California divorce options DO exist - they can just be a bit difficult to navigate! In this article, we explore the pros and cons of the top three most popular cheap divorce options in California and explain how you can avoid paying statutory attorney's fees for your divorce.

How To Get a Default Divorce Judgment in California

By Sandra McCarthy|February 4th, 2021|Divorce|

There are certain circumstances required to obtain a default divorce judgment in California. Plus, petitioners must file specific paperwork that has been clearly and accurately filled out. Therefore, anyone looking for a default divorce judgment should consider hiring a legal document assistant to ensure approval by the court.

California Custody Laws: What You Need to Know

By Sandra McCarthy|February 4th, 2021|Family Law|

If you are in the process of getting a divorce in California and share children with your spouse, it's imperative that you become familiar with California custody laws. Read on to learn more about the different types of custody, how they compare, and what they mean for you.

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The California Probate Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

By Sandra McCarthy|February 4th, 2021|Probate|

The probate process in California starts after someone dies. Depending on the size of the estate, the process of probating an estate can be surprisingly quick and simple to complete. For larger estates, probate may be lengthy and more complex. Here's what you need to know to start the probate process in California.

What is a Living Trust and How to Easily Set It Up in California

By Sandra McCarthy|February 3rd, 2021|

A living trust allows a person to put their property under the control of a trustee who holds legal title to the property on behalf of a beneficiary. Many individuals choose to create a living trust so their estate can avoid probate upon their death. However, in some cases, a trust may not provide adequate legal protection. If you're wondering if a living trust is right for you, read on to learn more.

Adele and Ex-Husband Simon Konecki Reach Divorce Settlement in California Nearly Two Years After Split

By Sandra McCarthy|February 3rd, 2021|Divorce|

Adele is famous for delivering heart-wrenching ballads and power anthems about the highs and lows of romantic relationships. However, outside her music career, the Grammy-winning superstar was much more private about her romantic life. That included her divorce to ex-husband Simon Konecki. According to press sources, Adele and Konecki were married for seven years [...]

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What is a Definitive Explanation of California Probate?

By Sandra McCarthy|February 1st, 2021|Probate|

California Probate California probate is a simple concept, but that doesn't stop it from stirring up a great deal of trouble in families. The heirs to the estate of the acclaimed singer Prince can attest to that. He died without a will, so his assets are going through a lengthy process laid out by [...]

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Compare Using a Legal Document Preparer vs Hiring a Lawyer

By Sandra McCarthy|February 1st, 2021|California Courts|

Using a legal document preparer vs hiring a lawyer is a great money saving option for routine legal matters. If you are planning to represent yourself in a legal matter, a registered document assistant can help you with your case. Registered legal document preparers charge significantly less than attorneys. Consequently, hiring a document preparer can save you time and give you peace of mind that the forms are complete and correct.

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

By Sandra McCarthy|January 30th, 2021|Divorce Column 1, Top Divorce FAQs, 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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How long does it take to get a divorce in California?

By Sandra McCarthy|January 24th, 2021|Divorce Column 2, Divorce FAQs|

How long does it take to get a divorce in California? Well, there are two separate dates to keep in mind - 1) when the case has been completed and a Judgment entered, and 2) when a divorce is terminated. Divorce - The clock starts ticking as soon as the other party is served [...]

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How to Prepare for National Adoption Day 2021 in California

By Sandra McCarthy|January 24th, 2021|Adoption|

“No matter how they arrive in the family, an adopted child is a child of the parents who adopted them.” HealthyChildren.org There are countless heartwarming scenes from adoption courts all over the country with new families literally jumping for joy. National Adoption Day celebrates these families every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. This year's [...]

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Our California Adoption Services

By Sandra McCarthy|January 15th, 2021|

Our California Adoption Services Our California adoption services are tailored to fit your busy schedule. A People's Choice offers several convenient options for our customers to get their adoption paperwork prepared. With over 40 years of experience, our experienced staff is available to assist you with your adoption needs. We can help you complete [...]

Filing a California Heggstad Petition

By Sandra McCarthy|January 13th, 2021|Probate|

A Heggstad petition is used to legally declare that property listed on a trust schedule is nevertheless a trust asset, despite being formally omitted from the trust. If you need to transfer property to beneficiaries and want to save the estate from being fully probated, you may want to file a California Heggstad petition.

How to Probate a Will Without a Lawyer in California

By Sandra McCarthy|December 29th, 2020|Estate Planning|

When a loved one passes away, you may face the overwhelming task of settling their estate. Unfortunately, for some people, juggling attorney fees on top of funeral costs and other expenses can make probate an impossible task. If this sounds like a familiar situation, you may want to look into how to probate a will without a lawyer.

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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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Best Ways to File for Divorce Without a Lawyer in California

By Sandra McCarthy|December 18th, 2020|Divorce, Family Law|

Filing for divorce can be expensive and time-consuming. Plus, it becomes complicated when the two parties don't agree on the issues at hand. If you're looking for a cheap, simple divorce, you may want to forego hiring an attorney. Read on for an explanation of the divorce process in California, and to determine whether you would be eligible to represent yourself in court.

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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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