WHAT IS A LEGAL DOCUMENT ASSISTANT

AN LDA is an experienced professional who is authorized to prepare and assist with legal documents at the direction of “self-help” clients. “Self-help clients can handle their own legal mater without the cost of an attorney. LDAs can assist you procedurally.

FIRST CHOICE SERVICES is a professional Legal Document preparer service and is not a law firm. Our Legal Document Assistants are not attorneys and cannot give you legal advice, or advise you in  the selection of forms.   FIRST CHOICE SERVICES has resources  intended to help you decide what direction you need to go in order to represent yourself.  If you need  ATTORNEY ASSISTANCE we are able to provide Attorney Referrals to you on an hourly basis or to retain.   WE ARE ABLE TO REFER YOU TO SOME OF THE BEST ATTORNEYS IN VENTURA COUNTY.

FIRST CHOICE SERVICES  can offer you affordable, low-cost help with preparing your legal documents.  FIRST CHOICE SERVICE’s assistants understand that when your need legal documents filed it can be a a time of stress and anxiety; but rest assured FIRST CHOICE SERVICES can  offer confidential and professional assistance.

FIRST CHOICE SERVICES is low-cost non-attorney alternative.  We offer handouts that help you make  intelligent choices for your own situation. We have  self-help legal books and we know they can be confusing and overwhelming. FIRST CHOICE SERVICES will work along with you so your documents are completed professionally.

What is the difference between a Legal Document Assistant and a Paralegal? A Legal Document Assistant (LDA) is a professional, qualified through education, training, or work experience, to assist members of the public who are representing themselves in legal matters by preparing legal documents in a ministerial manner; providing general published factual information that has been written or approved by an attorney pertaining to legal procedures, rights or obligations; and filing and serving legal forms and documents at the specific request of persons representing themselves in legal matters. In California, LDA’s are required to be registered and bonded in the county in which they do business.

At your direction, LDAs can complete court forms for you, helping you to avoid pitfalls and making sure that all the important details on a form are properly filled in. LDAs may also file forms with the court and have them served. We may also supply books and publications authored or approved by attorneys.

Why choose just any Legal Document Assistant when you can choose FIRST CHOICE SERVICES whose document assistants have over 50 years paralegal experience.

Legal document assistants are governed by California Business & Professions Code Sections 6400, et seq., which provide, in pertinent part, as follows:

Section 6400(c):  “Legal document assistant” means:

(1)          Any person who is not exempted under Section 6401 and who provides, or assists in providing, or offers to provide, or offers to assist in providing, for compensation, any self-help service to a member of the public who is representing himself or herself in a legal matter, or who holds himself or herself out as someone who offers that service or has that authority.  This paragraph does not apply to any individual whose assistance consists merely of secretarial or receptionist services.

(2)          A corporation, partnership, association, or other entity that employs or contracts with any person not exempted under Section 6401 who, as part of his or her responsibilities, provides, or assists in providing, or offers to provide, or offers to assist in providing, for compensation, any self-help service to a member of the public who is representing himself or herself in a legal matter or holds himself or herself out as someone who offers that service or has that authority.  This paragraph does not apply to an individual whose assistance consists merely of secretarial or receptionist services.

Section 6400(d):   ”Self-help service” means all of the following:

(1)    Completing legal documents in a ministerial manner, selected by a person who is representing himself or herself in a legal matter, by typing or otherwise completing the documents at the person’s specific direction.

(2)    Providing general published factual information that has been written or approved by an attorney, pertaining to legal procedures, rights, or obligations to a person who is representing himself or herself in a legal matter, to assist the person in representing himself or herself.  This service in and of itself, shall not require registration as a legal document assistant.

(3)       Making published legal documents available to a person who is representing himself or herself in a legal matter.

(4)      Filing and serving legal forms and documents at the specific direction of a person who is representing himself or herself in a legal matter.

Section 6400(f):  A legal document assistant, including any legal document assistant employed by a partnership or corporation, may not provide any self-help service for compensation, unless the legal document assistant is registered in the county in which his or her principal place of business is located and in any other county in which he or she performs acts for which registration is required.

Section 6400(g):  A legal document assistant may not provide any kind of advice, explanation, opinion, or recommendation to a consumer about possible legal rights, remedies, defenses, options, selection of forms, or strategies.  A legal document assistant shall complete documents only in the manner prescribed by paragraph (1) of subdivision (d).

Section 6401.6:  A legal document assistant may not provide service to a client who requires assistance that exceeds the definition of self-help service in subdivision (d) of Section 6400, and shall inform the client that the client requires the services of an attorney.

California law prohibits the practice of law by anyone other than a licensed attorney.  If at any time you need the services of a licensed attorney, we will be happy to refer you to one of the many fine attorneys practicing in Ventura County!