In 2004, an anxious young husband and father approached Just Document Preparation in Riverside to help him file a domestic violence
restraining order against his wife.
He wanted to protect himself and his young daughter from his wife’s abuse stemming from her refusal to take medication for schizophrenia.
Annette Gomez, owner of the firm, interviewed the client. An assistant quickly typed up the court papers, filing them within 24 hours. “He got
temporary sole custody of his child,” Gomez said.
Gomez is bonded and registered as a legal document assistant in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
For 10 years, she has prepared legal documents for pro per litigants at her Just Document Preparation.
Gomez was re-elected secretary of the California Association of Legal Document Assistants during the organization’s annual conference Oct. 28-
29 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario. She is interim president of the association’s Inland Empire chapter.
Gomez and two assistants type up court documents for clients who represent themselves in bankruptcies, living trusts, divorces, custody cases,
adoptions, name changes, wills and other matters. The clients fill out questionnaires related to the necessary documents and Just Document staff
transcribes the information into legal papers.
Gomez and her staff are prohibited by law from providing legal advice or opinion, or even from helping clients choose the correct forms needed
in their case.
“They have to be able to sit down and tell us what they want.” she said.
From a legal standpoint, Gomez’s profession is just six years old.
She has seen the industry mature with the enactment of Senate Bill 1418 in 2000 and a follow-up bill in 2001. The legislation established the
“legal document assistants,” or LDA, profession in state business codes. It differentiated the job from paralegals who work for attorneys and
redefined independent paralegals as legal document assistants. Paralegals are not allowed to dispense legal advice or independently prepare
court documents.
The law requires paralegals to hold certificates from paralegal programs approved by the American Bar Association, or law-related degree from
an accredited higher education institution.
Unlike document assistants, paralegals are not required to register or pay bonds.
Legal document assistants have the same educational background as paralegals and must be bonded and registered with the county in which
they work. They must stamp each page of court documents they prepare with their business name, address, phone number and registration
number. State law authorizes them to prepare court documents for consumers who represent themselves in court. They are not allowed to give
legal advice, interpret forms for clients or tell clients what information to place on court forms.
restraining order against his wife.
He wanted to protect himself and his young daughter from his wife’s abuse stemming from her refusal to take medication for schizophrenia.
Annette Gomez, owner of the firm, interviewed the client. An assistant quickly typed up the court papers, filing them within 24 hours. “He got
temporary sole custody of his child,” Gomez said.
Gomez is bonded and registered as a legal document assistant in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
For 10 years, she has prepared legal documents for pro per litigants at her Just Document Preparation.
Gomez was re-elected secretary of the California Association of Legal Document Assistants during the organization’s annual conference Oct. 28-
29 at the Doubletree Hotel in Ontario. She is interim president of the association’s Inland Empire chapter.
Gomez and two assistants type up court documents for clients who represent themselves in bankruptcies, living trusts, divorces, custody cases,
adoptions, name changes, wills and other matters. The clients fill out questionnaires related to the necessary documents and Just Document staff
transcribes the information into legal papers.
Gomez and her staff are prohibited by law from providing legal advice or opinion, or even from helping clients choose the correct forms needed
in their case.
“They have to be able to sit down and tell us what they want.” she said.
From a legal standpoint, Gomez’s profession is just six years old.
She has seen the industry mature with the enactment of Senate Bill 1418 in 2000 and a follow-up bill in 2001. The legislation established the
“legal document assistants,” or LDA, profession in state business codes. It differentiated the job from paralegals who work for attorneys and
redefined independent paralegals as legal document assistants. Paralegals are not allowed to dispense legal advice or independently prepare
court documents.
The law requires paralegals to hold certificates from paralegal programs approved by the American Bar Association, or law-related degree from
an accredited higher education institution.
Unlike document assistants, paralegals are not required to register or pay bonds.
Legal document assistants have the same educational background as paralegals and must be bonded and registered with the county in which
they work. They must stamp each page of court documents they prepare with their business name, address, phone number and registration
number. State law authorizes them to prepare court documents for consumers who represent themselves in court. They are not allowed to give
legal advice, interpret forms for clients or tell clients what information to place on court forms.
| We are not attorneys. We can only provide self help services at your specific direction. Riverside LDA #062-San Bernardino LDA#146 |
Riverside: 951-685-5444
Rancho Cucamonga: 909-458-0664
Murrieta: 951-696-5353
Temecula: 951-297-3515
Rancho Cucamonga: 909-458-0664
Murrieta: 951-696-5353
Temecula: 951-297-3515
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Just Document Preparation
| A lower cost, legal alternative to the traditional attorney service. |
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Riverside: 951-685-5444
Rancho: 909-458-0664
Murrieta: 951-696-5353
Temecula: 951-297-3515
Rancho: 909-458-0664
Murrieta: 951-696-5353
Temecula: 951-297-3515
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| CALL NOW We Are Here Until 6:30 Monday-Friday! |