I am a Legal Document Assistant and was formerly called an Independent Paralegal. It's basically the same thing but with a different title. Technically, a paralegal must work for an attorney and has different legal requirements. Whatever I am called, I have been doing the same thing since 1991. I am a regular consultant to Legal Document Assistants and paralegals who require further training and assistance handling cases. For more information on the Legal Document Assistant profession, visit the website of the California Association of Legal Document Assistants.
My office is located at 69B Soledad Drive in Monterey. It is very close to the AAA office. My office is next door to Farmer's Insurance. When you drive up Soledad Drive, turn left like you are going to the AAA office but take the immediate right into the parking lot. I have been in business in Monterey, California since 1991. I have handled thousands of cases in Monterey County since then. I primarily handle family law which includes divorce, child custody, child visitation, legal guardianship and related legal services. I have been a notary public since 1992. For years I operated under the business name Associated Paralegal Services. I moved my office to 69B Soledad Drive in Monterey in 2009.
California law requires me to disclose certain information. I am a registered Legal Document Assistant. I am registered with the Monterey County Clerk. My registration number is LDA3. My registration expires 1/26/2012 and is renewed every two years. I am required by law to make the following statement: "I am not an attorney. I can only provide self-help services at your specific direction." Because I am not an attorney, I do not give legal advice, and I do not represent clients in court.
I am generally available between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. each weekday. I am available before or after those times occasionally, and I am also available on weekends by prior arrangement. The two best ways to reach me are by phone: (831) 375-8600 or by email. Some people prefer to do both just in case. If I don't answer the phone during the day, I am probably at the courthouse filing documents, on the phone or in a meeting with someone. I am the only one who answers the phone, checks the voicemail messages and reads my emails, so you can leave a confidential message any time.
In case you are wondering about the picture on the upper right hand side of each page, that is the front of the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. I took that picture during one of several trips there in 2007. I investigate historical legends in my spare time. I investigate the legends with an eye toward understanding their origins, how much of it is true and can be documented and what motivated the author to publish it in the first place along with the social impact the legend has had since it was published. I publish my research under my own imprint, Investigative Historian Press. I am currently working on two legends. I am updating my 1990 publication about a David ("Davy") Crockett legend. Yes, there are some legends about Crockett that can be verified, at least in part. My current primary research project is investigating a legend about George Washington first published in the 19th century. I have been working on that one for several years. When I publish it, it will be the first time ever that any in-depth scholary research has been published on this legend. It will also be the first time that the exact text of this legend has been published since it first appeared over 150 years ago. I spent eight years searching for the original legend when I finally found it in 2008. This legend happens to be one of the most frequently asked questions of the reference staff at the Library of Congress.