What is a Legal Document Assistant?

A Legal Document Assistant (LDA) is a non-lawyer professional authorized to assist individuals and businesses with legal document preparation. In Santa Clara County, LDAs are registered and regulated to ensure they meet specific qualifications and ethical standards. They can help you navigate complex legal processes without the high costs associated with hiring an attorney. LDAs specialize in preparing, completing, and filing legal documents for various legal matters.

Services Offered by Legal Document Assistants

  • Divorce Paperwork Assistance
  • Estate Planning Documents
  • Unlawful Detainer Assistance
  • Social Security Disability Applications
  • In-Home Supportive Services Applications
  • Power of Attorney Preparation
  • Witness Deposition Preparation

Working with a registered LDA in Santa Clara County can save you time, money, and stress. Trustpoint offers affordable legal document assistance to help you navigate your legal needs efficiently.

LDA vs. Paralegal: Key Differences

No. While LDAs and paralegals often have similar training, their roles differ. A paralegal works under the supervision of an attorney. A Legal Document Assistant works directly with the public — but only for people who are handling their own legal matters (also called “pro per” or “in pro per”).

In Santa Clara County, an LDA must:

  • Be registered and bonded with the county clerk

  • Have education or experience in legal document preparation

  • Clearly disclose they are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice

LDA Requirements in Santa Clara County

  • Be registered and bonded with the county clerk
  • Have education or experience in legal document preparation
  • Clearly disclose they are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice

What Can LDA Do for You in Santa Clara County?

Our team of LDAs is fully registered in Santa Clara County and offers a wide range of legal document preparation services. Here’s a breakdown of what we can help you with:

  • Assistance with Social Security disability applications
  • In-home supportive services application assistance
  • Legal document preparation for divorce
  • Power of attorney preparation
  • Unlawful detainers assistance
  • Witness deposition preparation

Estate Planning Documents

  • Living Trusts
  • Wills and Pour-Over Wills
  • Durable Power of Attorney
  • Advance Health Care Directives
These documents are essential to protect your loved ones and assets. As LDAs, we help you create a complete estate plan tailored to your wishes, ensuring the paperwork is accurate and ready for notarization or county recording.

Family Law Document Assistance

Family law cases can be overwhelming. We provide help with:

  • Divorce (Petition, Response, and Final Judgment)

  • Legal Separation

  • Child Custody and Visitation Agreements

  • Child Support Modifications

  • Name Changes

Whether you’re filing for divorce or requesting a custody change, we make sure your forms are properly prepared, signed, and submitted to the Santa Clara County Family Court.

A close-up shot of a hand filling out a legal document with a pen, with the Santa Clara County Family Court building visible in the blurred background, symbolizing Trustpoint's expertise in preparing and submitting family law documents.
Divorce Document Preparation
Trustpoint offers comprehensive assistance with divorce paperwork, including petition, response, and final judgment preparation, ensuring all documents are accurately completed and properly filed.
Request a consultation
An image depicting a parent and child in a supportive embrace, representing child custody and visitation agreements, with legal documents subtly placed in the background.
Child Custody Agreements
We provide expert assistance in drafting and modifying child custody and visitation agreements, ensuring the best interests of the child are prioritized and all legal requirements are met.
Request a consultation
A gavel resting on a stack of legal documents related to name changes, symbolizing the legal process involved in changing one's name, with the Trustpoint logo subtly incorporated.
Assistance with Name Changes
Trustpoint simplifies the process of legal name changes by preparing and submitting all necessary documents to the Santa Clara County Family Court, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.
Request a consultation
A close-up photograph of an eviction notice being served by a process server to a tenant at their doorstep, emphasizing the legal process and seriousness of the situation.
Unlawful Detainer Notices
We assist landlords in preparing and serving legally compliant eviction notices, ensuring adherence to California law and protecting their property rights.
A gavel resting on a stack of legal documents related to small claims court, symbolizing the resolution of disputes through the legal system.
Small Claims Filing Assistance
Navigate small claims court with confidence. We help you prepare and file your claim accurately, maximizing your chances of a favorable outcome.
A hand reaching out to collect a check, symbolizing the successful recovery of funds through judgment collection efforts.
Judgment Collection Assistance
Don’t let a judgment go unenforced. We assist with the preparation of legal documents and procedural forms needed to help you pursue collection of money owed, supporting you through the process of maximizing recovery under your direction.
  • In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) applications
  • Disability (SSDI) forms
  • Medi-Cal applications
  • CalFresh applications
  • Cash Aid applications
We assist clients in completing complex forms, gathering necessary evidence, and submitting applications to the appropriate agencies. Our goal is to make the application process as smooth and stress-free as possible for you.

Real Estate and Property Documents

  • Quitclaim Deeds

  • Interspousal Transfer Deeds

  • Grant Deeds

  • Trust Transfer Deeds

  • Preliminary Change of Ownership Forms

We prepare and file deeds with the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office and guide you through property transfers, including transferring your home into a trust.

Deeds

We expertly handle quitclaim, interspousal transfer, grant, and trust transfer deeds.

Forms

We also prepare preliminary change of ownership forms accurately and efficiently.
A close-up shot of a completed Green Card Renewal form, highlighting the meticulous attention to detail that Trustpoint provides in ensuring accurate and complete submissions for their clients.
Green Card Renewals Assistance
We assist clients in accurately completing and submitting their Green Card renewal applications, ensuring compliance with all USCIS guidelines and requirements.
A person proudly holding their Certificate of Citizenship, symbolizing the successful outcome of the Citizenship (N-400) application process, with Trustpoint's assistance.
Citizenship Application Support
Our team provides comprehensive support for Citizenship (N-400) applications, helping clients navigate the process and ensuring all necessary documentation is correctly prepared.
A warm, family-focused image representing the Family Petition Forms service, showing a diverse family happily reunited, emphasizing the importance of accurate form preparation.
Family Petition Form Assistance
We offer assistance with Family Petition Forms, ensuring that all required information is accurately provided to facilitate the immigration process for your loved ones.
A professional individual confidently presenting their Work Permit, showcasing the benefits of Trustpoint's assistance in preparing and submitting Work Permit applications.
Work Permit Application Help
Trustpoint assists with Work Permit applications, ensuring that all forms are completed correctly and submitted in accordance with USCIS guidelines, maximizing your chances of approval.

Notary and Apostille Services

Trustpoint simplifies document authentication for international use. We notarize legal forms and expedite apostille processing, saving you time and effort. Get your documents recognized worldwide.
Schedule an appointment
Call 408.766.3532

Partner Resources

Through our trusted partners, we can connect you with additional professional services to support your legal and administrative needs, including:
  • Process Serving: Reliable document delivery services for legal notices, court filings, and time-sensitive paperwork.
  • Legal Document Filing and E-Filing: Assistance with submitting your completed legal documents to the appropriate courts or agencies, both in-person and electronically.
  • Certified Translations (Spanish): Accurate, certified translations for legal, immigration, and personal documents to meet official requirements.
  • Criminal Record Sealing and Expungement: Help preparing forms and navigating the process of requesting to seal or expunge eligible criminal records, under your direction.
  • Apostille for International Use: We can notarize legal forms and process your documents for international recognition via apostille, saving you time and trips to the Secretary of State.

TrustPoint Disability and Legal Services

  • Mon-Fri 11:00am - 7:00pm
  • 434 Blossom Hill Rd, San Jose CA 95123
  • (408) 766-3532
  • [email protected]
  • LDA Registration No: LDA268
  • Disclaimer: I am not an attorney and therefore cannot provide legal advice, representation, or advocacy in any legal matter.