Dear Legal Document Preparers community,
Here's the latest news from the Sacramento Superior Court:
As you know, "many court operations have been curtailed and understandably, have adversely impacted the civil legal community.

The Court is developing and are implementing an operational plan that will increased civil, family law and probate operations. It is very important that you check the court’s website for updates and additional orders.

Missed Hearings: Hearings missed during the court closure period (March 20, 2020 through May 15, 2020) will be continued by minute order and posted to the Public Case Access System (https://services.saccourt.ca.gov/PublicCaseAccess/) . The posted minute order will provide new hearings dates, extend temporary orders if applicable, and provide instructions for appearing using Zoom. Continuance dates could be set as early as May 11, 2020.

Missed FCS Return Hearings: Hearings on the return from mediation will be reset, noticed via the Public Case Access System (https://services.saccourt.ca.gov/PublicCaseAccess/) to be heard commencing the week of May 25, 2020.

Missed FCS Mediation Appointments: All mediations missed since the court closure on March 20, 2020, will be rescheduled with notification sent to parties by US Mail, by the anticipated date of May 27, 2020. Mediations conducted via telephone or Zoom could begin as early as May 1, 2020.

FCS 10-Page Input Letters: A designated email address will be contained within the FCS notification sent out to parties.

FCS Mediation Reports: All reports for mediations conducted in early March will be issued by May 11, 2020, and posted on the Public Case Access System (https://services.saccourt.ca.gov/PublicCaseAccess/) .

Retroactive Modification of Support: Child and Spousal support are statutorily retroactive to date of filing. See Judicial Council web link at courts.ca.gov/doc…/2020-04-19-rules-effective-04-20-2020.pdf (http://www.courts.ca.gov/…/2020-04-19-rules-effective-04-20…) .

Probate: Probate Court will accept and process ex parte applications beyond those limited to temporary
conservatorship and guardianship. See Probate Court Closure Mitigation Plan saccourt.ca.gov/…/extended-court-closure-mitigation-planfor… (https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/…/extended-court-closure-mitiga…)

For more details, please visit the Court's COVID-19 website: https://www.saccourt.ca.gov/general/coronavirus.aspx
If you’re looking for more ways to protect yourself and your loved ones, check out the CDC (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html) website.

We look forward to supporting each other during these challenging times.

How best to protect your notary business from vexatious litigants and unscrupulous individuals looking to make a quick buck from our Notary bonds?

What many Notaries do not understand is that the bond only protects the public, not the notary. The bonding agency have to interest in denying claims against our bonds. Afterall, any claims paid out on the notary's behalf can and will be recuperated from the notary. I don’t know about anyone else but I certainly don’t have $25k to burn.

This is why Errors and Omissions Insurance (E&O) is SO important. E&O Insurance protects the notary against claims. That said... not all E&O policies are created equal. Read and understanding the arduous clauses written in legalese can be frustrating for anyone.

As a benefit of the LegalShield Small Business Plan members can submit insurance policies to an attorneys specializes in insurance law to review before signing! It also helps that LegalShield offers Trial Defense benefits.

It would be great if LSS counseled Notaries on how to limit liability where bonds and insurance policies may fall short.

Are you struggling to pay your commercial lease? Put your LegalShield Small Business Plan to work for you! Have a lawyer review your commercial lease for a Force Majeure Clause then guide you how to navigate rent negotiations amid the COVID-19 epidemic.

Is your landlord unresponsive? Have a lawyer write a letter on your behalf.  
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Benefits include:
LEGAL CONSULTATIONS

• Speak with your attorney on an unlimited number of business legal issues.
• One hour of legal research on each matter is included at no additional charge.

LETTERS & CALLS

• Your attorney can make phone calls or write letters on your behalf.
• Debt collection letters are included at no additional charge.

DOCUMENTS & CONTRACTS

• Have your attorney review documents and draft contracts.
• Legal forms are included at no additional charge.

TRIAL DEFENSE

• Your attorney can defend you in covered civil lawsuits.
• Pre-trial hours included at no additional charge.

Keeping track of the relief rollouts amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) is difficult to say the least. Tracking down the forms needed to apply for relief can be nearly impossible. We've started a webpage dedicated COVID-19 legal resources for those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. As the situation continues to develop, we continue to upload forms and other resources to the COVID-19 Legal Resource page.  

All Legal Document Assistant-Client communications should contain the following:
CA BPC 6408

• Registrants Name
• Fictitious Business Name (DBA), if applicable
• Business Address
• Telephone Number
• County of Registration
• Expiration Date, if electronic correspondence such as emails

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​CA PBC 6408.5
I am not a lawyer. I cannot give legal advice. [YOUR BUSINESS NAME] is not a law firm. I can only provide self-help services at your specific direction.