Legal Document Assistant
A legal document assistant (LDA) is a trained professional who helps people prepare legal documents. A Legal Document Assistant can only act at the direction of the client.
Legal Document Assistants support people who want to manage their own legal matters without hiring a lawyer.
How to Register as a Legal Document Assistant – Individual
To register, you must make an appointment and meet all of the following requirements:
- File in the county where your main office is located and where you have any branch offices
- Appear in person with valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID card, or passport
- Complete the Legal Document Assistant – Individual registration form
- Submit an individual $25,000 bond with:
- Original signatures;
- Original acknowledgment;
- The bond’s effective dates.
- Provide educational documents as required by Business and Professions Code Sections 6400, 6402, and 6408.
- These documents will not be returned.
- Submit two 1-inch by 1-inch headshot photos for your ID card.
- If renewing, sign a statement confirming you completed 15 hours of continuing legal education.
Registering as a Corporation/Partnership
To register as a legal document assistant (LDA) under a corporation or partnership in Marin County, you must make an appointment and meet all of the following requirements:
- File in the county where your main office is located and where you have any branch offices
- Appear in person with valid government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, state ID card, or passport
- Complete the Legal Document Assistant – Corporation/Partnership registration form
- Have the form signed by a corporate officer or a general partner
- Submit a bond for the corporation or partnership with:
- Original signatures;
- Original acknowledgment;
- The bond’s effective dates.
Bond amounts based on number of LDAs:
- $25,000 for 1 to 4 legal document assistants;
- $50,000 for 5 to 9 legal document assistants;
- $100,000 for 10 or more legal document assistants;
- Provide educational documents for one corporate officer or general partner, as required by Business and Professions Code Sections 6400, 6402, and 6408;
- These documents will not be returned;
- If renewing, sign a statement confirming 15 hours of continuing legal education have been completed.