Today’s podcast, read by Assistant Director Jean Willis and librarian Kate Fitz, answers a question about how to deal with driveway stains left by a tenant, and the resulting tense relationship between the parties. Check it out!

We are pleased to announce the first in our new series of podcasts, “Ask the County Law Librarian,” based on questions received from patrons and answered in our weekly column in the Sacramento Press.

Today’s podcast, written and read by director Coral Henning, answers the question of how to access online accounts such as Facebook and Twitter after the death of a family member.

For more “Ask the County Law Librarian” topics, visit our page at the Sacramento Press and subscribe to this podcast!

A party in a California case has one chance to disqualify a judge for any reason at all, known as a “peremptory challenge.” We have just published a new “Step by Step” guide to exercising this right. The guide includes sample forms and instructions. We have also released a podcast describing what a peremptory challenge is, when it can be used, and how to do it. Check it out!

If you have a close friend or family member who is suffering from severe physical or mental illness, recovering from a serious accident, or declining mentally or physically as a result of aging, they may need your help, including finding a place to live, obtaining healthcare, or depositing checks in the bank. Even if it is only a temporary situation, a conservatorship may be the answer for you to take care of your loved one. Listen for more information.

Not only are swimming accidents tragic and preventable, they can also subject homeowners to serious legal liability if they haven’t taken “reasonable precautions.” So what’s “reasonable?” Listen to this episode of “Everyday Law” and find out.

Moving ranks high in the list of most stressful life events. In addition to settling into a new environment and learning your new neighborhood, the move itself can be a stressor. Turning all your worldly possessions over to a stranger, for that person to handle and transport, can definitely increase your anxiety level. This may be compounded by the rash of moving company scams seen in the news lately.

Listen to the latest of our “Everyday Law” podcasts and learn how to protect yourself against unscrupulous moving companies. 

You can find all of our “Everyday Law” podcasts, and all of our “Everyday Law” articles, on our website.  We’re always looking for “Everyday Law” topics that interest you.  If you have an idea, email the reference desk or post a comment here!

Identity theft is a very serious crime and can have disastrous effects on the person who is victimized. Potential victims need to act quickly in order to minimize the damage. But most of the information on line seems to focus on how to avoid it, not how to control the damage after it occurs. (For instance, this great article from Nolo Press:  Preventing Identity Theft.)

But what if the worst has happened? This month’s podcast discusses what you can do to protect yourself after your identity is stolen.

To view the text of the podcast and links, visit our main website: Everyday Law: Identity Theft.

You can find all our podcasts at the SCPLL Podcasts page.

Here’s some legal news you can use, just in time for the Holidays! State and federal law provide protection for gift cards. Most store cards cannot expire or charge a service fee. Cards that can be used anywhere, like those from Visa, American Express, or Mastercard, must be good for at least 5 years. Find out more in this episode of ”Everyday Law.” And be sure to read the fine print on the card!

Find this and all of our Everyday Law podcasts on the Mulitmedia section of our website.

Frequently parents find that they need someone else, often a grandparent or other family member, to care for and make decisions for their children, but they do not want to establish a formal guardianship. As an alternative to a legal guardianship, caregivers can sign a Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit. Find out more about this affidavit and when it can be used by listening to this episode of “Everyday Law.”

You can find all our podcasts at the SCPLL Podcasts page.

We’re pleased to present our latest “Everyday Law” podcast, an adaptation of librarian Jen Richter’s article on legal document assistants.

Preparing legal documents can be an intimidating task, and many California residents seek the assistance of an attorney when feeling overwhelmed by paperwork. The pressure to know the law and to complete the forms correctly can be daunting to those trying to do everything themselves. Depending on your legal needs, there may be a more affordable alternative to hiring an attorney: under California statutory law, certain types of legal services can be performed by Legal Document Assistants (LDAs) or Unlawful Detainer Assistants (UDAs). This podcast covers the difference between LDAs/UDAs and paralegals, and what you should know when deciding whether to use an LDA.

Everyday Law: Legal Document Assistants