NAMI Santa Cruz County
Help Line: (831) 427-8020
Línea de ayuda en español: (831) 205-7074
Administrative Office: (831) 824-0406
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Legal Help

List of Legal Help In Santa Cruz County

Legal Help Quick List

The Santa Cruz Public Library sponsors a list on local resources including Legal Help.  The resources listed here can help with mediation, free legal council, civil rights.  As of this writing, there were 16 local resources listed.

Santa Cruz Lawyer Directory:
http://lawyerreferralsantacruz.org/find_a_lawyer.php

They offer legal advice for up to one 1/2 hour with pre-screened, experienced lawyers who volunteer their time to meet with you. 
A minimal administrative fee of $50 is paid at the time of the appointment to help support our non-profit service which since 1988 has been sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Bar Association and Certified by the State Bar of California and which also meets the American Bar Association Standards for a Lawyer Referral Service.

Help with Insurance

For Help with Grievances Visit
http://www.insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/101-help/

For Help with Insurance Parity Contact
The Patrick Kennedy Forum - https://www.thekennedyforum.org/about/

Legal Services of Northern California

1-888-354-4474 (habla español)
https://lsnc.net/

Free and confidential legal help is available to:
  • Find health coverage
  • Assess you for free and reduced cost insurance
  • Fix problems with your health plan
  • Obtain care and treatments you need
  • Assist you with medical bills
  • Help you with problems obtaining medication at the pharmacy
  • Get access to mental health services
  • Assist you with denials and terminations from Medi-Cal
  • Fix problems with Covered California
  • Obtain transportation to your medical appointments

NOSSCR

National Organization of Social Security Claimants' Representatives, NOSSCR.org is a specialized bar association for attorneys and other advocates who represent people with disabilities.  Their members represent Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Insurance claimants through the adjudication process, advocating for the income rights of people with disabilities.

Many NOSSCR members participate in their referral service. Call NOSSCR at 1-800-431-2804 and they will give you the name and phone number of a private attorney in your area. You can contact the attorney about representing you in your claim for Social Security or SSI benefits. 

California Rural Legal Assistance

Watsonville Office: (831) 724-2253
Salinas: (831) 757-5221

http://www.crla.org/

Non-Profit that gives low-income rural Californians with free legal assistance and a variety of community education and outreach programs.  The impact of CRLA's litigation has touched the lives of literally millions of low-income individuals, improving conditions for farm workers, new immigrants, single parents, school children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and entire communities.

Advocacy, Inc

(831) 429-1913 or (831) 636-1638
http://www.advocacy-inc.org
525 Laurel St., Suite 140
Advocacy, Inc. is comprised of the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program and the Patients’ Rights Advocate Program.

The Ombudsman Program is a federal and state mandated program charged with advocating for seniors and disabled individuals living in residential care facilities for the elderly and skilled nursing facilities.

The Patients’ Rights Advocate Program is a state mandated program also charged with rights protection and advocacy for all mental health consumers residing in both Santa Cruz and San Benito counties.

​Books

Laws We Need to Know: Understanding Rules and Programs for Persons with Mental Illness by Baron Miller

Baron writes: "I am an attorney in San Francisco and the father of a woman with schizophrenia. She was diagnosed 30 years ago, and since then I have gathered much knowledge about laws and government programs for the mentally ill. I now devote much of my legal practice to providing legal assistance to NAMI families. My main purpose was to concisely provide NAMI families with information they need, creating a book which would serve as a resource for all of us."

Justice System Diversion

Summary of briefing on Mental Health Diversion in Santa Cruz County. Notes on how to request diversion from criminal sentencing for an individual with mental health conditions. Reviewed by County staff for accuracy.
SCC Justice System Diversion
File Size: 16 kb
File Type: docx
Download File


LPS and Probate Conservatorships

Santa Clara County has a very through description of Conservatorships.  ​http://www.scscourt.org/self_help/probate/conservatorship/conservatorship_lps.shtml
Guide to LPS Conservatorship for mental health disability
File Size: 6067 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

LPS Civil Commitment Flow Chart
File Size: 27 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Overview on conservatorship types and FAQ - notes from Mike Beebe following presentation on 12/16/21 from Santa Cruz County Public Guardian Barbara Lehmann
Conservatorship Types and Key Elements
File Size: 22 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

Special Needs Trusts and Conservatorships

Ellen Cookman, J.D., L.L.M, Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law
Cookman Law
(650)-690-2571
info@cookmanlaw.com
www.cookmanlaw.com


Harriet Brown: hbattorney.com/

Betty Marshall
(408) 874-0990
577 Salmar Avenue, Suite 120
Campbell, CA  95008

Deborah Malkin: www.malkintrust.com/certified-specialist.html
2425 Porter Street, Suite 3
Soquel, CA 95073
831.462.9100
dmalkin@malkintrust.com

Lucille Des Jardins: http://www.ldjlaw.com/estate-plan/#special

Jan Cumins:  650-320-8010 or by email at:  Jan@JanCummins.com 

Copenbarger & Copenbarger LLP  ​https://www.copenbarger.com/
2121 41st Avenue, Suite 204
Capitola, CA 95010

800-244-8814

Other Resources:

Pamela Fyfe -  thefyfes@pacbell.net

Jon Minsloff and Kristin Carter - (831) 429-1311

Wrightslaw -  http://wrightslaw.com
Special education law, education law, and advocacy for children with disabilities - See more at: http://wrightslaw.com/#sthash.p9xVgQbG.dpuf

​Baron L. Miller, Attorney at Law
1388 Sutter Street, Suite 710
San Francisco, CA 94109
email: baron@baronmillerlaw.com

website: baronmillerlaw.com  
ph: 415 522-0500

Robert Taren (workers comp, disability, & SSI)

https://www.bobtaren.com/​
Special Education Attorney Michael Zatopa of Zatopa and Stephens, in San Francisco
https://www.zsk-law.com/
Works mainly over the phone and email.  He has experience with Santa Cruz County.

Senior Services, Legal

http://seniorlegal.org
(831) 426-8824
Senior Citizens Legal Services (SCLS) provides free legal services to elderly residents of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. The highest priority of the program is to defend the right of the elderly to quality health care, social integration, and to be secure in their persons and property and to be free of discrimination on the basis of age or disability.
info@namiscc.org  • Help Line (831) 427-8020 • Office Line (831) 824-0406 • NAMI SCC, 542 Ocean St, Suite F, Santa Cruz , CA 95060
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NAMI Santa Cruz County is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Donations are tax-deductible
Federal Tax ID # 77-0002878
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The information available on and through the namiscc.org website is presented in summary form as a supplement to, and NOT a substitute for, the knowledge, skill, and judgment of qualified psychiatrists, psychologists, physicians and health care professionals. The information on NAMISCC.org has been obtained from sources believed to be accurate and reliable. However, NAMI makes no warranty as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of this information. We have NOT vetted the Providers.  

Information accessed on and through NAMISCC.org is provided "AS IS" and without warranty, express or implied, including, but not limited to, any implied warranty of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose.