Legal Help
List of Legal Help In Santa Cruz CountyLegal 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 InsuranceFor 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 California1-888-354-4474 (habla español)
https://lsnc.net/ Free and confidential legal help is available to:
NOSSCRNational 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. BooksLaws 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 DiversionSummary 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.
LPS and Probate ConservatorshipsSanta Clara County has a very through description of Conservatorships. http://www.scscourt.org/self_help/probate/conservatorship/conservatorship_lps.shtml
Overview on conservatorship types and FAQ - notes from Mike Beebe following presentation on 12/16/21 from Santa Cruz County Public Guardian Barbara Lehmann
Special Needs Trusts and ConservatorshipsEllen 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. | ||||||||
