California Document Preparers

I found California Document Preparers to be professional, courteous, and extremely responsive. Throughout the process, they were always there to answer questions without hesitation, and I actually felt like I’d really engaged in reliable business partnership, right from the start and throughout the process.
While I’m certain the entire staff is fantastic, I must admit Ian really raised the bar regarding how I feel about engaging professional services. From the time he greeted at walk-​in, he maintained a certain can do attitude that instilled confidence in his ability to deliver, which helped lower my anxiety. I knew nothing would be missed.

After chasing many attorneys and getting some exorbitant retainer quotes, I was just about ready to give up when I heard about California Document Preparers. From my very first contact via email to the final wrap up of the case, Ian made the whole engagement and experience seamless and truly professional. Everything was handled flawlessly and was ready as promised. Much of my communication was done via email and phone which makes this equally impressive. I will highly recommend Ian Duncan and the team at California Document Preparers for your legal documents needs, help with filing and other services as listed. Personally for me, this was one of the best experiences I’ve had dealing with a service provider group. These guys have it buttoned down really well. Thank you Ian!

Let’s face it; divorce is no picnic. But Ian at California Document Preparers made it about as painless as it can get. He was extremely helpful, kind, and informative throughout the process. And even though I procrastinated quite a bit (it’s not the sort of paperwork you really feel like snuggling up with on a Sunday night) he was patient and worked according to my timelines.
If you have a relatively straightforward separation and don’t expect too much drama, this is the place to go to finalize your divorce. The entire process cost less than $ 1000. I think I would have blown that in the first couple of days if I had hired a divorce attorney.
Ian simplifies the process as much as possible by providing easy-​to-​understand workbooks that help you get organized. He takes it from there and does all the paperwork and processing with the court. The judges in Alameda County also know and trust Ian to get the job done correctly. He definitely does his best to keep things moving along and keep you out of court.
I also had Ian do my will and living trust, and he did an excellent job with that too.
Don’t let the looks of the lobby put you off. It’s a little beat up, but they are expanding and renovating soon. These are true professionals who won’t let you down! Highly recommend!

This place will save save you a tremendous amount of money and stress. They make the time to explain the process in a kind and helpful fashion.
I used them for a divorce and was so impressed I used them to set up a Will, Trust and Special Needs Trust. I shopped around and would have spent thousands more on the financial planning stuff. Same with the divorce. Attorneys charge more and doing it yourself is daunting.
Ian and Corey are both admirable both in the way they conduct themselves.
6 stars if such a thing existed.

When you think of divorce, you first think of the emotional roller coaster at the end of a relationship, then you think of the paper nightmare that is the filing the court documents, especially those that describe how everything will be split up. While I filed the first few court documents on my own, I quickly discovered I was in over my head in trying to figure out how to draft the settlement agreement. My situation was not contentious or complicated enough for a high-​priced attorney, so I contacted Ian and he was super in helping us complete and understand each step. I am super grateful to him for making it so easy for us!

I didn’t know document preparers existed. Wow. I spent $ 4000 after my mom died to do the same thing they did for $ 400 ish. What I had to do was straightforward, and Ian, the owner, was great about not giving advice, but explaining what needed to be done. He does not get overwhelmed, as I was, and figured out from a out of county assessor what needed to be done. He is one of those «can do» people who it is a pleasure to work with. I didn’t need anything in an urgent way, but everything arrived when he said it would. I know so little about the law, and estates, and he knows so much, I believe you are throwing away money not to check out if he can help you before going to a lawyer. An attorney won’t tell you if you could use a document preparer, but they will tell you if you need a lawyer, so how could you not want to check this out? My neighbor told me, and wow, what a gift (of $ 3500!). You cannot go wrong with this exceptionally polite and efficient organization.

I used California Document Preparers for my divorce, and the process was exceptional — very professional, efficient, and friendly. My spouse and I basically agreed on things such has child custody, spousal and child support, and how to divide our community property, and they were ideal for our situation. Ian Duncan runs the show and he’s a gem — extremely knowledgeable, communicative, and a reassuring presence in a difficult time.

California Document Preparers (Oakland) is professional, knowledgeable, and responsive. Ian is the business principal.
I needed a QDRO, and Ian initially referred me to a firm that specializes in QDROs because my situation was more complex than CDP normally handles. The referenced firm had 1-​star Unilocal rating for being unresponsive, which I found to be the case (they never answered their phone and never returned my call after I’d left a message).
So I recontacted Ian and he subsequently agreed to handle my situation. When we met, he understood my situation, explained what he could do, and clearly explained the process. The fee was fair, and much lower than an attorney. I highly recommend them.

Friendly and affordable, sometimes the best option is not an attorney option. I highly recommend California Document Preparers for no-​fault divorces, simple estate planning, and many other things that would cost you thousands if you retained a lawyer. They provide solid service at a reasonable price.

California Document Preparers was very good at explaining what they could do and not do (cannot give legal advice) but can help prep & file legal documents.
–shortcomings, maybe it was the holidays, documents took 2 wweks to get to me,
i had to pick them up myself to expedite things,
some unexpected drama by a 3^rd party happened and Cal Doc. resolved it to my satisfaction.
–informed later by another escrow co. some needed docs weren’t signed.
unsure who is responsible so no blame
friendly, professional service.
3.5 stars

Ian D at California Document Preparers was fantastic. He patiently and professionally guided me through the process. He was extremely prompt in returning phone calls and emails. I would highly recommend using his service!

Had to get some last minute documents notorized. And this place was just a few minutes away from the Alameda County Tax Treasurers Office and right by Lake Merrit. I was in and out of there in about 5 minutes. They are very friendly and professional. Notary documents are $ 10 per signature.

Friendly, helpful and professional. Have gone to them a few times for getting things notarized and I’m always in and out in just a few minutes. Like that they’re open Saturdays also!

This place is awesome! I had an unresolved divorce process because ex was not cooperating. I didn’t know which documents to prepare and get a default settlement. I paid a lawyer to help me earlier in the process to resolve some custody issues. After that it was all about documents and following procedures. My lawyer would still have charged me the same rate per hour just for the papers and I couldn’t afford him.
I am so grateful to find California Document Preparers. Ian Duncan helped me to finalize the rest of my divorce process. Ian handled everything easily and smoothly in a professional manner. He promptly answered my questions and prepared necessary documents accordingly.
Thank you, California Document Preparers! Without you, I would have been still struggling with a process that can go on for years.

I have been using CA DOC Preparers for several years now and very much appreciate the relationship I have developed with them. They are so generous with their knowledge and have become my «go to» source of information when I have questions about payroll, paying state taxes, setting up my DBA, and more!
First, I used them for my Trust and Estate plan and, most recently, for my incorporation. Ian especially is incredibly knowledgeable and willing to help me with any associated intimidating paperwork – even long after their services have been paid for! I swear he has a rolodex of all the different bureaucratic forms in his head as a mere hint at one will launch him into a quick run down of all the different answers I need.
So long as you don’t need the advice of a lawyer, I don’t know why anyone would choose a lawyer over CA DOC Preparers. Most lawyers bill by the hour and are oh so happy to be milking the clock. Moreover, they often suggest more than you need just to fatten their wallets or cover their behinds.
Not so with CA DOC Preparers; you pay them a flat rate for their services and it’s on them to get it done within a timely fashion. Moreover, your questions are patiently answered at no extra cost! With all the stresses of starting and running a business, it’s so nice to know that my legal paperwork is not something I have to worry about – not with CA DOC Preparers backing me!

Ian helped me do a living trust and the new deeds for my property after a lot split. He is very detail oriented, knowledgeable and in your corner. Honestly, he thought of everything and took care of it all for a fraction of the cost of a lawyer. He answers his e-​mail at all hours. His little dog is also totally cute! What more can you ask for??? Seems that word has gotten around because the last 2 times I was there they were busy so make an appointment, that way you will get prompt service! They definitely prioritize the clients with appointments as they should.

I am a family law attorney. I’ve been practicing nearly 10 years and am a certified family law specialist. I wholeheartedly endorse Ian and the crew at CDP. For those who can’t afford an attorney, have an uncomplicated matter, or just want to give DIY a try — these guys are the best! I’m impressed with their professionalism, problem solving skills and ability to know when their ‘over their heads’ and need some outside guidance. Keep up the great work!

I spoke to Ian on the phone today in regards to filing docs for Family Law. I had a lot of questions and he answered them. Of course he’s not a lawyer but I wanted his opinions based on other court docs he has seen and his answers were on par with the attorney who I consulted with so I got a good feeling from him.
He wasn’t rude like other comments I have read but come on people — not everyone sees eye-​to-​eye (or else we wouldn’t be seeking his help for legal court docs right??).
I haven’t used his services yet for family matters, but may start off with updating my Power of Attorney and update my will/​trust soon.

Never knew such a place existed until my friend E. told me she handled her divorce there – I needed a quick turnaround on a pre-​nup (we have been engaged for years and have a kid, so we were the unusual and goofy sort).
Ian handled our intake, and immediately made us feel at ease. As if all people handled things in our self-​admittedly rushed and clumsy way. He was extremely, I mean exceptionally, professional, courteous, knowledgable, calm and thorough. While being very good about reminding us that he was not a lawyer, he did his best to answer every question or scenario and gave us great council on what to discuss with our attorneys. If I was not sure how to condition a clause idea we had, he gave excellent suggestions that got to the heart of what we wanted. He read us well and referred us to attorneys that we were happy to work with – and gave us a dead-​on realistic cost estimates.
And my highly-​paid attorney (who did not know Ian) took time in my session to compliment his draftsmanship, and to quote «one of the best, out-​of-​the-​box prenuptials I have seen. I plan to steal a paragraph that I thought was brilliant.» Our other attorney (his referral) also spoke highly of his skills. To boot, I witnessed a different interaction where he was going out of his way to protect the welfare of an elderly client.
Our experience could not have been more satisfactory. I never thought we would be able to turnaround legal documents so quickly, and he (and our separate attorneys) really worked hard to help us meet a deadline. I love the business not just for my experience, but the very values they seem to support – it’s a very democratic and socially conscious practice to aid people have access to the law. For our relatively simple needs, we didn’t feel we needed to spend a lot of time and expense, and this business was a perfect start. We plan to use them again immediately for our trust.

I needed documents notarized at the last minute and noticed the good reviews for California Document Preparers. We were in and out in probably 15 minutes max. This is a no muss, no fuss kind of place when you just need a notary in a hurry. I appreciate that and the location is great with decent parking on the street.
I feel like $ 20 for two signatures is a bit expensive, but I’m pretty sure that’s par for the course in the notary world. I’d come back again should I need any documents notarized.