Frequently Asked Questions


What is the difference between a legal document preparer and a paralegal?

A “Legal Document Preparer” is an individual or business entity certified pursuant to ACJA § 7-208 to prepare or provide legal documents, without the supervision of an attorney, for an entity or a member of the public who is engaging in self representation in any legal matter. The Arizona Supreme Court reviews the recommendation of the Board of Nonlawyer Legal Service Providers before making the final determination as to whether to certify an individual or entity as a Legal Document Preparer.

A “Paralegal” is defined by the State Bar of Arizona as a person with legal knowledge, training and experience, who works on behalf of a client under the supervision of an attorney.

Is Chavez Paralegal Services and/or the person assigned to draft my documents certified as a Legal Document Preparer?

Yes. Both Chavez Paralegal Services as an entity and Georgina Chavez as an individual are certified by the Arizona Supreme Court to prepare legal documents without the supervision of an attorney. For a full list of all entities and individuals certified to prepare legal documents in Arizona without the supervision of an attorney, please visit: https://www.azcourts.gov/Portals/26/LDP%20Master%20Directory%206-1-2023.pdf

Is Chavez Paralegal Services licensed and insured?

Yes. Chavez Paralegal Services is both licensed and insured so that our customers can have peace of mind when using our services. If you are not satisfied with the service you received, please send an email to info@chavezparalegalservices.com and we will promptly address your concerns.

Does Chavez Paralegal Services offer legal document preparation services for probate matters such as wills, trusts, power of attorneys, etc.?

We currently do not offer services for any probate matters. We specialize in family law matters such as dissolution of marriage (divorce), annulment, legal separation, paternity, custody, parenting time, child support, grandparent/third party visitation rights, emergency/temporary motions, etc.

Does Chavez Paralegal Services offer legal document preparation services for child adoptions, severance of parental rights, and/or guardianship of a minor child, etc.?

We currently do not offer services for any juvenile court matters. Although it may seem that matters related to child adoptions, severance of parental rights, or guardianship of a minor child would fall under “family court,” they are in fact handled by the juvenile court. For more information on matters handled by the Juvenile Court in Maricopa County, please visit: https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/juvenile/

Can Chavez Paralegal Services provide legal advice to its clients?

No. Chavez Paralegal Services is not a law firm and does not employ any attorneys or legal paraprofessionals, therefore we are not able to provide any legal advice. If you would like to seek legal advice prior to proceeding with our services, then please contact a family law attorney or legal paraprofessional. We currently recommend* the following family law attorneys from our personal experience in seeing them in action in the courtroom:

*PLEASE NOTE: Chavez Paralegal Services is not responsible for the work product of any attorney that we recommend.

Do you recommend I hire an attorney for my family court matter?

Chavez Paralegal Services puts its clients before profits, therefore we have no issues declining any work that we feel would be better suited for a family law attorney. In such instances, we will gladly refer you to one of the family law attorneys listed above.

I have contacted several family law firms, but I cannot afford their retainer costs. What are my options?

The average retainer for a family law attorney is between $2,500 to $7,500, and most attorneys require that the retainer be paid in full before they start working on your case. If you cannot afford a family law attorney, then you can choose to use our services to initiate your family court matter, and then hire a family law attorney on a limited scope basis to represent you in court. This option will substantially reduce any attorney fees you may incur otherwise.

Do you know of any organizations that offer free or pro bono legal services to family court litigants?

To see if you qualify for free or reduced legal help from a family law attorney, please visit: AZLawHelp.org - Arizona Law Help. You may also qualify for free legal advice through the Family Lawyers Assistance Project (FLAP). FLAP is a program designed to assist pro per litigants (people representing themselves) in family law by providing free or reduced 30 minute consultations with volunteer attorneys. Please note that FLAP does not provide free representation in court. For more information, please visit: FLAP - CLSAZ.

Does Chavez Paralegal Services offer notary services?

Yes. We will notarize any documents that we prepare for our clients free of charge. Notary services for documents not prepared by us will require a $10 fee per notarial act plus mileage.

How can I serve the other party if I don’t know their address or their address is protected by court order?

If you do not know where the other party lives but their address is not protected, then please reach out to a process server company to find out your options.

If you do not know where the other party lives because their address is protected, then you may serve them by delivering a copy of your documents to the Clerk of the Court’s Office and paying the fee established by administrative order to cover the cost of service. The Clerk’s Office must promptly mail your documents by regular first-class mail to the most recent protected address the other party has provided to the Clerk’s Office.

Does the amount charged by Chavez Paralegal Services include the cost of court filing fees and service of process fees?

No. Our fees are separate and apart from any court filing fees and/or service of process fees that you may incur. For more information on court filing fees, please visit: https://www.clerkofcourt.maricopa.gov/services/filings/filing-fees