Page 10 - Sanger Herald 2-22-18 E-edition

Sanger
SANGER HERALD
Lifestyles
• 2B • THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2018
Mariah Mino owns Mino Legal Services and spends a good deal of time on the road
Legal paperwork help for hire
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Mariah Mino is a legal document assistant.
For hire.
She travels to her clients and performs legal work they may not have time for. Her company, Mino Legal Services in Sanger, assists people who represent themselves. The Latin term is “pro se” legal representation, which means “on behalf of themselves.”
“They’re still representing themselves,” Mino said. “I just handle the paperwork.”
The California Association of Legal Document Assistants shows five members in Fresno, one in Clovis, one in Reedley and more in Madera and Tulare counties. Those who offer the service provide a “low-cost alternative to attorneys for preparing legal paperwork,” the association website says. “LDAs are experts at form preparation and procedure. Our members can help with many different areas, such as divorce, wills, deeds, guardianship and many more.”
Navigating the intricacies of the legal world can be tough. The Sacramento County Public Law Library said that depending on a person’s legal needs, legal assistants can provide a more affordable alternative to hiring an attorney. “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
How the Bible Changes Us
The Bible is the most read book in history. It’s the bestselling book in history. And it is the most translated book in history.
This book is unlike any other book. It has a supernatural power that no other book has, to change lives. The reason it has the power to change lives is because it is the word of God.
Last week, I indicated that it is theopneustos, as the Bible calls it, God- breathed. The reason why the Bible has the power to change our lives is that it’s
affordable alternative to hiring an attorney,” said an article on the library’s website.
Under California law, certain types of legal services can be performed by legal assistants and unlawful detainer assistants. A legal assistant is similar to a paralegal, who provides substantive legal work under a licensed attorney.
But legal assistants cannot lawfully provide legal advice or opinion.
And the practice of people outsourcing legal work is becoming increasingly common, wrote Sally Kane in an article for the website The Balance, entitled “10 Trends Reshaping the Legal Industry” in May 2017.
“These new options enable bringing affordable legal services to disadvantaged populations and empower citizens to address their own legal matters,” she said. “As the cost of legal services continues to rise, new legal delivery models will continue to emerge and gain momentum in the coming years.”
Mino started her business about a year ago and says she keeps busy with steady work. “I’m mobile,” she said. “So I go to my clients.”
They may be getting off work, preparing dinner, taking care of children or have innumerable other things going on, she said. Mino said she’ll get the pertinent information from them, take the information home and fill out the paperwork. Then she said she makes sure all outstanding questions are addressed and that the
not just words in print. It’s not just human ideas. It’s not just pop psychology. It is the word of God.
The word of God is the most powerful thing in the universe. In fact, the Bible says the entire universe was created by the word of God. God spoke it into existence. God speaks, and it happens!
In Psalm 33:6, it says, “The Lord merely spoke and the heavens were created. He breathed the Word and all the stars were born.”
Jesus said, ”The Words I have spoken to are spirit and they are life.” John 6:63
These are not just mere words. These words
final product meets their approval.
“I’m typing and writing everything they want to do and what they want to say,” Mino said.
Her company specializes in divorces, restraining orders, guardianship and conservatorship. She said she gets referrals and accepts jobs throughout Fresno County.
Mino said that growing up, her family operated construction businesses so she’s no stranger to operating independently. “That’s all I really knew,” she said.
She said she enjoys the work. “I’m constantly busy,” she said.
“I love the law,” she said. But Mino doesn’t, at least at this time, plan to pursue a legal degree to become an attorney, citing the high cost and debt load it would require.
Regardless, her daughter Ashley, who attends Sanger High, said Mino is her role model. “My mom’s my hero,” she said, adding that she’s influencing her, somewhat subliminally, to pursue a degree in criminology.
Mino graduated through the program at Fresno City College and served an internship at Central California Legal Services.
The work requires quite a few hours driving her Jeep Grand Cherokee, going back and forth to clients’ homes and courthouse to file paperwork.
The reporter can be contacted by email at nemethfeatures@gmail.com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
To get an item into the calendar, email details to nemethfeatures@gmail. com or call Mike or Sharon at 559-875-2511.
Fresno County district attorney Lisa Smittcamp is scheduled to speak before the Sanger Woman’s Club at noon March 6 at 1602 Seventh St. Details, 559- 531-5067.
SAM Academy plans to celebrate Science Friday from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 and the CSW Robotics team from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with an hour break for lunch at noon Feb. 24 at 730 N St. The first day, young scientists can build stuff and create new inventions. Community science activities are available the second day along with robotics and the Rover Challenge. Details, 559-399- 3090.
A town hall meeting by Sanger councilman Daniel Martinez is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at Reagan Elementary, 1586 S. Indianola Ave. Topics include planned city projects and issues and concerns for District 3. Details, dmartinez@ ci.sanger.ca.us.
BOOK SALE is planned from 10 a.m. 4 p.m. March 2and3and10a.m.to5 p.m. March 5 at the Sanger Branch of the Fresno County Library, 1812 Seventh St.
St. Mary’s Annual St. Patrick’s Dinner is scheduled from noon to 5 p.m. March 11 at St. Mary’s Hall at North and Bethel avenues. The meal include chicken, all-you-can-eat spaghetti, salad, rolls, peas, beverages and dessert. Cost is $18. Details, Beth Musgrave 559-876-3936.
The Sanger Eagles’ taco nights have resumed. Taco nights are the first and third Mondays of the month. Fish fry starts at 5 p.m. March 3. Cost is $12 and reservations required. St. Patrick’s corn beef dinner is 5 p.m. March 17. Second crab feed is April 7. Breakfasts will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. every second Saturday of the month. The location is 225 J St. Details, Jim Batten 559- 875-6820 or Denny Noller 559-392-1936.
The Sanger branch of the Fresno County Public Library will be closing March 10 for interior renovations, especially to the bathrooms to make them compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, said
Terrance McArthur, an official with the library. The library should reopen sometime in the summer for the summer reading program, he said. An alternative is the Sunnyside branch at 5566 E. Kings Canyon Road.
Meetings by Friends of the Library take place every third Tuesday of the month. They start at 6 p.m. at the Sanger Branch of the Fresno County Library, 1812 Seventh St. Details, Kent Sani 559-930-4306.
Teams wanted. Epic Adventure Quest, which is fashioned after the CBS TV show “The Amazing Race,” is staging an event like a scavenger hunt from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 3 in downtown Sanger to go along with the Blossom Trail Festival — after the morning’s races. This is a
just like the show. Cost is $20 per team. Sign up at healthyepicliving.com. Details, healthyepicliving@ gmail.com.
The Blossom Wine/Beer Tour Bus is ready to ride again this year. Riders get to enjoy the Blossom Trail in comfort Feb. 24 and 25. Guided tour with wine and beer tasting and lunch. Cost is $60. Details, sangerchamber@gmail.com or 559-875-4575.
For the Blossom Days Festival on March 3, the Sanger Chamber plans to announce the first- ever Blossom Queen. Nominations are currently being accepted. Details, 559-875-4575.
AMVETS has brought back its chili dogs from 5 to 8 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month. So that will be March 7
PASTOR’S CORNER
partnership between the Sanger Chamber and the organization Healthy Epic Living. Teams of four will go from checkpoint to checkpoint to uncover clues that will lead them to the next station. Participants will need to use brain and brawn to figure out how to move forward,
through the Word of Christ.” But the power of God’s word not only tells what to do but it gives you the power to do it. And it increases your faith. When I read the thousands of promises in the Bible where God says if you do this, this and this, I will do this, this and this, that increases my expectation. It gives me confidence.
4) It illuminates my mind: Psalm 119:130 says “Understanding your Word brings light to the minds of ordinary people.” And Psalm 119:105 exclaims, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
He turns the light on so that we can have direction
and 21. Everybody who’s anybody will be there. Come early. It’s popular. There will also be kraut dogs, mustard dogs and Frito boats. The meals will be served the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month. Details, George 559-286-5667.
in our lives. And finally, It sets us free: “If you continue in my Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!” John 8:31-32. It’s all right here in THE BOOK, God’s Word, the Bible. You need to learn it, accept it and do it.
Next Week: How to Study the Bible.
Pastor Sam Estes is city advance director and facilitates the Sanger Community Task Force that meets the first and third Tuesdays every month. He can be reached at pastorsam51@gmail.com.
are spiritual in nature. They
have the power to transform society, transform history
and transform people. They can
do the impossible. Hebrews 4:12 says
that the “Word of
God is living and active.”
Here are some ways God’s word can change us: 1) He remakes my life: When life is falling apart, Through God’s word I discover I get a fresh start. I can start all over. Because God wipes the slate clean for my life.
In James 1:18 the Bible says, “He chose to give us birth through the word of
truth.” Notice this spiritual birth, salvation, comes through the word of truth.
2) Eliminates guilt, regrets and shame. 1 John 1:9 declares, “If we confess our
Sanger News & Community Calendar
Angelina Garcia-Aguirre demonstrates the technique of aerialst silk acrobatics taught by the Epic Arial Academy and StarLight Dance Studio in Sanger. She gave the performance for members of the Sanger Community Task Force on Tuesday. The group, which meets every other week, gathered at the studio on Academy Avenue to discuss what's going on in the city.
Pastor Sam Estes
sins to God He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Only God can do that! Romans 8:1 further says, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
3) It turns on my faith — Romans 10:17 helps us see that, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard