If you’re planning to start a court case or think you may need to look up court cases, you should be aware of what can occur if you use Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) to do so. What is AI? AI, or artificial intelligence, has been ramping up in usage since the start of this decade and is a tool to automate human tasks by typing or speaking requests to a language trained-bot.[1] AI platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini have gained
April is volunteer appreciation month. Contra Costa Senior Legal Services relies on volunteers to help us serve our clients. We appreciate all that our volunteers do for us. Volunteers help us amplify our impact in the community and allow us to reach more seniors. There are many ways to volunteer with Contra Costa Senior Legal Services. We have volunteer opportunities for people who are attorneys and people who are not attorneys. We also have volunteer opportunities for notaries. Click
With the onset of March, many people begin to look ahead to preparing for Tax Day on April 15th. Here’s some useful information about new tax information relevant to seniors for Tax Year 2025. On July 4, 2025, a major new tax law was signed into effect (the Act). This blog will focus on the impact the Act has on senior taxpayers. Bigger Deductions for Everyday Filers Standard Deductions Stay High The standard deduction continues to be generous and is
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE COUNTY OF CONTRA COSTA ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF THE LISTED PROJECT-BASED VOUCHER (PBV) WAITING LISTS Monday, March 2, 2026 at 10 AM through Thursday, March 19, at 4:00 PM From 03/02/2026 – 03/19/2026 pre-applications will be accepted for the properties listed below ONLY: THIS IS NOT FOR THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER WAITING LIST. Pre-applications must be submitted on-line at: www.contracostahousing.org. Note: ALL PRE-APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE. If you would like a paper application, please contact
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, many of us have romance on our minds. This time of year can make us yearn for that special someone. While it’s never too late in life to find romance, it is important to approach romance with an understanding of how to date safely. While many couples do meet online, looking for romance on the internet can pose risks, namely in the form of romance scams. Scammers know that many of us
We are happy to introduce to you a new member of the CCSLS team: Suman Kaur. She is our new Legal Clinic Coordinator. In her role she works closely with our Pro Bono Attorneys and all of our free monthly legal clinics around the county to make sure operations are running smoothly. Before joining CCSLS, Suman worked at Deloitte, where she gained experience in professional communications, teamwork, and client focused service. Her time there helped her develop strong organizational skills
Starting in January, new landlord-tenant laws will take effect in California. Here is information about some of these laws. Rental Units Must Have Refrigerators and Stoves California has a law that requires that rental units be habitable. Up to now, to be considered habitable, a rental unit needed to have effective roofs, walls, windows, and doors, plumbing with hot and cold water, electricity, hearing, adequate places to dispose of garbage, and a private mailbox that can be locked. Starting on
What: Contra Costa Senior Legal Services is starting a free Elder Abuse Self-Help Restraining Order Clinic. The clinic will launch on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. When: Every Tuesday (note that there will be no clinic on December 30th and holidays). Time: 8:30am – 11:30 am (note that you must arrive by 11am to receive assistance. If you arrive after 11am, we may not be able to assist you). Where: The clinic will be held at 1026 Escobar Street, Martinez, CA
Please see the interactive Food Distribution Map on Contra Costa and Solano County Food Bank’s website, which is searchable by zip code or city, to find additional resources for food support.
Domestic violence cuts across all ages, socio-economic statuses, and cultural backgrounds. While we may think of it as abuse by a partner, sometimes other family members are the abusers. Victims of domestic violence may have spent a lifetime with their abusers, staying due to financial, cultural, and family pressure. In some cases, victims may not recognize they are being abused because it has become a familiar part of their lives. As people age, they may be reluctant to leave their
