Lahaina Araneta, JD

Attorney at Law

Lahaina Araneta, Esq. is an Immigration Attorney based in Los Angeles, California. She has been practicing law since 2012 and has worked at LMG Law since 2014, where she specializes in employment and family-based immigration. She also served as Director of Legal Operations for Ashoori Law from 2019 to 2023, where she was the full-time manager of employment business immigration cases. Prior to her work at LMG, she served as a Staff Attorney for The Center for Human Rights and Constitutional Law, and worked as a Senior Associate for two different immigration law groups. She received her JD from Loyola Law School and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Loyola Marymount University. In law school, she participated in the immigrant justice practicum and served as a volunteer with several nonprofit agencies.

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Q&A Comments (101)

What happens if you don't write a will?
If you die without a will, it means you have died “intestate.” When this happens, the intestacy laws of the state where you reside will determine how your property is distributed upon your death. The laws of intestate succession will apply. Do an Internet search to learn more about the laws in your area.
Where do the buyer and seller sign on the back of the title?
The place the buyer and seller sign depends on the state. In California and some other states, the back of the title acts as a bill of sale. It has a space for the names and addresses of both the buyer and seller, along with the purchase price of the car.
How do I change my name on my car title?
You must do it in person. Before contacting the DMV, notify the Social Security Administration (SSA). DMV offices won't issue a new document if your name doesn't match the SSA's records. Visit your DMV in person. Unlike submitting an address change, which can be completed online or through the mail, updating a name change requires doing so in person. Bring proper identification confirming your previous name. DMV offices are extremely specific regarding acceptable ID. Visit your DMV's website for a list of acceptable forms of proof. Bring documentation of your name change. In most cases, depending on the circumstances behind your new identity, these vital records will be a marriage certificate, divorce document, or court papers issued in the U.S. proving your name change. Also, bring your existing vehicle title or car registration. Make sure you have proper payment to cover any duplicate title or registration fees.
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Co-authored Articles (19)

How to

Fill Out a Car Title Transfer

If you are buying or selling a vehicle, you will need to pass ownership of the vehicle by filling out the title transfer. The rules vary from state to state, so it's important to find out the specific paperwork and regul...

How to

Spot a Fake I.D.

As licenses are becoming ever easier to forge, fake I.D.s are growing more common and more accurate. If you're in a position where you must verify someone's age or identity—whether a bouncer at a club or a teller at a ...

How to

Claim Land

In the U.S. there are a few circumstances where you can file a claim on abandoned, unclaimed, and currently owned land. Keep in mind that land that may have been physically abandoned is still legally owned in most cases....

How to

Split Your Estate Fairly Between Your Beneficiaries

Few issues cause as much disagreement between family members as inheritances. Although you might want to divide your estate equally, this might not be the best solution in all situations. Begin by identifying your estate...

How to

Clean Your Driving Record

Wouldn’t you like to go back in time to when you had a clean driving record? No speeding tickets. Lower car insurance rates. Fortunately, you might be able to. Some states let you expunge violations from your driving r...

How to

Fight a Cell Phone Ticket in California

California law prohibits drivers from making telephone calls or sending text messages on a handheld cell phone while traveling. Drivers under 18 cannot even make hands-free calls. If you receive a ticket, you have some o...

How to

Know when to Reopen an Estate

An estate refers to someone’s plan for the distribution of their property, belongings, and money after they are deceased. Once an estate has been fully administered and closed, it generally stays that way. However, the...

How to

Deem a House Unlivable

Every home for rent must be safe to live in (“habitable”). A home isn’t habitable when it has serious problems that make staying in the home dangerous to an ordinary person. To check whether your home is livable, w...

How to

Write a Motor Vehicle Accident Report

A complete guide to writing a DMV accident reportTypically when you're in an accident on the road, the police will complete a police report describing the accident. However, in some cases you may need to submit your own ...

How to

Become a Legal Permanent Resident of the United States

Becoming a legal permanent resident of the United States is a lengthy bureaucratic process. Once you determine your eligibility, you will need to find someone who can sponsor your application. Then, you and your sponsor ...

How to

Attribute a Creative Commons Licensed Work

Creative Commons (CC) is a global nonprofit organization that allows creators to legally share their work and allow it to be reused by others. Millions of works around the world are protected by Creative Commons licenses...

How to

Get an Illinois State ID

If you live in Illinois, you may decide to get a state identification card to prove your residency and your age. You can also use the card to complete government documents and to access state services. To get an Illinois...

How to

Get out of a Nondisclosure Agreement

A nondisclosure agreement (NDA) is a contract between two parties where one, or both, agree to keep some specific information confidential. As with any contract, a nondisclosure agreement can be legally broken or ended. ...

How to

Check the Points on Your Driver's License

You may need to check the points on your driving record due to a recent traffic citation, or for insurance purposes. Because the points on your driving record are like demerits, the less points you have the better! Visit...

How to

Bid on Government Contracts

Each year, the U.S. federal government spends hundreds of billions of dollars purchasing products and services. Of that amount, small businesses receive almost a hundred billion dollars in contracts. With the right prepa...

How to

Defend Against Lease Violation Claims

When a landlord believes that you have violated a lease, they should notify you of the violation by serving a notice on you. You can defend against the lease violation claim by documenting that you didn’t violate the l...

How to

Apply for a Homestead Exemption in Florida

The homestead exemption in Florida can save you hundreds of dollars in property taxes if you are a permanent Florida resident. If you qualify, you can reduce the assessed value of your homestead up to $50,000. There is a...

How to Get a Subpoena for Phone Records

Learn the legal requirements and procedure for obtaining a subpoenaYou need evidence to win a lawsuit, and you can use a subpoena to get it. A subpoena is a legal command to turn over documents. To issue a subpoena, you ...

What to Know About Applying for Section 8 Housing in California

Applying for federally-assisted housing is easy with this guide Section 8 is a federal program that helps people pay their rent. If approved, you receive a voucher that the state’s housing authority pays directly to yo...