Our team is a vital part of the legal process. Meet the people who are involved in helping you with Family Law and Estate Planning.
LEGAL TEAM
Emily Olsen
Emily joined the Candelaria team in March 2022. She received her Paralegal Certification from California State University, East Bay in 2009 and has worked as a paralegal in different areas of law since. She has been an active probate paralegal since 2015 with experience in various types of probate matters including estate planning, probate and trust administration, conservatorships, and trust and probate litigation.
Emily is very passionate about the law and believes every person should have the opportunity for their day in court. She loves being a part of the client’s probate journey and knowing she is supporting them every step of the way and making a difference.
Emily has lived all over the Bay Area throughout her life and loves calling it home. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, crafting, relaxing with her husband, and cheering on the Oakland A’s either from her couch or at the stadium.
Hannah Probets
Hannah joined the Candelaria LLP team in February 2022. She values being able to use her experience in family law to connect with clients and offer support during such an emotional process. She aims to provide exceptional legal service, with compassion and care for Candelaria LLP clients.
She was born in the UK, and raised between the Bay Area and Surrey, England. She graduated from U.C. Davis with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Anthropology, and later earned her Paralegal Certification from California State University, East Bay. The broad range of subjects she studied provided her with a greater appreciation for the law and its impact on people’s lives.
In her spare time, she can be found hiking, cooking, reading, and caring for her houseplants.
Jerennina Piguing
Jerennina Piguing joined Candelaria LLP as a Paralegal/Law Clerk in May 2024. She is a law school graduate, having earned her Juris Doctorate from Monterey College of Law. While going to law school, she served as the Secretary of the Student Bar Association, an Advocate for various community legal workshops, a Court Mediator for the Monterey Superior Court, and a Certified Law Student. During law school, she was also working full time as a Legal Advocate at Legal Services for Seniors and as a Bilingual Substitute Teacher for the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District.
Jerennina is trilingual, as she is fluent in English, Spanish, and Tagalog.
Jerennina’s experience in Civil Litigation focuses on Family Law, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, Guardianships, and Estate Planning. She is a strong advocate against domestic violence and elder abuse.
Outside of the office, Jerennina can be found reading, writing, collecting fountain pens and journals, or hosting or singing karaoke with her family and friends.
Jordan Pasos
Jordan Pasos has joined Candelaria LLP as a paralegal in the family law practice in April 2024. She graduated from UC Davis in 2020, becoming the first member of her family to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. At UC Davis, Jordan majored in Sociology with an emphasis in law and society, and minored in Chicanx Studies. During her time in college, Jordan was a student intern at the Yolo County Public Defender's Office and an active member of La Raza Pre-Law Association.
Jordan returned to school in 2022, obtaining her paralegal certification from San Francisco State University and an Associates of Arts degree in Spanish from Napa Valley Community College. It was during her paralegal program that Jordan discovered her passion for family law. Her interest in the field is driven by her compassion and empathy for all individuals. Jordan is excited to continue her journey as a career paralegal at Candelaria LLP.
Some of Jordan's favorite pastimes include spending quality time with family and friends, hosting game nights, and training her golden retriever puppy.
Genevieve Wiley
Genevieve joined the Candelaria team as our Legal Assistant. She brings an extensive knowledge of the legal system and is an invaluable addition to our firm.
With a strong foundation in legal studies and political science, Genevieve embarked on her journey in the legal field as a Legal Process Clerk for the Santa Cruz Superior Court Criminal/Traffic Division. In this role, she served as a crucial member of the Court User Services Unit, stationed at the front counter. Here, she dedicated herself to providing legal information to diverse stakeholders, including the general public, attorneys, law enforcement officers, and other agencies. Genevieve’s responsibilities encompassed addressing inquiries and offering assistance on matters pertaining to traffic and criminal issues, showcasing her commitment to ensuring accessible and accurate legal resources for all.
Genevieve earned her bachelor's degree with honors from UC Santa Cruz, where she majored in Legal Studies and Political Science. Throughout her academic journey, she was actively engaged in campus life as a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and Pre-Law Phi Alpha Delta Fraternity, and fostered a network of like-minded individuals passionate about philanthropy and the legal field. Additionally, Genevieve was an outreach intern for the UCSC Asian/American Pacific Islander Resource Center, further deepening her understanding of the importance of inclusivity and cultural competence in the legal realm. As she currently immerses herself in the rigorous preparation for the LSAT and navigates the law school application process, her experiences thus far solidify her aspiration to become an attorney dedicated to upholding justice and promoting legal access within the community.
In her free time, Genevieve loves to read, cook, and do anything outdoors, especially rock-climbing, running, and hiking! She also loves to spend time with her family, adorable nephews, and her fur baby pup, Jinks.
Mercedes Candelaria
Mercedes joined Candelaria LLP in May 2025 as a Legal Assistant and is currently in the process of applying to law school. (Wish her luck!) She recently graduated from Seattle University with a Bachelor’s in Business with concentrations in Marketing and Management. During undergrad, she gained valuable experience as a Public Relations Intern at Communiqué PR, a Corporate Intern at GEICO, and a Social Media Coordinator at Lamano Law Office. At Seattle U, she was an active collegiate leader serving as President of the Management Advancement Club, Chief of Staff at NorthWest Filipino American Student Alliance, and Fundraising Chair of the United Filipino Club. Professionally, Mercedes advanced her career as an Account Executive at Karbo Communications and as an Associate at Vested, further developing her expertise in communications and client relations.
Passionate about community engagement, Mercedes actively supports local Filipino organizations and fills her cup by participating in events with Pinay Powerhouse and the Filipino Bar Association of Northern California (FBANC). She is also the recipient of the Honorable Eleanor Oducayen Nisperos Women’s Committee Scholarship, awarded to aspiring law students committed to serving their communities.
Outside of work, you can find her on the volleyball court, exploring Bay Area views, or enjoying coffee at one of San Francisco's many cafés.
SUPPORT STAFF
Maria Probets
Maria was raised and educated in England but has now lived in the US longer than in her home country. She has 14 years experience as a family law office manager and joins Candelaria LLP from another local, well known, and prestigious family law firm. Before her own experience with divorce, Maria worked in construction defect litigation and brings her wealth of common sense and great British humor to Candelaria LLP.
Maria handles all administration at Candelaria LLP to ensure smooth running of the office along with billing matters, so please feel free to connect with her if you have any questions regarding your invoice.
Maria has lived around the world and enjoys traveling, wine tasting and being with friends. When she is not working Maria is looking for a good beach to hang out on, or laying in her hammock in the summer with a good book, or connecting with her extended family back in the UK.
Chloe Park
Chloe Park was born and raised in the Bay Area. She graduated from Clayton Valley High School and furthered her education in Early Childhood Education at Diablo Valley College. In the summer of 2021, she completed the Anti-Racism I course at the University of Colorado, Boulder to better herself as a person and as part of her community.
Chloe joined us as our Front Desk Administrator in September 2023. She has years of office experience, primarily in school education. She has exemplary organizational and relationship management skills which make her an asset to our firm.
Though Chloe does not come from a law background, her love of learning and dedication to a collaborative workplace make her a great addition to our team. Chloe believes in creating a welcoming environment and upholding our firm’s values to build up women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ communities. As the first contact for current and potential clients, she hopes to provide everyone with compassionate and supportive service.
When Chloe isn’t in the office helping clients, planning firm events, or supporting our office with administrative matters, you can find her out and about with her husband and son. A Disney fanatic, she is always planning her next Anaheim visit. Chloe is also an avid music lover and will use any excuse to bring up Taylor Swift in a conversation.
Sylvie Rush
Sylvie Rush earned a degree in Economics with a minor in Public Affairs from UCLA, where she volunteered as a camp counselor for underserved LA youth, as well as studied harm reduction strategies in previously incarcerated LA gang members. Doing this work, Sylvie realized her passion for helping others within the community and believes in carrying that ideology to her career.
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Sylvie joined Candelaria LLP in November 2023 as our Intake Coordinator and hopes to provide all of our clients with a welcoming and compassionate experience. Sylvie comes to the office with an impressive administrative background and a wealth of experience in client services. Her dedication to providing exceptional support and her passion for learning about the legal field make her a valuable addition to the team.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her cat, Bumi.
Eleni Nicolas
Eleni is our childcare provider. She went to school for Early Childhood Education and has been working with children in school and home settings for over 10 years.
In her free time, she enjoys exploring our beautiful Bay Area, as well as spending her days with her daughter, family, and friends.