A plethora of do-it-yourself legal forms have been made available to regular Joes in the last several years from industry leaders such as Nova Publishing, Nolo Press, Nova Publishing, and Socrates Media. These companies have combined the expertise of attorneys, writers, and software mavens to produce a wide range of software available at most office supply outlets. Anyone who can read simple instructions and fill out forms can handle most of their own generic legal affairs. Forms are usually in plain English rather than 'legalese'. Striking out irrelevant information or adding extra clauses can customize them. A majority of those available claim to be valid in all fifty states; however, it is always prudent to check with an attorney in the state in which you have declared permanent residency. The company will most always respond to an email requesting a form specific to your state.
The process for completing the form, regardless of which product you choose, is basically the same. LegalZoom is very easy to work with: questions are straightforward and, once your document is submitted, it is reviewed for consistency and completeness by an attorney and mailed back to you within forty-eight hours. You ultimately save money on legal fees and will be able to handle a legal issue more quickly than a lawyer could.
The most common legal documents for do-it-yourselfers are estate papers, including a Living Will, Designation of a Health Care Surrogate and a Durable Power of Attorney. Divorce kits are also popular, as are bills of sale, demand letters, or a defective goods notice.
How do you separate the good forms from the bad? Strolling through the ‘House of Forms’ without a guide map is risky. The real thing you need to avoid however, is a false sense of security. It looks so simple, but a bit of research will go a long way and possibly save you money in the long run, in determining if the do-it-yourself route is the way to go. FindLaw.com offers thousands of articles and resources in scores of categories to help the public with a wide range of legal issues, from bankruptcy to landlord/tenant law. LawGuru.com is outstanding in providing one-on-one direction and personalized answers to general legal questions via email, but does not give legal advice.
Legal forms should make your life easier, not harder. Use them appropriately, and don't let your lust to avoid legal fees cloud your judgment. Do-it-yourself, and save, but be smart about it. Make sure your goals are not compromised, and that your needs are properly met.
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Before you rush to your nearest office supply store or start filling in the blanks, there are downsides to be aware of. Don't use any form until you fully understand it. Your signature on the bottom of a contract indicates that you understand and agree to what you've read. A Last Will and Testament (allocating assets) could contradict your wishes if worded incorrectly. Forming a corporation requires the issuance of stock and clearly stating the liability of the corporation, the shareholders and the corporate officers.
Most importantly, make sure you are on equal footing with any opponents. An agreement with your neighbor over who is responsible for that overgrown tree is one thing, but if your opponent has retained a renowned leader in the field, then you, as your own attorney, have a fool for a client.
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