Why pay for Legal Forms?
Posted on June 08, 2015 in Estate Planning
Why pay for a Lawyer? I can do it Myself!
With today's fast paced life, we all want to do as much as we can ourselves and save money. We all know the services that advertise themselves as a cheaper and quicker alternative to an attorney.
First, consider that the practice of law is fact intensive and doesn't evaluate your case in a vacuum. For example, would you solely rely on a medical website to diagnose and treat your or a loved one's illness?
Carefully read the disclaimers included with preprinted/do it yourself forms and websites. For example, they are quick to point out they are not an attorney and not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. They claim to give a “general understanding of the law”, but the information contained is “not guaranteed to be correct, complete or up-to-date.” Buyer beware.
A recent Florida court case is yet another example of the hazards of using a preprinted form. The Court ruled that money acquired by a woman after she executed an “E-Z Legal Form” will should be distributed as if she had never had a will at all.
You may never know if a prepaid legal form has failed, but your loved ones will. Without proper guidance, the issues left behind for your loved ones may be much more expensive than the estate planning attorney would have been from the beginning.