The online legal document business is booming as consumers have figured out that they can get everything from a will to a lease to a divorce for a fraction of the cost of visiting a lawyer. But should they?

On one hand, the services offer compelling value. Some experts, however, say using them could cost you money down the road, be ineffective in accomplishing your legal tasks, and even, in some cases, cause problems in court.

On LegalZoom.com, the industry’s largest player with roughly 6% market share, you can download a basic will for as little as $69 and a real estate lease for $29. On number-two site RocketLawyer.com, you can get unlimited access to a number of legal documents for as little as $7 a month. Getting a will or a lease from a lawyer could easily cost hundreds of dollars. More complicated legal situations could cost thousands.

* * *

But experts urge caution. “Rarely can a canned document or form be sufficient and advisable,” said New York attorney Peter L. Brooks. “Of course, lawyers start out using forms, but, in my experience there is almost always something special about the situation that requires the sophistication of an experienced lawyer.” (LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer and other sites will connect you with an attorney, usually for an additional cost.)

Read original article


Tags: