Comments on: The Problem with LegalZoom (And Other Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning Solutions) http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/2010/01/27/the-problem-with-legalzoom-and-other-do-it-yourself-estate-planning-solutions/ Texas Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning Attorney Wed, 11 Aug 2010 23:56:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: David Errington http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/2010/01/27/the-problem-with-legalzoom-and-other-do-it-yourself-estate-planning-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-232 David Errington Sun, 18 Apr 2010 02:17:51 +0000 http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/?p=3054#comment-232 I am an Ohio estate planning attorney and took LegalZoom for a spin to see what they had to offer. As Ms. Combs stated, I found outdated law and misleading advice that could really cause some problems down the road. Like Stephen Bloom stated above, there is no context. For instance, you could certainly establish a testamentary trust in their will but who will be administering it? Are they aware that there will be ongoing yearly costs for filings with the probate court? Would establishing a living trust make more sense? You get the idea. On top of that, the fee they would charge a married couple for Wills is actually not that much less than what I charge. And, by LegalZoom's own admission, they are not providing legal advice (although I think they have actually crossed the line to UPL). As I tell people that ask me about LegalZoom, using an attorney doesn't guarantee that it will be done perfectly, but it certainly increases the likelihood that it will be correct and, if it isn't, at least attorneys have malpractice insurance. I am an Ohio estate planning attorney and took LegalZoom for a spin to see what they had to offer. As Ms. Combs stated, I found outdated law and misleading advice that could really cause some problems down the road. Like Stephen Bloom stated above, there is no context. For instance, you could certainly establish a testamentary trust in their will but who will be administering it? Are they aware that there will be ongoing yearly costs for filings with the probate court? Would establishing a living trust make more sense? You get the idea.

On top of that, the fee they would charge a married couple for Wills is actually not that much less than what I charge. And, by LegalZoom’s own admission, they are not providing legal advice (although I think they have actually crossed the line to UPL). As I tell people that ask me about LegalZoom, using an attorney doesn’t guarantee that it will be done perfectly, but it certainly increases the likelihood that it will be correct and, if it isn’t, at least attorneys have malpractice insurance.

]]> By: My Shingle http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/2010/01/27/the-problem-with-legalzoom-and-other-do-it-yourself-estate-planning-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-52 My Shingle Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:21:32 +0000 http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/?p=3054#comment-52 <strong>To Win the Hearts and Minds of Consumers, Lawyers Need to Sell, Not Sue...</strong> To date, lawyers haven't been able to effectively sell the public on the idea that document preparation services like Legal Zoom are a poor substitute for the services of a lawyer. So, being lawyers, they've done the next best thing...... To Win the Hearts and Minds of Consumers, Lawyers Need to Sell, Not Sue…

To date, lawyers haven’t been able to effectively sell the public on the idea that document preparation services like Legal Zoom are a poor substitute for the services of a lawyer. So, being lawyers, they’ve done the next best thing……

]]> By: Inspired Solos: Rania Combs - The Texas Wills and Trusts Online Blog http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/2010/01/27/the-problem-with-legalzoom-and-other-do-it-yourself-estate-planning-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Inspired Solos: Rania Combs - The Texas Wills and Trusts Online Blog Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:08:34 +0000 http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/?p=3054#comment-51 [...] Rania’s already seen some return on her hard work. Her stats are up, she’s being featured in the Texas Bar Journal’s monthly newsletter “Weblinks” section this month (where she kindly gave The Inspired Solo a little love!), and she’s been approached by a few outlets to contribute content. She’s also getting some retweet love on Twitter for her blog posts, and got a Blawg Review mention after just a few weeks of blogging for one of her most-publicized and well-received posts, “The Problem With LegalZoom.” [...] [...] Rania’s already seen some return on her hard work. Her stats are up, she’s being featured in the Texas Bar Journal’s monthly newsletter “Weblinks” section this month (where she kindly gave The Inspired Solo a little love!), and she’s been approached by a few outlets to contribute content. She’s also getting some retweet love on Twitter for her blog posts, and got a Blawg Review mention after just a few weeks of blogging for one of her most-publicized and well-received posts, “The Problem With LegalZoom.” [...]

]]> By: Time to get a will, power of attorney, and living will http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/2010/01/27/the-problem-with-legalzoom-and-other-do-it-yourself-estate-planning-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Time to get a will, power of attorney, and living will Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:10:30 +0000 http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/?p=3054#comment-11 [...] documents.  The do-it-yourself route includes LegalZoom and Quicken.  Notably, there has been a strong backlash against LegalZoom for guiding people to improper decisions and creating wills that, in the end, reach probate. [...] [...] documents.  The do-it-yourself route includes LegalZoom and Quicken.  Notably, there has been a strong backlash against LegalZoom for guiding people to improper decisions and creating wills that, in the end, reach probate. [...]

]]> By: Leanna Hamill http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/2010/01/27/the-problem-with-legalzoom-and-other-do-it-yourself-estate-planning-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Leanna Hamill Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:52:43 +0000 http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/?p=3054#comment-4 Rania, the nice thing about your virtual law practice is that people can get access to the customized legal services they need, with the convenience of an on line service and at a price they can afford. Rania, the nice thing about your virtual law practice is that people can get access to the customized legal services they need, with the convenience of an on line service and at a price they can afford.

]]> By: Stephen Bloom http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/2010/01/27/the-problem-with-legalzoom-and-other-do-it-yourself-estate-planning-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Stephen Bloom Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:21:47 +0000 http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/?p=3054#comment-3 Excellent post. I've been telling clients this for years. It's the nuances of estate planning law that will get them in trouble, and lack of understanding the legal context for the documents, like how property is titled, beneficiary designations, etc. Clients need a qualified lawyer to sit down with them and look at the big picture, or they risk not getting the results they expect. Excellent post. I’ve been telling clients this for years. It’s the nuances of estate planning law that will get them in trouble, and lack of understanding the legal context for the documents, like how property is titled, beneficiary designations, etc. Clients need a qualified lawyer to sit down with them and look at the big picture, or they risk not getting the results they expect.

]]> By: Donna Chmura http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/2010/01/27/the-problem-with-legalzoom-and-other-do-it-yourself-estate-planning-solutions/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Donna Chmura Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:20:11 +0000 http://www.texaswillsandtrustslaw.com/?p=3054#comment-2 Could not agree more. In fact, I have blogged about why you shouldn't use DIY services for forming corporations. http://nclawlife.com/2009/02/06/seven-things-diy-corporations/ http://nclawlife.com/2009/01/14/do-you-really-need-a-lawyer-to-form-your-corporation/ And once you've made some poor decisions because you were unwilling to pay for competent advice on the front end, it usually costs more to fix it on the back end. Could not agree more. In fact, I have blogged about why you shouldn’t use DIY services for forming corporations. http://nclawlife.com/2009/02/06/seven-things-diy-corporations/
http://nclawlife.com/2009/01/14/do-you-really-need-a-lawyer-to-form-your-corporation/

And once you’ve made some poor decisions because you were unwilling to pay for competent advice on the front end, it usually costs more to fix it on the back end.

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