Be wary of do-it-yourself legal software
QUESTION: There are so many software programs and Internet services offering contracts, wills, deeds, incorporations, and even divorce and name changes, made specifically to order for me, do I really need a lawyer for routine legal services any more? Can't I save myself a whole lot of time and money by doing it online or buying a program?
ANSWER: Just because you can do something on your own doesn't mean it is in your best interest. Consider medical services. There are some things, such as a common headache, for which you wouldn't even consider calling your doctor. Others, like appendicitis, you wouldn't dream of treating yourself. The same is true of all professional services, including legal services.
Published legal forms, including online "self-help" services, cannot provide specific legal advice for your situation any more than a medical textbook or a video depiction of a particular surgery can teach you to perform surgery or prescribe medication.
When you consult a lawyer, you are not just buying an expensive legal form. You are obtaining legal advice from someone who will fashion, if possible, a document or a legal strategy designed to get you the specific result you need for your situation. Sometimes the document or strategy will be generic enough that a published legal form will suffice. Other times your situation will require something more specific or complex. Do you have enough knowledge, experience and expertise to differentiate between the two?
There will be some times when virtually anyone can handle a legal matter on their own, like taking a couple of aspirin. Other situations will require the equivalent of legal first aid; if you are trained or experienced enough, you can probably handle it. But if there is a lot at risk, or if you are at all unsure of what you are doing, you should at least get a free or low-cost initial consultation to check into the possible benefits of having specific legal advice before trying to perform what might be a legal appendectomy on yourself.
Don't be misled by claims that the form you are considering is "valid in all 50 states." Usually the substance of the document is equally crucial to getting a good result as the form's ultimate validity. What will it matter if the will or contract is valid, if it doesn't end up doing what you need?
The rule in the marketplace for legal documents is "buyer beware." All professions impose a higher standard on their members than that. With legal forms, you are on your own. With a licensed lawyer, doctor, accountant, engineer, architect or any other professional, you purchase the loyalty and expertise of a professional. Often enough, that's well worth the cost.
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