I’m sure if you asked any local attorney they would all agree that online “do-it-yourself” forms are a thorn in their side.  Now, I won’t mention any websites in particular, but I’m sure you’ve seen them advertised on TV or a banner ad streaming across your computer screen.  They offer anyone with access to a computer and printer low cost legal documents, but are these sites and their document services really a good value to the consumer?

Don’t get me wrong, I too know the value of a dollar and try to save where I can so I know the intrigue that lures people to these websites.  I don’t blame them.  Having an office visit with an attorney can be a bit intimidating.  The legal language they use can be confusing, and often when you see the final invoice for those services, many people do not feel that they have gotten their money’s worth.  The way I try to explain high costs to my clients is that the unseen value they are paying for is my knowledge and expertise to craft them a document, personalized to their needs, that will hold up and be honored by the courts and laws of Ohio.  That’s not something you will get from a DIY form.

Unfortunately, what many people do not realize is how much trouble one of these easy “do-it-yourself” legal forms can really cost a person in the end.  Most of these websites and legal document programs fail in either one of two ways.  First, many of the documents that people are buying from these sites may not be useable in the state the person lives in.  These sites do not take into consideration the differing laws of certain states and jurisdictions.  Second, assuming that the document is valid under state law, many sites do not give sufficient instructions on how the document should be signed and executed.  If you have a document that is not properly signed, witnessed, or notarized it is useless and invalid.  The real kicker is that those using these forms do not realize that the document is worthless until it is too late.

For example, the most common document bought from these “do-it-yourself” services are Last Will & Testaments.  As any probate practitioner knows, a Last Will & Testament is not valid if it is not properly signed and witnessed.  An invalid will then costs the person’s estate by means of unplanned expenditures for litigation, probate court costs, and ultimately, the person’s wishes as stated in the invalid Last Will & Testament are not followed. Of course, the validity of a persons will is often not determined until after that person dies and their will is admitted to the probate court for administration.  To get truly personalized documents, tailored to the client’s specific needs and goals, it is best to consult with a practicing attorney in the area.

Like every attorney in the state of Ohio, I graduated from college, and being the gluten for punishment that we are, then proceeded to attend and graduate from an accredited law school.  Then, after years of top dollar education, we were obligated to take the Ohio bar exam to show that we were knowledgeable about the state’s law.  (If you are not familiar with what a bar exam entails, just imagine a multiple day exam, grilling you on any main area of law that a practicing attorney in Ohio might encounter.)  The years of schooling and intense licensing process insures that a practicing Ohio attorney will be competent and able to handle a client’s legal matter, including their document preparation.  So please, unless you are an attorney yourself, I would suggest leaving the document preparation up the professionals.  If you have any questions or concerns about legal documents, feel free to contact my office.  I’m happy to assist in any way I can.