5 Popular Ways to Save Money by Using an Online Legal Resource
By CouponConnoisseur / October 1, 2011
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5 Popular Ways to Save Money by Using an Online Legal Resource
With many lawyers charging high hourly rates, it could be costly to retain a professional to handle all of your legal matters. Sometimes it is necessary to employ a lawyer. However, you can visit an online legal resource to obtain information about a variety of topics and to find appropriate forms and agreements for many standard legal matters. Here are five popular ways to save money by using an online legal resource instead of hiring an attorney.
1. Create a Complete Will for free with Rocket Lawyer
One way to help ensure that your belongings and other assets will be properly taken care of after you pass away is by preparing a Will. Hiring a lawyer to draw up your Will could cost several hundred dollars. However, Rocket Lawyer is an online legal resource that offers a free template for a Complete Will. You answer questions in order to help you generate your Complete Will online. Rocket Lawyer members can chose to print out the Complete Will and can view instructions about how to sign the document.
2. Start your LLC with no hassle for under $300
For professionals ready to start a Limited Liability Company (LLC), it can be time consuming and confusing to complete all of the appropriate forms. Plus, paperwork needs to be submitted to the government for approval. LegalZoom offers a standard LLC package for around $300 that includes the creation of documents such as the Articles of Organization. LegalZoom will also submit the required forms to the Secretary of State on your behalf. Just fill out a free online questionnaire to get started.
3. Establish a Power of Attorney for free with Rocket Lawyer
Appointing someone who you trust to make legal decisions on your behalf in the event that you become too ill to act yourself is a way to help protect your professional and personal interests. You can visit a lawyer and pay the attorney an hourly rate to complete an POA form for you. However, it’s free and simple to complete this document on Rocket Lawyer. An online interview will guide you to ensure that your form is completed correctly in just several minutes. Rocket Lawyer members can print and share their form.
4. Change your name for under $150
In order to legally change your name, you need to fill out documents specific for your county and submit them to your designated court. LegalZoom offers an economical Name Change Package for $139 that makes this process easy to complete on your own. The package includes your state’s forms, directions on how to file the forms in court and even a list of the government and financial agencies which you may want to notify about your name change in order to update your records.
5. File a Provisional Application for Patent for around $300
Inventors can take the first step in patenting their creations by filing a provisional application for patent with the U.S. Patent Office. Filing will allow you to label your design “patent pending.” At home inventors may not be able to afford to hire a lawyer to handle the patent process. Luckily LegalZoom offers a package in which they create an application for you for $199, and then they will file it with the U.S. Patent Office for $110. You won’t need to consult a lawyer to draw up an application or worry about submitting the government paperwork.
Although online resources offer valuable guidance, they do not represent users in legal matters. You can visit Rocket Lawyer’s online lawyer directory to find a legal professional if needed.
Photo Attribution: by walknboston on Flickr
