6 Things You Need To Know About Legal Forms

Legal forms are an important part of the legal process. They are used to identify the legal status of a person or entity and can often be a much more affordable alternative to lawyers. While they can’t replace having legal representation in all cases, there are some situations where having a good legal form is enough. In order to understand how and when they can be used, it’s important to go over the 6 key things you need to know about legal forms.

No Two Forms Are The Same

While using legal forms is a great way to save money on legal expenses, it’s important to remember that no two forms are the same. This means that you need to be sure that you are using the right form that’s not only suitable for your specific situation but also provides you with all the legal protection you might need. As the people behind CompareLegalForms.com explain, the best way to do this is to research the most notable legal form websites, and then compare the top 5 against one another. That way, you can be certain that you’ll be getting the best deal and the form that’s right for your needs. Of course, there are online services that you can use to do the work for you so that you can save yourself some trouble, and rest assured knowing nothing was missed in the research process.

Location

If you’re from the US, or any other federation, you always want to check which laws the legal form you’re considering is referring to. When opting to do any kind of legal business or undertaking without a lawyer, the first thing you need to do is to consider whether the matter you’re trying to solve is related to federal or state law and go from there. Of course, if you want to use the legal form for something that’s regulated on the federal level then you’re free to choose whichever one you think fits your needs best, however, in all other cases, it’s important to bear in mind that the form you choose should always be compliant with the jurisdictional laws governing your place of residence. While legal forms can be a great way to get started with the legal process, it’s important to remember that they can’t replace lawyers in all cases. Perhaps the easiest way to see when you can use them is to go through some examples.

Divorce

Getting divorced is never easy on a lot of levels, but when you’re filing for divorce uncontested – in other words when both parties agree that the marriage should be dissolved, and about the way any potential asset should be split – a legal form can be a great way to speed up the process and make it more affordable. Because it’s often very emotional, a divorce can oftentimes be messy even when there’s no real reason for it to be that way. In other words, if you can talk it out with your soon-to-be ex-husband or wife, and there are no unresolved legal issues, a form could be the way to go.

Business Formation

When starting a new business, one of the most important – and often most confusing – steps is figuring out what type of legal entity your new business should be. This is where legal forms can come in handy as they provide a wide variety of options for you to choose from. The most common types are Sole Proprietorship, Limited Liability Company (LLC), Corporation, and Partnership. However, there are many more to choose from, so it’s important to do your research and find the one that best suits the needs of your business. Just like with divorce, however, if there’s anything you’d like your business formation to have that doesn’t fall under the standardized legal form types, you might want to consult a lawyer.

Trademarks

Registering a trademark is one of the most important steps in protecting your business and brand. It’s also a process that can be done without a lawyer, and there are a number of legal forms that can help you do just that. You can find online services that offer an online Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS) which makes registering your trademark a breeze. All you need to do is fill out the form, provide some information about your trademark, and pay the necessary fees. A federal trademark registration gives you nationwide protection for your trademark, and it’s a process that can be done in as little as an hour.

Estate Planning

Estate planning is another area where legal forms can be a great way to get started. There are a number of different types of legal forms that can help you with everything from creating a will, to setting up a trust, to creating power of attorney documents. Because the last one may be a bit confusing in this context, it’s perhaps relevant to mention that the person you gave the power of attorney to doesn’t actually need to be a lawyer. Using legal forms for estate planning has become one of the more popular ways to get started, as it’s a process that can otherwise often be overwhelming for people.

So, as you can see, legal forms can be a great way to get started with the legal process in a wide variety of situations. While they can’t replace lawyers in all cases, they can be a great way to save money and get the job done in some instances. Just remember to do your research and choose the form that’s best suited to your specific situation.