Writing any legal document can be daunting. Even filling out the right form — or finding it in the first place — can be a challenge, which is why so many people now turn to online services for help. One name that comes up again and again is LegalZoom.
We reviewed LegalZoom from several angles. Depending on which documents you need help with, it could be the right choice for you. Read the full review below, and check the FAQs at the end for anything still on your mind.
Who Is LegalZoom?
LegalZoom has been at the forefront of internet-based legal services almost since the dawn of the modern web. It launched in 2001 with a range of legal solutions available to anyone with an internet connection.
That innovative approach earned a great deal of attention, and on the back of its success the company has branched out into attorney referrals, small-business support and even tax services.
What Can LegalZoom Do for Me?
People sometimes assume legal services are only for when you are in trouble. In reality, huge numbers of ordinary people need everyday civil legal help. One agency estimates that almost a million people a year who need legal assistance go without it because they cannot afford it.
That is exactly the gap LegalZoom sets out to fill. With dozens of services available at the click of a button, it aims to get you the help you need quickly and affordably. Here is a closer look at what it offers.
Small Business Formation
Millions of new small businesses are formed in the US every year — more than four million were created in 2020 alone. That is millions of people deciding the rat race was not for them and striking out on their own. Anyone who has tried it, though, will tell you there is a lot of paperwork involved.
LegalZoom makes that paperwork far easier to handle. In fact, getting started is as simple as clicking the button on its homepage.
From that first click, LegalZoom gets the ball rolling. You can choose an LLC, a corporation or even a non-profit, and if you are not sure which is right, a free tutorial walks you through ten basic questions (Are you already in business? Will you be the sole owner?) before pointing you toward the best structure for your situation.
LegalZoom has helped so many people launch their own companies that it has consistently been ranked among the top online formation services. That is a lot of success stories that began with a single click.
Protecting Your Family
No one enjoys thinking about wills and estate planning. By some counts, fewer than half of us have written out our final wishes. LegalZoom makes this unpleasant but necessary task easier — and, yes, much cheaper.
From the moment you click “Start your will or trust,” LegalZoom offers plain-language definitions and clear pricing. You can review your options at your own pace, without paying a lawyer hundreds of dollars an hour just to explain the basics.
If you would rather have a lawyer help, LegalZoom can match you with an attorney at a competitive rate — one who focuses solely on these sensitive documents and will not try to upsell you. Here is what the attorney-assisted services look like:
Nobody likes planning for a time when they will no longer be around, but we all want to protect our loved ones and make sure they are looked after. If you want a simple, affordable way to handle these documents, LegalZoom is well worth considering.
Legal Information
One of the most bewildering things about legal documents is the language they are written in. Most of us have heard the term “legalese” used to describe just how impenetrable the jargon can be.
In the past, getting any of it translated into plain English meant calling a lawyer and hoping they would call back — and hoping again that they would explain things without charging a fee.
Thanks to its commitment to broad access, LegalZoom runs an entire division dedicated to writing and publishing articles that answer everyday legal questions in everyday language. You can browse its article centre for free.
By centralising all that information, LegalZoom gives you the ability to make decisions for yourself — including whether you actually need to pay an attorney or would rather complete some paperwork on your own. Better still, the articles are written by professionals who understand both the law and how to communicate it clearly, so the information is genuinely usable.
How Much Does LegalZoom Cost?
“Affordable” means different things to different people, so let us talk specifics. For help filing the paperwork to form a small business, LegalZoom's business formation packages start at an entry-level price, plus the state filing fees that apply wherever you register.
On the estate-planning side, individual documents such as a power of attorney start low, while a full will costs somewhat more. Pricing changes over time, so check the current rates on LegalZoom's site before you buy.
All of LegalZoom's articles are free to read, and you can browse its attorney referrals at no cost. That flexibility — running your legal research from a trusted source, on your own schedule, with no sales pressure — is hard to put a price on.
Final Thoughts
Legal questions and documents can quickly become deeply personal, and once money starts changing hands, tempers can flare. That is why we were glad to find so much to like about LegalZoom. We are comfortable recommending it to anyone who is not yet sure whether they need paid legal services and wants a trustworthy free resource to explore first.
And if you do decide to move beyond information and pay for services, LegalZoom offers some of the most comprehensive forms at some of the most reasonable prices.
FAQs
Related: Best Registered Agent Service, ZenBusiness vs LegalZoom