4 Reasons Why You Should Never Create Your Estate Plan Using LegalZoom

LegalZoom is a website that offers you a “do it yourself” platform for creating legal documents, such as LLC formation packages, copyright registrations, and more. You can also use LegalZoom to draft estate planning documents. But is LegalZoom good for Wills? While the idea of using LegalZoom to create your own estate plan, you may be making a dangerous mistake by utilizing this option instead of partnering with one of our estate planning attorneys in NJ. Here are the four reasons why you should steer clear of LegalZoom and partner with one of our NJ estate planning attorneys:

Reason #1 - Estate planning is complex and requires a comprehensive understanding of the law‍

Your world is unique; your family is unique; your business is unique; your relationships are unique. In theory, it sounds convenient to find all of the relevant documents online and do it all on your own. However, you may have certain complexities in your life that should be addressed through your estate plan. For instance, if you have minor children, would you want them to inherit the assets of your estate outright? In many cases, the answer would be no. However, setting up the right type of trust for them can be challenging and is something that you should never try to take on without the assistance of an experienced estate planning attorney.

Reason #2 - LegalZoom wills and other documents do not account for any changes in the law

 There is always the possibility that the laws governing estate planning could change at any given time. At BMC, we pride ourselves on staying up to date with all of these changes so that we can provide our clients with an estate plan that is up to date and accurate. Many times, it may take LegalZoom some time to catch up with these current changes which can gravely impact your overall estate plan. For example, there are several differences between New Jersey estate planning and New York estate planning. When you work with one of our attorneys, you can have the peace of mind of knowing that everything is in order and in line with your wishes.

Reason #3 - LegalZoom isn’t responsible for their documents

The questions of is LegalZoom good for Wills is answered in their responsibilities. Per LegalZoom regulations and LegalZoom estate planning reviews, LegalZoom does not claim responsibility for their documents, which prevents you from pursuing legal action against them if something goes wrong. The assumption is that you will do all of the necessary homework on your end to ensure that the documents are in line with what you need.

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Reason #4 - Is LegalZoom good for wills? A short-term solution could cause a long-term problem

There are many people that opt to use a LegalZoom Will simply because they do not want to pay money to work with an estate planning attorney. While this is an understandable approach, it’s something that could cost you and your family more money in the long term. If your estate plan isn’t put together correctly, your loved ones may find that they have to spend more money to go through an estate litigation process once you pass away. If you become incapacitated during your lifetime and there is an issue with a Power of Attorney that you created through LegalZoom, your family may be put in a position where they need to go through a guardianship process to be able to make important decisions on your behalf which can also be a large expense.  

You Are Always Better Off Hiring an Estate Planning Attorney

Do you still have questions regarding is LegalZoom good for wills? LegalZoom Will and other online DIY legal companies are not the most reliable options when it comes to estate planning. Unfortunately, many people end up with documents that they don't understand and fall short of their estate planning goals and expectations. When you work with the estate planning attorneys here are Borenstein, McConnell & Calpin, P.C., we will take the time to thoroughly explain your estate planning documents to you so that you feel comfortable and confident signing them. If you have any questions or concerns after your signing appointment, we're always happy to review your estate plan with you again. We make your estate planning experience a personalized one so that you don't feel stressed or overwhelmed. To book your appointment, please get in touch with us today to learn more about whether LegalZoom is good for Will.

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Testimonial from Hayley, Satisfied Estate Planning Client

Alec and team were great to work with! Very accommodating with our busy schedules.