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Started By
Message
Legal Zoom
Posted on 4/1/23 at 4:43 pm
Posted on 4/1/23 at 4:43 pm
I need to get some affairs in line and don’t have the 5K it would take to use any attorney. I used this many years ago for a rental agreement. This is a little more important than if a renter skips town. Mostly will, trust and usufruct on our home if my wife were to pass. She had a brain event a few years ago and may be around for 10 years or 2. Opinions?
11
Posted on 4/1/23 at 4:56 pm to Julz5198
That doesn't cost near $5k.
Some things you can do yourself, getting a trust done is worth having an attorney do it.
Simple will stuff is OK on your own, but if you have meaningful assets pay someone to handle this.
Oh, and most things you can do on legal zoom you can do yourself without added cost. They just made templates to autofill out forms you can get directly from the government. Like I said, somethings you can do yourself with those forms, some things you want a pro to handle, but I would never pay legal zoom.
Some things you can do yourself, getting a trust done is worth having an attorney do it.
Simple will stuff is OK on your own, but if you have meaningful assets pay someone to handle this.
Oh, and most things you can do on legal zoom you can do yourself without added cost. They just made templates to autofill out forms you can get directly from the government. Like I said, somethings you can do yourself with those forms, some things you want a pro to handle, but I would never pay legal zoom.
Posted on 4/1/23 at 5:05 pm to Julz5198
You need to go see an attorney. A vanilla will with a usufruct will not cost $5,000. Think 1500-2500. If you get a trust set up then that will get you in the 5000 plus range.
Posted on 4/1/23 at 5:47 pm to Julz5198
Do not use Legal Zoom for a will, especially in Louisiana. If anything is wrong with your will, it's not valid. Close doesn't count.
Get an attorney. It should cost far less than $5K.
Get an attorney. It should cost far less than $5K.
Posted on 4/1/23 at 7:08 pm to Julz5198
I think they use templates which you can do on your own. Pay an attorney and negotiate a flat fee rather than hourly.
Posted on 4/1/23 at 7:12 pm to Julz5198
State?
Posted on 4/1/23 at 8:48 pm to Julz5198
Since you mention usufruct, I assume you are in Louisiana. While I would never use Legal Zoom (or any similar service) for anything, I most certainly use it if I lived in Louisiana. Regardless of what those sites say, they do not create valid Louisiana documents. For something as important as your estate planning for a potentially dying spouse, you 100% need to get an attorney to do it for you. No ifs and or buts about it.
Posted on 4/1/23 at 9:08 pm to jfw3535
quote:
you 100% need to get an attorney to do it for you
horseshite.
Nobody is going to protect your own interests as much as you will. It's *your* responsibility, hiring an attorney doesn't bulletproof you against anything. You think it does, but it doesn't.
Now, can you talk to an attorney, or anyone on TD that's been in a similar situation and get tips? Sure. But there are plenty of attorneys that DGAF and will create hassles for you later because of inattentiveness or a lack of context.
I am not lawyer, but "estate planning" is kind of meaningless. Are there claims from distant cousins against your community property? Is there real estate with dubious title history? If you don't have extenuating circumstances, this is not the way to go.
You do realize that a "lawyer" that you pay $2k to is going to have their 30 year old clerk that drinks five nights a week write whatever your trust document is, and the actual lawyer will just read it and sign it while they're preparing for the big 6 figure case for someone else, right?
Posted on 4/1/23 at 9:21 pm to Julz5198
Years ago I heard my boss say “if you think it’s expensive hiring a lawyer…try not hiring one.”
In my experience this has proven to be true. The most snarled up expensive matters that I have worked on have been when clients tried to do it themselves and/or cut corners. It’s possible that things could turn out ok … but it’s also very possible that they will be so screwed up that it will not be fixable, or will cost way more to fix than if it was done right the first time.
Find the $$ to pay a good lawyer and don’t look back
In my experience this has proven to be true. The most snarled up expensive matters that I have worked on have been when clients tried to do it themselves and/or cut corners. It’s possible that things could turn out ok … but it’s also very possible that they will be so screwed up that it will not be fixable, or will cost way more to fix than if it was done right the first time.
Find the $$ to pay a good lawyer and don’t look back
Posted on 4/1/23 at 9:30 pm to LemmyLives
As a lawyer who formerly practiced estate planning, I would completely disregard this ill-informed advice. Find a local lawyer who specializes in wills and trusts. Legal Zoom is good for creating business for probate litigators.
Posted on 4/1/23 at 9:57 pm to Julz5198
I'm just curious.
What level of exposure is there?
Previous spouses?
Children?
Business partners?
You can defend your home with a moat and land mines.
But sometimes, a termite treatment and a deadbolt door locks are all that are needed.
What level of exposure is there?
Previous spouses?
Children?
Business partners?
You can defend your home with a moat and land mines.
But sometimes, a termite treatment and a deadbolt door locks are all that are needed.
Posted on 4/2/23 at 9:47 am to Julz5198
Bad idea if you’re in LA. Also, $5k is an absurd price tag for an estate plan. There’s plenty of good lawyers that do them for $1-1.5k for both you and your wife.
Posted on 4/2/23 at 10:13 am to Julz5198
And if you or your kids get a toothache or cavity, don't waste money on a pricey dentist. Dental Zoom lets you do it yourself for much less.
Posted on 4/3/23 at 9:24 am to LemmyLives
quote:
horseshite.
Nobody is going to protect your own interests as much as you will. It's *your* responsibility, hiring an attorney doesn't bulletproof you against anything. You think it does, but it doesn't.
Now, can you talk to an attorney, or anyone on TD that's been in a similar situation and get tips? Sure. But there are plenty of attorneys that DGAF and will create hassles for you later because of inattentiveness or a lack of context.
I am not lawyer, but "estate planning" is kind of meaningless. Are there claims from distant cousins against your community property? Is there real estate with dubious title history? If you don't have extenuating circumstances, this is not the way to go.
You do realize that a "lawyer" that you pay $2k to is going to have their 30 year old clerk that drinks five nights a week write whatever your trust document is, and the actual lawyer will just read it and sign it while they're preparing for the big 6 figure case for someone else, right?
This is so dumb and so wrong.
quote:
I am not lawyer, but "estate planning" is kind of meaningless.
Holy shite man. Nobody should ever listen to anything you post on this site. This is such irresponsible advice and makes me seriously question how you manage your affairs in real life.
I am an attorney and I also formerly had a small estate planning practice. For a simple will with some usufruct provisions in my market, you aren't looking at anywhere close to $5k. Trusts can get a little more complicated, but that's not a given - especially with a testamentary trust for your kids. $5k isn't "absurd" at all if you have some hyper-complex estate that involves complex trust structures/tax advising/etc., but that doesn't sound like the case for you.
I would strongly advise not using Legal Zoom for your estate plan. I'd hesitate to even use them for articles of organization. I've seen some of their documents over the course of my career and IMO it should be a violation of some law for them to advertise that their drafting is in consideration of Louisiana law.
This post was edited on 4/3/23 at 9:32 am
Posted on 4/3/23 at 11:13 am to Julz5198
You can handwrite a will in Louisiana. Must be 100% handwritten by you and dated. However, if there is anything remotely contentious, your family will be paying the bill you are seeking to avoid. FWIW the standard law in LA (i.e., if you die with no will) gives your wife a usufruct over your community property. If you've been married for several years and didn't inherit a big estate, it is likely all of your property is community. Note that your wife owns 1/2 of this outright.
And I'll add one more for avoiding legal zoom. Almost 0 chance the will would be valid in LA. Most local bar associations have services where lawyers will prepare a will for a nominal fee or for free to low income folks if this is you.
And I'll add one more for avoiding legal zoom. Almost 0 chance the will would be valid in LA. Most local bar associations have services where lawyers will prepare a will for a nominal fee or for free to low income folks if this is you.
This post was edited on 4/3/23 at 11:14 am
Posted on 4/3/23 at 7:34 pm to lsujro
Here is some additional info on my particular situation. The only complications may come from my wife’s mental capacity/capabilities. She has a brain aneurysm about 4 years back. We own a home(no mortgage). Have 4 kids total. None together. All grown and gone. Have some money in savings( which is dwindling due to having to cover the cost of a daytime caregiver). And I have money in my 401K. Also have a $125K life insurance policy on her. This is it. All assests listed here. And individuals that would be part of any actions when something happens. Any additional recommendations with this additional info would be helpful. My wife has a sister as well.
Posted on 4/3/23 at 7:36 pm to Julz5198
Oh yeah. I am 60 and my wife is 61
Posted on 4/3/23 at 9:29 pm to Julz5198
If you have kids from separate marriages, hire the attorney.
If you need to, call 3 attorneys and get bids so you are comfortable with the pricing.
Whatever the pricing, it will be worth it. I promise.
(Any attorney bitching about your right to get a bid is a bad counsel, FYI)
If you need to, call 3 attorneys and get bids so you are comfortable with the pricing.
Whatever the pricing, it will be worth it. I promise.
(Any attorney bitching about your right to get a bid is a bad counsel, FYI)
Posted on 4/4/23 at 10:14 am to Julz5198
quote:
Here is some additional info on my particular situation.
I agree you need an attorney. Hopefully your wife has the capacity to make a will. I would also recommend you guys get an advanced medical directive (i.e. do not resuscitate) and power of attorney from her to you given her health condition if desired. Id expect to pay a couple grand for all of this, but it really will save your children a huge hassle in the future. Also, as noted above, you can call bar association in your city and ask if they have any programs to provide this kind of service. Most of them have something like this.
Posted on 4/4/23 at 12:58 pm to lsujro
Do beneficiaries assigned to accounts override no will drawn up?
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