When Legal Zoom Should Not Even Be A Question

Legal Zoom is not all it's cracked up to be when it comes to estate planning

Legal Zoom… You Hear A Lot About It These Days. But Is It All It’s Cracked Up to Be?

To my way of thinking, the attorney-client relationship is among the most sacred. It is a relationship founded on a deep sense of trust. I do everything in my power to ensure my clients feel secure in trusting me when placing their legal concerns in my hands. To gain a client’s trust is a privilege. So, when I start getting questions about online sites like Legal Zoom for wills and estate plans, the red flags start flying.

One Size Legal Document Does Not Fit All

The digital age has lured so many people into thinking that anything and everything can be accomplished online. Google this and Google that and you have answers that once would have taken a researcher weeks to discover. However, the legal system is so complex, so specific in its language and meaning that online legal services can in no way replicate, duplicate or even approximate the services of a reputable, experienced and devoted attorney. When you need legal documents that are meant to protect your businesses, your assets and to benefit your heirs according to your specifications, you want to know that the documents you have will stand up in court and will actually accomplish what you want them to.

Free Can Become Very Expensive If Your Legal Forms Don’t Hold Up In Court

Free basic legal forms have been available online for many years. The documents vary state-to-state, so it doesn’t make sense to pay an online service for documents that may or may not be the right ones for your state or county and may not stand up in court when you can get them for free. Legal forms and documents are created to provide peace of mind and protection. Incorrect and inadequately drafted legal documents are just flimsy pieces of paper that could end up being the most expensive pieces of paper you’ve possessed. I can say this with certainty: Under no circumstances should you use DIY legal forms for any will or estate planning that includes a list of beneficiaries.

As an estate and asset protection attorney, I deal with some of the most complex legal issues involving family members who are often surprised at the reading of a will. Believe me when I tell you, there are few things that can be more damaging to a well thought out estate plan than when a disgruntled heir or relative challenges the validity of a will and succeeds in having a court declare it invalid. I have not had the experience, but I do know people who have.

Every Will And Estate Plan Is Customized, Tailored To Specific Needs And Desires

We attorneys use legal forms, but only as a starting point. A single form does not end up as the final document. We merge multiple forms. We revise language when necessary. We ensure the document does what each client needs. No two clients are alike. The key is making sure that you have the right provisions in a document, and those provisions will stand up in a court of law if questioned.

I cannot tell you a single time when a DIY legal form and online service would serve anyone better than a qualified, reputable attorney. If you choose to use an online service, the only thing I have to say is pray that you will never need to use the document.

Looking to find an experienced estate lawyer in the Georgia area who is skilled in asset protection and estate plan preparation? Shannon Pawley is an attorney in Georgia with expertise in estate planning and asset protection. Shannon can provide assistance with creating an estate plan to include making a will and how to establish a trust properly. If you have questions about asset protection or questions about making an estate plan, reach out to Shannon and she will be glad to help answer all the estate planning questions you might have!

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Stacy McKenzie

21:58 07 Feb 24

Shannon and her team were great. Went in for a consultation and got my money worth. She explained and made sure we understood. I will be using them in the future.

Diane J

23:10 24 Jan 24

Waheed Hamid

18:55 17 Dec 23

We had excellent service from Shannon and her team, they are true professionals and helped us and explained every step in the process. We highly recommend The Estate and Asset Protection Law Firm.

Virgil Price Young

20:16 18 Jul 23

Stephanie Deal

15:22 07 Jul 23

My father and I recently used the estate, an asset protection, law, firm for new wheels, new, power of attorney’s, and a creation of a trust. Brooke and her entire team could not have been more helpful and more professional! We loved working with them, and they took everything seriously therefore I didn’t have to worry about a thing. I highly recommend everyone at the law firm.

Barry Amos

01:22 01 Jul 23

Great firm. Had answers to all our questions and explained everything clearly. Never felt rushed to make a decision Could not ask for a better experience. Every one we dealt with was professional and knowledgeable. We highly recommend this firm for estate planning.

Lee Jay

21:30 28 Jun 23

Shannon provided invaluable information regarding a family estate matter. Although her firm did not quite fit our immediate needs, the consultation was informative and extremely HELPFUL! Shannon clearly explained what our next steps should be and offered to assist if we had any questions along the way. Her expertise and willingness to help puts her in a league of her own!

Alice Guppy

02:01 23 Jan 23

Shannon and everyone at The Estate and Asset Protection Law Firm are professional, very knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with. They answered all our questions in great detail and the plan they developed for us is exactly what we need to protect our assets and estate as we age especially with my husband's health issues.

Lynn McKibbin-Moore

23:09 24 Feb 22

My husband has dementia. This firm has been patient, kind and professional while we went through a move from a house of 37 years in to a condo to be closer to my daughter and her husband. (Miami to Atlanta). There was also a wedding. All in 6 months.We now have a trust, power of attorney. Wills for my daughter and her husband and more. All at a fair price. I could not recommend higher.

Tammy Lee

22:03 29 Jan 22

Shannon Pawley and her team are exceptional at helping families navigate tough situations. We began working with her upon finding out my father had Stage 4 kidney cancer. His decline was more rapid than expected.Attorney Pawley and her entire team expedited paperwork that allowed me to focus on my father’s care, make decisions that suddenly needed to be made for him medically and financially, and has allowed me the ability to focus more on grieving and less on legal matters upon his passing.It is obvious she is knowledgeable about the best ways to navigate estates to protect the assets for the owners and their loved ones. It is just as obvious that she is passionate and has true heart for what her clients go through.We will be using her for own estate needs, and I recommend her expertise to everybody I can.This service is worth every penny we paid as it has saved us more money and time than I could imagine.

H Jessie Brewer

18:26 18 Nov 21

Attorney Shannon Pawley and paralegal Alexis McCoy are legal professionals that my wife and I highly recommend. Their grasp of the Georgia law pertaining to Medicaid assistance and the interworking's of the State department is exceptional. Additionally, their client-attorney relationship skills are excellent. We wouldn't hesitate to use this law firm again should the need arise.

Dawn Hardy

15:06 13 Nov 21

Shannon and her team are the best! They listened to my needs and provided the best advice. They are patient and professional as well as personable, they didn't make me feel like I was just another client. Highly recommend!