The law is complicated and hard for many of us to understand, but not all of us can afford a lawyer every time we have a legal issue. Enter online legal services. These sites provide legal assistance for far less than a physical lawyer would cost, and in most cases are easier to understand. Whether you need to start a business or fill out your will, these services can help you prep the documentation and file all the paperwork with the correct government agency. So which online legal services are the best at helping you with your legal issues? We've ranked them below based on usefulness, cost, variety of features and support.
| Service Name: | Bottom Line: | Usability: | Support: | Services Offered: | Sample Pricing: |
![]() | Best site for beginners; easy-to-understand interface walks you through complicated legalese; more expensive but worth it | Great for those unfamiliar with legal services; easy to use and navigate | Phone, online. Access to attorney consultations. | Incorporation (C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, non-profits, partnerships, joint ventures, etc.), DBAs, corporate changes and filings, real estate forms, patents and copyrights, business compliance forms and various other business forms and contracts | Basic C-Corp/S-Corp/LLC: $99 Basic Trademark: $169 See Additional Pricing |
![]() | Comprehensive features and options; interface makes filling out forms easy; membership pricing is best for those who need ongoing legal help | Various interface and intergrated help options simplify everything for the user | Phone, email, online. Access to attorney consultations. | Incorporation (C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, non-profits), corporate changes and filings, real estate forms, patents and copyrights, business compliance forms and various other business forms and contracts | Based on membership: Basic Legal Plan (personal): $9.99/month (annual), $19.95/month (monthly) Pro Legal Plan (business): $33.25/month (annual), $39.95/month (monthly) |
![]() | Top site for business-related offerings; simple, consistent interface and competitive pricing | Easiest interface that we've encountered; all features are fully displayed and explained | Solid service. Chat, phone, email. | Incorporation (C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, non-profits, partnerships, joint ventures, etc.), DBAs, corporate changes and filings, business compliance forms and various other business forms and contracts | Basic C-Corp/LLC: $97 See Additional Pricing |
![]() | Only business-related offerings; extremely helpful and easy customer service; cheaper than other major sites | Easy to navigate; all features are fully displayed | The best we've ever experienced. Phone, email, web. | Incorporation (C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, non-profits, partnerships, joint ventures, etc.), DBAs, corporate changes and filings, business compliance forms and various other business forms and contracts | Basic C-Corp/LLC: $49 Basic Trademark: $149 See Additional Pricing |
![]() | Best for those who know exactly what they are looking for and want do-it-yourself forms; largest variety of forms | Interface is complicated; search function is hard to manage | Phone, online chat. | The largest number of forms offered; Incorporation (C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, non-profits, partnerships, etc.), DBAs, corporate changes and filings, real estate forms, patents and copyrights, wills, power of attorney | Basic C-Corp/S-Corp/LLC: $199 Basic Trademark: $49.95 (form only) See Additional Pricing |
![]() | Limited services, even for a business-focused site; interface is clean, but sometimes confusing | Somewhat easy-to-use interface with a few glitches that can make things difficult | Phone, online. | Incorporation (C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, non-profits, etc.), DBAs, patents and copyrights, business compliance forms and various other business forms and contracts | Basic C-Corp/S-Corp/LLC: $49 Basic Trademark: $129 See Additional Pricing |
![]() | Robust list of features is severely hindered by a complicated, glitchy interface | Extremely confusing interface and lack of basic information make the site hard to use | Phone, online. | Everything is do-it-yourself; Incorporation (C-Corp, S-Corp, LLC, non-profits, partnerships, joint ventures, etc.), real estate forms, wills, power of attorney, business compliance forms and various other business forms and contracts | Basic C-Corp/S-Corp/LLC: $25 (forms only, unless in Florida or Texas) See Additional Pricing |
Copyright© 2006 - 2013 NextAdvisor.com - All rights reserved.
Disclosure: NextAdvisor.com is a consumer information site that offers free, independent reviews and ratings of online services. We receive advertising revenue from most of the services we review. Our editors thoroughly research and whenever possible test each service we review and offer their honest opinions about each one. We are independently owned and operated and all opinions expressed on this site are our own.