You deserve to know the best online legal services. Some things in life simply cannot be accomplished without the assistance of a competent attorney. Online legal services have made it easier than ever to acquire the help you need from the comfort of your own home, a far cry from the days when you had to sift through yellow pages and attend dismal offices. In fact, you might be amazed at how quick and inexpensive it is to engage a lawyer through the internet.
There is an online legal service for everyone, from estate planning to launching a small business. We looked at every choice and chose the best of the best based on value, service quality, pricing, reputation, and other factors.
The Best Online Legal Services for 2022
- Best Overall: LegalShield
- Best Free Advice: Avvo
- Best Self-Service Documents: LegalZoom
- Best for Finding a Lawyer: FindLaw
- Best for Complex Needs: Rocket Lawyer
- Best for Startup Businesses: Incfile
LegalShield
LegalShield offers the best online legal service for families and businesses, with reasonable prices, stellar support and 24/7 convenience.
A single hour with an attorney can cost anywhere from $150 to $400, according to LegalShield, which is why the firm offers a more inexpensive option with its all-inclusive package. Monthly membership costs, which start at $29.95 for individuals and $49 for small organizations, cover many of the fundamental services that an attorney might provide at a fraction of the cost.
Individual plans from LegalShield feature unlimited consultations and document evaluations with a professional attorney. Estate planning, mortgage document preparation, and counsel in certain cases including traffic infractions, family law, tax audits, and more are all available to you. You’ll get a 25% discount on a firm’s usual hourly costs if you require a lawyer for other reasons.
LegalShield also offers coverage for small businesses, with three membership options ranging from $49 to $169 per month. Consultations and a 25% reduction on hourly rates are included in all plans, however the quantity of documents you’d need evaluated and the amount of communication you require your attorney to write on your behalf vary.
There is no long-term commitment with LegalShield, which operates on a monthly subscription approach. You can cancel at any time and receive a prorated refund for any days you don’t utilize. Certain advantages, however, do not apply to pre-existing situations; for example, you will not be able to use the plan’s traffic violation benefits if you sign up for LegalShield the day after you receive a ticket.
Avvo
Nothing is more aggravating than paying an attorney for their time just to find out they are unable to assist you. If you’re dealing with a legal problem and need some counsel, go to Avvo, an online lawyer directory that also serves as the best source of free legal advice on the internet. According to Avvo, someone on the platform’s Q&A board receives advise every five seconds, usually within 12 hours or less.
Simply fill out an online form with your question, any pertinent facts, and your location and state to submit a question to Avvo. At least one attorney in your area should react within a few hours. As needed, Avvo encourages follow-up questions, which are free as long as the user stays on the platform.
The most important caveat is that answers provided on the Avvo Q&A board do not create an official attorney-client relationship and are only intended to provide basic legal advice. You may be advised to hire a lawyer at some stage. In this situation, you can look for a local attorney via the Avvo directory, or simply contact the one who responded to your inquiry.
Because Avvo’s Q&A board is open to the public, any information you submit there will be visible to anybody. This does, however, mean that you can use other people’s inquiries as a source of information. Keep a look out for sponsored lawyer listings as well.
LegalZoom
LegalZoom makes getting the documentation you need simple and quick, whether you’re preparing your estate or renting out a property. Starting at $29, the self-service portal offers customizable legal documents. Most online documents take only a few minutes to complete and are then made accessible for download or mailing to you.
Full-service packages with access to a licensed attorney for a specified amount of time are also available through LegalZoom. For example, the Last Will Estate Plan offers one year of continuing legal guidance pertaining to your estate, as well as hands-on support from a lawyer in drafting your last will and testament, financial power of attorney, and living will. The cost for one person is $179, or $279 for two people.
While numerous platforms provide similar services, LegalZoom stands out in terms of customer support. During the week, phone support representatives are available 14 hours per day, and on weekends, they are available for nine hours per day. Many documents come with an infinite number of modifications. Simply contact customer support within 60 days for a complete refund if you are unhappy with the final product.
The majority of LegalZoom’s documents are supplied through digital download, although a few must be sent. This service is offered at an additional cost if you need assistance submitting a document with the proper legal body.
FindLaw
Every legal matter necessitates a distinct type of lawyer, and FindLaw is the best location to find them all. Hundreds of U.S. attorneys are included in the online directory in 119 different areas of law, making it simple to locate the best lawyer for your case.
Simply input your legal issue and geographic region to get started with FindLaw, and you’ll be presented with a list of certified attorneys. FindLaw provides this option as a search filter if you prefer to speak with someone who offers free consultations. If the person in need of representation does not speak English as their first language, you can also filter the results by language.
FindLaw also features a free online library of legal information in addition to their attorney listing. For people without a law degree, there is a state-by-state encyclopedia that explains significant legislation in layman’s terms. FindLaw’s tips to incorporating an LLC and filing for bankruptcy might help you decide whether or not you need to hire an attorney.
While FindLaw displays client evaluations for attorneys in its database, you may find that the majority of attorneys have few or no reviews. It’s worthwhile to go the extra mile and look for reviews of each lawyer on various sites. Check with your local bar organization to see if the attorney has any disciplinary records, according to FindLaw. Of course, you should speak with several attorneys before deciding on the best one.
Rocket Lawyer
Rocket Lawyer is the next step if regular online services haven’t met your legal needs. Individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and the Netherlands can choose from a variety of services.
You have the option of purchasing services a la carte or signing up for a monthly membership with Rocket Lawyer. Monthly memberships are $39.99 and include limitless papers, legal responses, and 30-minute consultations on new issues. Non-member fees range from $39.99 for a single document to $59.99 for a 30-minute consultation, so this can rapidly pay for itself.
Rocket Lawyer On Call is available to members who are dissatisfied with the extent of Rocket Lawyer’s specified services. The way it works is that if your legal question can’t be answered online, Rocket Lawyer will connect you with the correct attorney for a 30-minute phone consultation. Those with more complicated issues who require additional legal services can choose to engage with that attorney at a 40% discount on their hourly rate or a 10% discount on their flat cost.
Memberships in Rocket Lawyer come with a seven-day trial and can be canceled at any time before the next billing period. The $39.99 monthly rate is greater than some rivals’, but it can be worth it if you need paperwork or complex legal assistance frequently.
IncFile
Incfile is the best online legal services for guiding companies through every stage of growth, from choosing a legal entity to keeping in compliance. Since 2004, the organization has assisted over half a million small businesses in getting started and staying on track.
Incfile offers three packages to its customers: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Incfile’s service charge is added to state filing fees to calculate pricing. This implies that the overall cost of your firm will be determined by the form of corporation you choose and the state in which you establish it. For example, starting an LLC in Arkansas costs $199, but starting the same business in New York costs $354.
Incfile continues to add value after you’ve launched your company by assisting you through annual compliance obligations and other important procedures. Platinum members get contract templates, expedited filing, and a domain name and business email as part of their costs, while Gold members get a business banking account, banking resolutions, and tax advisory services.
Incfile’s biggest flaw is its lack of customer support. Customers have complained about poor response times in the past, and phone support hours are limited to weekdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST. Incfile, on the other hand, recently responded publicly to these criticisms by tripling the number of its customer service team and adding live chat help.
Bottom Line
The best online legal services are frequently less expensive and more convenient than traditional attorneys, albeit they do have drawbacks. There’s no reason to pay hundreds of dollars for a simple will when you can make one for less than $100 online. At the absolute least, online legal services are a good place to start for free or low-cost legal guidance before investing in long-term legal counsel.
Compare Providers
| Company | Why We Picked It | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| LegalShield | Best Overall | Affordable and convenient service for most legal needs |
| Avvo | Best Free Advice | Get answers to legal questions for free |
| LegalZoom | Best Self-Service Documents | Generate legally binding documents in minutes |
| FindLaw | Best for Finding a Lawyer | Search from a directory of hundreds of licensed attorneys |
| Rocket Lawyer | Best for Complex Needs | Discounts up to 40% on legal fees for complex matters |
| Incfile | Best for Startup Businesses | Free LLC filing and affordable ongoing legal support |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Talk to a Lawyer For Free?
By using an online Q&A board or booking a free consultation, you can generally speak with a lawyer for free. It’s important to emphasize, however, that these exchanges do not constitute an official attorney-client relationship. You’ll have to pay the lawyer for their time if you need anything more than general counsel.
Should I Hire a Lawyer to Form an LLC?
Although employing a lawyer isn’t required to form an LLC, it may be a smart idea in some cases. If you’re not sure whether an LLC is the correct type of entity to form, for example, you should talk to an attorney about your options. If the LLC will have numerous members acting as equal partners, it’s also recommended having an unbiased legal representative.
What Should a Simple Will Cost?
In short, an online legal agency should not charge you more than $100 for a simple will. A bespoke will from LegalZoom costs $89. However, if you pay LegalShield’s $24.95 monthly membership fee, you’ll receive a free will written by a professional attorney.
How We Got This List
Our top online legal services were chosen from a pool of more than a dozen companies that give paperwork, consultations, and/or recommendations to local lawyers. We conducted our investigation with the belief that internet legal services should not only be economical, but also dependable and trustworthy. In addition to evaluating service cost, we considered each company’s client ratings and complaints.