Why Use a Lawyer over a Do-It-Yourself Legal Service?

I’m sure there are a lot more people thinking it and not asking it!

Trust me, I believe in getting a deal where I can and avoiding unnecessary costs. For parents without a simple Will and on a really tight budget, I would recommend using it over having nothing else in place. Conversely, for people who are able to afford a little more, I would definitely recommend using an attorney over an automated document drafter.

Benefits

Accuracy – With an attorney you get more personalized documents, which ensure accuracy of the client’s needs and intent. In Illinois, attorneys must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years.

That means, every year I am spending 15 hours just learning the new developments in the laws and how they are applied.

It is not just the document you are paying for, but the attorney’s knowledge of how and why the documents are used, that matter.

Peace of Mind - Creating your own documents without professional advice and without the drafter having a full understanding of the client’s intent, is risky. By using an attorney, the client can have peace of mind knowing that the attorney fully understands the client’s wishes and the documents are an accurate reflection of that.

Accountability and Protection - The last thing you want is to find out that your documents are missing some statute, code, or other language that would make your documents invalid after it is too late.

In estate planning, I review my clients’ documents free of charge every ten years, to ensure the laws and codes are still current.

The Future – When change happens (as it always does) and you need to know what to do with your documents, I am here to answer your questions and guide you in the process. For example, in Illinois, a Pour-Over Will (a document that pours over assets into the trust) still needs to be filed with the probate court. This is a relatively simple process, but a formality that must be done.

Care! - I aim to build trust and relationships with my clients by providing reliable service and care. Let’s face it, when dealing with legal issues, it can be a stressful and emotional time. Knowing the laws, processes, procedures, how the laws are applied, and why they are applied, is my job. In addition to that, I strive to build trust and relationships with my clients, so I am there in the good and the bad times, when it really matters.

If you would like to discuss this further or have specific questions, please contact me at Cindy@Ckcampbell.com or 773-360-1928.