Best Online Legal Services for September 2024

According to LegalShield, a single hour with an attorney can cost anywhere between $150 and $400, which is why the company offers a more affordable option through its all-inclusive plan. Monthly membership fees, which start at $29.95 for individuals and $49 for small businesses, cover many of the basic services you might need from an attorney at just a fraction of the cost.

LegalShield’s individual plan includes unlimited consultations and legal document reviews with a licensed attorney. You’ll also benefit from estate planning services; mortgage document preparation; and representation in certain scenarios related to traffic violations, family law, tax audits and more. If you need a lawyer for other reasons, you’ll get a 25% discount on a firm's standard hourly rates. Your spouse and dependent children are also covered at no additional cost.

Small business owners can also get coverage from LegalShield with three membership tiers ranging from $49 to $169 per month. All plans include consultations and a 25% discount on hourly rates, but vary depending on the number of documents you’d like reviewed and the amount of correspondence you need your attorney to send on your behalf.

Although LegalShield uses a monthly subscription model, there’s no long-term commitment. Cancel anytime and get a prorated refund for any days not used. However, you should know that certain benefits don’t apply to pre-existing situations; for example, if you sign up for LegalShield the day after you receive a ticket, you won’t be able to use the plan’s traffic violation benefits.

Nothing is more frustrating than paying for an attorney’s time only to find out they can’t help you. If you’re faced with a legal issue and just need some guidance, try Avvo, an online directory of lawyers that also acts as the best place for free legal advice on the internet. According to Avvo, someone gets advice every five seconds on the platform’s Q&A board, usually within 12 hours or less.

To submit a question through Avvo, all you need to do is fill out an online form with your question, any relevant details, and your city and state. Within a few hours, at least one attorney in your area should respond. Avvo encourages follow-up questions as needed, which remain free as long as the attorney is willing and able to answer them.

The main caveat: Answers given on the Avvo Q&A board don’t constitute an official attorney-client relationship and are limited to general legal advice. At some point, you may be advised to hire a lawyer. In this case, you can use the Avvo directory to find a local attorney, or simply contact the one who answered your question.

Since Avvo’s Q&A board is public, you’ll have to keep in mind that any information you post is available for anyone to see. However, this does mean that you can search questions asked by others as an extra source of information. You should also keep an eye out for sponsored lawyer listings.

Whether you’re planning your estate or renting out a property, LegalZoom makes it fast and painless to get the documents you need. The self-service platform offers customized legal documents starting at as little as $0 plus state tax. Most documents only take a few minutes to fill out online and are then made available for download or sent to you by mail.

LegalZoom also offers full-service packages with access to a licensed attorney for a set period of time. For example, the Premium LLC Package includes hands-on assistance from a lawyer to create your last will and testament, financial power of attorney and living will, plus one year of ongoing legal guidance related to your estate. The price is $249 for one person.

While many platforms offer comparable services to LegalZoom, the company really shines in customer service. Phone support representatives are available 14 hours per day during the week and nine hours per day on weekends. Many documents include unlimited revisions. If you’re not happy with the final product, simply contact customer service within 60 days for a full refund.

Most documents are delivered by digital download from LegalZoom, although a few can only be sent by mail. If you need help filing a document with the appropriate legal authority, this service is available but comes at an additional cost.

Every legal issue requires a different type of attorney and the best place to find them all is FindLaw. The online directory lists hundreds of U.S. attorneys in 119 specific areas of law, making it easy to find the most qualified practitioner for your case.

To get started with FindLaw, simply enter your legal issue and geographic location and you’ll be presented with a list of qualified attorneys. If you prefer to speak with someone who offers free consultations, FindLaw gives you this option as a search filter. You can also narrow results by language if the person in need of representation doesn't speak English as their primary language.

Aside from their attorney directory, FindLaw also has a free online library of legal resources. You’ll find a state-by-state encyclopedia that explains important laws in simple terms for those without a law degree. FindLaw’s guides on processes like forming an LLC and filing for bankruptcy can help you decide whether hiring an attorney is necessary.

While FindLaw shows client reviews for the attorneys in their directory, you may find that most attorneys have very few reviews or none at all. It’s worth taking the extra step to search each lawyer for reviews on other platforms. FindLaw also recommends checking with your local bar association to make sure the attorney has no disciplinary record. Of course, you should speak with multiple attorneys to choose the most qualified professional at the best price.

If your legal needs haven’t been met by standard online services, Rocket Lawyer is the next step. The company offers a wide array of solutions to individual and business customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Brazil and the Netherlands.

With Rocket Lawyer, you can choose to purchase services à la carte or sign up for a monthly membership. Memberships cost $39.99 per month and include unlimited documents, answers to legal questions and 30-minute consultations on new issues. This can quickly pay for itself, as fees for non-members range from $39.99 for a single document to $59.99 for a 30-minute consultation.

Members who aren’t satisfied with the scope of Rocket Lawyer’s listed services can benefit from Rocket Lawyer On Call. Here’s how it works: if your legal issue can’t be answered online, Rocket Lawyer will put you in touch with the right attorney for a 30-minute phone consultation. Those with complex problems that require further legal services can choose to continue working with that attorney at 40% off their hourly rate.

Rocket Lawyer memberships come with a seven-day trial and can be canceled at any time before the next billing cycle. The $39.99 monthly fee is higher than some competitors' prices but may be worth it if you frequently need documents or complex legal help. It’s also worth noting that customer support is unavailable on weekends.

From choosing a type of legal entity to staying in compliance, Incfile is the best online legal service to guide startups through every stage of growth. Since 2004, the company has helped more than half a million small businesses get started and keep running smoothly.

Incfile offers its customers three packages: Silver, Gold and Platinum. Pricing is determined by adding Incfile’s service fee to state filing fees. This means the total price you’ll pay depends on the type of entity and the state you decide to start your business in. For example, the Gold package costs $194 for an LLC in Arkansas but $354 to start the same business in New York.

Once you’ve started your business, Incfile continues to provide value by guiding you through annual compliance requirements and other necessary procedures. Gold members can take advantage of a business banking account, banking resolutions and tax consultation services; Platinum members also receive contract templates, expedited filing, and a domain name and business email with their fees.

The main downside to Incfile is its customer service. Phone support hours are limited to weekdays between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. CST, and customers have complained of slow response times in the past. However, Incfile recently addressed these complaints publicly by doubling the size of its customer service team and adding live chat support.