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11/10/2013
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Online Legal Advice and How it Can Hurt You

When a question arises, most people go the same place to find an answer: the internet. A few clicks on your computer or pushing a few buttons on your phone will bring up thousands of answers instantly. However, finding legal advice online can backfire if the information isn’t accurate. Although much of the information can be helpful, it is difficult to tell what information is accurate and which isn’t if you aren’t a legal professional.

Websites, such as Legalzoom, offer free legal information or legal documents at a cheaper price than one would get from a legal professional, but you can’t be certain that the information is applicable to your specific situation. Here are just a few examples of how accepting legal advice online can hurt you.

Online Divorce Documents

Divorce papers can be found on several legal websites, including Legalzoom. However, the documents you purchase are in broad format. Each state has different divorce laws that aren’t always compatible with the broad format you’re purchasing. It looks like you are saving a few bucks by purchasing these documents online, but you will likely lose much more if the documents don’t comply with state laws.

Making Your Own Will

A common document to be purchased on the internet, making your own will from online documents could end up costing you and your family. The purchased will may say you only need one trustee, but many states actually require two trustees. Legalzoom even admits that eighty percent of people that fill out their purchased documents do it incorrectly.

No Attorney-Client Privilege

Legal advice websites will protect your information from third-parties, but it does not have attorney-client privilege like a law firm. This means your confidential information could be used later on as evidence in court.

You’re a Consumer

To an online legal advice website, you’re a consumer. To an attorney, you’re a client. It may sound the same, but the different is the online legal advice company is selling information, an attorney gives you advice. Information isn’t specific to state laws or your specific situation, where as an attorney’s advice specifically applies to your circumstance. If you rely on information from a legal website and the information is wrong you have no recourse. If you rely on an attorney’s advise and the attorney is wrong you may have a claim against the attorney for giving bad advice.

What it all boils down to is each case is different. Purchasing cheap and broad information could end up costing you more in the long run. Setting up a free initial consultation with an attorney will not only help you decide what the best option for your case is, but will also save you money.

At Ray Hodge & Associates, we believe in personal injury handled personally. At our office you see a lawyer from the very first meeting because we believe your case deserves an experienced personal injury attorney right from the start.

If you have had a Kansas car wreck injury that was not your fault and need medical treatment, you need an experienced professional who can help you get back on the road to recovery. Call us today at 316-269-1414 or visit our contact page here. Our Kansas personal injury attorneys will provide you a free initial consultation and if we take your case you don’t pay a dime unless we recover money for you. Even then we only take a percentage of the total amount of your recovery.

If you have questions on what you should be looking for when you are making a decision to hire a Kansas personal injury lawyer, read our article located here.

Make sure you download our free car accident app for iPhone or Droid to protect yourself in event of an auto accident.


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Ray Hodge & Associates proudly represents victims and their families across the state of Kansas, including Wichita, Andover, Derby, Goddard, Haysville, Mulvane, Rose Hill, Newton, El Dorado and Hutchinson. Call today for a free consultation all over the state of Kansas. We have proudly served clients in Sedgwick, Butler, Sumner, Harvey, Kingman and Reno Counties.