Legal Document Preparation Services Lawyer in Los Angeles, Simplifying the Legal Process

Most people go their whole lives without being sued. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean they don’t encounter the legal system in some form. For those who are lucky, their involvement will entail little more than submitting legal documents for administrative purposes. Even in situations as serious as divorce, child custody issues, and asset division, it’s possible to stay out of the courtroom when involved parties can reach their own agreement. In such a situation, a legal document preparation services lawyer in Los Angeles can help.

Kim Mediation and Law Center offers our clients alternative dispute resolutions to avoid litigation, but it’s not always necessary to involve an attorney when reaching major decisions. If you’ve already come to an agreement regarding whatever legal issue you’re facing, you can have an experienced legal professional handle document preparation for you and even submit the necessary paperwork to the courts. Contact our law firm today if you need help getting the ball rolling on your most pressing legal matters.

Why Do I Need Help With Legal Documents?

Far too many people think they can handle legal issues on their own — particularly if creating legal documents is all they need to do. For instance, it’s not uncommon for individuals to believe a written child support arrangement will stand up in court simply because it’s on paper and signed by both parents. As one precautionary piece in Forbes once noted about do-it-yourself legal document preparation, though, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” California has very strict laws regarding nearly all legal documents, and the simplest mistakes can render a clear agreement invalid in state courts.

For instance, did you know that a prenuptial agreement provision stipulating spousal support will be invalid if the receiving spouse did not have independent legal representation? Did you know that postnuptial agreements — and many other legal documents — may not stand up to legal scrutiny if they’re not signed by a notary? While legal self-help services that provide select legal forms online may seem like an invaluable resource, professional organizations have consistently warned about the danger of their use.

The most ideal self-help legal services are those you receive from trained law professionals. You can have all the necessary legal documents drafted, reviewed, and submitted by a law firm to ensure accuracy and validity. Don’t risk facing costly delays and potential agreement invalidation by trying to handle the entire process on your own. Reach out to Kim Mediation and Law Center today for help with all your legal documentation needs.

Can Document Preparation Cut Costs in Uncontested Legal Matters?

There are many benefits that come along with legal document prep services. What draws most people to this option, however, is the cost savings typical of the process. Many people think the most complex legal matters must be decided in court. Even those who understand that litigation isn’t the only way forward may still believe mediation or collaborative legal services are required to handle their issues. While all of these approaches are appropriate in certain situations, they’re not normally necessary for uncontested legal matters.

When you’re facing an issue of law where no disagreement exists, you merely need to have document preparation handled. This means no court costs, no mediator fees, no attorney retainer, and avoiding the typical fees that come along with all these options. And when you work with a law firm that will provide self-help services — like Kim Mediation and Law Center — you can rest comfortably knowing your legal documents will be filed and handled correctly.

Even more than just avoiding the costs of approaches that typically require negotiation, professional document preparation can also help you avoid the costs of mistakes. A prenuptial agreement that’s not prepared appropriately may be completely invalid during a divorce, and this means the courts will use community property laws rather than what you agreed upon. Similar expensive errors can occur when dealing with agreements involving child support, alimony, marital settlements, and even paternity determination. Avoid such costly mistakes by contacting Kim Mediation and Law Center today.

What Are Legal Document Assistants?

Legal document assistants (LDAs) are professionals who are authorized to assist with document preparation. Laws regulating this profession vary significantly across America. Regulations regarding the profession were not codified in California law until 1998 — even though the California Association of Legal Document Assistants has been around since 1986. It’s important to note that LDAs do not need a paralegal certificate to practice. Paralegals actually have to work under a lawyer to prepare documents; legal document assistants do not. There are still significant restrictions, however, on what an LDA can and cannot do.

For instance, legal document assistants are not allowed to provide legal advice or even answer questions of a legal nature. They cannot discuss any legal strategies, select forms that should be used, or show up in court to support their clients. Their primary objective is to provide self-help services to legal consumers who need them. They can legally do nothing more than get legal documents prepared and processed. When registered and bonded, LDAs can provide freelance services if they so choose. Unlike a freelance paralegal professional, however, LDAs do not have to work under the supervision of a law firm.

Of course, this presents its own potential problems. An LDA could have full awareness that a client is making a mistake in their document, and the law would not allow them to correct that mistake. This is why you should work with a Los Angeles legal document preparation services attorney. Lawyers simply have a better ability to ensure their clients are following appropriate legal guidelines. Even in uncontested matters where an agreement exists that everyone is amenable to, you likely still have unique needs that only attorneys can assist with. Don’t make the common mistakes that turn simple issues into costly endeavors.

Contact a Los Angeles Legal Document Preparation Services Attorney Today

The legal process has a way of becoming time-consuming and tedious. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be that way. This is particularly the case for instances of uncontested legal matters. Getting your documents completed, notarized, and filed with the courts is easier than ever. While legal document assistants offer high-quality services in this field, you should still opt to work with a law office even when using an LDA to ensure that things are handled correctly.

At Kim Mediation and Law Center, our goal is to help clients navigate complex legal matters without facing the adversarial and stressful environment of a courtroom. If you need documents drafted for the divorce process, child support agreements, custodial arrangements, prenuptial agreements, or any other legal matter, our law firm can help. Contact us today by calling (213) 351-1000 to speak with a legal document preparation services lawyer in Los Angeles. We can handle all your document preparation needs and more.