As your child turns 18, one of the most important steps you can take is to ensure they have the proper legal documents in place, such as powers of attorney and HIPAA authorizations. These documents are crucial for protecting your child’s interests and ensuring that you, as a parent, can continue to assist them in critical situations even when they are far from home. However, when it comes to preparing these documents, many parents are tempted to turn to pre-paid legal form services like Mama Bear Legal Forms or LegalZoom. While these services may seem convenient and cost-effective, they are not always the best option for your young adult's legal needs. Here’s why working with a real attorney, like Curbside Attorney, is always the better choice.
1. Customization and Personalization
Pre-paid legal services offer templates and standardized forms that may not fully address your child's unique situation. Every family has its own dynamics, medical needs, and financial circumstances, and these factors should be carefully considered when drafting legal documents. A real attorney will take the time to understand your family's specific needs and tailor the documents accordingly. This customization ensures that the powers of attorney and HIPAA authorizations are comprehensive and aligned with your child's best interests.
Prepaid legal services cannot do this. They are prohibited from giving you legal advice and can only provide you with a form that you are responsible for completing.
2. Legal Expertise and Experience
While pre-paid legal services can provide basic forms, they lack the depth of knowledge and experience that a seasoned attorney brings to the table. Our attorneys have spent years studying and practicing law, which allows them to foresee potential legal issues that generic forms might not cover. They are also up-to-date on the latest legal changes and can advise you on how these changes might impact your documents. This level of expertise is invaluable when it comes to protecting your child's legal rights and ensuring the documents are legally sound.
3. State-Specific Laws
Legal requirements can vary significantly from state to state. Pre-paid legal services often use generic forms that may not comply with the specific laws of your state or the state where your child is going to school. An attorney who practices in your state will be well-versed in the local laws and regulations, ensuring that the documents you create are fully compliant with the applicable law. This reduces the risk of the documents being challenged or deemed invalid when they are needed most.
For example, if you use a pre-paid legal service form, you will not know whether it is valid until you need it. We have had situations where out-of-state universities and hospitals have rejected pre-paid legal forms.
4. Ongoing Legal Support
Legal needs can change over time, especially as your child moves through different stages of life. A relationship with a real attorney provides you with ongoing legal support. Whether your child moves to a new state for college or experiences a significant life event, if you work with a real attorney, they can update the documents to reflect these changes. This ongoing relationship ensures that your legal documents remain relevant and effective.
5. Risk of Incomplete or Inaccurate Documents
Using pre-paid legal services often comes with the risk of completing forms incorrectly. The questions asked by these services are often too broad or generic, leading to misunderstandings or incomplete answers that could render the documents ineffective. An attorney, on the other hand, will guide you through the process, ask the right questions, and make sure every detail is addressed properly.
6. Easy of Signing or Executing Documents
One of the things that online legal forms companies do not tell you is that you are responsible for ensuring that the documents are correctly filled out but also that they are properly executed. Most documents require that the signer's signature be notarized. If can be difficult to locate a notary public or witnesses for this purpose. Using Curbside Attorney, we take care of that for you and make it simple.
7. Peace of Mind
When it comes to your child’s well-being, peace of mind is priceless. Knowing that you’ve worked with a qualified attorney to draft these critical documents gives you confidence that your child is protected. This peace of mind comes from knowing that the documents have been carefully crafted, reviewed, and executed according to the highest legal standards.
Conclusion
While pre-paid legal services like Mama Bear Legal Forms and LegalZoom might seem like a quick and easy solution, they fall short when it comes to the nuanced and individualized needs of your young adult's legal documents. The stakes are too high to rely on generic forms that may not offer the necessary protection. By working with a real attorney, you ensure that your child’s legal documents are thorough, state-compliant, and tailored to your family's specific needs. Invest in their future by choosing the expertise and personalized service that only a dedicated attorney can provide.
You can find out more about Curbside Attonrey's young adult packages here:
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