Who you, a Guru? After you read these 153 Legal Forms tips, you'll be one. But we're looking to recruit a Guru to blog, write a 101 tip Legal Forms book, and become a leader of this community.
Hot topics for both consumers and webmarketers on WebmasterRadio.FM
Every Wednesday, 4PM Eastern.
Divorce Forms
Legal proceedings can seem complicated and hard to understand for someone who has no experience with the legal system. Even those who are familiar with legal forms can be confused by procedure and making sure that everything is filed correctly. One thing that pre-packaged divorce kits are able to do is provide all the divorce records necessary to legally complete the case. These types of kits can be found in office supply stores or may also be found online as well. Divorce kits are only for cases where all issues are agreed to by the parties, or uncontested divorces.
Save Tip
Comments
Tip Rating
RocketLawyer.com Tip: Tips for Estate Planning
Prepare Your Will Don't procrastinate. If you die without a will, your estate may end up in probate, which often causes problems among your heirs.
Use Estate Planning Forms You can get the documents you need to create an estate plan at RocketLawyer.com. These estate planning forms are easy to customize and also include all the proper provisions and legal language.
Create a Business Succession Plan If you have a family business, find ways to leave the business to those who will actually do the best job operating it. However, you should also have provisions of sharing the profits fairly with other remaining survivors.
Give to Charity in Tax-Efficent Way You can utilize Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRTs) and Charitable Lead Trusts (CLTs) to structure charitable contributions in the a manner to maximize your deductions for income and transfer tax.
Update Your List of Assets and Liabilities On a regular basis you should update your list of both assets and liabilities. Your liabilities will need to by paid off at the time of death before any assets are distributed.
Save Tip
Comments
Tip Rating
Filing for Divorce
Unfortunately, life doesn't always happen like you plan. Sometimes, when facing the unpleasant situation of divorce, the circumstances may be complicated by a depletion of already tight resources. Divorce statistics indicate that this is the case in the majority of instances. If both parties agree to all issues, some cost may be reduced by filling out divorce forms and by filing the divorce paperwork yourself. These divorce form kits can be found in local office supply stores or online for a fraction of the cost of hiring one or two attorneys.
Save Tip
Comments
Tip Rating
RocketLawyer.com Tip: Basics of a Promissory Note
A Promissory Note is a vital part of many transactions between two entities. The definition of a Promissory Note is a written contract in which one party promises to pay a sum of money to another party. For example, if a person buys an item and both parties agree that the money transfer will occur at a later date, a promissory note is written up to make the agreement a legal and binding contract.
The basics of a Promissory Note are the amount due and the due date. Additionally, an interest rate can be included in the Promissory Note that adds interest charges at a specified level to the amount of money owed. For this reason, Promissory Notes are commonly used when one individual is loaning money to another individual.
If you use a Promissory Note, make sure the terms of the agreement are clearly laid out. Any ambiguity in a Promissory Note could make it hard to collect payment. With that in mind, specify the amount, the due date and any interest charges. Also don’t forget to have both parties sign the Promissory Note. Without the signatures, the Promissory Note will usually not be able to hold up in a court of law.
If you are looking for a Promissory Note form that includes everything you need, you can find it on RocketLawyer.com.
Save Tip
Comments
Tip Rating
Getting Started with a Do It Yourself Adoption
Prospective adoptive parents should consider all options as they're looking at expanding their family to include a child. There is a plethora of child adoption information available in several sources. There are obviously adoption agencies that specialize in helping families in this way. Another source of information would be online. There are numerous sources for children in need of a home, such as domestic adoption or international adoption with over 50 different countries including Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia and Latin America that have children and infants in need of a home. If you are an avid researcher and have the time and patience to ensure that you are working with reputable people and that you have the acumen to complete any adoption forms in the adoption process, then online resources are your best bet. Consider your sources wisely though and don't be afraid to consult with state agencies for advice and for information about the adoption process.
Save Tip
Comments
Tip Rating
RocketLawyer.com Tip: What is an electronic signature?
On October 1, 2000, the Federal Electronic Signature Law took effect. This law basically stated that "digital contracts" that a consumer agrees to online with their electronic signature will have the same legal status as pen-and-paper contracts.
The new law made it much easier to complete business transactions online, such as buying an insurance policy, closing a mortgage and other common business agreements. Businesses can simply send the contract via email or have it online on their website with a place for consumers to agree to terms and provide their electronic signature. It has also given businesses the ability to send consumers required notifications electronically, rather than by standard mail.
The electronic signature law made things quicker for business owners and consumers, but it is still important to read all the small print and details of a contract before you e-sign.
Save Tip
Comments
Tip Rating
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Forms
There are resources available to consumers who are contemplating filing chapter 13 bankruptcy as an alternative to seek resolution to unpaid, unsecured debt. Chapter 13 bankruptcy forms can be found online and are easily downloaded to be filled out and filed. Those considering filling Chapter 13 bankruptcy should be sure that the forms you purchase and fill out pertain specifically to your state, as state laws with regard to bankrutpcy can vary. If you have exhausted the alternatives to filing for bankruptcy, have a large amount of unsecured debt as well as secured debt, Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be a viable option for you.
Save Tip
Comments
Tip Rating
RocketLawyer.com Tip: How to File a Small Claims Case
Before filing a small claims case, you should make one last attempt to get your money by sending a formal demand letter.
A demand letter should include a summary of the situation, what you see as the damages and a detailed request that the other party pay by a certain date. The letter should include your contact information, including mailing address, telephone number and email address.
If the other party does not respond favorably or respond at all, you will need to file the case in small claims court. Only civil cases can be brought to small claims court. Some examples of small claim cases include property damage, product liability, breach of contract and some fraud cases.
The amount you can sue for varies from state to state and is usually somewhere in the range of $3,500 to $10,000. You must file the small claims case in the court that has jurisdiction. This could be the territory in which the incident took place or the territory in which the defendant is located.
You must file the claim by filling out paperwork spelling out all the facts of what happened and how you were damaged. You should also included copies of letters, bills, receipts, photographs or anything else that will help your case. You will also need to have all the contact information for the defendant. When you file the case, you will be given a case number and a court date. You will also need to pay a small court filing fee.
The copy of your complaint will be mailed to the defendant by certified mail. You will then present your case to the judge on your court date.
There are a lot of small claims forms and rules involved when filing a small claims case, so following through on a complaint can be complicated. At Rocket Lawyer, they can make the whole process a lot easier with their Small Claims Worksheet. This customizable form will help get organized and prepare for a small claims case. Visit RocketLawyer.com for more details.
Save Tip
Comments
Tip Rating
Types of Bankruptcy
There are a couple of options when it comes to filing for bankruptcy. The types of bankruptcy include of course personal bankruptcy and corporate bankruptcy. Within the those categories are Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Be sure, when contemplating the filing of bankruptcy, that you consider the consequences of each and which type best alleviates the debt structure and obligation while preserving as many of your assets as possible.
Save Tip
Comments
Tip Rating
Online Bankruptcy
The information superhighway, also known as the Internet, can be a great resource for individuals considering bankruptcy. There are numerous articles and bankruptcy forms online to aid in researching bankruptcy laws and regulations. Because jurisdictions can vary from state to state as to where a petitioner will be able to file bankruptcy, and laws may differ slightly with regard to procedure, make sure that you are clear as to which state and jurisdiction you're pulling forms from. Educating yourself about the laws and types of bankruptcy can answer many questions before you consult a bankruptcy lawyer or bankruptcy law firm.
Save Tip
Comments
Tip Rating
Mediation Through Divorce
One way to minimize not only the financial cost of filing for divorce, but also at times, the emotional cost of divorce, is to use an attorney or third party for divorce mediation. A divorce mediator can sit down with the parties after receiving a list of the issues, and attempt, without interjecting any type of legal ruling, to resolve whatever issues the parties cannot solve on their own. Oftentimes, the cost of mediating a divorce situation can be less than time spent in court when you consider the cost of paying two attorneys versus one mediator. Before mediation begins, the divorce mediator will have the parties agree to work together as best they can to resolve issues and work together for the common good of both parties. Both parties will also most likely have to sign a statement agreeing to abide by whatever mediation agreement is reached and that it will become a part of the divorce file, like any of the other pleadings.
Save Tip
Comments
Tip Rating
Forms for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
There are Chapter 7 bankruptcy forms available to those of us that are not lawyers in several different places. You can find these forms in some office supply stores, however, there are also online form resources that can provide these forms. Under Chapter 7 bankruptcy law there are certain procedures and timelines that one needs to be aware of when contemplating filing chapter 7 bankruptcy or any bankruptcy for that matter. Be sure, if you're doing the filing on your own, to consult with legal sources for the laws that govern your state.
LifeTips is part of ideaLaunch, the hub for a group of websites offering
solutions that help clients improve mind share, market share and profit online.
