As technology continues to tighten its grip on society, consumers are now looking for online alternatives to traditional situations.
Consumers can now shop online, set up doctor’s appointments online and even look into legal matters without ever having to leave the comfort of home. However, with more options becoming available as each day passes it may be difficult to determine exactly which provider is the best fit for your needs.
In terms of legal needs, consumers have a growing list of options available to them. The long standing site LegalZoom Versus competitors such as LegalGuru and law guru just to name a few. When looking through their options, consumers will have many areas to consider. Three of the most important for many are the ease of access and ease of use for the site, what types of business services does the company offer and what types of personal services does the company offer.
Ease of Access:
In a technological world dominated by choices, one of the first things that many people evaluate about any business is how easy it is to access. The pace of life seems to quicken by the day, so the faster a business can serve their clients, the better it is for all parties involved.
When considering ease of access in terms of online legal help, consumers may want to consider:
- How quickly the page loads?
- How easy is it to navigate?
- Is there a way to contact anyone in case of confusion or if the consumer needs assistance?
While a company’s website used to be their primary virtual home, that is not always the case anymore. With the advent of smartphones came the option to create a mobile app for any use. Businesses and service providers now have the option to go mobile and allow their customers to reach their customers even if there is no access to the Internet.
When searching for an app to help with legal issues, consumers are first going to have to consider the operating system for their phone. By transitioning to the mobile platforms, consumers do not need to always worry about meeting in person or having access to a computer in order to complete a legal transaction. Rather, they just need to have access to their phone, according to Forbes.
Business Services:
The process of successfully running a business begins long before a company ever opens its doors. In those first months, owners and their partners have many questions to answer. One of which is what type of legal structure the company will have. Instead of going to a local law office that specializes in business law, many online services now offer the opportunity to set up a legal structure without having to leave home.
If a business owner is just starting out or is in need of assistance once they have opened their doors, they may want to consider what types of business services an online legal provider is able to provide for them.
- For instance, who can help them set up their company legal structure?
- If a trademark or copyright is needed to protect a piece of intellectual property, can the service help them secure these legal protectors? Businesses who deal primarily in visual arts or written word, may want to consider taking the extra step and having a trademark or copyright placed on their work, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Personal Services:
Business transactions are not the only reason many people may seek legal counsel and services. There are also personal matters that may need tending to. Consumers may search online for legal assistance in personal matters if they cannot leave home because of injury or illness or their schedule just does not allow them enough time for a face-to-face meeting.
Writing out a will is not the most fun task. However, your will is one of the most important legal documents ever created in your name. When searching for a service that can help with this situation, there are a few factors consumers will want to be on the lookout for, according to PCMAG.
- How much does it cost?
- Do they offer forms specific to your state?
- How can witnesses sign the forms?
Another service that an online legal service can provide is the name change process. Whether the name is being changed because of divorce or another reason, it will need to be documented in order for it to be legally recognized, according to the Washington Times.
Legal services were traditionally rendered in person. While this is still the case for many situations, there now services available that will allow certain legal processes to take place online. When considering these services, look at exactly what you need, if it is legal to do online, and which provider will help you the most.
Featured image courtesy of Flickr – PRO Official GDC
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