Legal Software Reviews

Legal Software Buying guide , Cheap Legal Software, Discount Software Legal.

Very Economical and thorough Resource
A simple and thorough resource for life's necessities. There are lots of forms that are useful but the Will is worth much more than the cost of the CD. Everyone needs a legal Will and this is a simple method to create one before you need it. If you wait till you need it, you are too late.

fantastic and easy to use
I have been collecting model cars for over twenty years and have more cars than I can possibly keep track off. I often have to move and I am always concerned about losing my cars as well as reorganizing my collection after I settle in. I use the SAFE software to easily catalog my collection so that I'll never have to worry. Plus I can print out a record and see which cars I have so that I don't buy two of the same cars!

organization was never so easy
I move around a lot and I'm always worried about losing warranties and important information about my electronics. I also collect crystal pieces that are very valuable. SAFE allows me to keep all that information in one spot in case anything happens. Its also really easy.

Review of SAFE Home Inventory
This is one of those products that you don't realize you need until you start using it. I always figured that if my house burned to the ground, insurance would cover anything in my house...that is, if I could remember what I had...which is next to impossible. SAFE Home Inventory lets me keep track of all my stuff, not just jewelry and furniture. I thought the program was easy to use, especially since it comes with example items so you can see how it works (very helpful!). I really like the fact that I can add pictures, save all of my inventory to a CD, and then put the CD in my safe-deposit box. The program includes some very nice report features so I can see how much all of my stuff is worth (or just certain items, like my music collection). Definitely worth the money.

Legal has all forms, personal/corporate/wills estates
Comprehensive. Printable book. Helpful audios.

Same for Negotiations with regard to being comprehensive; great interactive videos--with good and bad examples of handling the same situation (some how the bad examples taught me more).

Printable book too. Simply Magazine owns the Simply Media brand and has a great business series; don't be put off by the low prices.

A little tricky
You can do a great deal with this software--some of it obviously useful, some of it less so--and there are clear, succinct explanations of legal issues involved in the decisions you have to make. Moving in and out of your existing documents is tricky, though; there aren't automatic prompts to save, and it would be easy to accidentally save over an existing document. It can be hard to get back into saved documents from the document list, too.

Great Money Saving Tool
Great program! Well worth the money. Compare the cost of the program to the cost of an attorney, and it's a no brainer. The program walks you, in an interview fashion, through the process by asking the necessary questions, and 15-20 minutes later you have your legal document. Satisfied Customer.

Safe, State-specific, and cheap compared to an Attorney
(...)

I use Quicken's Home & Business and it is pretty glitch-free. The reviews on Quicken's WillMaker Plus 2004 (which includes all the areas addressed in my old Living Trust, e.g., two types of Living Trusts, a new Will in concert with the Durable Power of Attorney documents) were impressive, so I bounced for the software. (...). I am NOT familiar with doing this sort of thing and legalese can be VERY intimidating but WillMaker Plus 2004 makes it so EASY, and until you indicate that you have printed and signed a document created in this program, you can return and change anything over and over again. If you need to amend any information in the future, the program will set you up to do this. Yeah, you still need forms to transfer you home, for example, from your name to your Living Trust name, to change your financial institution's beneficiaries to either the Trust name or "Pay on Death" recipients, but I found I could order these forms on the telephone and they were mailed to me. I actually did it myself in 3 days. What a feeling of accomplishment!

Lastly, if you doubt your ability to create a binding Living Trust with it's requisite components, you can run it by an attorney (1 hour's charge applies) just to make you feel better. You're still financially ahead by a country mile. The least expensive fee for drawing a living trust here in Portland was 50.00

Beware the rebate...
Beware the company managing the rebate offer, ExpressGroup. I sent all of the information in, they somehow were able to log my information into the computer, but still note it as insufficient - and then never notified me of any issues. After faxing a copy of the documents, and a follow up call, they will be sending the rebate in 8 - 10 weeks. One would expect that a company whose sole job is to handle rebates would do this correctly. My experience is consistent with stories I have heard of companies like this that will conveniently lose information knowing the buying public will not follow up.
Beware of ExpressGroup

No substitute for a good lawyer...
This software is good software. But please remember that a computer program is no substitute for a good lawyer. At the very least get one to look over your completed document for you. You wouldn't want a computer error to end up costing your loved ones more time, money and hassle in the courts.

# 1 CD for Legal Forms and Guide--all types
All types of legal forms, not split into several different CDs. Save in Word for easy modifying, putting frequently used forms on your hard drive.

Legal Survival Kit is distilled, clear, crisp, and funny (who can be funny about this subject--this author can).

Audio clips really good. Basic Warren Buffett type of safe don't blow it advice. Learned a lot.

Liked the Audiobook on CD too.

not user friendly
The documents are fine, but I found the software to be difficult to use. Even though the software is downloaded to your hard drive, you save each document seperately when it is completed. Very unweildy

It needs to be done, so do it now!
As another reviewer noted, the Schiavo case brought to light the need to get our affairs in order in a timely matter. This software does the trick. It's straightfoward and easy to use. There's a basic Q&A that gives the user an idea of what forms need to be used, and further Q&A to fill those forms out. It took me very little time (15 - 20 minutes in my case, others will vary) and gave me great peace of mind. You will have to get some forms notorized just in case there could be a dispute, but even a notary plus the cost of this software is a lot cheaper than any lawyer!

It doesn't work in Louisiana because that state organized its laws under the Napoleonic codes, rather than the English commonlaw. I haven't seen similar software developed for that fine state, which is a shame as there is such a need for inexpensive legal help.

I notice that the 2006 version of this product is out; as law changes all of the time it would be worth the extra $ to get the new version. If your budget doesn't extend that far, then this will work pretty well. Whatever you do, do it now. It will save your friends, your family, and you yourself much trouble and grief. This is peace of mind at bargain basement pricing!

Easy
I used an old PC with Windows 98. This program was easy and quick. If you have a simple will or trust that is basic then this should save you much time and expense. It asks questions and I was able to make a living trust in about 15 minutes of which 99% of the legal speak is preformatted and has been carefully reviewed. The program gives all of the information on what to do after a will or trust has been made to finalize it. I am very pleased with it and glad I did not pay a lawyer 00 to type the information into his computer program that does the same thing.

Great Product
We have used all the different documents numerous times. A must have if you have children because of the medical authorization form and child care agreements. I highly recommend this software.

Easy to use, saves money, but beyond 2006?
The recent heart-breaking Terri Schiavo case in Florida highlights the importance for everyone to have a living will as well as a regular will. You can go to a lawyer, buy a standard form from a legal stationery store, or use Willmaker Plus 2005.

This latest estate planning and family law software from Nolo Press is distributed by Quicken. Nolo is a company that has been publishing self-help legal books for many years, and their website provides a wealth of information. (Since I'm not a lawyer, I can't comment if their information is always accurate, but it's at least accessible to laypeople like me.)

Willmaker 2005 is for more than just writing your own will. It has many other legal documents which you can fill in, print out, and sign (in front of a notary public in some cases) to make them legally binding. The estate planning section is pretty comprehensive and works in every state except Louisiana. (I wonder why.) Setting up your legal will and living trust is pretty much a hassle-free, expense-free and lawyer-free process. The other types of documents you can create with this program include responses to those dreaded debt collection notices and filing consumer complaints. This is really a "family lawyer" package. (Quicken used to publish their own family lawyer program but has since replaced it with Nolo's more superior Willmaker.)

The software takes an interview approach. You pick a document you want to work on. It asks you a few questions and then drafts the document for you. You review the document and then print it out and follow the simple steps to make it legally binding. The "simple steps" often just involve you and two witnesses (including a notary public in some cases) signing the document; for simple letters such as a reply to a debt collection letter, you don't need witnesses.

While it would have been a lot nicer if the program could automate things a bit more, e.g., asking who you are and then choosing the documents for you, I guess writing a will or any legal document should not be a totally brainless thing; you have to understand what it's all about and what's involved, since we are talking legally binding documents here. (Of course, you must be mentally valid in order to create a will.)

The program comes with a printed user manual. While the manual is a little confusing and makes using the program look more complex than it actually is, it's nice to have printed documentation which you can refer to readily.

I like the software and, being a paranoid that I am, like doing my will and doing it for free. I can also do the wills for my family.

My only concern about using the software stems from this passage from the second page of the manual:

"Product support (including Web update) for Quicken WillMaker Plus 2005 ends on January 1, 2006. ... Please note that legal documents created and signed before January 1, 2006 will remain legally valid and enforceable if you have used Web Update regularly. You will need to upgrade your software only if you want to create new documents or update existing documents."

Does this mean I'll need to buy a new version each and every year from now on? (I fancy my financial and family situation will change over time and thus require additions and/or amendments.) While upgrading the software still beats a trip to the attorney, it would nonetheless be quite an annoyance.

(In all fairness, both Quicken and Microsoft are moving to a subscription-like model for their financial software, so I guess that's the inevitable trend.)

Happy estate planning!