LegalZoom

The whole process was very smooth, with setting up the LLC. And I used LegalZoom as the registered agent. It was very responsive, and accomplished the task quickly. I only used LegalZoom for that LLC, and then I used them for templates to draft either an operating agreement or a contract for doing business. I went in to get a template for a consulting contract and it was nice when I went there to do that. I went through that whole checkout process. And then the email I got was $0 charge. That was nice because they didn’t charge me anything for that. But that was the only thing I wasn't clear on, what was available for free once I got the initial service, like setting up the LLC and having LegalZoom as my registered agent, what perks did I get along with that. It wasn't clear until that all happened, that they weren't going to charge me.

I've had multiple contacts with the people at LegalZoom helping me through the process. I had questions and I called back, and they were easy to get ahold of. The explanation on what it is, what I need to do and what the next step is was very positive. Anytime I had a question or anytime I had a need to know things, I could just pick up the phone and I would reach somebody at LegalZoom who could explain it to me and then tell me what the next steps are.

What LegalZoom have set up is pretty ideal. I plan on making other changes into the future. I'm waiting to see how this business runs and if it is a successful venture, I have every intention to come back to LegalZoom and do another couple steps with them. Not only was I pleased enough with the process that they produced and the services, but to the degree that I have in mind to use them again for other things that I'd like to do with the business. Adding my wife as an equal partner in it, I know that that was offered, and that is something that they can help me with. When we take that step, that's something that I will definitely be coming back to them for. I'm very pleased with what they offer. They have made it very easy for me to go through the process I went through. So, I would definitely recommend.

It’s like having a retainer for anything possible. It’s easier to have that where they could use a bigger net than me. When I first tried to get my name changed, I didn’t know what to do. I was calling a hundred places and got a runaround. But with LegalZoom, they took care of everything. Even when I went to Kentucky to get my name changed, I called them. I said, “I got this form.” They said, “Read the form to me.” “It’s 209.” “Oh, yeah. That’s the right one.” It’s not like every state has the same form. They did it all, and they separated it all, and they explained everything. So, it shocked me that a lot more people don't use them.

I just wish their website was more user-friendly. With stuff that needs upload or use, it was just easier to call some days because it just wouldn't work. Once I needed to change a form to give my original name and then send my new name, it just wouldn't upload. Things couldn't go. I had to call somebody. He was like, “Hold on, I should do it for you.” He walked completely through the whole thing with me and did it. I was like, “Why do you guys even have a website? You send emails that say, ‘Change this part. We need you to check this out.’ And it just didn’t work.”

When I originally did it, I was happy with the language in the will. The original one was straightforward and more like other legal documents that I've done. My other experiences in divorce and real estate were much more straightforward in their language, setting out the terms and I understand they're all using a template and fill in the blank as to specifics. When I updated it this time, it's less straightforward and there are a lot more drawn out legalese stuff that was somewhat confusing in just the first reading. Maybe law has changed in my state to have all this legalese stuff in it. I'm not as comfortable with it. It seems excessive. I'd have to go back and look at the document again. I was just kind of scratching my head when I thought that this is not what my document looked like before. The original will when my kid was still young was where I’d named a guardian in the event of my death. I was satisfied with that experience.

When I could look at my computer, at the changed document, I'm like, “Wow! Something new must have come up.” My printer was broken at the time I made the change and paid the money. I reviewed the document online and downloaded it but I got the packet in the mail. It is still sitting in my big stack of mail that I haven't gone through yet. At the time I received that, I wasn’t dying to go get out in the herd. I've got to assemble a couple of people to witness my signature and go file it. I need to finish the thing and I'm gonna have to get out in public a little bit.

I'm assuming that if I want some explanations of that stuff, when I finally get off my tail and go get this thing filed, that I could call somebody and I could get explanations of some of this stuff. if you're gonna add so much legalese to it, it would be cool if you had a general explanation. So that if I go and look at it again when I'm not so tired and have a million things to do, maybe on second read, it would be better.

They've got to have something like that because at the end of the day, incorporating is the easy part, but there's so much stuff in the background that people don't know unless they research or it comes up. That can get costly for LegalZoom but if they did that, that would be amazing. Thereafter, if somebody wanted to keep that service, maybe they could pay a monthly fee to be able to get phone support and have questions answered. At the same time, having somebody guide you on what you need to know without having to ask the question would also be helpful because some people don't know what they even need to ask to begin with.

Despite that, LegalZoom still offers a lot for the price at the end of the day. The interface isn't that great though and it was not super user-friendly or easy to interpret. It was not bad either but it could be better. When I wanted to log in, it was not really clear about where are the forms you've already filed and where are the future forms. The calendar was a little weird, too. It'd also be nice to be able to have support on the weekends because a lot of businesses are opening on the weekends. I'd love to get questions answered as opposed to waiting a couple of days. But other than that, the hold times have been pretty good and LegalZoom has been great.