Hiring a lawyer and using an online Self-Help Legal Service are two distinct approaches to handling legal matters, and each has its advantages and limitations. Here's a comparison:

1. Legal Expertise:

- Using Curbside Attorney: When you use Curbside Attorney, you are hiring a lawyer, and you're getting the expertise of a trained legal professional who can provide personalized advice, representation, and solutions tailored to your specific situation. Lawyers can offer legal strategies, negotiate on your behalf, and represent you in court if necessary.

- Self-Help Legal Service: Self-Help Legal Services provides document preparation services and access to legal forms, but it does not offer legal advice or representation. While Self-Help Legal Service can help you generate legal documents, it doesn't provide the same level of personalized guidance that a lawyer can offer.

2. Complex Legal Matters:

- Using Curbside Attorney: We are real lawyers and regularly handle complex legal matters, such as probate disputes, family law disputes, business transactions, and estate planning. We have the knowledge and experience to navigate intricate legal issues and provide you with comprehensive legal solutions. Even if you have a matter that does not fit into our fixed-fee products, we can still help through our full-service law firm, Levatino Pace PLLC.

- Self-Help Legal Service: Self-Help Legal Services are more suitable for straightforward legal matters, like creating simple wills, forming basic business entities, or filing routine documents when you are certain about what you are doing. It may not be suitable for cases with intricate legal requirements.

3. Cost:

- Using Curbside Attorney: We’re not going to lie - legal representation by a lawyer can be costly, as lawyers typically charge hourly fees or flat rates, which can add up quickly, especially for complex cases or extended legal processes. However, for our fix-fee products and services, Curbside Attorney is very affordable, and we offer financing through credit cards and Pay Pal.

- Self-Help Legal Service: Self-Help Legal Service often offers lower-cost document preparation services – but not legal advice or representation. Online Self-Help Legal services can be a cost-effective option for basic legal needs. Where they are lacking is customizing their services to your needs or if you have an unusual situation.

4. Personalized Guidance:

- Using Curbside Attorney: Our lawyers can provide one-on-one consultations and personalized guidance if you need it. They can answer your questions, address concerns, and adapt legal strategies to your specific circumstances.

- Self-Help Legal Service: Self-Help Legal Service provides general information and templates, but it doesn't offer personalized advice – they can’t. That would be the unauthorized practice of law, and it is illegal. You're responsible for understanding and completing the documents correctly, and only you are responsible if you make a mistake.

5. Representation in Court:

- Using Curbside Attorney: If your legal matter requires court representation, such as in a lawsuit or family law case, a lawyer is essential. We can advocate for you in court, present evidence, and argue on your behalf.

- Self-Help Legal Service: Self-Help Legal Service does not provide representation in court. It's primarily a document preparation service.

6. Speed and Convenience:

- Self-Help Legal Service: Self-Help Legal Service can be a quicker and more convenient option for generating basic, standard legal documents. You can access and complete forms online at your own pace.

- Using Curbside Attorney: For our fixed fee products and services, we are quick and convenient. You can complete your project at your own pace, and we can even expedite projects depending on the circumstances. If your project falls outside of our fixed-fee products and services, there can be more time involved with scheduling appointments and waiting for responses.

In summary, the choice between using Curbside Attorney and using Self-Help Legal Service depends on the complexity of your legal matter, your budget, and your need for personalized legal advice and representation. For complex or critical legal issues, seeking the assistance of an attorney is often the wisest course of action, while Self-Help Legal Service can be a suitable option for simpler, routine legal tasks.

Yes, a will is essential for everyone, regardless of the size of your estate. Here's why:

1. Asset Distribution: A will allows you to control how your assets and property are distributed after your death. Without a will, state laws decide who inherits your property and this may not align with your wishes.

2. Guardianship for Minor Children: If you have minor children, a will is crucial for naming a guardian to care for them if you’re unable to do so.

3. Avoiding Family Disputes: A well-drafted will can prevent conflicts among family members by clearly outlining your intentions.

4. Choosing an Executor: You can appoint a trusted person to manage your estate and carry out your wishes in your will.

5. Peace of Mind: A will provides the peace of mind that your affairs will be handled according to your wishes after your passing.

6. Efficient Probate Process: A will can streamline the probate process. While probate is still required with a will, having one can make it more straightforward, potentially saving time and money, especially in Texas. Surprisingly, Texas has one of the best probate systems in the country.

So, a will not only gives you control over your legacy but also ensures that your values and priorities are honored and ensure your loved one’s peace of mind even after your passing.

A will and a trust are both estate planning tools, but they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics. Here are the key differences between a will and a trust:

1. Distribution of Assets

- Will: A will outlines how your assets should be distributed after your death. It specifies who receives what, and it becomes effective upon your passing.

- Trust: A trust can hold and manage your assets during your lifetime and after your death. It can provide for the distribution of assets according to specific instructions you set forth. A trust can be effective both during your lifetime (living trust) and after your death (testamentary trust).

2. Probate

- Will: Assets distributed through a will typically go through the probate process, which is a court-supervised process for validating the will and distributing assets. Probate can be time consuming and may involve legal fees.

- Trust: Assets held in a trust generally avoid probate, leading to a quicker and more private distribution of assets. This can also save on probate costs.

3. Privacy

- Will: Wills are public documents. When your will goes through probate, its contents become part of the public record, allowing anyone to access the details of your estate plan.

- Trust: Trusts provide more privacy because they usually don't become part of the public record. Your instructions and asset distribution remain private.

4. Management During Incapacity

- Will: A will has no authority during your lifetime. It only comes into effect after your death, so it doesn't help manage your affairs if you become incapacitated.

- Trust: A living trust can be used to manage your assets if you become incapacitated. You can appoint a successor trustee to handle your affairs without the need for court intervention.

5. Flexibility

- Will: Wills are relatively straightforward and are primarily used for asset distribution. However, Wills are easy to change and update.

- Trust: Trusts can offer more flexibility. They can be used for various purposes, such as providing for minor beneficiaries, managing complex asset portfolios, and distributing assets gradually over time. However, they can be hard to change once signed.

6. Cost

- Will: Creating a will is less expensive than setting up a trust. However, the costs associated with probate may offset some of the initial savings.

- Trust: Setting up a trust can be substantially more expensive upfront, but it can lead to some cost savings by avoiding probate. However, it is likely that you will have to involve an attorney when the person that set up the trust dies.

The choice between a will and a trust depends on your specific financial situation, estate planning goals, and personal preferences. Many people use a combination of both, with a will to handle certain assets and a trust for others, to achieve a comprehensive estate plan. It's essential to consult with an estate planning attorney to determine the best approach for your needs.

No, probate is not expensive if you have a properly drafted and executed will. For a normal estate, a will can be probated for about $3,500.

Not sure which package suits your needs? No worries! For estate planning, our packages usually suit most families as they include a will, powers of attorney, a physician's directive, and more. For other needs, the right choice can vary. We recommend going through the details of each package to make an informed decision. If you still have doubts, feel free to reach out. We can set up a quick Zoom call or phone chat to help you decide. That's the Curbside Attorney difference—we're here to guide and advise you, unlike self-help services like Self-Help Legal Service or Mama Bear.

If you have a question about completing our questionnaires, we’re here to help. We are available to answer any questions either by email, phone, or zoom conference. Just reach out to us and we’ll help you

After you purchase a package, we generally ask our clients to complete the process within 3 months. However, if you need longer, that is your choice. However, if you take longer than 3 months we may have to charge you a “reinstatement” fee.

Yes! Just make this selection when you check out.

When an 18-year-old or a new adult goes to college, there are several important estate planning documents they should consider having in place, even though they may not have substantial assets. These documents help protect their interests and ensure their wishes are respected in case of unexpected events. Here are the key estate planning documents:

1. Medical Power of Attorney (Healthcare Proxy): This document allows the individual to designate someone (usually a parent or trusted relative) to make medical decisions on their behalf if they become incapacitated and cannot communicate their wishes. It's important, especially if the student is away from home and needs medical care.

2. Durable Power of Attorney: A durable power of attorney authorizes someone to handle financial and legal matters on their behalf if they are unable to do so. This is helpful if the student needs someone to manage their finances while they are away at college.

3. HIPAA Authorization: The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) restricts the sharing of medical information. A HIPAA authorization allows the individual to specify who can access their medical information, which can be crucial in emergencies. Just because you’re their parent, doesn’t mean a hospital or doctor will release private health care information to you.

4. Living Will (Advance Healthcare Directive): A living will outlines an individual's preferences for end-of-life medical care. It informs healthcare providers and family members about their wishes regarding life-sustaining treatments in the event of terminal illness or irreversible coma.

5. Optional - Will: Even if a young adult has limited assets, having a simple will can specify their wishes for any possessions they do have. It can also name an executor to handle their affairs and express their preferences for the distribution of personal items. Also, it’s a great way to get them comfortable with estate planning because it is a life-long process.

In short, it’s very easy. Since we’ve done your documents, we can amend them whenever you need them at very affordable prices. That’s part of what you’re getting with Curbside Attorney – a relationship with an attorney and a law firm!

Estate planning is not a singular event but an ongoing process. It requires periodic reviews and updates in response to significant life events. Changes in your career, marital status, or the birth of a child, for instance, may necessitate alterations in your estate plan. It is essential to review and adjust your documents as needed to ensure they continue to reflect your circumstances and preferences accurately.

We provide several convenient options for you to sign your documents. You can choose to sign them independently using our provided instructions. Alternatively, you can visit our main office in Westlake for assistance. However, many of our clients prefer the ease of swinging by Joel's residence in Circle C and signing their documents from the comfort of their own car!

Upon completion of our legal services, you will receive your original, signed documents. We strongly advise that you make digital backups of these documents by scanning them and storing them on a secure cloud-based platform such as Box, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Google Drive. This digital backup ensures you can access your documents from anywhere at any time. As for the original hard copies, we recommend storing them in a secure location at your home that is not frequently accessed by others. Avoid common areas like the kitchen. Many individuals opt for fire-proof safes or safety deposit boxes for added security. The key is to store them safely and ensure your loved ones are aware of their location.