Is LegalZoom Legit? 8 Things to Know

Yes, LegalZoom is legit. Since 2001, they’ve helped over 4 million businesses with their legal documents, serving more than 10 million customers in total. In short, a lot of people have trusted them with their legal needs!

The Better Business Bureau gives LegalZoom an A+ rating, which is pretty impressive for any company. They're also a publicly traded company, so they have to follow strict financial reporting rules – they can't just disappear overnight with your money.

There is an important caveat: the fact that they’re "legit" doesn't mean LegalZoom is the same as hiring a lawyer. They’re like a really smart assistant who helps you fill out forms and handle routine paperwork. They're great with the basics but if your situation is complicated, definitely get advice from a real attorney.

When we looked at what real customers are saying, the picture is pretty encouraging. LegalZoom gets a score of 4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot based on reviews from 24,085 people. Over 80% of respondents gave a 5-star review, which is high by the standards of any service company.

What people love about LegalZoom:

• Super helpful customer service reps who actually know their stuff
• The process is way easier than trying to figure out legal forms yourself
• Everything gets done without having to visit a lawyer's office
• They walk you through each step so you don't feel lost

What gets people frustrated:

• They really, really want to sell you extra services (more on this below)
• Some billing issues and surprise charges
• Getting a refund can be a hassle
• The final cost can end up higher than expected

Most people are happy with their core service, but it pays to be smart on avoiding any add-ons you don't really need.

Here's where things get a little tricky. LegalZoom loves to advertise their "free" basic package (you just pay state filing fees), but that's kind of like saying a car is "free" if you only pay for the engine, wheels, and transmission separately.

LegalZoom makes quite a bit of money by upselling you to their "call a lawyer" programs, and boy, do they ever try to upsell you. We're talking about pop-ups, phone calls, and "limited-time offers" at every step of the process. Sign up for every upsell product LegalZoom offers and you’ll end up spending around $1,500…

Here's a breakdown of their pricing structure:

• Basic Package: Free but state fees apply (usually between $50-$300)
• Pro Package: Around $199 plus state fees (includes operating agreement, EIN, etc.)
• Premium Package: Around $299 plus state fees (includes above and attorney consultations)

It’s important to go into it knowing exactly what you need. You probably don't need half the stuff LegalZoom will try to sell you. As an example, you can get an EIN (tax ID number) directly from the IRS for free – it takes about 10 minutes online –, so don’t let them sell it to you as some special service.

Credit where credit is due, LegalZoom genuinely excels at certain things. That's why they've been around for over 20 years.

• Business formation: Setting up LLCs, corporations and other business entities is their bread and butter
• Estate planning: Their system makes creating wills and trusts online straightforward
• Trademark services: They have their own law firm, LZ Legal Services, and they've managed to maintain the highest success rate among online competitors
• User experience: Their website is easy to navigate, even if you have no experience dealing with legal stuff

The platform takes complex legal processes and breaks them down into simple, easy-to-follow questionnaires. It's like you’re being walked through each process by someone who knows, which you’ll know is so helpful if you've ever tried to fill out a legal form on your own.

LegalZoom isn't perfect, and there are some definite limitations you should know about upfront.

The main issues:

• In most cases, LegalZoom is not a substitute for legal representation. If your situation is kind of complicated, go for legal advice from an attorney
• Its ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach doesn't work for everyone
• The aggressive upselling tactics can be annoying and unnecessarily expensive
• A lot of customers seem frustrated with LegalZoom's billing practices

LegalZoom is sort of like using TurboTax for your legal needs. It's great if your situation fits a template, but if you've got complicated stuff going on you should have a professional look at your case individually.

LegalZoom’s customer service can be a bit of a mixed bag depending on what you need help with.

The good: Most positive comments relate to the quality of customer service received. Plenty of people mention helpful, knowledgeable reps who are patient and seem to care about solving your issue.

The bad: Whether online or by phone, LegalZoom representatives will ask for information about your business before they answer any questions. Translation? They're trying to figure out what else they can sell you before they help with your query.

What to expect:

• Phone support: Generally the best experience, but available mainly for higher-tier packages
• Chat support: Pretty responsive, but you'll definitely get some sales pitches
• Email support: Slower, but less pushy on the upsells

Here’s a tip: If you call with a specific question, just politely decline the "special offers" they’ll want to tell you about and stick to why you called.

LegalZoom is by no means your only option. Depending on what you’re looking for, it may not even be the best one.

Some alternatives worth considering:

• Northwest Registered Agent: Highly recommended for LLC formation. They'll take care of everything for $39 plus state fees, and they’ll do it with less upselling
• Rocket Lawyer: Often cheaper with a subscription model that could work better if you have ongoing legal needs
• ZenBusiness: Similar set of services, often at lower prices
• DIY approach: If you don’t mind a little hassle, many states let you file online directly and only pay the state fees

When LegalZoom may be worth the extra cost:

• You want the security of dealing with an established company
• You need access to their attorney network for consultations
• You need to deal with multiple legal tasks (business formation and trademark law, for example)
• You’re looking for any easy process with step-by-step guidance

Alright, let's sum up. Is LegalZoom legit? Absolutely. Is LegalZoom any good? For the right person in the right situation, it certainly can be. Is LegalZoom worth it? Well, it depends on your priorities.

LegalZoom makes sense if you:

• Are willing to pay a bit extra for convenience
• Prefer having customer support available when you get stuck
• Need multiple legal services and like the idea of one-stop shopping
• Value the peace of mind that comes with using an established company

Look elsewhere if you:

• Are on a budget and don't mind doing the research yourself
• Have a complex legal situation that needs a personal touch
• Get easily frustrated by sales tactics and upselling
• Only need one simple service (like just forming an LLC)

Money-saving tips if you choose LegalZoom:

• Stick to the basic package and only add what you genuinely need
• Get the EIN from the IRS yourself for free, don’t pay a fee for LegalZoom to do it
• Compare their registered agent fees with standalone services
• Weigh the cost against combining local attorney fees and filing with the state yourself before you commit

LegalZoom is a legitimate company. For routine legal tasks, it can save you a lot of time and money. They're not perfect, but they can help out people who need support and guidance through stuff like writing a will or setting up a company. For more complicated stuff, we recommend going down the traditional route.

Go in with realistic expectations and a clear idea of what you need and you won’t be disappointed. Don't let them talk you into services you don't need, that way you’ll probably be happier with the experience. Good luck solving your legal issues and remember – when in doubt, have a lawyer look at your case.