Legal services form the foundation of a functioning society by ensuring proper justice and representation. For instance, the United States legal services sector was valued at approximately USD 820 billion in 2025 and is projected to keep rising in the coming years, potentially reaching USD 1.03 trillion by 2030. This growth highlights the increasing importance of legal services in the modern world.
One of the most important elements in the legal process is document preparation. Legal documents contain the specific components and details of the case that help attorneys, clients, and courts understand matter clearly. They are the building blocks of cases, contracts, and compliance, but what goes into their creation?
This guide offers clear and practical tips on using legal document preparation services and how they can help you practice law more efficiently. We’ll cover:
- What legal document preparation is
- Who is qualified to prepare legal documents
- A complete list of commonly prepared legal documents
- Benefits of using document preparation services
- Examples of best practices for working with a document preparer
- Risk of using poor-quality services
Defining Legal Document Preparation
Legal document preparation is the drafting, handling, and processing of paperwork required for legal proceedings or transactions. It involves organizing and filing legal documents to ensure they are clear and compliant for use. While it does not constitute legal advice, it focuses on the technical aspects of creating legally compliant paperwork.
Who Prepares Legal Documents?
You don’t need to be an attorney to prepare legal documents. Anyone can prepare legal documents but you want to draft legally sound contracts, and here are the trained professionals that can handle it:
- Attorneys: Lawyers often prepare documents as part of their legal services. They are the most well-versed in understanding your situation and applying the law to ensure the documents meet your needs.
- Legal Document Preparers: Also called legal document assistants, these professionals focus exclusively on document preparation. They are certified individuals trained to handle legal paperwork.
- Paralegals: Working under the supervision of attorneys, paralegals often manage much of the document preparation within law firms.
- Legal Process Outsourcing (LPO) Providers: Companies like Remote Attorneys connect legal professionals who specialize in preparing legal documents with law firms and legal departments.
- DIY Options: While you can prepare some legal documents yourself using online templates, this approach carries risks if you lack a proper understanding of legal requirements.
Types of Legal Document Preparation Services
Preparing legal documents spans numerous practice areas and document types. Document preparers often specialize in specific categories, sometimes focusing exclusively on one document type. Understanding these categories can help you identify which services you might need.
Here's a breakdown of the complete list of legal document types commonly prepared:
Why Legal Document Preparation Services Important?
Time is your most valuable resource. Using document preparation services provide several key benefits:
Avoid and Prevent Errors
Legal paper work has little room for error, even one mistake can cause serious delays or even get your document rejected. Professional preparers know what to look for and help you catch errors before they become issues.
Save Time
If you’re unfamiliar with legal forms, they can take hours or even days to figure out. Document preparers handle these kinds of tasks every day and can complete them much faster than someone unfamiliar with the process.
Cost Effectiveness
Hiring a lawyer can be expensive, especially if all you need is a properly filled-out document. Document preparation services offer a more affordable way to get help from professionals with the same level of expertise without paying high legal fees.
Peace of Mind
Legal forms can be confusing and overwhelming. Using legal document preparation services, you don’t have to worry about what goes where and you’ll know your documents are handled professionally.
Compliance Assurance
Laws and requirements change all the time, and they’re not always easy to keep track of. Document preparers stay updated with current regulations to ensure your documents are legally binding and complies with latest standards.
Best Practices for Using Legal Document Preparation Services
Be Clear About What You Need
Gather all necessary details before you start. This typically includes personal identification, case information, financial records, and any documents related to your matter. Being prepared helps speed up the process, prevents errors, and often reduces costs.
Choose the Right Service Provider
Research potential providers thoroughly. Look for relevant certifications, experience, and positive client reviews. For specific legal issues, choose someone who specializes in that area of law.
Share All Relevant Information
Being transparent is essential. Don’t hold back details because even small things you think might be irrelevant can affect your documents. Everything you share is kept confidential, so being open helps ensure accuracy.
Understand the Scope and Limitations
Know exactly what's included in the service you're purchasing and recognize when you might need additional legal counsel. Some services only create the documents, while others include filing assistance, notarization, or consultation. Keep in mind that document preparers cannot provide legal advice.
Review Documents
Double-check everything before signing or filing. Even with professional help, you remain responsible for your legal documents. If something doesn't make sense or seems off, ask questions until you're confident in the final document.
Maintain Organized Records
Keep organized records of all your legal documents, including drafts and final versions. Save both physical and digital copies in secure but accessible locations. Follow filing instructions carefully—many documents have specific requirements, deadlines, and fees.
Prepare for Future Updates
Legal documents often need updates as circumstances change. Ask your provider about the process and cost for future modifications. Look for services that offer client portals, e-signature options, and digital document storage to make updates easier.
Downside of Poor Document Preparation Services
Saving a few dollars or rushing through legal paperwork might seem harmless at first. But cutting corners when it comes to document preparation can lead to more serious consequences than it’s worth.
Here are a few things that can happen:
- The case might get delayed. Courts don’t accept incomplete or incorrect documents. If something’s off, you could end up starting over.
- You could spend more than you save. Fixing mistakes and refiling documents usually costs more than doing it right the first time.
- You risk getting a worse outcome. Missing details or errors can hurt your case and sometimes in ways that can't be undone.
- You could face legal or financial consequences. A poorly written document could leave you open to liability or fail to protect your interests.
- It’s just plain stressful. Dealing with rejected paperwork, confusion, or missed deadlines adds unnecessary frustration to an already tough situation.
So, while it might be tempting to go the “quick and cheap” route, the safer choice is investing in help from someone who knows what they’re doing.
FAQs for Document Preparation
How do you become a certified legal document preparer?
Becoming a certified legal document preparer depends on your state, but most require a mix of education and experience. Typically, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, completion of an approved training program, and 1–2 years of legal experience. Many states also require passing a certification exam. Once certified, you must register with the appropriate state agency and pay any required fees.
Why do law firms outsource document preparation?
Outsourcing saves time, cuts expenses, and allows attorneys to focus on billable legal work. It’s especially useful during high-volume periods or when a firm wants to scale without hiring additional in-house staff.
Is a legal document preparer the same as a paralegal?
No. A legal document preparer focuses solely on preparing legal documents and often works independently. A paralegal, on the other hand, works under the supervision of an attorney and may assist with a wider range of legal tasks.
Work with Remote Attorneys
Remote Attorneys is a trusted legal document service provider that has helped thousands of law firms nationwide. We build legal support teams that deliver high-quality legal documents, helping you make informed decisions. Our services are designed to speed up the process and prevent costly errors. Contact us today and experience professionally prepared legal documents.
