Common Legal Forms Online

This article should not be construed as legal advice.

Divorce

No-fault, uncontested divorce forms are among the most commonly sought legal forms on the Internet. Free legal divorce forms can be obtained online, but take care to download or print divorce documents that are valid in your state as sufficient grounds for a no-fault divorce vary across the country. Some divorce agreements will also require specialized legal divorce forms, such as cases where minor children are involved.

Lease

A lease or lease agreement is another common legal form online. Again, applicable laws will vary from state to state, so do all appropriate research before signing or drawing up a lease. Free lease forms online tend to be very basic, so it's probably best to use one as a template and add in further conditions related to property, liability, etc.

Living will

Elderly persons or those planning for the case of a medical emergency can readily find living will legal forms online. In such cases, attention should be paid to the age and wording of the document. If you are filling out a living will on your own because you do not have or cannot afford a lawyer, we recommend seeking free legal advice online or speaking with your physician before signing. A particular signing procedure will need to be followed in each state for a living will to be legally binding, i.e. witnesses, notary, etc.

Receipts

Receipts for various monetary agreements are also legal forms that can be found at no cost online. Common examples include a rent receipt or receipt for non-refundable deposit. Make sure that any receipt given to you in exchange for payment has been legibly signed and dated by the seller or landlord, with notation of the amount received and the service or product rendered in consequence.

Free legal forms & legal self help

Of the numerous benefits provided by the Internet, one that has received relatively little attention is legal self help. Along with access to free online legal forms, the availability of pro bono (meaning free or "for the public good") legal advice has helped many people in difficult situations who cannot afford legal representation. Here are some of the resources online for free legal forms and legal self help.

Self help directory

Located at www.ncsconline.org/WC/Publications/ProSe/contents.htm, this page contains a state-by-state directory of court-based self help programs. Only 25 states are listed, but those that are provide detailed information about the type of court program available and contact information (website, email, and/or phone) for getting help in representing yourself.

The site that hosts the directory, www.ncsconline.org, is the home page for the National Center for State Courts. The NCSC site offers links to free legal forms and state court forms. Further links for all 50 states can be found there at www.ncsconline.org/wc/CourTopics/statelinks.asp?id=108&topic=ProSe.

LawHelp.org

LawHelp.org is an excellent resource for free online legal forms and referrals to free legal aid. Their state-by-state listings break legal topics down into categories such as health, work, disability, and immigration. Information is provided for civil legal aid and lawyer referral services.

LSC legal aid programs

For further free legal aid referral, programs funded by the Legal Service Corporation can be found at www.rin.lsc.gov/scripts/LSC/PD/PDList7.asp. Searches are by state and county, and contact information is provided for available legal services programs.

State court forms

An excellent resource for free online legal forms is often the state court website. An Internet search for state court forms and your state should bring up the appropriate site. Free legal forms are accessible via PDF files for all court-related matters in both civil and criminal cases.

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