LawDepot: An Established Legal DIY Resource
LawDepot is a long-standing legal document resource for individuals and small businesses. Founded in 2001, LawDepot provides a wide range of customizable legal forms and contracts to enable users to create legal documents on their own.
To get started, you simply select the type of document you need, such as a will, lease agreement, bill of sale, or employment contract. You are then guided through a step-by-step process to enter key details and customize the document to suit your specific needs. It is not a drag and drop affair so it is a little bit cumbersome at times, but it generally gets the job done.
LawDepot’s forms are legally valid in all 50 states and operates on a freemium model, offering basic documents at no cost, while more complex and state-specific forms require a paid subscription. They offer over 275 documents covering personal and business needs. Some of the most popular forms include:
- Last will and testament: Create a legally-binding will to distribute your assets according to your final wishes.
- Residential lease agreement: Generate a comprehensive lease contract for renting out a property.
- Non-disclosure agreement: Draft an NDA to protect confidential business information.
- Employment contract: Make a formal job offer and define the terms of employment for a new hire.
- Bill of sale: Record the sale of valuable items like vehicles, equipment, firearms, and more.
While LawDepot does have a relatively easy-to-use DIY approach, the step by step process can be a but tiring, but documents still remain quite comprehensive and legally sound. However, if you need any real legal binding tasks like Notarization, you will need a different platform. For more complex contracts or if you need additional legal advice, you may still want to consider consulting an attorney. However, for many straightforward legal documents, LawDepot can be an affordable and convenient solution.
BlueNotary: The New Kid on the Block for Legal Tech
BlueNotary is a relatively new player in the legal tech space, but is making waves with its innovative approach. Founded in early 2022, BlueNotary aims to streamline the notarization process through an easy-to-use digital platform.
Some of the standout features of BlueNotary include:
- Online notarization. BlueNotary allows you to get documents notarized entirely online. No more driving to a physical notary office and waiting in line. Simply upload your documents, verify your identity, and have them legally notarized within minutes.
- eSignature integration. BlueNotary already rivals the most popular eSignature service providers, only its much more affordable for the average user. You can have your documents electronically signed and notarized in one step. This saves valuable time and hassle.
- Compliant and secure. BlueNotary ensures compliance with notarization laws in all 50 states. All notarizations are conducted by licensed notaries and all data is encrypted to the highest security standards. MISMO approved and SOC2 verified.
- Cost effective. BlueNotary’s digital platform reduces overhead costs, allowing them to offer basic notarization services at a lower price point than traditional notary offices. Pricing starts at just $25 per document.
While still relatively new, BlueNotary shows a lot of promise for those looking for a fast, affordable and fully digital notarization and eSignature solution. This is not to mention the growing document template library. BlueNotary’s drag & drop capabilities make filling out any document simple and intuitive.
For busy professionals and businesses, BlueNotary could save hours of time and frustration. As they continue improving their technology and expanding their services, BlueNotary may emerge as a leader in legal tech enablement.
Comparing LawDepot and BlueNotary: Which One Is Right for Your Needs?
When determining which legal document service best suits your needs, it is important to consider several key factors. LawDepot and BlueNotary are two of the most popular options, but differ in functionality, customizability, and pricing.
Functionality
LawDepot offers a wider range of legal documents, including contracts, wills, leases, and business forms. In contrast, BlueNotary has a smaller but growing library of legal docs. The also focus especiallya on notarized documents like powers of attorneys and affidavits. Both services provide state-specific documents to ensure compliance with local laws.
Tutorials
BlueNotary also offers full tutorials for notaries and signers looking for how to best fill out documents. These video demos make it simple and easy to make sure documents are being filled out accurately and correctly. These can all be found in the BlueNotary YouTube channel or in their “Handle any Document” Course.
Customizability
If you require an extremely large library of templates for customized documents, LawDepot may be preferable. It allows you to edit templates to a pretty high degree, usually enough to meet your unique needs. If you need full customization and easy drag and drop functionality, BlueNotary’s documents have more have more open options for customization. For simple or standard documents, BlueNotary’s streamlined interface may save you time.
If you need notarization and eSignature, then BlueNotary is really only the option for you amongst the two. This is going to be a must for any serious law firm or business working at modicum of scale.
Pricing
LawDepot operates on a freemium model, with basic documents available at no cost. More complex documents and state-specific forms require a paid subscription. BlueNotary charges a flat fee for each document to be notarized (just as traditional notarization requires). While LawDepot’s subscription model may seem more affordable, you’re really not getting the same functionality, BlueNotary will save you and your customers money by eliminating driving time required for traditional notarization.
In summary, if you need an extremely wide range of customizable legal documents, LawDepot is likely the an apt choice for just a little while longer as BlueNotary grows their library. For basic or notarized documents, BlueNotary offers the premier affordable solution. By evaluating how often you anticipate using these services and the level of complexity your documents require, you can determine which platform is the ideal fit for your needs.
