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Risks of Using Free Legal Forms or Online Contract Templates


Here in Canada, legal fees can range from hundreds of dollars to thousands, depending on your needs.

As a result, you might be tempted to save money by using online templates instead of contacting a lawyer in Eglinton. After all, why pay for something you can get for free?

Unfortunately, the money you save on legal fees may be nothing compared to the costs associated with a poorly written contract! If you're considering a DIY online template instead of working with a law firm in Eglinton, here are a few major risks you should know about.


Not Knowing Your Rights

You don't know what you don't know, and not knowing your rights can be dangerous in the legal world. Whether you're creating business contracts or avoiding copyright infringement, it's important to understand how to protect your interests.

Online contracts may protect you from many things, but they won't always offer the right cushioning for your specific situation. This can put you at a distinct disadvantage if unforeseen issues come up.


Not Using a Lawyer in Eglinton for the Fine Print

It's one thing to understand the basic overview of a template or online resource, but that's not enough to create an airtight contract.

The fine print in contracts may seem trivial, but it's important to get the legal language right with no room for loopholes. Lawyers can help you hone your contract and get the phrasing correct every time, no matter what document you need.


Making Expensive Mistakes

Errors in legal forms are most likely to happen when you're filling the form out, but they may even be present from the start. The document's creator may not be well-versed in the contract you need, for example, or they may be using legal standards from a different region. You may be using the wrong template, or you may have grabbed a template that's too generic for the contract you're trying to create.

Even small errors can become costly fast. Down the line, you may struggle to enforce a contract with poor wording or open yourself up to a lawsuit because of a simple mistake. Depending on how you're using the contract, these errors could cost you thousands or more.


Taking Arbitration Off the Table

The best legal documents help you create several solutions for issues that arise. Unfortunately, many free forms only consider the best-known solution: litigation. During a contract dispute, this can prevent you from using simpler, less expensive methods like arbitration.


Contact Our Law Firm in Eglinton

The bottom line is that free online documents cannot replace legal counsel. Only years of experience can help a law firm in Eglinton cover every eventuality.

Picov & Kleinberg has been offering a range of legal solutions to clients in the GTA since 1978. Whether you need a lawyer in Eglinton for a new contract or you'd like us to help polish a document you've started with a free template, we're here to help. Contact us today for assistance with your legal documentation.


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