LegalZoom is a well-known provider of online legal services, but their online divorce services are a work in progress. Find out why LegalZoom isn't our top pick for online divorce, and other more affordable options to consider.
LegalZoom is the industry leader in providing online legal services, so it comes as no surprise that they are equipped to help with your divorce.
Despite its strong reputation, LegalZoom is not our top pick for online divorce. In fact, it’s not even an honorable mention.
At $499, there are better, cheaper options to consider.
Spoiler Alert: After extensive testing, I recommend 3StepDivorce as the best online divorce platform. You can read the full review here. Or go to 3StepDivorce now to get started for only $84.
In this guide, I’ll share a complete rundown of everything you need to know about LegalZoom for divorce. Let’s dive in.
LegalZoom launched in 2001 and is considered one of the original players in the online legal forms arena. They are a well-known umbrella provider of online legal services for businesses and individuals.
More than four million people have used LegalZoom in the past 20 years, and rightfully so.
LegalZoom has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
As a company, they are reliable and well-established. Over 4 million people have used their services since 2001.
The LegalZoom website is always up-to-date and simple to navigate.
One great feature of the LegalZoom online service is that they offer a 100% money-back guarantee. This can help ease the pain of the hefty up-front fee.
LegalZoom aims to be a one-stop-shop for all legal assistance, spanning from document preparation to 1-on-1 consultations with actual lawyers in your state.
Now, LegalZoom has expanded its offerings by including divorce services and legal assistance. Their website has an extensive library of resources and direct access to customer support.
Let’s make one thing clear – if you’re going through a contested divorce, then a DIY platform such as LegalZoom will not be the right approach for you. This is better suited for those navigating an amicable divorce.
DIY divorce platforms, including LegalZoom, are most suitable for uncontested divorces. Simply put, an uncontested divorce is one in which you and your spouse have already agreed on important issues (child support, spousal support, property division, etc).
Only in an uncontested divorce will the LegalZoom process be helpful and somewhat efficient (but remember, it’s not cheap!)
Legal Zoom divorce uses a simple step-by-step and streamlined process to help customers create divorce forms and divorce papers that can be filed with the court.
To start, you must select your specific State.
Then, create an account and provide basic information, such as:
Payment is required up-front.
Then, you’ll be given access to your completed set of documents, including a separation agreement and/or marital settlement agreement. These documents will be readily accessible for you. If you get stuck along the way, their customer support department is easy to reach.
Once you are happy with the resulting paperwork, you can print, sign, and date the forms. These are the same forms that you will file with the court.
LegalZoom divorce is a premium-cost option, without the premium services.
You’ll need to pay a $499 fee just to access your documents after completing the questionnaire.
If you’re looking for a cheaper online divorce website, and a more all-inclusive option check out 3 Step Divorce.
Note that LegalZoom does not include the cost of filing in their flat fee of $499. The filing fee and recording come at an additional cost. These legal fees can range from $100 to $400 or more, depending on where you live.
LegalZoom’s prepaid legal services are moderately priced and can be a great add-on if you have several legal matters to address.
This plan offers unlimited 30-minute consultations on new legal matters for one low monthly fee starting as low as $10 per month.
LegalZoom is relatively new in the online divorce space, and as a result, it is hard to find quality reviews that address their online divorce services specifically.
As a whole, many people praise LegalZoom for getting them the information they need quickly. Customers also appreciate their expanded menu of legal offerings.
On the flip side, critics cite the fact that you need to sign up for a six- or twelve-month plan for legal services, so it’s not a good option if this is a one-off situation.
Keep in mind, LegalZoom is a new player in the world of online divorce websites, so their sample size of satisfied customers is negligible.
LegalZoom is most suitable for customers that are facing an Uncontested divorce process. Customers facing a contested divorce should steer clear of DIY online divorce as a whole.
Despite LegalZoom’s ability to service customers facing uncontested divorce, their process doesn’t compare to cheaper and more efficient alternatives.
LegalZoom doesn’t measure up to my top pick. That award goes to 3StepDivorce.
Here’s why I recommend 3StepDivorce over all other services:
Just check out their reviews on Trustpilot.
Perhaps most importantly, 92% of all reviews are 4-star or 5-star reviews. Add all these things together and it’s easy to see why I recommend 3StepDivorce.
For a complete comparison, check out our review of the best online divorce services here.
The company offers a satisfaction guarantee and uses the most up-to-date versions of forms used in various court jurisdictions. You should have no problems as long as you have been truthful and complete when answering questions related to your divorce.
Priced at $499, it’s not the cheapest service, by far. However, it does offer some added benefits you may need or want to access. If you have many other legal issues you’re going to be dealing with, it might make sense to place all of those services under one company, for convenience’s sake. The company does deliver what it says it will deliver and is backed by 4 million users over 20 years, so it’s not likely this service, while not for everybody, is also not a rip-off.
Each state has specific residency requirements you must meet before you can get divorced. If you have moved around a lot, or recently, check the individual requirements for your state in LegalZoom’s directory, and then proceed accordingly.
Yes. LegalZoom provides for the option if children are a part of the divorce.
Yes. One of the limitations is that you are only allowed 30-minute consultations with attorneys. If your legal issue requires more in-depth work, you will need to contract separately with either that attorney or another to complete your legal action.
LegalZoom provides detailed signing and filing instructions to remove all questions customers might have in this regard.
Call or Facetime LegalZoom at 1-888-203-7652.
Customer phone support is available Monday through Friday, from 5 am to 7 pm, and Saturday, from 7 am to 4 pm.
You can send an email here.
Using an online divorce service can be a great way to save time and money compared to a traditional litigated divorce.
At $499, LegalZoom simply isn’t priced competitively. There are plenty of better options that won’t hurt your wallet.
When it comes to online divorce platforms, 3StepDivorce stands out from the crowd when it comes to ease of use, cost, and extensive free tools.
Bret is a journalist with a passion for writing about all things divorce. His areas of expertise include real estate, insurance, and government programs, just to name a few. In the process of ending a long-term marriage, Bret brings a first-person perspective to the trials and tribulations of divorce, co-parenting, and relaunching.
