Uncontested Divorce – Compare Online Divorce PRO to Divorce Mills
The table below compares Online Divorce PRO service through a California licensed and bonded Legal Document Assistant in your town to the service provided by unlicensed, unregulated online divorce mills out-of-state or in India. Consider the differences carefully in your California uncontested divorce below before making your hiring decision.
| FEATURES | Unlicensed Unregulated Online Divorce Mill | Local California-Licensed Legal Document Assistant |
|---|---|---|
| Approximate Cost: | Most Charge $300-$950; Others Claim $139-$169 is the Total Price But Have Many Hidden Fees, such as a $125 "Expedite" fee (or you have to wait 10-12 days to get your docs) or a $199 "Premium Package" Fee; Constant Up-Selling | $400-$800; Each LDA Independently Owned and Operated; Compare Terms; With California-licensed LDA's, you will always know your cost. |
| Education: | Unknown - None Required | High School Diploma Plus 2 Years Supervision by a Licensed Lawyer or College Degree and 1 Year of Supervision by a Licensed Lawyer |
| Professional Qualifications: | None Required | As Above or a Certificate of Completion from a Paralegal Program |
| Professional Association: | None | California Association of Legal Document Assistants |
| Code of Ethics: | None | California Association of Legal Document Assistants Code of Ethics |
| Licensing: | None | County Licensing and Bonding |
| Continuing Legal Education: | None | Mandatory Continuing Legal Education |
| Location: | Almost Always in Another State or India | Your Home Town |
| Accountability: | None UNLESS they are located in your state; Maybe Through THEIR Local District Attorney or State Attorney General for Blatant Consumer Fraud, but Very Difficult For You to Pursue; Also, No DA's in India; If Things Go Wrong, You're On Your Own | Huge Accountability Through YOUR County Clerk's Office |
| Local Knowledge of Laws, Rules of Court and Local Court Policies: | Unknown; High Risk; Hit or Miss; Low-Quality Training; High Turnover of Untrained Low-level Staff | Professional-Level Knowledge of Your State's Laws and Your County's Rules of Court and Local Court Policies |
| Wicked Cool Online Divorce Software: | Yes | Yes |
| Prepares ALL of Your Legal Docs: | No - State Forms Only - No Local County Forms - Every Case Has Local County Forms | Yes |
| Legally Able To Provide Legal Advice: | No | No |
| Performs An Analysis of Your Legal and Economic Rights in Your Case: | No | No |
| Responsive Client Support - Returns Calls and Emails Promptly: | Generally No; Low-Quality or No Customer Support; No Reason To Provide Quality Support; High Turnover of Low-Quality Untrained Staff; You're On Your Own | Yes - Strongly Enforced Code of Ethics |
| Available to Meet: | Never | Yes - Subject to Appointment |
| Flat Fee: | Always Claimed, but Often There is Rampant Up-Selling of Undisclosed "Expedited" Service Or Other Add-ons | Yes; ALL Fees Must Be Disclosed In Advance And Agreed By You in Writing |
| Scalable Services: | No - If You Need Legal Advice or Additional Legal Services Such As Mediation or a QDRO, or If Your Case Blows Up, They Will Up-Sell You To a Local Lawyer Who Has Subscribed Your Zip Code and Pays for the Referral; In Other Words, the Divorce Mill Gets Paid TWICE if a Problem Arises in Your Case. Think About That! | Fully Scalable - Many LDA's Work With and Refer to Local Lawyers; Many LDA's Also Provide Additional Family Law Services |