A document preparer, who is not a lawyer, prepares legal documents for signatures by those who are involved in the documents. A document preparer is typically used when one or more people need official paperwork prepared, such as a commercial agreement, living will, or other legal document, without having to hire a lawyer. These services are frequently less expensive than hiring a lawyer, and they are usually provided by a group of people who have been certified by the country, state, or region in which they work.
Because of the nature of many countries’ laws, legal documents are frequently written in ways that are confusing or unnecessarily complicated when viewed by non-lawyers. These are frequently written to be as specific as possible in order to reduce the chances of others breaking the documents or finding loopholes or litigious opportunities within them. To prevent these types of legal document and agreement abuses, laws are frequently enacted to specify what must be included in these documents.
A document preparer is typically hired to comply with the requirements of these potentially complex laws by preparing legal documents for others at a fraction of the cost of hiring a lawyer. Most countries have specific regulations governing who can work as a document preparer, and these regulations may vary by region. In the United States, for example, a document preparer may be required to obtain certification in order to prepare documents for residents or businesses in that state.
This enables large corporations to hire a number of certified document preparers for each state and provide the services required. However, in California, certification must be obtained within each individual county, so larger document preparation companies are frequently unable to assist California residents. Different requirements will apply to those who are permitted to prepare documents in other areas and countries.
Private individuals who cannot afford the fees of a lawyer but need a legal document prepared for them frequently use a document preparer. Forms such as a last will and testament, a living will, business-employee agreements, and incorporation, partnership, and lease agreements are common examples. The customer supplies the necessary personal information, which is then used by certified preparers to create the necessary forms, which can then be signed to create a legally binding document.