Here's the text of the September 16, 2010, press release from the Washington Secretary of State:

Washington Attorney General zooms in on LegalZoom’s claims

DIY legal forms aren’t a substitute for an attorney

SEATTLE – If you’ve watched cable TV, you’ve likely seen celebrity attorney Robert Shapiro tout his company, LegalZoom, as a way to start businesses, patent inventions and create wills. “We put the law on your side,” he says.

But the Washington Attorney General’s Office wants to be sure consumers aren’t misled by LegalZoom’s cost-saving claims.

“LegalZoom offers do-it-yourself legal documents online but can’t provide you with legal advice or tell you which forms to fill out,” Attorney General Rob McKenna said.

Under a settlement with the Attorney General’s Office, LegalZoom can’t compare its costs to attorneys’ fees unless the company clearly discloses that its service isn’t a substitute for a law firm.

Simply selling legal forms doesn’t constitute the practice of law. LegalZoom can only provide an online form service that allows consumers to choose and complete their own legal documents, explained Consumer Protection Division Chief Doug Walsh.

The agreement filed today in Thurston County Superior Court also prohibits LegalZoom from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law, selling personal information obtained from Washington customers or misrepresenting the benefits of any estate distribution document.

Additionally, the agreement requires LegalZoom to ensure any forms sold to Washington consumers comply with local laws. Walsh said the Attorney General’s Office was concerned LegalZoom’s estate planning documents weren’t sufficient for all Washington state residents. […]

New York Times:  “THE federal estate tax is scheduled to rise from the ashes on Jan. 1, and a lot more families may feel its bite unless Congress changes current law. . . . Fortunately, a number of strategies are available, and not all of them involve depleting your resources.”

New York Times:  “I drafted my will four times this week — not because I was obsessed with the macabre, but because I wanted to test how computer-generated wills would fare under human scrutiny. . . . But even though they seemed easy to draft, I still needed a lawyer to help decode some seemingly standard clauses and their consequences in my home state of New York.”

The authors of “Trust Decanting:  An Overview and Introduction to Creative Planning Opportunities” summary of their article states, “Since New York enacted the first ‘trust decanting' statute in 1992, nine other states likewise have provided trustees authority to ‘decant' the property of one trust into another trust.  In this Article, the authors provide an overview of the techniques involved with the decanting process and the opportunities these statutes provide trustees.”

Business & Finance:  “More Than 70% of Americans Die Without Leaving Behind a Will.  10 Most Common Questions Families Ask About Estate Planning, Wills, and Trusts.”

Studies show that more than 70% of American adults do not have a will that disposes of their property after death.  One of the primary reasons is procrastination.  A lot of people want a will, but put off getting it on the theory that their inevitable death will be later rather than sooner.  Another reason people do not create a will is because of they fear that having a will some how hastens death.

Forbes:  “A will is one of the most important financial planning documents, especially as you move toward retirement. Yet an astonishing number of people of all ages still don't have one. . . . Why am I strenuously opposed to do-it-yourself wills?  There are just so many things that can go wrong–from the wording of the document, to the required formalities for how it must be signed and witnessed before it can be valid.”

Wealth Strategies:  “Many family business owners struggle with business succession planning because they cannot envision a suitable way to divide their ownership and control among a diverse group of beneficiaries, some of whom are active in the business and some of whom are not. However, by recognizing that ownership and control actually consist of four separate component levels that can be divided differently among the beneficiaries, a family business owner can more easily conceive of a succession plan that rationally assigns leadership and management powers while equitably allocating the economic benefits of the business.”

Forbes:  “Congress seems likely to clamp down on this wealth transfer technique. Here's how you can still use GRATs [grantor retained annuity trust]. . . . Here’s how a GRAT works“

Forbes:  “For those who dare to think ahead, today's down market and low interest rates offer great tax saving opportunities.”

Calgary Sun:  “the expenses involved in setting up a trust will probably be worthwhile for anyone with an estate worth more than $150,000.”

Forbes:  “Any Momma who would ride the rails . . . probably isn’t worth shoving to a grisly demise.  It’s the Mommas flying on their private jets who need to pack parachutes or watch their backs. Without a doubt, the one- year lapse in the federal estate is a boon to heirs of the superrich. . . . But for ordinary families, it is creating all sorts of grief and unintended consequences and might even cost some of them extra federal tax, to say nothing of lawyers’ bills.”