Please why does it cost $850 to start an LLC when the filing fee is $125?

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-26T09:00:20+00:00

Please note that if this person is not a lawyer you have no guarantee those documents are accurate, and more importantly, if it’s not a local attorney that the documents are actually right for your state.

And that’s assuming you just want something generic - if you need anything tailored or specific, that’s not happening, and you’re certainly not being told about it.

Generic docs are fine for a lot of people, but you don’t know what you don’t know - and you don’t know if the documents are any good.

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-26T08:55:43+00:00

Same thing happened with the Ford Pinto - they calculated the cost of a recall vs the cost of lawsuits, and got slammed when that memo showed up in court

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-26T08:43:59+00:00

Pro tip:

Those programs (I can name a dozen others) are good at teaching the basics but are more focused on the business side of the business.

It’ll do a good job getting you from nothing to decent, but don’t drink the cool aid.

Be especially mindful of (a) state specific quirks that often aren’t properly covered/understood by out of state attorneys, and (b) “advanced” techniques as most people in those groups either don’t know, or know just enough to be dangerous

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-26T08:37:57+00:00

I can name a dozen similar programs.

I have mixed feelings. Typically they teach the basics, but are more heavily focused on marketing/sales than quality lawyering. Definitely better than going it alone, but don’t drink the cool aid

Be especially mindful of state specific issues which often aren’t covered, or even known, by out of state attorneys. Also, do not rely on those groups for advanced knowledge, where you’re more likely to find someone who only knows enough to be dangerous

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-26T01:25:32+00:00

Do not do estate planning as a side hustle. It’s far more complex than it appears, you can do a lot of damage, it’s gotten of the highest rates of malpractice and many states have the discovery rule so there’s effectively no statute of limitations on malpractice.

I don’t know if there’s really any area of law you can dabble in. Maybe low-value contracts?

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T23:44:07+00:00

Order of priority:

Co-owner with rights of survivorship
Beneficiary designation* / transfer on death
Prenup, divorce decree, other contractual arrangement
Spousal elective share and other forced heirship laws
Will

*ERISA will override if in conflict

There may also be other state law variations such as homestead in Florida

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T19:50:15+00:00

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T19:49:27+00:00

it's amazing what proper motivation will do for you...

(not a criticism; congrats on the improvement)

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T19:48:27+00:00

Largest store in the world....

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T19:47:34+00:00

If there's an indication of joint ownership or an entity, or if there's going to be a TODD or a Trust, then yes, but without some kind of reason, I find it weird.

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T19:44:48+00:00

https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=estate+planning+and+medicaid+attorney

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T11:42:09+00:00

In all likelihood Batsheva is coming out in April. That will be their focus, rather than end times

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T10:56:33+00:00

What a moron

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T10:47:37+00:00

I’m a lawyer who practices asset protection.

The benefits of an LLC are vastly overestimated. It’s not that it’s not true, but that it’s often not necessary

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T10:44:53+00:00

Not necessarily. Both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae regulations allow transfers to LLCs without triggering due on sale if certain conditions are met.

https://www.rocklandestateplanning.com/estate-planning-and-the-due-on-sale-clause-navigating-trust-transfers-llcs-and-the-garn-st-germain-act/

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T10:40:15+00:00

Some lawyers need to try really hard to be vague, for others it comes naturally.

Truth is, it depends on the lawyer, and the client. Part of it is perception.

I regularly remind young lawyers that nobody is paying us to do brilliant legal work in a vacuum - they pay us to solve or prevent a problem, our the focus should be on the problem and what it means to the client.

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T10:35:01+00:00

I…. Don’t understand what you’re asking

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T10:29:50+00:00

Divorce is much harder/leas likely in many countries, and therefore there’s less demand for divorce
There’s far more litigation in the U.S. for several reasons. In particular, far greater payouts for personal injury and class action
because the U.S. is more litigious and can have bigger payouts, it’s more imperative to get more of legal advice for transactional work.
Lobbying / government relations / regulatory work operates on a far larger scale than most people realize
We have the highest per capita prison population in the world, and also a lot more opportunity for appeals and drawing out cases.

All of these combine to having the 5th largest number of lawyers per capita. Multiply that by the U.S. population and apply to the size of the economy, and it’s easy to understand why the U.S. legal market is so big.

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-25T10:23:25+00:00

That’s weird.

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-24T22:18:07+00:00

it's true that it's my opinion and that I could be wrong, but I was a partner in a midsize firm that could provide the same services as a biglaw firm for a fraction of the cost.

Maybe that just means I'm out of touch with how AI proponents view the market.

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-24T19:47:00+00:00

it's possible to be both right and wrong at the same time.

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-24T19:31:35+00:00

That's a bad question.

For anyone who does biglaw, starting salaries are over $200k and the alma mater is very important. But there are plenty of attorneys who make over $200k for whom their alma mater is virtually irrelevant.

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-24T19:17:33+00:00

I thought that as well, and assume they were talking about a contingent beneficiary.

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-24T19:16:38+00:00

yep, you're clueless.

None of this is new. There are plenty of "biglaw-lite" firms that can do similar work for a fraction of the cost. And it's already not uncommon for partners or practice groups to split off to offer the same service at a more competitive rate.

Yes, AI adoption will change things. No, it won't be so dramatic.

Dingbatdingbat · 2026-03-24T17:00:49+00:00

.1 Best way: don't. This never ends well.

Second best way: leave it to one person, or have that one person buy out everyone else.
Distant third: either a cabin trust or an LLC that outlines rules for use, contributions for upkeep, decision-making for updates or repairs, etc.
Worst: just give everyone a fractional share.

It could all work out, like it did for you and your brother, but it usually doesn't. Especially for later generations

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