As the owners of a licensed legal document preparation company in Florida, we get this question constantly. The distinction matters — legally and practically — and most people don’t understand it until they need to.
An attorney is licensed to practice law: give legal advice, represent clients in court, negotiate on a client’s behalf, and apply legal strategy to a specific situation. A legal document preparer prepares legal documents based on information provided by the client — without providing legal advice.
| What We Do | What We Don’t Do |
|---|---|
| Prepare court-ready legal documents | Give legal advice about your rights |
| Explain what information is needed on forms | Tell you whether your settlement agreement is fair |
| Provide county-specific filing instructions | Represent you in any court proceeding |
| Complete state-specific forms accurately | Negotiate with your spouse on your behalf |
| Identify which forms your case requires | Advise on legal strategy |
Attorney fees for basic legal processes — uncontested divorce, simple will, basic LLC formation — have become unaffordable for many Americans. A paralegal-assisted uncontested divorce at a law firm typically costs $2,000–$5,000. An online document service costs $199. The legal work being performed — generating correctly completed court forms — is essentially the same.
California has the most formalized regulation — Legal Document Assistants must be registered and bonded. Florida licenses Legal Document Preparers through the state. At Noble Notary, both Grace and Mark Sias are licensed document preparers operating under Florida’s regulatory framework, serving clients across all 67 Florida counties.
Document preparers are appropriate for uncontested, agreed-upon legal matters. You need an attorney when: you have unresolved legal disputes requiring advocacy; you’re unsure of your legal rights; you’re facing litigation or a contested hearing; or the matter involves domestic violence.
Noble Notary prepares divorce documents for Florida clients directly. For all other states, we recommend OnlineDivorce.com for nationwide clients.
Check My Eligibility →$199 document prep · $39.99/mo after 30 days, cancel anytime · Court fees paid separately · (321) 283-6452
Affiliate Disclosure: Noble Notary may earn a commission when you purchase through links in this article at no additional cost to you. OnlineDivorce.com charges $199 regardless of referral source.
Legal Disclaimer: Noble Notary is a licensed document preparation company, not a law firm. Noble Notary & Legal Document Preparers · 1736 Spottswoode Ct., Port Orange, FL 32128 · (321) 283-6452
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