Preparing Legal Documents from Home

 

By now, during the pandemic, everyone who was inclined or able has made adjustments in their work life to work “remotely”. Now that the pandemic is really and truly winding down, some people are itching to get back to the office, others are more than content to continue working remotely from home.

I've been working from home since 2010, since I started my document preparation business and the Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers. The pandemic trend to work from home has not even been a blip on my personal work life radar. For me, nothing changed.

Preparing documents for consumers is an ideal work from home business. The only products are information and completed documents. Information can be provided to the customer either in a telephone call or an email. Completed documents can be sent via email.

Weigh it out. You know yourself better than anyone. Many people worked from home during the height of the pandemic for the first time. Some people loved it, others didn't.

You can also carve out a hybrid option for yourself. Work from home sometimes, and meet face to face with customers at other times. You may also discover that meeting with customers via video conferencing is the best of both worlds.

Experiment until you find what works best for you and your customers. Above all else, make sure that you enjoy your work, feel good by doing good.  

Here are some of the pros and cons of an at home document preparation business.

PROS

CONS

Solitude. There are only interruptions under your own control. Autonomy. You can set my own schedule to be the most productive and come and go as you please. No one looking over your shoulder, no walk-ins. Convenience. Working from home means there is no commute, and no need to go out to lunch everyday. Minimal overhead. No need to lease office space or keep up with the expense of a professional wardrobe. The lack of division between work and the rest of life may be a plus for some people. Rather than work/life balance, some people strive for work/life integration.

Isolation. The lack of in person human contact is stressful for some people. Distractions at home may make it difficult to stay on task. Things like the lure of the TV; family wanting attention; and afternoon naps are top distractions. It's more difficult to create rapport and trust with customers without seeing them face to face. It can be more difficult to create credibility with customers if they know you work from home. There may be very little division between work and the rest of life. Some people might find this exhausting.

Uberish

I read Jordan Furlong's recent article, "What Makes Uber Tick, and What Lawyers Can Learn from It". He makes some good points, but, in my opinion, didn't go quite far enough. I view all of this from the other side of the lens.

Furlong's article states: " ... lawyers should consider Uber a powerful illustration of how and why traditional providers lose control of their markets. Uber doesn’t succeed because its rides are cheaper, or not primarily because of that. It succeeds because it corrects the many flaws in the traditional taxi model."

The world needs lawyers to represent and give legal advice. But, sometimes, people only need documents. The world needs document preparers to do just that - responsively, conveniently, and at a reasonable cost.

When a consumer hires a document preparer for divorce documents, for instance, the necessary documents are almost always prepared for a flat fee. Period. Consumers know before they pay, exactly how much the service will cost, and exactly what services they can expect to receive.

Lawyers traditionally charge by the almighty billable hour. Statewide, lawyers rates average over $200. per hour. Besides the fact that many litigants earn less than $200 per day, the billable hour practice is confusing and those minutes and minutiae quickly add up to exorbitant amounts and whoops there goes the retainer. Consumers don't know until they find out the hard way that their lawyer is going to bill them against the retainer for every email, every phone call, every document the lawyer reads related to their case, every document prepared in their case, every out of pocket expense, paralegal fees billed out at anywhere from $100 to $200 per hour, mediation, consultation, and court appearances. And before the client knows it, its time for mediation or a court hearing, and the lawyer is asking for more fees. If the consumer has no more lawyer money to spend, he goes it alone, pro se. And, that consumer, is usually not happy about the experience. Small wonder that lawyers have such a terrible reputation.

It happens all the time, that a lawyer withdraws at just these critical junctures, because the client has no more money to spend. Even though it is considered unethical for a lawyer to leave their client high and dry in this manner ... it happens all the time.

I agree with Furlong that no one wants to see lawyers disappear entirely, just as it is not practical for taxis to be replaced entirely by Uber drivers. There is a place in the market for taxis and Uber drivers; lawyers and document preparers. Consumers who choose Uber over a taxi do so for customer service, convenience, and price. In Uber's case the price for services may be similar to a taxi ride. Lawyer fees and document preparer fees are often miles apart. Document preparers often charge just 10% of what a lawyer would charge. Routine documents for things like, divorce and bankruptcy are the handiest comparisons.

For example, bankruptcy petition preparers charge around $200 to prepare the thirty some odd documents for a bankruptcy; lawyers typically charge around $2000. Initiating a Florida divorce with a lawyer may begin with a retainer of anywhere from $1500 to $10,000. Document preparers charge between $99 and $500. Initiating a divorce requires paperwork, and to be fair to lawyers in the comparison, lawyers services may also include legal advice and court appearances. At the low end for divorce lawyer's fees, $1500., if a client receives for that money - document preparation, service of process, filing fees, and some advice - he's actually done well. And the services he received, at least as far as price, would be roughly comparable to a legal document preparer. A document preparer at the high end, preparing divorce documents for $500, plus services of process (around $75), plus filing fee ($408. in most counties) and no advice or representation is about $900 - $600 less than the low end lawyer. So that consumer has $600 left to spend on legal consultations, or court appearances.

Furlong's article goes on to mention some partial solutions to delivery of legal services, listing some referral sources and alternate legal service providers. The Florida Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice repeatedly touts technological solutions as the path to legal access, and have been discussing better technology solutions for the past two years.

We, FALDP, have developed our own technology solution. Our FALDP Document Portal allows consumers to prepare their own documents online for a small fee. As far as we have found, our site works better than any of the court sites, or private sector sites in Florida. For $99 consumers have unlimited use for one month to prepare their own family law documents. The consumer enters their information once into a questionnaire, form fields automatically fill throughout the form set, then the consumer can either save the completed forms to their computer or print them out. All forms are based on Florida Supreme court approved family law forms.

www.FALDP-DocumentPortal.org

Furlong states: "Lawyers, like cab drivers, are useful and capable service providers who nonetheless are sabotaging themselves through their own lousy delivery models."

Lawyers and taxis have been around for centuries. Uber and document preparers were born to offer services more conveniently, with better customer service, and crystal clear price transparency.

The customer is the most important part of any business. And if a business doesn't take care of their customers -- someone else will.

FALDP BOGO Online Courses are Back!

 The Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers is offering Buy One GetOne online courses for legal document preparers through December 20, 2014.

Enroll in one course and receive the second course of lesser or equal value for free. After enrolling in your course, send us an email with "My Free Course" in the subject line - and we'll send you the link to your free course. It's that simple. Email us at staff@faldp.org. Our courses are all completely online and self-paced.

If you've considered taking courses to learn how to prepare documents to solve your own legal dilemma; or find you are the go to person in your family or community -- our courses may be just right for you. You do not need to be a member of our association to take our courses.

               WWW.FALDP.ORG                      

 Choose from 10            Courses!

FALDP Now Offers 10 Online Courses

We are proud to offer a growing curriculum of courses to help document preparers help consumers. 

Our online document preparation courses are entirely self-paced. We offer these discounted courses to thank our members and friends for continued support throughout the year. You do not need to be an FALDP member to take our courses.

Our newest Course - Just Released:

Summary Administration of Estate is probate for small estates. A small estate in Florida is an estate with a value of less than $75,000. excluding exempt property. There is a huge demand for this type of document preparation. The forms for Summary Administration of Estate are included in this course. Tuition - $299.

And our other course offerings:

Parental Responsibility includes forms and instructions for preparing Parenting Plans; Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Custody, Time-Sharing, and Related Relief; Supplemental Petition for Relocation with Minor Children; and other forms related to these court actions. Tuition - $261.

Debt Defense is completely self-paced and online as are all of our courses. Help yourself or help your customers defend against a law suit to collect a debt. This course includes sample documents, templates, and more. Also includes the most recent version of our FALDP Self-Help Guide instant download ebook - "You've Been Sued! How to Answer a Civil Complaint". Work through five modules with an exam link at the end, then complete the Exit Survey to request your Certificate of Completion. Tuition - $175. -

Post-Conviction Document Preparation includes information and forms about Early Termination of Probation; Expunge & Seal of Criminal Records; Restoration of Civil Rights; and Reputation Repair & Management. We have included official forms from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); and The Office of Executive Clemency. Once you complete the modules. Tuition - $199. -

Immigration Document Preparation - There are many ways to immigrate to the U.S., however the most common and the simplest is when a U.S. citizen sponsors a spouse. The same rules outlined in this course apply to other close relatives, as defined by USCIS. A close relative is a spouse, brother, sister, mother, child, etc; but not a cousin. And of those close relatives, by far the simplest and most straight forward of immigration processes is sponsorship of a foreign spouse by a U.S. citizen. Tuition $249. -

Becoming a Successful Landlord is now open for registration. We think its our best course yet, packed with information, links, and Supreme Court approved landlord/ tenant forms. The same forms we provide on our site for $9.99 are included in this course as free downloads.

Setting Goals
Property Types – What works best for you?
Choosing a Property. - A good choice makes all the difference.
Rights & Responsibilities – Working together works best.
Financial Considerations – Affordability and accountability. Laws and regulations.
Personalities – The Golden Rule.
Dealing With Disputes – Learn how to resolve disputes before they become disasters.
Evictions – Specific steps
Conclusion – Link to the test; important forms and information.

“Becoming a Successful Landlord” is geared both towards landlords and the document preparers who help them. Savvy tenants can also benefit from the information in this course. The information in this course can repay you many times over that small investment in yourself. Tuition - $199.00

Visit us online to learn more – http://www.faldp.org/Online-Courses.html

INTRO to Florida Legal Document Preparation explains business basics - including business structure, choosing a name, and deciding on a business model. This course also includes information about compliance and avoiding the unauthorized practice of law (UPL).There is no test, instead there are required assignments. This Intro course is mandatory for inexperienced document preparers, and for document preparers relocating to Florida from other states; who would like to be a member of the most prestigious and only statewide legal document association in Florida. Tuition - $129.00

Preparing Florida Divorce Documents is a nuts and bolts course based on Florida Supreme Court approved forms for pro se litigants. Each of the different dissolution processes is discussed; along with content about the Petition for Paternity and Related Relief.

Students must complete five study modules and quizzes. Upon successful completion of this course, students will receive a Course Completion Certificate. Entirely self-paced, students must spend a minimum of four hours on the course site. But, are also allowed up to 60 days to complete the course, providing maximum flexibility. Tuition - $220.00

Living Trusts and Estate Planning  is appropriate for both document preparers and consumers. For anyone who had gone through the probate process after losing a loved one, avoiding probate is an attractive idea. The primary purpose of creating a Living Trust is to avoid probate altogether by passing property to one generation to the next through a family trust. We know that informed consumers are the best customers; and we strive to help consumers make informed decisions. We offer a revenue sharing plan for FALDP members who successfully complete this course. Tuition - $129.00

Bankruptcy Basics - Chapter 7 Personal Bankruptcy shows consumers and document preparers how to start over with a clean financial slate. This foundation course introduces learners to bankruptcy terminology; types of bankruptcy; eligibility; Florida exemptions; means test; and do's and don'ts for Bankruptcy Petition Preparers. Tuition - $149.00

Our online courses for legal document preparers can increase earning potential immediately. Many FALDP members spend years in paralegal programs only to discover that are no paralegal jobs available, or, even worse, that the paralegal jobs that are available don't pay enough to justify the training required.

Recent graduates of Florida paralegal programs benefit from our online courses because our courses are specific to preparing the exact documents approved by the Florida Supreme court for pro se litigants. Consumers could prepare these forms themselves, but many people quickly discover that the forms are confusing. Frequently, consumers are overwhelmed by the amount of detailed information they must learn in order to complete their legal task.

Smart business people know that there is a direct relationship between the number of products and services offered and potential income. Building multiple and diverse income streams helps entrepreneurs weather an uncertain economy.

Whether you are new to the legal document preparation industry or want to expand your services, the Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers is here to help. Registration for our online courses is open. Please visit:  Online Courses..  Or call 800-515-0496.

So Why Can't I Own a Law Firm?

I know, I know, because I'm not an attorney and the rules say so, that's why. I know, but why?????????

I have a few reasons for my curiosity. First, an associate received the dreaded letter from the Florida Bar stating that her company may be engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. The apparent red flag: stated on her website is that she has an attorney on her team. Her site also states that they do not provide legal advice or representation; and that her company focuses on document preparation for family law matters and divorce mediation services. I'm not sure what the word "team" means, but the Florida Bar thinks it might lead consumers to believe that they could receive legal advice as part of her company's services. Perhaps. But why is that a problem? I mean an attorney offering legal advice doesn't sound sinister.

Then I wondered, how is this any different from Legal Zoom putting the law on my side in their national advertising campaign with Attorney Robert Shapiro of OJ Simpson fame as spokesperson? I have absolutely no argument with Legal Zoom, and believe they have done a great job in educating the public. However, isn't Shapiro's smiling face similarly misleading?

In Florida, as in most parts of the United States, nonlawyers are prohibited from owning law firms. The exception is Washington DC where its allowed, and has been since 1980.

Published on Mar 19, 2014

Mar. 19, 2014 (Mimesis Law) -- Mike McDevitt, CEO for Tandem Legal Group, is not a lawyer, but thanks to an obscure rule in Washington, D.C.'s code of ethics for lawyers he is able to have an ownership interest in the law firm he runs. But that doesn't mean he's advising clients on legal matters. "My level of knowledge on law is not that high, so I'm not going to get involved in legal decisions for our organization," he tells Lee Pacchia [in a you tube interview]. "My job as CEO is to help our organization run an efficient and effective firm."

Tandem Legal Group's business model is refreshing and reminiscent of an era when businesses sought out legal advice, before a crisis erupted. The business theory of Tandem is to help their clients grow their businesses - together - in tandem. Great concept.

The U.K. and Australia allow nonlawyers to own and operate legal firms, apparently without damage to consumers. An article by Attorney Robert Denney, "The Newest Big Issue: Non-Lawyer Ownership or Investment in Firms" (1/13) discusses the issue.

According to Denny, 23 years ago the U.K. passed the Courts and Legal Services Act of 1990 (CLSA) breaking the monopoly that attorneys had over legal services. This act allowed non-lawyers to enter the legal market by the creation of "Alternate Business Structures" and allowed lawyers and non-lawyers to work together to deliver legal services and also solicit outside investments.

After that, a major personal injury firm in Australia, filed a public stock offering. And, in 2007 the U.K., passed the Legal Services Act, succeeding the 1990 act. The motive behind these developments was to increase consumers’ access to legal services and to increase competition in the legal profession.

Since the 2007 UK law passed various types of business structures and ownerships of law firms have emerged; including publicly traded personal injury and, real property law firms. In March 2013, British regulators allowed an organization that runs grocery stores, and also offers banking and insurance services to provide legal advice on divorce and other family law matters to its seven million members.

Imagine, having your divorce documents prepared through Sam's Club!

One of the recurring arguments from the bar associations against allowing nonlawyers to own law firms, is that it would dilute the integrity of the legal profession. Lawyers are professionals, and having nonlawyers as law firm owners would sacrifice the quality of legal advice in favor of pure monetary gain. [Lions and tigers and bears - oh my.] And that nonlawyers making legal decisions would damage consumers. There is some truth to that statement; and its simple enough to solve by dividing duties to prevent that situation. Lawyers make legal decisions; business owners make business decisions.

I don't have to be a doctor to have an ownership interest in a medical clinic. Good, bad, or indifferent, the corporate practice of medicine is alive and well in the United States.

      Florida law does not prohibit the corporate practice of medicine, but does prohibit "fee-splitting" by health care professional. .. However, there is no prohibition on a health care provider's forming and operating his or her medical practice as a regular business corporation (usually designated by the abbreviation "Inc.") or as a regular limited liability company ("LLC"). Click Here to Read More.

Fee splitting is also prohibited between lawyers and nonlawyers.

1. The origin of fee splitting prohibitions in Florida are founded on certain core principles which are fundamental to the legal profession's proper function.

2. These principles include the protection of a lawyer's duty of loyalty to a client, the lawyer's duty of independence in making decisions which are in the best interest of the client and no other, including the lawyer; the lawyer's duty to hold client confidences inviolate; the lawyer's duty to act free of impermissible conflicts and the lawyer's duty of competence.

Rule 4-5.4 of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar and ABA Model Rule 5.4 have long prohibited the sharing of fees generated by the rendition of legal services with non lawyers because of the lawyer's duty of independence and the lawyer's duty to exercise loyalty to the client over and above any duty to the lawyer or to the organization employing the lawyer. www.FloridaBar.org

In 2011, The Florida Bar News, published an article posing the following question:

"When is fee-splitting OK?"

"Should lawyers be allowed to split fees with private lawyer referral services or at least pay a flat 
fee per referred case?"

As it is now, lawyer referral services are only allowed to charge a subscription fee for attorneys to receive referrals, but may not charge a flat fee, or percentage, per referral. Many nonlawyers would happily refer to attorneys if they could. As it is, there is nothing to gain for a nonlawyer document preparer to refer a customer to an attorney. The attorney is not allowed to pay a referral fee, and many attorneys would prefer that nonlawyer document preparers didn't exist to begin with. Why, then, would a document preparer refer a paying client to an attorney? Answer is, for the good of the client. And that's fine, and fair enough.  

However, many document preparers have been unable to cultivate any sort of relationship with any attorney, as there is all too often an uneasy coexistence between lawyers and non. After all, it is difficult for a nonlawyer document preparer to see his way clear to refer to any attorney when it is often attorneys who complain to the Florida Bar about nonlawyers possibly engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. Some individual nonlawyer document preparers and some individual attorneys exchange referrals for no fee; but these arrangements are exceptions and not the norm. A more frequent scenario is that when a nonlawyer document preparer realizes that the consumer needs legal advice rather than document preparation, the consumer is simply turned away, with no referral to anyone or any resource. How does this help consumers? Answer is, it doesn't.   

In the previously mentioned article - "When is fee-splitting OK?", former Board of Governors member D. Culver “Skip” Smith , who raised the question during the Special Committee on Lawyer Referral Services, stated "it could be seen as hypocritical that Bar rules prohibit sharing or splitting fees with nonlawyers in all cases except one — with nonprofit lawyer referral services approved by the Bar. Essentially those are programs run by area voluntary bars, plus the statewide program run by the Bar. (If a lawyer takes a referral from one of these services, a percentage of the final fee, typically 10 or 15 percent, reverts to the service to help fund its operations. The services also collect a small up-front fee from the callers who accept a referral.)"

and, Smith continued:

“For-profit referral services, it seems to me, are not going to stay in business charging an annual subscription fee or an annual membership fee. They want their money per case,” Smith said. “I believe that a per case flat fee is not fee-sharing. . . . Lawyers expect to pay something per case for these referrals in this day and age. Obviously, you don’t pay a percentage like half of the fee, but a flat fee that’s not based on the size of the fee.”

However, "Bar Ethics Counsel Elizabeth Tarbert explained to the committee why the Bar disagrees.

“The reasons that we prohibit fee-sharing with nonlawyers generally are to stop a nonlawyer from having control over the lawyer’s independent professional judgment in representing clients and providing active counsel and good competent advice to their clients,” she said. “Generally, the control follows the money, and if the nonlawyer has the money, the nonlawyer is the one calling the shots.”

With the local bar-run programs, the Bar has direct control and can revoke a program if it violates Bar rules, Tarbert said, eliminating the risk the service will meddle in how a case is handled."

And there you have it.

Follow the money. The Florida Bar is concerned that the nonlawyer will call the shots. And, I completely agree that legal decisions should be left to the legal professional. Just as when someone who is not a doctor operates a medical facility, medical decisions must be left to the medical professional. However, having someone who is not an attorney make the business decisions may be the best thing that could ever happen to attorneys. In the best of all possible worlds, the day to day business activities - marketing, customer service - and long term business planning could be done by a business professional. Attorneys could focus on giving legal advice and litigation.

As it is, I have no doubt that business decisions that attorneys make on a daily basis affect their independent judgment in providing active counsel and good competent advice to their clients.

I Count Myself Lucky

In 1972 Ms. Magazine was published for the first time. The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) was for many years the cornerstone of a grassroots push - equal pay for equal work. In 2014 there remains disparity between women's earnings and men's for the same work. It's a shame.

My personal belief is that women often fail to demand to be paid for their full value. Some women tend to be hesitant to ask for more -- when more is exactly what they deserve. I have always shied away from the pink collar ghettos, work places traditionally dominated by women, and traditionally low paid. When I worked for others, I trained myself to only accept positions where males were my peers so that I could put forth the argument for equal pay for equal work.

As an employee, I have worked as a food server, printing press operator, graphic designer, and most often as a salesperson. As a salesperson, I learned many life lessons.

1. Don't work for crooks. My mama always told me that, but sometimes its hard to know the difference at the outset. But once you know that the organization or boss is not on the up and up, its time to go. If the organization is dishonest they will eventually deceive you. Eventually you will either find yourself caught up in their web of deception or they will turn against you.

2. Demand to be paid for your value. In most companies, it is considered bad form to discuss salary with co-workers. Some work places even demand compliance with this rule right in their company handbook. I never went with that, I always tried to find out what others earned. I asked. Some people will tell you its not your business and are offended, others will just say. Employers don't like such discussions, because they much prefer to keep you ignorant. Sales organizations are usually very open about what everyone is earning, commissions are transparent. If you sell x, you are paid y.

3. Keep your own integrity. Set your own standards. You have to be able to look yourself in the mirror every day. Even if it is the norm in the company to do something you do not approve of, it doesn't mean you have to do it. You may not last very long at that workplace if you refuse to go along to get along. But, who cares? Why would you want to stay at a company that condones poor customer service, shoddy workmanship, unsafe practices, or illegal acts?

4. Follow your heart. Do what you love, and love what you do. I count myself lucky.

5. If you can discover that you are your own favorite boss, I think you'll be a happier person. I think so, but I don't know. If I close my eyes, I imagine that not everyone is cut out to work for themselves. But its hard for me to see it. I understand that some people like the constancy of a regular pay check; prefer to be told what to do; and would rather leave work at the end of the day and forget about it. I live and breathe my work, because I love what I do. I have worked in my own business or self-employed for so long, I know that the financial hills and valleys are just part of the landscape. If a valley is too long and too deep, time to make adjustments, that's all. And I've never been too keen on anyone telling me what to do, how to do it, or when to do it. My attitude was quite irritating to many employers. I am better suited to being my own boss. Are you?

Happy Birthday, FALDP

On May 7, 2013 the Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers (FALDP) will be three years old. We're so thrilled with how far we've come we want to share the excitement.

To celebrate, we're giving away prizes, discounts, and holding contests.Visit our Birthday Page here - http://www.faldp.org/Happy-Birthday-FALDP.html. The winner of the member website contest will be announced online on May 7. The grand prize is one year free membership, a $65 value. Prizes for second and third place winners to be announced. Also, consumers and members are invited to submit essays to win even more prizes. Topics for members are: "Why I love FALDP." and "How FALDP Transformed my Business". If you're not a member yet, there's still time to join. Deadline for entry into the essay contests is May 7. Or if you're not a document preparer, but want to participate, your titles are: "My Pro Se Story"  and "How a Document Preparer Helped Me". The winner in the consumer category receives a $40 Visa Gift Card.

And, in honor of the FALDP Birthday Celebration there is a special price for renewing members and new members. Learn more on FALDP's membership page -http://www.faldp.org/premium-membership.html.  For only $99. document preparers can join the Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers - AND - attend the Fourth Annual FALDP Conference to be held September 21. The membership fee by itself is $65; and the conference fee by itself is $75.A $41 savings.

Free FALDP ID Card for all new and renewing members who pay or join by June 1.

Acronym contest - what does FALDP stand for? Up to five entries per person. Winner receives an FALDP Tote Bag.

How do you measure your life?

“Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count, and everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted.” 

Albert Einstein.

I've been reading the happiness studies. The AARP has one, and so does Harvard. AARP's study says that middle age is the least happy time in your life – happiness is a U-shaped curve which bottoms out during middle age. I suppose the upside is that there is an upside and happiness increases as we age. Good to know. The Harvard study contends that happiness and money are correlated, and that we need around a $75,000. annual income to be happy. I can understand that there is some sort of financial benchmark that can help measure happiness. I believe, however, that it is not so cut and dried. After all, one person is flush with a 75k income, and another is broke. All relative.


Carl Jung said that the more we pursue happiness, the less likely we are to find it. I don't agree with that statement. I think that if you don't pursue a goal, you're unlikely to reach it. So, in my opinion, we're best off, actively pursuing happiness. I agree, though, with Jung's short list of happiness factors:

1. Good physical and mental health.
2. Good personal and intimate relationships, such as those of marriage, the family, and friendships.
3. The faculty for perceiving beauty in art and nature.
4. Reasonable standards of living and satisfactory work.
5. A philosophic or religious point of view capable of coping successfully with the vicissitudes of life.

All of these ring true to me, except for being a bit too general. If our physical and mental health decline as we age, how is it that we are generally happier as we age? The only mention of economic factors relating to happiness is - “Reasonable standards of living”. I think that statement is more true than trying to pin down an actual amount. Income and standard of living are both relative to a community; and subjective as to whether the income and comparison are personally satisfying.

Here are some of my happiness factors:

Freedom from want – picture the Norman Rockwell painting inspired by FDR's speech.
The privilege of being self-directed – I am my own favorite boss.
The opportunity to make a positive contribution to someone's life – the rewards surprise me.
Spending quality time with friends and family – thank you.
Sharing my gratitude – thanks again.

Having outlets for self-expression and creativity – I write, create websites, and in business - make something from nothing -thoughts are things.

Dr. Clayton Christensen, a professor at Harvard Business School recently co-wrote, “How Will You Measure Your Life?”, a book which applies business management theory to our personal lives. The take away value appears to be (and no I haven't read it yet … I'll follow up if anything changes) – first of all, don't measure your happiness by your paycheck. That's what I'm saying too. That's a fool's game – he who dies with the most toys wins – but you're dead so who cares if you have the most toys! To a point, I'm a throwback to the sixties when it was commonplace and perfectly acceptable to measure your life by your intrinsic factors – your inner goals, and spiritual motivations.

According to “Why Seeking More Money Hurts Happiness” an excerpt from the U.S. News Ebook - “How to Live to 100” - “People pursue life goals that reflect different mixes of what social scientists call intrinsic and extrinsic motivations. "The intrinsic factors are about personal growth and self-knowledge, connections and social intimacy with other people, and wanting to help the human community for altruistic reasons," says Kennon Sheldon, professor of psychology at the University of Missouri. Extrinsic goals, he says, are about 'money, luxury, appearance, attractiveness, status, popularity, looks, and power.'"

From all of these theories, I have gleaned some important ideas. One is that relationships matter. We're not happy isolating ourselves from others, or letting our key relationships go untended. We also need a plan to achieve happiness. We know that we need a certain standard of living to be happy. How are we going to get there. And what about satisfactory work?

I'm lucky in the work that I do. It is a calling. I find the creative aspects of building and running my business endlessly intriguing. The personal reward in helping others is extraordinary. I would never have believed this in myself. I'm not a world saver. I am ever grateful that I fell into this business due to a horrible marriage that literally nearly killed me (not my son's dad). When I returned to school after that fiasco, my intention was to attend law school after completing a B.A in Legal Studies. Family circumstances prohibited me from moving; and there is no law school in Daytona. I am now ever grateful that I did not attend law school. I was lucky to fall into this occupation. How do you measure your happiness? Comments welcome.

Turn Key Business Bundle – Legal Document Preparation Business

We are at the forefront of a movement. We have the opportunity to create our own image. We have the obligation to ourselves and our customers to mold our industry into a system that benefits all. I'm excited by the continuing possibilities and the dynamic impact we have on our customers' lives. We can do what we do best, and we can begin by creating a solid foundation within our own industry.

The Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers (FALDP) has created a Turn Key Business bundle to help you launch a legal document preparation business. The tools, the training, and the business structure together in one bundled business package – for only $499. America was built on the backs of small business. If you or someone you know needs additional income and would like to learn more, please visit us online.

The first thing to know about the business of legal document preparation is that there is plenty of work to go around. There is so much demand for our services that it is difficult to fail. I don't mean to say that our work is easy, or minimize the work we do. If it were easy then everyone would be a legal document preparer or even more to the point – if it were easy everyone could prepare their own documents.

Consumers face multiple hurdles when faced with a legal task. First, most people don't learn legal survival skills in school. In fact, many legal document preparers started their formal academic training only after graduating from the school of hard knocks. Many LDP's survived devastating divorces, bankruptcies, or law suits; and they not only live to tell the tale they have capitalized on overcoming their own personal challenges.

There is plenty of work to go around. Competition is good. Cutthroat unfair business practices are completely unnecessary. One of my tenets is that there is no place for greed in business. Make money, absolutely, that's what we're here for. But, the moment a business person, particularly in a business which is designed to help consumers, gets greedy, karma comes calling. I promise.

I hope you enter this business for the primary reason to help people with their legal documents. There are various tried and tested business models for a legal document preparation business. Some LDPs are mobile, others have bricks and mortar stores, and still others operate completely virtual businesses. It's all up to you. For more information please call 800-515-0496 or read more on our site - Turn Key Business page.