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Nolo Review

Eileen Bailey

In a Nutshell

Nolo is a publishing company based in California that helps its customers create legal books and software packages to simplify their legal processes. The publishing arm offers accessible and informative guides that cover everything from landlord-tenant issues to divorce and family law. Through its online platform, you can also create wills and power of attorney documents or incorporate LLCs.

pros

  • Create detailed guides and legal encyclopedia
  • Huge attorney matchmaker network
  • Well-established company with impressive history

cons

  • ‘Find a Lawyer’ service doesn’t always work perfectly
  • Not BBB accredited

Nolo at a Glance

8.2
Editorial Score

Cost

Three pricing tiers for LLC formation: Basic at $49, Standard at $149, and Express at $299, excluding state filing fees
9.0

Speed

User-friendly and efficient process
7.0

Additional Services

Range of legal services, including trademark registration, contract drafting, employment law compliance, estate planning, and more
9.0

Compliance Services

Assists with compliance aspects such as appointing a registered agent and ensuring state-specific requirements are met
8.0

Customer Support

Customer support is available Monday to Friday, with a team ready to address questions and concerns, and offers the ability to customize LLC formation packages
8.0

Nolo Nolo Visit Site

Best for?

Nolo is perfect for new business owners and for anyone looking to take care of legal matters on their own. It’s also a good place to learn more about the law without the confusing legal jargon.

What Does Nolo Provide?

Nolo offers legal forms, books, ebooks, and software. These are all easy to comprehend and promise to help you gain a better understanding of the law. But that’s not all, this platform can also be used to create custom legal documents, such as wills.

For Businesses

Nolo provides a wide range of products designed specifically for businesses. Customers report great success with its LLC formation services which can be used to incorporate a new Limited Liability Company (LLC) in any of the 50 states. Nolo actually has several different incorporation filing options and, on the Nolo website, presents them clearly along with guides to help you determine the right type of business for your needs.

What makes Nolo unique, however, is its product bundles. For example, Nolo’s Home Business Bundle is a set of books that guide you through the basics of general business organization and explain how corporate tax deductions can work for you. Another great bundle is the Start and Run an LLC set which shows you how to submit all the paperwork required to form an LLC on your own.

For Individuals

Nolo’s best-selling services are, in fact, those aimed at individuals and families. Its will and trust making software, called Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2020, is incredibly well-reviewed and is, perhaps, the best DIY estate planning option available for US customers today.

If you’re going through a divorce or custody battle, Nolo’s ebooks and guides are a great tool for remaining apprised of your rights. These materials will help prepare you for the complex procedural aspects of custody and divorce hearings.

Online Divorce 

Nolo offers educational guides and ebooks meant to help you prepare for the intricacies of divorce, custody, and other family law matters. Written to be both comprehensive and accessible, these guidebooks cover the legal and procedural issues you can expect when undergoing a divorce or custody battle. While Nolo doesn’t offer direct assistance with the paperwork itself, its easy-to-read guides are designed to inform and empower you as you undergo the process so that you know what to expect during every step of the process. The topics range from filing for a divorce and navigating the financial obstacles between the 2 parties to matters of child custody and child support. 

Pricing Plans for LLC Formation

While some of Nolo's products can guide you through your own LLC formation, as mentioned above, you can also simply purchase an all-inclusive incorporation package. There are 2 different LLC formation and filing options, priced at $99 and $299 respectively.


Basic
Premier
Price
$99
$299
Name Check
Included
Included
EIN Number Application
No
Included
Member Certificates and LLC Seal
No
Included
Express Processing
No
Included

The Nolo Premier package is likely the best value for most customers given that Federal Tax ID/EIN numbers are a legal requirement for any US-based corporation. Note that state filing fees are not included in either package, nor are they refundable.

Nolo Background

Nolo was originally created in the ‘60s to help those who didn’t qualify for free legal aid and who couldn’t afford an attorney. Its founder, Ed Sherman, began making DIY legal guides for individuals and families to help correct disparities in legal representation.

Since then, Nolo has moved into creating legal software and other do-it-yourself legal services. It now offers access to a directory of US-based lawyers who specialize in all areas of the law. Nolo has also expanded the number of guides it offers and maintains a comprehensive online legal encyclopedia.

Unfortunately, Nolo is not currently accredited by the Better Business Bureau where, at the time of this writing, it holds an A- rating. On Trustpilot Nolo has mixed reviews. Generally, people seeking affordable legal help have come away mostly satisfied. Most negative Trustpilot complaints are written by lawyers who are unhappy with Nolo’s lead generation.

What Customers Say About Nolo

“I have used Nolo books on divorce, corporations, and patents going back almost 10 years. I found them all to be very helpful. The online resources are equally good. I recommend Nolo to anyone who is looking for good legal information.”
 - Steven Silverman

“Not having to pay every professional exorbitant fees for every Q&A dialogue is serving the worldwide community in a meaningful way, to the ultimate advantage of society as a whole.”
 - Maury Solel

Customer Service

Nolo has customer service and technical support teams ready to resolve any purchase issues or software problems you run into. Its customer service and technical support departments are available during PT working hours (through an online ticket service).

Unfortunately, there is no Nolo phone support for technical or legal issues. The Nolo billing department is the only one with a public phone number.

Nolo FAQ

Are Nolo products legal?

Yes. Nolo ensures the legal validity of its products with a team of lawyers who keep theseproducts up to date with current regulations and laws.

Will Nolo software products work on my Mac?

Only WillMaker Plus 2017 has a macOS version. Other software packages are Windows-only. However, Nolo eBooks and eForms should work on all computers.

Does Nolo offer general legal advice?

Nolo’s customer and tech support services cannot act as your legal counsel or answer direct legal questions. However, they can connect you with any lawyer in the company directory.

How do I register my Nolo product?

You can register any current versions of Nolo products and doing so makes you eligible for upgrade discounts and technical support. If you have a Nolo ebook, registerung it will get you the most up-to-date information possible.

Nolo Nolo Visit Site

Bottom Line

Nolo sets itself apart by offering a vast array of legal products in addition to document creation. In this Nolo review, you have seen the major positives of doing business with Nolo, including its extensive educational product catalog and its ethical ‘for the people’ approach.

However, Nolo isn’t without its downside, such as a less than satisfactory customer service track record. With this, you should have all the information you need to make an informed choice about whether or not to move forward with this platform.

Eileen is a freelance legal writer who writes for Top10.com. She has a Masters in Paralegal Studies from The George Washington University and is currently a full-time freelance legal writer.

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