How to Create a Legal Document Online
Gone are the days when you needed a $300/hour lawyer to draft a simple Bill of Sale or Lease. Today, creating a legally binding agreement is fast, secure, and entirely digital. Here is how the process works.
Step 1: Choose the Right Template
The most critical step is starting with a document that is tailored to your jurisdiction. Contract laws vary widely between states (e.g., California real estate law is vastly different from Texas). By selecting a form through our categories, you ensure the foundational legal language (the "boilerplate") is compliant with your specific state.
Step 2: The Questionnaire Phase
Instead of staring at a blank, confusing PDF and trying to figure out which paragraphs to cross out, modern document creators use a dynamic questionnaire. The software asks you plain-English questions, such as:
Step 3: Automated Generation
As you answer the questionnaire, the system's logic engine automatically compiles the contract in real-time. It inserts the correct clauses, removes irrelevant sections (if you said "no pets", the pet addendum disappears), and formats the document with professional legal styling.
Are Electronic Signatures Legal?
Yes! Under the ESIGN Act of 2000 and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), electronic signatures carry the exact same legal weight as traditional pen-and-ink signatures for the vast majority of commercial and personal transactions.
Step 4: Execution (Signing)
Once generated, the document can be exported as a PDF or Word file. For it to become legally binding ("executed"), all parties involved must sign it. You can print it and sign it manually, or use built-in eSign capabilities to invite the other party to sign via email securely.
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