No room for legal shortcuts.

Byline: Dan Heilman

In the words of the old proverb, the lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. And in the words of the old oil filter commercial, you can pay me now ... or you can pay me later.

Both of those sayings have a tendency to ring true when nonattorneys take advantage of do-it-yourself legal forms. The forms, often sold either online or in boxed software packages, are usually related to probate and estate planning, and sometimes family law.

They promise to be easier and cheaper than a visit to a lawyer. And often, they are -- at first.

"Virtually all the [do-it-yourself kits] have a disclaimer saying that you should probably talk to a lawyer in addition to using it," said Bloomington attorney Bill Peterson, who works in estate planning, among other areas. "A lot of these messed-up documents tend to move clients out of estate planning and into litigation, which is a lot more expensive."

"The practice of law is hard for attorneys," added Wayzata attorney Patrick C. Burns, who works in estate planning and family law. "But it's far more difficult for people who think they know more than attorneys. Clients are probably better informed now than they've ever been, thanks to the Internet, but a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing."

A heir-y problem