3 reasons why copying your friend’s legal document could make it worse
If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you’re probably thinking:
The last thing I want to do is deal with the legal stuff in my business.
Why are lawyers so expensive anyway?
Do I REALLY need to have legal documents on my website and for use with clients?
Can’t I just grab something cheaply off of the internet? Or better yet, can’t I just copy my friend’s legal document?
I know, I know. It’s not everyone’s idea of fun to get your legal documents in place. (Especially if you’re getting them without any Legal Love™ coming your way.)
You just want to:
- focus on what you do best – working with clients and changing the world.
- get what legal doc is fastest, easiest and cheapest, so you don’t have to spend too much money (or really ANY money).
- buy some really cheap legal doc from an online service or use someone else’s document in your field.
Aren’t all legal docs essentially the same anyway?
Nope! They aren’t all the same.
Like with most things, when you’re trying to take a shortcut or the easy way out, you get what you pay for. The cheap version breaks. It gives out. It ends up being flimsy. It doesn’t hold up.
The same is true when it comes to legal documents.
Legal Love Tip™: Copying your friend’s legal document could make it worse.
Here are 3 reasons why:
1. It may not even fully cover you.
If your friend cut and pasted the wrong language from the internet or used someone else’s document, you could be exposed.
You could be getting a chopped up, piecemeal document (that neither you nor they know is piecemeal).
You could use a document that doesn’t even apply to you.
You could copy someone else’s legal document and make it worse than not having one at all.
One health coach client came to me to have me review her Client Agreement… only it was a template she got off the internet for a CONSTRUCTION company. She had no idea it was full of language that made no sense for a health coach and that could hurt her. I kid you not.
Even if a document was initially prepared by a lawyer, I can’t tell you how many times people try to edit their own legal documents and make mistakes.
Both of you could end up using legal language that doesn’t sufficiently cover either of you which can leave you open to giving refunds or dealing with conflicts and confrontation from clients or other people.
2. It could be a violation.
Unbeknownst to you, copying a friend’s document is actually taking (some might say “stealing”) work that someone else paid for.
You might be violating their copyright rights. You might be using the document without permission.
Even if they say “it’s okay” to copy their document, it might not be okay. They could be violating copyright laws by giving it to you. Don’t put them or yourself in that position.
3. It can be bad karma.
Copying someone else’s work probably isn’t truly in alignment with your core values and the type of person you want to be.
It can be bad juju. It can be low-vibe.
It’s not showing respect for your work or business or for other people’s work or business.
Did you know that when you put legit contracts and terms in place, you support your sacral chakra?
Your sacral chakra is your 2nd chakra down in your hip region “where all of the good stuff lives”, as I like to say. When you use high vibe (not copied!) legal documents, you’re aligning yourself with expansiveness, abundance, and boundaries associated with the sacral chakra.
You’re showing respect for your business – and as you do so, other people will tend to show your business trust and respect too.
Here’s to taking the time to get the right legal documents for YOUR business by doing it right and honoring yourself and your biz – and not copying others’ docs.
Hear more about these reasons and also receive 3 tips for choosing the right documents for you in this previously-aired Legally Enlightened Podcast Episode HERE. And if you need help with getting legal docs for your biz, just hit reply and let us know. We’re always happy to help or to refer you to another attorney who can help you.
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