We The People is a national legal document preparation service that, since 1985, has filled out standardized court forms for people handling routine legal matters without an attorney. The company works from information you provide and prepares paperwork for common filings like uncontested divorce, Chapter 7 bankruptcy, wills, and business formation. It costs considerably less than hiring a lawyer for the same documents. It also does something fundamentally different from what a lawyer does, and understanding that difference is the whole decision.
What the Service Prepares
The catalog is built around filings that are mostly paperwork rather than argument. Uncontested divorce is one of the most common. Both spouses have already agreed on how to divide assets, handle debts, and arrange custody; the service produces the petition and related forms that reflect that agreement.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the other large category. This is the liquidation form of bankruptcy, overseen by a court-appointed trustee, and the paperwork includes schedules of assets and liabilities, a statement of financial affairs, income and expense statements, and a schedule of ongoing contracts and leases.1United States Courts. Chapter 7 – Bankruptcy Basics A credit counseling course from an approved provider is required before filing, and a case can be dismissed without it.2United States Department of Justice. Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Information
Estate planning rounds out the list: wills, living trusts, and healthcare directives. Business owners use the service to file incorporation papers or form an LLC. Name change petitions are also available.
How the Preparation Actually Works
You complete an intake questionnaire. Staff then transfer your answers into the correct legal templates, populating fields like your name, address, asset lists, and creditor schedules exactly as you provide them. They do not interpret, modify, or advise on what you write. If you list an asset at a certain value, that number goes on the form whether it is accurate or not.
This is the central difference from working with an attorney. A lawyer reviews your situation and flags problems: an asset you forgot, a debt you mischaracterized, a custody arrangement a judge will likely reject. A document preparer does none of that. The accuracy of your final forms depends entirely on the accuracy of what you hand over. The finished packet can run several dozen pages, including cover sheets, declarations, and any jurisdiction-specific attachments your local court requires.
What You Need Before You Start
Document preparation does not work with incomplete information, and what you need depends on the type of filing.
For an Uncontested Divorce
You need the date of your marriage, the full legal names and birth dates of any children, and a complete picture of what you own and what you owe. That means listing real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement funds, and personal property alongside mortgages, credit card balances, student loans, and other debts. Property deeds, vehicle titles, and loan statements help verify values. Most states also require residency before you can file, often ranging from 60 days to a full year depending on the jurisdiction.
For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy demands the most preparation. Federal rules require copies of all payment advices or other proof of income received from any employer within 60 days before filing.3Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure Rule 1007 – Lists, Schedules, Statements, and Other Documents You also need your federal income tax return for the most recent tax year ending before you file.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 11 USC 521 Beyond those, you must compile a detailed schedule of every creditor, including account numbers and outstanding balances, plus statements from all bank, investment, and brokerage accounts covering the filing date. A certificate proving you completed the required pre-filing credit counseling must be included in your filing packet.2United States Department of Justice. Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Information
For Estate Planning and Business Formation
Wills and trusts need a clear list of your assets, the people you want to receive them, and the name of your chosen executor or trustee. Healthcare directives require the name of your healthcare agent. Business formation requires a proposed company name, the names of all owners or members, a registered agent address, and a description of the business purpose.
Filing and What Comes After
Once you sign the finished documents, you file them with the appropriate court, usually by bringing the originals and several copies to the clerk’s office. A filing fee is due at submission. Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings in federal court carry a combined fee of several hundred dollars covering the base filing fee, an administrative fee, and a trustee surcharge.5United States Courts. Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule Divorce filing fees range from under $100 in some states to over $400 in others. Some courts accept filings by mail with a certified check or money order, and some permit electronic filing.
Filing is not the last step. Most matters prepared by document services involve at least one proceeding afterward, and this catches many self-represented filers off guard.
Every Chapter 7 filer must attend a 341 meeting of creditors. It is not a court hearing and no judge is present. A trustee runs it and asks questions under oath about your paperwork, property, debts, income, and expenses. Almost all 341 meetings now take place over Zoom. At least 14 days before the meeting you must provide the trustee with a government-issued photo ID, proof of your Social Security number, evidence of current income, and statements for all bank and investment accounts. Your most recent federal tax return is due to the trustee at least seven days before the meeting.6United States Department of Justice. Section 341 Meeting of Creditors
Divorce usually involves a mandatory waiting period between filing and finalization. These cooling-off periods typically range from 30 to 90 days, though some states require six months, and no agreement between the spouses can waive them. After the waiting period, many courts require a brief final hearing, sometimes called a prove-up, where one spouse appears before a judge to confirm the terms of the agreement. Some courts accept a signed affidavit instead of live testimony.
What a Document Preparer Cannot Do
Document preparation services operate under strict legal limits that separate them from licensed attorneys. The specific regulations vary by state, but the core restrictions are consistent. In California, legal document assistants must register with the county and post a bond before offering services, and the law explicitly prohibits them from providing any advice, opinions, or recommendations about legal rights, remedies, or strategies.7California Legislative Information. California Code Business and Professions Code 6400 – Legal Document Assistants and Unlawful Detainer Assistants
In practical terms, a preparer cannot tell you which forms to choose, explain how a law applies to your specific facts, recommend a legal strategy, or represent you in any court proceeding. The role is clerical: they type what you tell them into the correct fields. Ask whether you should file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 and a legitimate preparer will tell you to consult a lawyer. Crossing that line constitutes unauthorized practice of law, which can result in fines, injunctions, or criminal charges depending on the state.
When to Hire an Attorney Instead
Document preparation works for genuinely simple, uncontested matters. It falls apart when complications arise. Hire an attorney if any of the following applies:
- Your divorce is contested. If you and your spouse disagree about custody, property division, or support, filling out forms will not resolve the dispute.
- You have significant assets or debts. Retirement accounts, business interests, stock options, and real estate in multiple states all create complexity a form cannot capture.
- Your bankruptcy involves non-exempt assets or creditor challenges. Chapter 7 works cleanly when your assets fall within your state’s exemption limits. If a trustee is likely to liquidate property or a creditor objects to discharge, you need representation.
- You are unsure which legal action to pursue. Choosing between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, or between a divorce and a legal separation, is itself a legal decision a preparer cannot help with.
- The other side has a lawyer. Facing represented opposition without counsel is a structural disadvantage, especially if the matter goes to court.
Many courts also run free self-help centers staffed by volunteers or court employees who provide basic procedural guidance and form assistance at no cost. That is worth checking before paying any preparation fee.
What Filing Errors Can Cost
Because preparers work from your raw information without reviewing it for legal accuracy, mistakes flow straight through to the court. Misspelled names or incorrect addresses usually cause the clerk to reject the filing, forcing you to correct and refile. More substantive errors cost more.
In bankruptcy, failing to disclose an asset can result in denial of your discharge or allegations of fraud. In divorce, a court can set aside a final decree if it was based on materially incomplete or fraudulent information. Federal rules allow a court to grant relief from a final judgment based on mistake, newly discovered evidence, or fraud, and motions based on mistake or fraud must generally be filed within one year of the judgment.8Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 60 – Relief from a Judgment or Order Reopening a finalized case is expensive and stressful. If you are not confident that your records are complete and accurate, spending a few hundred dollars on an attorney review before filing is cheaper than fixing the problem later.