Finding Answers To Legal Questions Online (NAPSA)—It’s the law. Whether buying a house, updating a will or starting a business, there are many life decisions where legal issues comeinto play. A recent survey found that each year, about 20 percent of people encounter a legal issue involving areas of the law such asreal estate, taxes, estate planning and family law. Fortunately, people have access to information sources online that can help them navigate those potentially complex legal situations. For example, people who visit legal Web sites can often find everything from useful legal guides on a variety of subjects to informative articles written by lawyers andlegal scholars. Legal Web sites can be used to research helpful legal information, find a list of local attorneys, compare their credentials and experience and understand specific legal terms. One site, called FindLaw.com is said to feature the largest online searchable lawyer directory, with more than one million lawyerlistings. Sites such as this can be of assistance for small business owners as well. For instance, when one small business owner started her own business, she was sur- prised by how manylegal issues needed to be addressed before her business could get off the ground. People who visit legal Web sites can often find useful legal information on a variety of sub- jects as well as profiles of local attorneys. She found that help was available online. With the click of a mouse small business owner Karen Puentes joined the millions of people who are turning to legal Web sites for help and information on personal and businessissues. Said Puentes, “I was very confused on several issues. I foundall the answers I was looking for at FindLaw.com plus a whole lot more. The Web site has a complete text for small businesses.” Other useful legal Web sites include The American Bar Association at www.abanet.org and the Legal Information Institute at www.law.cornell.edu. To learn more, visit the Web site at www.findlaw.com.
