Legal Advice Vs. Legal Information
When dealing with legal matters, it's important to know the difference between legal information and legal advice. This knowledge helps you understand what kind of help you can get and who can provide it.
What Is Legal Information?
Legal information is general knowledge about the law. It includes facts about legal rights, procedures, and available forms. Anyone can share legal information, including court staff and legal document preparers. However, they cannot tell you what you should do in your specific situation.
Examples of legal information:
Explaining how to fill out a court form.
Providing information about court procedures.
Describing the steps to file a legal document.
What Is Legal Advice?
Legal advice is guidance about what you should do in a specific legal situation. Only licensed attorneys can provide legal advice. They use their knowledge of the law to analyze your situation and recommend actions.
Examples of legal advice:
Telling you how to plead in court.
Advising you on the best legal strategy for your case.
Interpreting how the law applies to your specific circumstances.
Why Does the Difference Matter?
Understanding the difference helps you know where to get the right help. If you need general information about legal procedures, court staff or legal document preparers can assist you. However, if you need advice tailored to your specific situation, you should consult a licensed attorney.
In Florida
In Florida, nonlawyers, such as legal document preparers, can provide legal information but not legal advice. They can help you fill out forms and explain procedures but cannot tell you what actions to take in your case.
Source: Florida Association of Legal Document Preparers