Legal Forms
There are a lot of websites with legal forms nowadays. Be careful when selecting and using legal forms that you find online. Generally speaking, the most reliable sources are forms that you find on official local, state, or federal government websites.
However, government websites do not contain all of the forms that people are looking for (e.g. leases, sales contracts, waivers, estate planning documents, etc.). While some are available for free, users often need to go to a local public or law library to find legal form books and manuals or turn to fee-based websites (sites where you have to pay to download each form that you want to use).
For more complicated legal issues and business transactions a form document may not be good enough and you will want to contact a licensed attorney.
When selecting an online legal form, below are some things to keep in mind:
1. Don’t use just any form you find. It can be difficult to find high quality forms for free online.
2. Select forms that come from reliable sources: government entities, trusted legal form companies, organizations and entities that specialize in providing assistance on a particular legal area.
3. Read every form you plan on using carefully and if you have any questions about it ask a legal professional.
4. Be careful when filling-in a form. If you try to cut and paste language from different forms into one document make sure that everything still makes sense and is consistent.
5. Be consistent with names, dates, and places. For example if you fill-in your name as “John Smith” at the top of a form, make sure that you sign the document as “John Smith” (even if you sometimes go by a different name or nickname).
6. Keep in mind that some forms and legal documents require notarized signatures. For a notary public in your area click here.
7. Keep a copy of all signed legal documents in a safe place.
8. Be careful not to engage in the unauthorized practice of law. According to CRS 12-5-101 only licensed attorneys can practice law. Filling out legal forms for other people can be considered the unauthorized practice of law. For more information about the unauthorized practice of law click here.
Free Online Resources
1) Westminster Law Library Links
Useful links to Colorado, federal, and tax forms.
2) LLRX.com
Search or browse state and federal forms.
3) Business Forms – Colorado Secretary of State
File business documents to form and maintain various business entities and obtain certificates of good standing.
4) Colorado Permits and Licenses
Forms and documents to apply for certain permits and licenses.
5) Findlaw – Colorado Forms
Links to many Colorado-specific legal forms.
6) Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
Links to forms for the different Colorado regulatory agencies (e.g. Division of Banking, Division of Civil Rights, Division of Financial Services, Division of Insurance, Division of Real Estate, Division of Registrations, Division of Securities, etc.)
7) Colorado Judicial Branch Forms
This website provides a wide array of forms on a number of topics and is a good starting place for Colorado-specific forms. Forms are also available in Spanish.
8) United States District Court for the District of Colorado (federal court system)
This website includes civil, criminal and general administrative forms.
9) Bankruptcy Forms
This website contains the forms for the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Colorado.
10) Federal Forms Catalog
Search for federal forms by federal agency, form number, form name, or keyword.
11) US Courts – Form Library
Search for federal court forms by form number or by category/subject.
12) U.S. Copyright Forms
Links to PDF forms to file for copyright protection.
13) US Immigration Forms
Links to PDF version of United States immigration forms.
14) United States Internal Revenue Service – Tax Forms
Federal tax forms and instructions.
15) Colorado Department of Revenue Tax Forms
Colorado state tax forms and instructions.
Resources Available Through Area Libraries
To access these databases you will need to have a library card with the particular library system.
1) Denver Public Library (listed under “Legal Forms (Gale)”)
Gale Legal Forms
2) Jefferson County Library (listed under “Legal Forms-Colorado”)
Gale Legal Forms
3) High Plains Library District
Legal Forms
4) Eagle Valley Library District
Legal Information Reference Center
5) Pikes Peak Library District (listed under “Legal Forms”)
Gale Legal Forms
Fee-Based Forms
1) Nolo Legal Forms
Legal forms for wills, trusts, estates, divorce and family law, business law, patent, trademark, and copyright.
2) Bradford Legal Forms
Many Colorado-specific forms.
3) LexisONE
Select the “Forms” tab to access free and fee-based forms. Browse and search for forms by topic or jurisdiction.
4) U.S. Legal Forms
A wide variety of state and federal legal forms.