In this day and age, it has become increasing popular to use older documents, such as old wills and trusts from previous clients, like a template for creating new documents for clients. This came about as a result of the increasing use of word processing, which allows lawyers to create newer documents with greater efficiency. Of course, this has led to many problems. For example, some lawyers have come to rely upon the use of “cutting and pasting” portions of a document to use in the new document. While this in and of itself is not a bad act, there is always a chance that the drafting attorney could make a mistake and leave in information that was related to a different client in a document for a new client. There are also problems that arise from the save function on computers. The drafter might choose to save over documents or documents might be moved around so that no one can find them. Therefore, the chance that a lawyer could commit malpractice is increased.
To avoid these problems, a lawyer might want to consider using a document assembly software. This type of program allows the drafter to input information, and the program assembles a document based upon the type of document and the inputted information. Furthermore, this type of software is capable of producing several different documents after inputting the information once. A lawyer can choose from a variety of systems, and most vary in terms of complexity and cost.
See Trent L. Bush, Document Assembly Software, Trusts and Estates: Illinois State Bar Association Newsletter, 7-8, June 2012.
