Everyone needs legal assistance at one time or another. Rest assured MPHPL has Gale LegalForms resources ready for library cardholders.
State-Specific
Gale LegalForms is relevant to Indiana laws. There are categories like divorce, bankruptcy, power of attorney, and incorporation, among others. Users choose a category and then select from a list of available forms. Each form gives a full description to help anyone find what they need. With one click, the form opens with spaces to click and fill in your information, like your name, city, and even case number. Forms are available in various formats, including Microsoft Word, Rich Text, PDF, and sometimes even Word Perfect. The forms included in the database are official forms that law firms use, so you never have to wonder if the court system will accept them.
Highly Searchable
Forms can be keyword searched by category or title too. The search results include every available form related to those keywords. It makes finding a form by keyword very easy. For example, if you need information about quit claim deeds and didn’t know that was a real estate term, you could search quit claim.
Sample Letters
One of the categories provided is Sample Letters. There are letters to use for requesting a credit report of a minor, to remove your name from a mail marketing list, employment letters for suspensions, warnings, and disciplinary action, and a sample letter to request an extension on a lease from a tenant to a landlord. These are just a few of the handy sample letters available.
Tax Forms
There are also links to tax forms available in Gale LegalForms. The database links you to that state’s treasury department website when you choose a state. It is a quick, easy way to find the list of available tax forms for your state without navigating the whole state website.
Attorney Directory
An Attorney Directory is also built into Gale LegalForms. You can find an attorney practicing in a particular field of law very quickly by browsing the practice area categories. There is a description of the firm under most entries that includes information like when the firm was established, what the firm specializes in, who to ask for, or how many attorneys are practicing there. Once you find a promising entry, you can click on Start next to the name and fill out a client intake form that goes directly to the attorney’s office.
Additional Resources
There are external links from Gale LegalForms too. You can find links to places to get vital records, the IRS, or the court system. Again, having these direct links help you find specific agencies of the law quickly and easily. You may not always know what different agencies are called or what they do, so having direct links brings you one step closer to the correct information.
Easy to Use Interface
The left side menu remains consistent throughout your use of Gale LegalForms. It includes the search box but also a link to definitions. Within definitions is another search box to search for a specific legal term, or choose from A to Z to browse a list of terms under each letter of the alphabet.
Similar in style to the definitions is a Law Digest in the left side menu. It is more of a legal encyclopedia, as it goes into more detail about legal terms than just a definition. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency entry includes articles about the agency’s various activities and a bibliography with links for further reading.
Q & A Button
There is also a Legal Q & A button. Here you can choose a category of the law like automobiles, insurance, or civil actions liens and read questions and answers on that subject. As you can see, Gale LegalForms contains a wealth of information on virtually any legal topic. You can easily find the correct form and open, edit, and save it immediately for personal use. With remote access to LegalForms, you can be assured that your privacy is respected. Legal situations can be emotional and overwhelming, so having trustworthy and convenient links to legal information puts everyone at ease.
Access Gale LegalForms from our MPHPL online resources webpage: mphpl.org/online-resources.