UPL Compliance FAQ
Effective Date: July 20, 2025
Q: What is the Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL)?
A: UPL laws prevent non-attorneys from performing tasks that require a law license, such as giving legal advice or representing clients in court.
Q: How does Justiva Paralegal avoid UPL?
A: We strictly provide document preparation services—not legal advice. This means we:
✓ Format, proofread, and file documents you’ve selected
✓ Ensure proper court styling (margins, captions, etc.)
✗ Never advise which forms to file or predict case outcomes
Q: Why can’t you explain legal terms in my documents?
A: Explaining laws constitutes legal advice. Refer to:
• Your state bar association (list below)
• Free self-help resources (list below)
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State Bar Referral Services
(All 50 state bar associations for attorney referrals)
● Alabama: www.alabar.org
● Alaska: www.alaskabar.org
● Arizona: www.azbar.org
● Arkansas: www.arkbar.com
● California: www.calbar.ca.gov
● Colorado: www.cobar.org
● Connecticut: www.ctbar.org
● Delaware: www.dsba.org
● Florida: www.floridabar.org
● Georgia: www.gabar.org
● Hawaii: www.hsba.org
● Idaho: isb.idaho.gov
● Illinois: www.isba.org
● Indiana: www.in.gov/judiciary
● Iowa: www.iowabar.org
● Kansas: www.ksbar.org
● Kentucky: www.kybar.org
● Louisiana: www.lsba.org
● Maine: www.mainebar.org
● Maryland: www.msba.org
● Massachusetts: www.massbar.org
● Michigan: www.michbar.org
● Minnesota: www.mnbar.org
● Mississippi: www.msbar.org
● Missouri: www.mobar.org
● Montana: www.montanabar.org
● Nebraska: www.nebar.com
● Nevada: nvbar.org
● New Hampshire: www.nhbar.org
● New Jersey: www.njsba.com
● New Mexico: www.nmbar.org
● New York: www.nysba.org
● North Carolina: www.ncbar.org
● North Dakota: www.sband.org
● Ohio: www.ohiobar.org
● Oklahoma: www.okbar.org
● Oregon: www.osbar.org
● Pennsylvania: www.pabar.org
● Rhode Island: www.ribar.com
● South Carolina: www.scbar.org
● South Dakota: www.sdbar.org
● Tennessee: www.tba.org
● Texas: www.texasbar.com
● Utah: www.utahbar.org
● Vermont: www.vtbar.org
● Virginia: www.vsb.org
● Washington: www.wsba.org
● West Virginia: www.wvbar.org
● Wisconsin: www.wisbar.org
● Wyoming: www.wyomingbar.org
Free Legal Self-Help Resources
(State-specific legal aid websites for DIY forms/guides)
● Alabama: alabamalegalhelp.org
● Alaska: lawhelp.alaska.gov
● Arizona: azlawhelp.org
● Arkansas: arlegalservices.org
● California: courts.ca.gov/selfhelp.htm
● Colorado: coloradolegalservices.org
● Connecticut: ctlawhelp.org
● Delaware: delaware.freelegalanswers.org
● Florida: flcourts.org/Resources-Services
● Georgia: georgialegalaid.org
● Hawaii: legalaidhawaii.org
● Idaho: idaholegalaid.org
● Illinois: illinoislegalaid.org
● Indiana: indianalegalhelp.org
● Iowa: iowalegalaid.org
● Kansas: kansaslegalservices.org
● Kentucky: klaid.org
● Louisiana: louisianalawhelp.org
● Maine: ptla.org
● Maryland: mdcourts.gov/legalhelp
● Massachusetts: masslegalhelp.org
● Michigan: michiganlegalhelp.org
● Minnesota: lawhelpmn.org
● Mississippi: mslegalservices.org
● Missouri: lsmo.org
● Montana: mtlsa.org
● Nebraska: legalaidofnebraska.org
● Nevada: nlslaw.net
● New Hampshire: nhlegalaid.org
● New Jersey: lsnj.org
● New Mexico: newmexicolegalaid.org
● New York: nycourts.gov/courthelp
● North Carolina: legalaidnc.org
● North Dakota: legalassist.org
● Ohio: ohiolegalservices.org
● Oklahoma: oklahomalegaladvice.org
● Oregon: oregonlawhelp.org
● Pennsylvania: palegalaid.net
● Rhode Island: rilawhelp.org
● South Carolina: sclegal.org
● South Dakota: sdlegalservices.org
● Tennessee: tals.org
● Texas: texaslawhelp.org
● Utah: utahlegalservices.org
● Vermont: vtlegalaid.org
● Virginia: valegalaid.org
● Washington: washingtonlawhelp.org
● West Virginia: lawv.net
● Wisconsin: legalaction.org
● Wyoming: wyominglegalservices.org
Federal Resources:
● U.S. Courts Self-Help: www.uscourts.gov/self-help
Important Legal Disclaimer
Justiva Paralegal Services is not a law firm. We do not offer legal advice or court representation. All services are for informational purposes and document preparation only for self-represented (pro se) clients. You are responsible for reviewing and filing your documents with the appropriate court. Always consult an attorney for legal advice. No hidden fees - all payments processed securely via Stripe or PayPal.