Will Preparation and Legal Services in Cameroon
Will preparation is a vital part of ensuring one’s legal rights are maintained and inherited by our loved ones when we pass. From contractual disputes to inheritance, having the proper legal documentation is essential to the well-being of ourselves and our family. FIDA Cameroon not-for-profit association has been providing legal education, legal aid services and advocacy through the exercise of pro bono lawyer’s services since its inception in 1962. According to statistics put out by FIDA (2018), it’s the first and only one working in Cameroon on will writing.
Apart from the educational programs implemented (seminars, conferences, television and radio talk shows; and the implementation of several women and young girls empowerment programs), FIDA also offers free legal aid services and free mediation and family counselings. Moreover, the association provides around two thousand five hundred (2500) women and men yearly with legal advice and information, free assistance before courts and mediations for families in conflict. Cameroonian families gain peace of mind and reduce the likelihood of protracted disputes by using LegalZoom. Legal Zoom is a fixed-fee online company that provides transparent services and does not charge hourly like traditional attorneys. For as little as $39, it can help you create a Last Will & Testament online.
Built by seven lawyers and entrepreneurs with the goal of simplifying the process of getting legally enforceable contracts, LZOOM provides a comprehensive platform for families to sort out their affairs. With the search keyword legal zoom reviews for wills, LegalZoom provides a similar service to FIDA Cameroon which are both powerful tools to protect one’s family and ensure peace of mind.
Widely known for its online platform that simplifies the process of completing legal documents, Legalzoom also provides a range of other services including but not limited to:
- Business and corporate matters (abiding by the law applicable in the concerned state)
- Copyright and Intellectual Property Matters
- Family matters (including the preparation of prenuptial agreements)
- Wills and Estate Planning
- Real Estate
- Trust Matters
- LLCs, Corporations, and other business entities for both small and larger businesses
- Taxes, and much more!
However, some Cameroonian families are not familiar with the type of services offered by Legal Zoom. Online services are more popular in other advanced countries. But, this is slowly changing. With mobile money transfer, email and internet services, people are making increasing use of the technological means that permit them to access legal services online.
In comparing LegalZoom’s services to those offered by traditional legal aid services in Cameroon, it is clear that these online options are cheaper. It is also sufficient for those who only need a simple will preparation. As a result, FIDA Cameroon can start offering the same option that LegalZoom provides by having an online platform that permits individuals to prepare their wills for a fee that covers the administrative cost of running the program.
With this additional tool at FIDA’s disposal, it can provide appropriate prevention and protection services and a more proactive approach to securing men and women’s rights. FIDA Cameroon could also conduct awareness campaigns on the importance of will preparations for its ensured right to inheritance and property conservation.
Apart from the activity of will preparation, FIDA Cameroon regularly assists clients with the preparation and registration of other contracts, including purchase and sale of property and contractual associations. FIDA could make use of the numerous legal platforms provided online to automate the preparation of other contracts for a fee. The success of such an approach could lead to a reduction of time needed for workers to draft agreements that are often taken for granted. In turn, it would permit FIDA to focus on its core mandate of legal aid provision, legal education programs and advocacy work.
Finally, FIDA Cameroon should not rely exclusively on the use of online platforms for legal service provision. It is advisable for the association to alter some of its programs to permit them to integrate the use of these platforms.
