HotDocs Software

I have been working in HotDocs for the past 11 years, as a user and a coder. To be able to use this program to assemble our documents saves an incredible amount of time. I have had to enter in repetitive information on a set of 25 documents many times over the years, but being able to use HotDocs has been a great improvement and a fantastic time saver. Over the years, I have been able to increase the amount of client documents used through HotDocs and gained the interest of several other departments.

Pros

Our firm works on a vast amount of forms that are specific to our individual clients needs - these are not fill-in forms, but documents ranging from 1 single page to 100+ pages. We use a sometimes complicated Answer File whereby HotDocs lets us quickly assemble a single document or multiple documents - I sometimes do 20 or more documents at a time. The amount of time that is saved being able to use HotDocs for this document assembly process is phenomenal.

Cons

If the answer to a variable is not readily available some end-users would like there to be a prompt on the draft document indicating what fields/questions have been left blank. For the person filling in the answer file those unanswered questions are known at the end of the answer file, but after assembly these documents are passed on for further editing and review and a reminder of what information was not available at the time of assembly would be helpful.

We are drafting legal documents with complex interviews in minutes, saving hours of drafting every day.

Pros

Very flexable, no matter how complex the document is you can build the template in hotdocs. The interview is also great, being able to control what the user sees depending on inputs makes the program very easy to use for the end user. Also, the help page is incredibly helpful, I hope people are using it because it is nothing like the usual help page programs have.

Cons

Rather steep learning curve. Took me a couple of weeks to get the hang of it, and the built in functions are hard to find without the help feature. Once you have them memorized its great though. I imagine it will take me a few more months to master the program.

Works with our Cal Wills and Trusts program wonderfully!

Pros

Very reliable and compatible with our needs

Cons

Cannot say, we have had no issues. The install was great

Pros

It's so amazing to use. The assembling of documents is so smooth there is hardly no chance to make a mistake when filling it out. It can be customized to each company's need. Data entry is very easy.

Cons

No issues until now. Very reliable and it reduces so many weeks. Feel comfortable using it. Very nice software.

it will work with Eldercounsel as the front end. When I can get it to work, it does a nice document I cannot get word to change easily.

Pros

There is little to like -- when it works, it does allow the document to be created and then you can edit in Word --

Cons

it forces a new mentality that is different from every other merge program and forces too much data entry that is restricted and secretive and non user friendly. It won't work with Word Perfect. If you don't use it daily, you have to retrain yourself. I get inscrutable update messages and am fearful ty try.

Pros

Once it's set up, it is SO easy to create work product. Moreover, once you learn how to use the tools, they are easy to use.

Cons

Takes quite a bit of time to learn how to use the tools. While it doesn't take a computer science background, that type of background would probably be helpful.

Pros

I love the integration with Wealth Counsel and the customization that it allows with the word documents I produce for estate plans.

Cons

Navigating the menus can be difficult. However, I use them so infrequently that this may just be a function of my lack of use.

A lot of time saved in entering client data over and over. Easier to proof read my docs.

Pros

Time saving, carries client info. into all docs, able to mirror husband and wife documents for wills, etc.

Cons

Sometimes takes too long to assemble doc., it may be possible, but I would like to know how to customize a template for docs I use frequently.

Pros

I like the software's capabilities. That it is based in BOOLEAN phrases, which are relatively easy to work with.

Cons

At times, figuring out how to get the software to perform as I want is a bit burdensome. But I use the HotDocs forums as a massive resource, and often find my answers there.

Pros

It does everything for you; doesn't change with updates - stays nice and remains consistently productive.

Pros

The concept is great, but the implementation is poor; the videos are not much help. I have not found customer service to be of great assistance.

Cons

It is difficult to understand, difficult to set up, and difficult to work with. I have read the instruction manual, taken the the three day course, and am still having problems with setting it up.

Pros

Ease of use with other programs, customer service is very responsive, and documents look professional and clean.

It's really the best software out there for what it does. It just still seems behind the times in terms of connectivity, componentization, and still no HiDPI support.

Pros

It is extremely flexible and can help you craft just about any document that you want. I prefer the desktop version to the cloud version. It just works every time!

Cons

I feel that HotDocs has been stagnating recently. Here are some things that they need to address:
*Easy import/export of answer data to other formats. For example, if I use some other tool such as an online form, it should have the ability to import that data into an answer file.
*It still doesn't support Hi-DPI displays.
*It would be great it if could be more flexible in the storage of answer data. The ability to componentize the fields/answer data would be wonderful. As it stands, each template is limited to only one component file.

Creating motions, petitions, orders, briefs, and so much more is easy with HotDocs. It would be difficult for us to practice Family Law without it!

Pros

We've been using HotDocs for almost 15 years. We have an enormous amount of time invested in the creation and updating of hundreds of HotDocs templates that help us create a huge variety of critical documents. The product is extremely powerful and flexible.

Cons

The least likable factor about HotDocs is that it has become so expensive over the years.The basic program hasn't changed a lot since then but the cost has become exorbitant. We've been through several changes of HotDocs ownership over the years and the one thing I can count on is that the cost will go up every time. I think you could sell a lot more firms on this product if using it weren't so expensive.

Great efficiency.

Pros

HotDocs saves us a lot of time drafting complex documents. The software is well-written, and reliable. It is highly cost-effective.

Cons

HotDocs requires a time investment on the front end, wherein the document construction process must be formally defined and articulated. (To be sure, this task would be common to any effort or tool to automate the construction of complex documents.) HotDocs also requires a fair amount of care and feeding, but not so much because the product requires it but rather because of the base documents and the process change. I recommend that any customer find a HotDocs partner that can assist with building and maintaining the workflows, and base documents.

Pros

Ease of use, quickness to end product. Amount of work that can be done with one set of data entry.

Cons

Lack of customization.

Pros

After the initial setup of our templates, we have found that the accuracy of the draft documents are better and review process takes far less time.

Cons

While I understand that it may be hard to be fully compatible with every client management software it would be beneficial to allow for the client/contact information to be able to be at the very least imported and exported via .csv file. We currently use Clio for our client management software and it would be great if HotDocs would integrate with Clio.

Pros

It's possible to create very detailed, complicated forms that would really save time if used by the entire firm.

Cons

It was too complex for our needs. We don't use enough standardized forms, and to set up an entire template for each document and attorney is too time-consuming. The software is also pretty expensive.

Pros

It allows us to use outher software to seamlessly create document forms which enables us to work more efficiently and much more quickly.

Cons

Time consuming to set up during initial set up and there is a learning curve for new users. There are many things that could be done to simplify the setup and learning process.

Document automation saves time and reduces errors. I've found HotDocs to be extremely reliable, stable, and bug-free.

Pros

This product's integration with Microsoft Word is outstanding. It is a fantastic scripting tool for document generation. I've also prepared some documents in WordPerfect and it seems entirely capable with that as well.

Cons

Hands down, the data entry interview is crude at best. It is probably ok for a developer who has never worked with another UI, but the "automation" it provides comes at a steep price - loss of control. If you want truly professional user interfaces, you'll have to write the front-end in some other language, write an "answer file" HotDocs can understand (which is not hard, it is very basic XML) and then let HotDocs work its magic to assemble the language in Word. When used that way, HotDocs is very powerful and flexible. When used in its native UI, it is fairly inflexible.