Social Media and the DIY Trap

While, chronologically speaking, I am securely established in the middle age zone of life, I am a late comer to the Instagram platform in the social media sphere. The trickle of influence started with my sister sending me cat videos – I know, I know, this Is how it starts with a lot of folks. I realize I am not alone. Eventually, with help from said sibling, I learned how to ‘Instagram.’ And by that, I mean, scroll through content and add my ‘likes’ to certain things. Those ‘likes’ have resulted in more specific content being driven my way – those algorithms are eerily prescient. They must have a sense that I like “law stuff.” Maybe they even know I’m a lawyer. It’s spooky. But with all this legal content being sent my way, I am APPALLED at the percentage of wrong answers, incomplete information, and seriously dangerous advice that is out there given by these newly minted ‘DIY Law Experts.’

Case in point, I’ve seen about 101 ways that non-attorneys give ‘advice’ on how to “sell their house to a trust.” First of all, one doesn’t ‘sell’ their house to a trust. So big red flags there. Then they explain that the process is accomplished by simply ‘quitclaim deeding’ their property to their trust. What trust? – I ask myself. They’ve already put the cart before the horse. Another red flag. And are you certain it’s a quitclaim deed that would be the proper document – there are other types of deeds in the real property world and they each have a different purpose. Yet another red flag. I could go on, and on….

I’d leave it there if it weren’t for the fact that I have folks contacting me telling me they’ve done a lot of work on creating their trust – thanks to the advice from the aforementioned ‘DIY Law Experts’ – and that “Kelsey (the Instagram “Legal Expert”) said you don’t need an attorney to help with the process, because it’s so easy to do on your own.” But they’d like me to look through their work just the same…Holy Toledo! Kelsey also said, that if her viewers wanted to know more tips and tricks, they should just click her link and pay the low, low cost of $15 to get her book: “How to ‘Beat the System’ and Pray You Don’t Screw Yourself in the Process.” That’s a pretty big risk for you, but Kelsey stands to be the big winner if she can convince just a few folks that ‘only suckers go to law school.’ Are you willing to take that bet? I wouldn’t be – for all the reasons I’ve just explained.

I’ve said it before, I don’t attempt to DIY my own dentistry work, auto mechanics, or haircuts as a rule. There’s a reason why…I’m not trained for it. I have to have knee surgery at the beginning of this coming year – part of my preparation will NOT involve watching DIY knee surgery YouTube videos in anticipation of that event. I’m gonna leave that to the experts.

If you’d like to talk to someone with the training – one of those suckers who believed that law school was worth it – I’m here.

And hey, if you’re free and would like to chat me up, come see me at the Senior Lifestyle Expo, Saturday, October 5th, 10am-4pm at Expo Idaho, 5610 N. Glenwood St., Boise.

Additionally, the Power of Attorney clinic I’m giving on September the 28th is full. We have no more reserved spots at this time but look for additional dates coming soon.