Code of Ethics
The principles that govern how Forms Legal builds, publishes, and maintains its legal document templates.
Why We Publish This
Legal documents affect people’s money, property, employment, and family. Forms Legal is a technology platform, not a law firm, and we believe a platform operating in a “Your Money or Your Life” area owes its users a clear, public statement of the standards it holds itself to. The five commitments below are binding on every template we publish.
Our Five Commitments
Accuracy and Primary Sources First
Every template is grounded in official statutory and government sources for its jurisdiction — the German BGB, Austrian ABGB, Swiss OR/ZGB, Indian Contract Act 1872, UK Companies Act 2006, and the equivalent codes for each of the 36 countries we cover. We provide structure based on the letter of the law; we do not invent legal rules or interpret the law on a user’s behalf.
Open Access Without Barriers
Access to basic legal documents is a public good. Our standard is to keep the core template library free, with no account, paywall, or payment required, so that a lack of funds does not prevent people from protecting their rights. Documents download as PDF or Microsoft Word and can be signed online at no cost.
Algorithmic Transparency
We are open about the fact that our templates are produced through a combination of legal research, AI-assisted drafting, and automated statute-reference validation, built and maintained by the founder (a non-lawyer) — not by an editorial team. We do not imitate a licensed attorney where none has reviewed a document, and we do not misrepresent the nature of the service. Our methodology is described in full on our Editorial Guidelines page.
Privacy by Design
We collect the minimum data necessary to provide the service. Documents are generated in the browser; we do not require registration to download. We adhere to the GDPR and applicable local privacy laws, as described in our Privacy Policy. Our goal is to provide a tool, not to harvest user data.
Accountability and Correction
Laws change, and no automated process is perfect. When a user or legal professional reports an inaccuracy in a statute reference or clause, we commit to reviewing it and, where confirmed, correcting it on a priority basis and recording it with the date received and the date resolved. Correction details are handled through our Accuracy Policy.
What We Are Not
Forms Legal is a technology platform that provides reference document templates. We are not a law firm, we do not provide legal advice, and using our templates does not create an attorney–client relationship. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified lawyer admitted in the relevant jurisdiction.
We will never knowingly publish a template designed to facilitate fraud, evade mandatory legal protections, or mislead a counterparty. Templates that would require unlawful or deceptive use are out of scope for this platform.
Reporting a Concern
If you believe a template contains a legal inaccuracy or raises an ethical concern, use the “Found an error? Let us know” link on any document page, or contact us via our About page. We review every report.