How to Cancel LegalZoom: Steps, Refund Policy, and What to Switch To
Last updated: 2026-08-19
The short version
TL;DR: To cancel LegalZoom, call (888) 379-0854 or use live chat at legalzoom.com/contact-us. There is no self-service cancel button. Refund windows are tight: 30 days for subscriptions, 60 days for one-time filings. Once your LLC or corporation has been submitted to the state, you will not get a refund. If you still need formation or ongoing compliance, doola charges $297/year and bundles formation, EIN, registered agent, and a US address in one plan.
How do I cancel my LegalZoom account?
LegalZoom does not let you cancel from a settings page or dashboard button. You have to contact their customer care team directly. Here is what the process looks like depending on what you are trying to cancel.
Option 1: Cancel by phone
Call (888) 379-0854. Hours are Monday through Friday, 5 AM to 7 PM Pacific Time, and weekends 7 AM to 4 PM Pacific Time. Tell the rep you want to cancel your account or a specific subscription. Have your order number or account email ready. The phone line is also your path for requesting a refund.
Option 2: Cancel via live chat
Go to legalzoom.com/contact-us and start a chat session. The same customer care team handles both channels. Chat can be faster during off-peak hours, though you may wait 5 to 15 minutes during business hours.
What to tell them
Be specific about what you want cancelled. LegalZoom sells several products and subscriptions, and cancelling one does not automatically cancel the others:
- Registered agent service -- this auto-renews annually at $249/year unless you cancel before the renewal date
- Legal plan or attorney consultation subscription -- monthly or annual, auto-renews
- LZ Virtual Mail -- monthly subscription with usage fees on top
- LZ Tax -- annual subscription, separate cancellation terms
- eSignature plan -- annual, call (888) 379-0854 to stop auto-renewal
If you only want to cancel your registered agent and keep nothing else, say that clearly. If you want to close the entire account, tell them that too.
Can I get a refund from LegalZoom?
LegalZoom's refund policy (called the "LZ Guarantee") varies by product type. The key deadlines:
| Product type | Refund window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Filed products (LLC, corporation formation) | 60 days from purchase | Order must not have been submitted to the government yet. Once filed, no refund. |
| Non-filed products (operating agreement, estate plans) | 60 days from purchase, or 7 days after completion | If the document is available for download or has been mailed, you have 7 days. |
| Subscription services (registered agent, legal plan, LZ Tax, eSignature) | 30 days from initial purchase | After 30 days, no refund regardless of usage. Specific exceptions apply for legal plans (if you completed an attorney consultation), legal forms (if you downloaded one), and LZ Tax (if you received a completed return). |
| Concierge services | 30 days from purchase | Refund denied if a filing was submitted or you had more than one material consultation. |
| Attorney-led trademark or patent services | 30 days from purchase | Cancellation fees may apply. No refund once attorney consultation is completed or drafting has begun. |
Refunds do not include third-party processing fees or government filing fees. If you paid state filing fees through LegalZoom, those are gone once submitted.
The practical takeaway: if you just signed up and have not used anything, you are within your rights to get a full refund on most products within 30 days. If you are mid-subscription and past 30 days, you can cancel going forward but you will not get money back.
What happens to my business after I cancel LegalZoom?
Stopping your LegalZoom subscription does not dissolve your business. Your LLC or corporation still exists with the state. But you lose the services LegalZoom was providing, and you need to handle a few things yourself.
Registered agent
If LegalZoom was your registered agent and you cancel that service, you must designate a new registered agent with your state before the cancellation takes effect. Every state requires an active registered agent on file. If you let it lapse, your business could be administratively dissolved or lose good standing. You can appoint yourself (if you have a physical address in the state), hire another service like Northwest Registered Agent ($125/year after the free first year) or doola ($297/year bundles it with formation and EIN), or use ZenBusiness ($199/year).
EIN (Employer Identification Number)
Your EIN is yours. The IRS assigned it to your business, and cancelling LegalZoom does not affect it. You keep the same EIN forever. If you need to look it up, call the IRS Business line at (800) 829-4933. If you never received your EIN confirmation letter (CP 575), you can request a copy from the IRS.
Annual reports and compliance
If LegalZoom was handling your annual report filings or compliance reminders through a subscription service, you will need to track those deadlines yourself after cancellation. Missing an annual report can result in late fees, penalties, or administrative dissolution depending on your state. Check your state Secretary of State website for deadlines and filing requirements.
Business records and documents
Your LegalZoom account may remain accessible for a period after cancellation, but do not count on indefinite access. Download any documents you need -- operating agreements, formation documents, EIN letters, trademark filings -- before you cancel. LegalZoom's terms allow them to restrict account access, and you do not want to lose your operating agreement because you forgot to download it.
Operating agreement
Your operating agreement is a binding contract between LLC members. Cancelling LegalZoom does not invalidate it. You keep the same operating agreement. Store a copy somewhere you control, outside of any third-party platform.
Why are people switching away from LegalZoom?
LegalZoom is the most recognized name in online legal services, but the complaints that repeat across Trustpilot and Reddit are about pricing opacity, upsells, and the lack of a self-service cancellation path. LegalZoom holds roughly 4.0 to 4.3 stars on Trustpilot from tens of thousands of reviews, with common complaints about unexpected charges, difficulty reaching support, and auto-renewals that customers did not realize they had agreed to.
The registered agent service at $249/year is one of the pricier options available. Northwest charges $125/year after a free first year, ZenBusiness charges $199/year, and doola bundles registered agent into its $297/year Starter plan along with formation, EIN, and a US business address.
If you are a non-US founder who used LegalZoom for formation but found it confusing or too expensive to maintain, doola is purpose-built for that scenario. Their Starter plan covers formation in 1 to 2 business days, EIN application (no SSN required), registered agent, and a US business address -- all for $297/year. For US-based founders who want the cheapest path, Northwest starts at $39 plus state fees for formation.
LegalZoom vs. alternatives: what to switch to
| Service | Formation fee | Registered agent | EIN included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| doola | $297/year (all-in) | Included | Yes | Non-US founders, all-in-one bundle |
| Northwest | $39 + state fee | Free year 1, $125/yr after | $200 add-on | Privacy-focused, lowest entry cost |
| ZenBusiness | $0 + state fee | $199/year | $99 add-on | Budget-first, compliance tools |
| LegalZoom | $0 + state fee | $249/year | $99 add-on | Attorney network, brand trust |
For most founders leaving LegalZoom, doola offers the most straightforward replacement: one plan, one price, formation plus ongoing compliance. If you want the absolute lowest startup cost and do not mind handling EIN yourself, Northwest is hard to beat at $39.
Step-by-step cancellation checklist
- Download all documents from your LegalZoom account (operating agreement, formation docs, EIN confirmation)
- Note renewal dates for active subscriptions (registered agent, legal plan, LZ Tax, eSignature)
- Call (888) 379-0854 or chat at legalzoom.com/contact-us
- Request cancellation for each subscription you want to stop
- If within 30 days of initial purchase, request a refund
- Designate a new registered agent with your state before the LegalZoom agent is removed
- Set calendar reminders for annual report deadlines you were relying on LegalZoom to handle
FAQ
Does cancelling LegalZoom dissolve my LLC?
No. Cancelling your subscription does not affect your business entity. Your LLC or corporation remains active with the state. Only filing articles of dissolution will close your business.
Can I cancel LegalZoom registered agent without closing my LLC?
Yes. You just need to appoint a new registered agent with your state before the LegalZoom agent is removed.
How long does LegalZoom refund take?
Expect 5 to 10 business days after the request is approved. Credit card refunds may take an additional billing cycle.
What if I missed the 30-day refund window?
You can still cancel to stop future charges, but you will not receive a refund for the current billing period.
Does LegalZoom charge a cancellation fee?
No. There is no fee to cancel. You simply stop future charges.
Can I freeze my LegalZoom account instead of cancelling?
LegalZoom does not advertise a formal pause option. Call customer care and ask -- they may be able to defer a renewal, but this is not guaranteed.
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