Legal Form Books by Subject

"My Trusty Gavel" by Brian Turner  is licensed by CC BY 2.0.  Resized from the original.

Legal Form Books by Subject

Law students and lawyers often use sample or model forms when creating documents. Generally there are two main categories of forms. One category includes instruments. Instruments are used in transactions such as contracts, estates and trusts, and real property. The second category includes trial preparation materials, like pleadings, which are filed with the court. Form books can cover the entire span of the law or they can be geared towards a specific area. Here are a few helpful hints about forms:

• Sample forms are just that—samples. Many must be refined to meet your particular needs and wants. You should find forms in multiple sources and compare them. Then incorporate the best aspects into your own form.
• Make sure the information in the form is still current. Check the law underlying the form (e.g., a statute) and identify any updates to ensure the document conforms to current law.
• Court forms that are specific to a jurisdiction are often available at local law libraries. This is especially true for the different counties; therefore, ask the county law librarian about court forms.
• Other forms, including NC Court forms, can be found online.
• Some form books include annotations, checklists, and citations to cases in which the forms were used.

Below is a list of form book categories covered by this guide. 

To find forms at our library, search the UNC Catalog. Searching our catalog for form books is best done in the advanced search screen. You can search multiple keywords at once and you can limit the search to the law library. General keyword searches that can be used include: (1) North Carolina, (2) federal, (3) forms, (4) drafting, and (5) a specialized area of law such as contract, property, bankruptcy, or tax. By using two or three of these terms you should find multiple form books available on your topic.

Some of these resources have an older copyright date. For the most updated materials, please consult any pocket parts and/or supplements connected with each resource.

Finally, always feel free to ask a reference librarian for a good place to find forms.