LLC Structure, and Attorneys vs. Legal Zoom?

[Cameron G.]

Hello, my family and I are forming a partnership to start investing together. They already have some investments but no LLC or other entity protection. The latest advice I was given was to have a parent LLC and elect to have it taxed as a partnership, with separate disregarded LLC's for each property. Anyone else do it this way? Anyone advise a different way?

Second question: how have you guys had your operating agreements made? I went to a conference where the attorney was selling his which could be customized with his help, but I held off to do more research. Are the $100 legal zoom versions sufficient? Would a pre-written customizable one for $500-1000 be necessary? Or Should we just hire an attorney to start from scratch and end up paying 3k+?

Any other general advice for asset protection and tax deductions welcome.