Legal Plans- Right for you, or not?
A prepaid legal plan is a scheme based on the payment, in advance,
of a set fee to defray the cost of providing future legal services
to the members enlisted in the scheme. They vary in cost, span of
legal coverage provided, and how the legal services are provided. We
will look at the varying types of pre-paid legal plans available in
the United States and how to enroll into them.
An individual pre-paid legal plan is readily available to the
general public. There are two types of individual plans: access and
comprehensive. An access pre-paid legal plan is the most fundamental
plan. It is designed to give easy access to lawyer and a set of
simple legal services for a low cost. Basic services supplied
include unlimited toll-free phone access to your attorney for
consultation and advice, letters written by the lawyer on your
behalf, brief office consultation, and the drafting or review of
simple legal documents.
More difficult legal issues not covered will be subject to an hourly
or flat rate negotiable with your provider.
The comprehensive plan goes beyond basic legal services, to supply
more complex and comprehensive coverage for a premium in cost.
Usually, all the benefits of an access plan are provided at no
charge to you, plus a broader range of services like drafting
complicated legal documents, negotiations with adverse parties,
legal representation in court cases such as divorce and custody
battles. They also cover all the charges involved in a
legal
litigation. Comprehensive plans generally start at $300 per year and
are most beneficial to middle-class families.
A group legal plan is typically sponsored by an organization as a
fringe benefit to its members. The law firm or lawyer contracted
provides free or low-cost legal coverage to all members of the
sponsoring organization. Labor unions, employers, and even
universities are now increasingly offering group legal plans to
enhance the value of their benefits package and lower the cost of
administrative burden. Law firms are contracted to provide
participating members telephone and office consultation for their
most frequently needed legal matters. These typically include:
Preparation of wills and trusts, document preparation and review,
debt and real estate matters and
family law.
More legal coverage can be contracted according to a fee schedule,
negotiable between the provider and plan sponsor, and publicized to
participating members.
Click the link below to return to:
-