Prepaid Legal Services

If you have ever been in the position of hiring an attorney, you know what a costly venture this can be. Whether you're involved in an accident, need tax advice, or adopting a child, attorney's fees can put a dent in your pocketbook quickly. One way of avoiding this type of expense is to sign up for prepaid legal services.

If you've never heard of prepaid legal services, the good news is that the concept is a simple one. Like most health insurance policies, the risks are spread over a huge group of customers. Each person who signs on as a member pays a yearly fee. This fee guarantees you access to a group of attorneys, just as you have access to doctors when you sign on with a Health Insurance company. Similarly to insurance, individuals can choose lawyers out of network, but they will pay out of pocket.

Prepaid legal services are usually offered in two forms. The first is “access”. These plans are much less expensive, ranging around $150 per year for a family. This enables you to have access to an attorney for simple, straightforward manners or legal advice. Often, a small co-pay is required for each meeting with an attorney. When compared to the expensive hourly fees of consulting with an attorney, this rate is quite a bargain.

“Comprehensive”, the second type of prepaid legal service offer much more extensive services and can cost at least a few hundred dollars per year. The maximum amount of money or “cap” that the plan will pay is much higher under the “comprehensive” plan.

Although signing up for a prepaid legal plan means taking money out of pocket and possibly not using the services, it is similar to insurance in that the plan protects you in emergency situations. If you do, in fact, require legal representation, you would probably spend a great deal more money if you hired an attorney directly.

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