The availability of legal helplines also allows for telephone consultations for people and helps to understand their legal rights without even having to go to an office. So the public can see lawyers less like legal bulldogs and more than, you know, lawyers. Group legal protection insurance is one of the fastest growing employer benefits. Employers who participate in a group benefit plan can provide their employees with cost-effective, high-quality legal protection. With legal resources, members have access to lawyers within our network for a fraction of the average cost out of pocket to obtain legal representation. These are unprecedented times, and at U.S. Legal Services we have seen a growing demand for various types of legal services during COVID. These include: The cost of legal protection plans (also known as prepaid legal plans) typically ranges from $9 to $30 per month. With this type of service, you can email the lawyer, call them or meet them in person for advice or representation. Legal services may include wills, trusts, divorce, traffic violations, consumer protection, child benefits, and property protection (such as disputes with a landlord).
Almost everyone needs the help of a lawyer at some point, and meaningful access to the courts is really a fundamental right under our Constitution and the First Amendment. So many Americans who need legal help often don`t seek it, and there are several explanations for this reluctance. Prepaid legal services typically cost you around $300 per year (depending on where you live). Over 10 years, this little $300 is added to $3,000. And while that doesn`t seem like a lot of money, it`s still $3,000 you could have kept in your pocket. The reality is that most Americans won`t spend $3,000 on legal fees within 10 years. So, you`ve just spent three big ones on something you probably won`t have the use of. Ultimately, this is not a good way to spend your hard-earned money.
Some legal insurance critics don`t believe the annual costs are worth covering. As critic Dave Ramsey says, prepaid legal services involve a lot of things. In fact, some people say it`s like buying in bulk for legal services. These services give you the opportunity to speak with a lawyer to discuss any questions you may have or advice you may need. And most prepaid legal services include creating legal documents like a will and trust, divorce documents, child support, and even protecting property (like those thorny issues between a landlord and tenant). If you hire a lawyer without the help of legal expenses insurance, hourly rates can start at $50 per hour and go up to $1,000 per hour and more! Where you live can make a difference, as lawyers often charge more in large cities than in small rural areas. Some lawyers require an advance payment that is paid in advance, perhaps $2,000 for a lawyer who charges $500 an hour. Compare that to being a member of a group benefit plan that covers the costs, and you can quickly and easily see the benefits of coverage. More information on accessing a family lawyer can be found here.
It`s not easy to find concrete information about how much the average American spends on legal fees, but a 2015 estimate put it at $250 a year. That`s not to say that legal fees can`t surprise you or that the service doesn`t give you peace of mind. But knowing how much you could spend (and what`s already covered) will help you decide if legal expenses insurance is worth it for you. If you have any questions or are ready to get into group legal services, contact us online or call 1.800.356.LAWS or email info@uslegalservices.net. We noted the growing demand for family law services during COVID, using child support and spousal support as examples. However, family law is much broader than that, including marriage and post-marriage contracts (here are the legal services that newlyweds may need), paternity issues, adoption procedures, custody issues, emancipation procedures for children, divorce and more. Many people compare prepaid legal services to health insurance – to the idea that you deposit into something that will be there when you ever need it. But the reality is that you`re much more likely to need health insurance than you are legal services.