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Pre-Paid and Legal Service Plans: They Have Their Differences

The terms “legal plans” and “pre-paid legal services” are commonly used interchangeably. While they share a lot of characteristics in common, pre-paid and legal service plans they do have their differences and you should be aware them.

Both of these terms refer to an arrangement by which you pay a fixed monthly or yearly fee in exchange for legal services. The idea behind them is to save consumers on high legal fees while offering a valuable service. That’s where the differences lie: what kind of service is offered and what is covered. What are you entitled to in both plans?

What Is a Pre Paid Legal Compensation Plan?

Legal Services also called legal insurance, are plans that are similar to those provided by Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) and cover the legal needs of the member, spouse and any dependent children.

An employer may offer its employees a wide array of compensation; including a type of compensation known as pre paid legal compensation - offering enrollment in an employee benefit plan where employees may receive legal services up to a certain level.

A pre paid legal compensation plan, also known as a pre paid legal plan, is an employee benefit wherein employees have the ability to access attorney services.

TYPES LEGAL SERVICES & PLANS

Types of Prepaid Legal Services

The most basic plans provide advice and consultation by telephone. Plan members receive a few hours of free office consultation with their assigned attorney. They may also include review and advice on simple legal documents, preparation, drafting or an update of a simple will. Phone calls and letters can be written on behalf of members, a service helpful for credit problems and consumer protection.

More comprehensive plans cover clients’ personal legal needs ranging from services that require more time and effort on the part of your attorney, such as contracts, wills and deeds, to legal representation in negotiations and courts cases related to family matters, bankruptcy and real estate issues.

Types of Legal Plans

A prepaid legal plan is a system based on the payment in advance of a set fee to defray the cost of providing future legal services to the members enrolled in the plan. They vary in cost, scope of legal coverage provided and how the legal services are provided.

An individual pre-paid legal plan is readily accessible to the general public. There are two types of individual plans: access and comprehensive.

An access pre-paid legal plan is the most basic plan. It is designed to give easy access to lawyers and a set of simple legal services for a low cost. Basic services 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.

Complex 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 offer more complex comprehensive coverage at a premium cost. Generally, all the benefits of an access (basic) plan are provided at no cost to you, plus a broader range of services like drafting complicated legal documents, negotiations with adverse parties, and legal representation in court cases such as divorce and child custody. They also cover all the costs involved in a legal litigation.

Finally, be aware that some service providers have been subject to scrutiny based on possibly illegal conduct. Thus, employers are carefully reviewing their providers in order to provide the most efficient plans for their employees. Do your research and be selective.

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Related Questions

Where can prepaid legal services be obtained?

There are a few companies that offer prepaid legal services. These are individuals that provide limited legal services at a considerably lesser cost than bigger firms. There is a list in the local Yellow Pages.


Can a prepaid cell plan provide data service?

Yes some prepaid call plans do offer data service. T-mobile has a good prepaid plan that offers data service.


Which prepaid cell plans offer the best value in the United States?

There are several prepaid cell phone plans in the US. I personally like the service and phones at Cricket.


Where can someone go to find a pre paid lawyer?

Prepaid legal advice can be had for approximately $26.00 a month. This is a fairly new service and there are many different firms available online. They can help with small and large legal problems.


Learn More About Prepaid Legal Services?

You never know when you may need legal help, and hiring an attorney is expensive. Hourly rates can be as much as $500 an hour. This makes contacting an attorney out of the question for most people's budgets. Prepaid legal services offers you basic legal services within a network of attorneys. You pay a small monthly fee to a prepaid legal service and you have access to attorneys when you need one. This type of insurance can save you hundreds of dollars in future attorney fees. In many states throughout the country, prepaid legal services are regulated like any other type of insurance. Some prepaid legal service providers offer you a choice of attorneys located within a network. These are called closed network prepaid legal services. Other providers offer an open network of prepaid legal services that allow you to choose any attorney. To find a prepaid legal service provider in your area, you can search the Internet. Make sure you understand the type of legal services the prepaid legal service provider offers in your area. Most providers offer basic legal services such as civil claims court representation, drafting legal letters and other basic types of legal service. If you anticipate you need more than basic legal services, talk with the legal service provider to understand what is available. Prepaid legal services are a great idea because, like any other type of insurance, you cannot anticipate what might happen in your future. An experienced attorney can advice you in legal matters that can save you money. If you are a business owner, obtaining prepaid legal services can help you make business decisions that can affect your business. The convenience of having access to legal advice can give you peace of mind, and the confidence of knowing that you have legal counsel available in your defense. Prepaid legal service providers offer small monthly payment plans. Be sure you understand their services before signing a contract. Not all prepaid legal service providers offer the exact same type of service. Research the prepaid legal service providers in your area, and contact several companies before choosing a provider.


What to look for with prepaid cell phone plans?

I would look at T-mobile's prepaid service. Its available at most wal mart and T-mobile stores. They offer the best rates for any prepaid service.


Getting the Most out of Your Prepaid Phone Service?

Are you sick of getting little for what you pay for with your prepaid phone? Do you feel as if you�re forking over too much money for limited service. Lots of people can get this feeling about their prepaid phone service without looking over the plans carefully. Typically, prepaid phones come with various prepaid plans that offer different features. In the majority of cases, the best deal for prepaid phone service is the unlimited plan. These plans function very similarly to a regular cell phone bill, and you won�t be forking much more over than you originally would have if you paid by the minute.


Are there any cell phone plans no contract?

There are man cell phones out there with no contract. Those are prepaid phones. T-Mobile prepaid has monthly plans that you can switch when the 30 days of using the service end.


What carriers provide prepaid cellular phone service?

Nearly all the major cell providers offer prepaid service plans. These include Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and Virgin. Compare rates online to get the best deal. Perhaps the most well known prepaid carrier is Tracfone. But most other major carriers also have a prepaid service plan, even if they do not advertise it.


Who has the best prepaid cell phone plans?

For the best prepaid cell phone plan for basic service you will want to use Tracphone. They offer great plans with lots of available minutes and its eays to add more. They have phones that are affordable and easy to use as well.


Does the assurance of prepaid plans make a person more willing to pay?

The assurance of prepaid plans is very likely to make a perosn more willing to pay. For example, pre-paid cellphones allow a customer to terminate at any time without paying early termination fees (which average at around $200) and they also give the customer peace of mind that they won't go over minutes. Other prepaid plans such as prepaid legal help is also popular with consumers because it gives comfort in the knowledge that if any situations requiring legal advice come up, they are taken care of - not to mentions many prepaid legal plans are very affordable!


does at&t offer prepaid phone plans?

Yes AT&T does offer prepaid phone plans. But most of the phones now require a data service plan that is separate from the plan. The data service is used to search the web and many of the phones require internet use for their operation.