Are you facing a legal issue and cringing at the idea of retaining an attorney?

Everyone knows that hiring an attorney can be expensive, overwhelming, and stressful. However, some people have a legal resource they either forgot about or didn’t even know they had in the first place which can take much of the apprehension out of the equation. A legal insurance plan may be available to you, especially if you are already enrolled in one.

Sometimes referred to by other names such as Legal Protection Insurance (LPI) or Pre-Paid Legal (PPL), legal insurance that is similar to health insurance, is there to assist you when a legal matter pops up. It’s there to provide basic legal services in many situations where you may need a lawyer.

Many of these legal plans are provided through your employment as a benefit of your job. In these cases, you enroll with your employer’s plan and a small amount is deducted from your paycheck every pay period. These plans give you access to a nationwide network of attorneys and legal resources without the costly legal fees. In general, the attorney assists you with your action and bills the legal plan, not you, for their fees.

If your employer does not provide a legal insurance plan as a benefit, there are various organizations that may offer a pre-paid plan benefit or another lawyer referral program (sometimes with reduced attorney fee rates). These include:

• Unions
• Banks (credit unions)
• University and school district faculty and staff
• Cooperatives (insurance, food, or homeschooling)
• Specialty groups or clubs
• Credit card companies
• Insurance companies

Each legal insurance plan provider has its own coverage, policies, and procedures. There are plans where there will be little to no further expense to you, besides the minor out-of-pocket costs (such as filing fees or recording costs) and your insurance premiums. Some plans offer a reduced fee (flat or hourly), if a legal matter is not covered.

As for coverage areas, many provide services in the following practice fields:

• Consultation and advice
• Personal legal document review and preparation
• Family law (divorce, custody, support, adoption)
• Real estate (HOA disputes, landlord, contractor issues, buying, or selling)
• Debt matters (bankruptcy or debt collections)
• Estate planning, including trusts and wills
• Consumer protection (fraud, identity theft or credit report reviews)
• Juvenile defense
• Civil matters (eviction or foreclosure)
• Traffic violation and misdemeanor (driver’s license or suspension, restoration, or traffic tickets)

So if you find yourself in that “I need to contact a lawyer” frame of mind, consider obtaining legal insurance. It may be the peace of mind you need. If you have it, do take advantage of it!

If you have any questions about a new estate plan or need to update your existing estate plan, contact the Law Offices of Ian S. Topf, APC by calling (619) 546-9777 or by email: ian@topf-law.com. The Law Offices of Ian S. Topf, APC offer a free consultation on a variety of issues, including estate planning, family law/divorce, bankruptcy, criminal/DUI matters, and landlord/tenant disputes.