Common Services offered by Pre-paid legal Plans

Considering a pre-paid legal plan? He’s a run-down of the services 

you’re most likely to get and also some legal documents you need to sign

before you enroll 

Telephone and Office Consultation: You have unlimited telephone access to 

a panel of attorneys regarding any legal matter of interest to you. You can also make brief 

consultation visits to your lawyer for up to 30 minutes per day at no cost to you. 

The only condition placed on these two benefits is that you enquire about 

a different legal matter. 

This aspect of coverage provided by legal plans is one of the most 

beneficial because it promotes preventive law. Preventive law is very much 

like preventive medicine – it helps in anticipating potential problems and 

taking the appropriate legal steps so that unnecessary legal problems or 

risks are avoided. 

With a simple phone call to your lawyer you can avoid 

getting embroiled in a hellish legal situation, and you can even identify 

legal rights you don’t even know you had.  

Follow-Up Service: The panel of lawyers will write letters and make phone 

calls on your behalf to adverse third parties. Such follow-up service may 

be all it takes to solve many of your legal problems. 

Legal document review: Simple personal legal documents, such as your 

insurance policies, sales contracts and leases will be reviewed. Any 

questions of legal nature that you have about the documents will also get 

answered by your attorney. 

Drafting of wills: A will is a written document that regulates how you want 

your property distributed after your death. Your attorney will draft your 

will according to your state’s laws so that it’s valid when you die. He 

will also advise you on any provisions you might want to consider, such as 

appointing a guardian and establishing a trust. 

Discount on regular fees: Any additional services not covered in the 

written fee agreement will be at regular fees – either hourly or flat – 

with a discount between 20 to 30%. These services generally include family 

matters, such as divorce and the custody of children, and court 

representation, such as traffic tickets and lawsuits. 

Some of the legal paperwork you need to read carefully, agree on and sign 

include the following:

Written fee agreement: This is an agreement that outlines what services are 

provided in the plan, how much it costs and the methods of payment.

Grievance procedure: This document details the procedures that will be 

taken by the provide to resolve any complaints about attorneys or disputes 

regarding service fees.

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Idaho, Wisconsin Record Largest Quarterly Increase Among States in "Landlord/Tenant-Eviction" Concerns for LegalShield

LegalShield Intake Data Points to Increasing Financial Pressure in Mountain States, Midwest as Consumers Turn to Lawyers for Housing Assistance Amid Eviction Fears

Idaho and Wisconsin recorded the largest increase among U.S. states and Canadian provinces in consumer requests for service relating to "landlord/tenant eviction" concerns, according to new intake data from LegalShield, the world’s leading provider of affordable legal and privacy protection plans. The company reviewed only states and provinces that had a minimum of 100 requests for service over the first six months of the year.

Comparing first to second quarter, Idaho recorded a 76.8% spike in requests for service around "landlord/tenant-eviction" concerns, the largest increase among any state, while Wisconsin notched a 45.7% increase. Louisiana (44.8%), Pennsylvania (35.9%), Rhode Island (23.9%), Ohio (23.1%), Maryland (22.6%), Iowa (22.4%), Arkansas (22.3%), and Texas (20.7%) rounded out the top 10 states with largest quarter-over-quarter increase.

"With millions of members across the U.S. and Canada, we can see almost immediately which legal issues are of greatest concern to individuals and family households," said Keri Norris, Chief Legal Officer at LegalShield. "Since January, the number of requests for legal advice around housing and eviction have grown exponentially, and now represents one of the three most requested service needs for our members. While the media often focus their attention on the biggest states with largest numbers of coronavirus cases, our data shows that today’s economic hardship is widespread, which includes smaller states that are often ignored in the national discussion. As the President and Congress debate a new economic aid package, and extending the federal moratorium on evictions, it is an important reminder that we’re truly all in this together."

In addition to reviewing state data, LegalShield also looked at cities throughout the country that were experiencing the largest increase in request for services around landlord-tenant evictions. Of the Top 50 states and provinces, three – California, Florida and Texas – accounted for more than half (26) of all cities seeing the most rapidly increasing needs around landlord-tenant issues. The company reviewed only cities that had a minimum of 50 requests for service over the first six months of year, however, California, Florida and Texas each had several thousand inquiries on average.

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In California, the city of Novato in northern Marin County saw the largest quarterly increase for LegalShield around landlord-tenant eviction concerns of any city in the country, jumping 280.0% from the end-of-March to end-of-June period. After Novato, the cities in California showing the largest quarterly increases included Pleasanton (#9), Sunnyvale (#14), Oceanside (#15) and Moreno Valley (#16). California had the most cities showing financial strain, overall, with 17 in total making the Top 50 list.

In Florida, the cities of Melbourne (#2) and Miramar (#4) ranked in the top five for landlord-tenant eviction concerns, according to LegalShield, followed by Altamonte Springs (#20), Tamarac (#23), Tampa (#36) and Homestead (#43).

In Texas, the cities of Carrolton (#35), Tomball (#40) and Plano (#47) witnessed the most significant rise in housing-eviction concerns, for the company.

About LegalShield and IDShield

A trailblazer in the democratization of affordable access to legal protection, LegalShield is one of North America’s largest providers of online legal subscription plans covering more than 4.4 million people. Its IDShield identity theft solution for individuals and families has more than one million members. LegalShield and IDShield serve more than 141,000 businesses. In addition, over 40,000 companies offer LegalShield and IDShield plans to their employees as a voluntary benefit. Both legal and identity theft plans start for less than $25 per month. For more information about LegalShield, visit: https://www.legalshield.com/ or for more information about IDShield, visit: https://www.idshield.com/.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200805005253/en/

American Consumers Facing ‘Imminent Economic Collapse’ Without Additional Federal Stimulus, Per New LegalShield Report

 Company’s suite of predictive indices show bankruptcy fears are rising sharply even though official statistics lag and will take months to confirm

Released today, the July 2020 LegalShield Law Index, a suite of leading indicators of the economic and financial status of U.S. households and small business, saw its Consumer Financial Stress Index remain little changed in July, despite widespread job loss since February, 

as Americans awaited the outcome of negotiations to extend federal fiscal support. However, in a worrying sign, the company’s Bankruptcy Index rose for the first time in 9 months, reversing its steady downward trend in 2020 and marking the sharpest percent increase in series history. 

LegalShield has been measuring the demand for various legal services for nearly 16 years, collecting real-time data from consumers on those issues of greatest concern. The company’s data, therefore, often detects trends before traditional indicators and is viewed as predictive.

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This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200813005135/en/

LegalShield Bankruptcy Index: Bankruptcies Begin to Rise (Business Wire)

"For the first time in U.S. history, American consumers are facing an imminent economic 

collapse because of political gridlock in Washington D.C.," said LegalShield CEO Jeff Bell. "The earlier actions of Congress and the Federal Reserve forestalled a full meltdown of the U.S. economy,

 but without additional economic aid now our data suggest that we are on the precipice of an epic wave of small business and personal bankruptcies. In July, total intakes – consumer inquiries into specific legal services - surpassed 90,000 for the

 first month since January and were at the second highest level in nearly eight years, since August 2012. We are setting new record intakes each month around landlord-tenant, billing and employment issues, showing the pain is only worsening. 

President Trump’s recent executive actions are helpful only in focusing attention on the problem, not in solving the plight of millions of Americans. Only Congress with the power of the purse can do that, and lawmakers need to act boldly and quickly before we spiral completely out of control."

The LegalShield Law Index reflects the demand for legal services among the company’s provider law firms in all 50 states, and includes five sub-indices focused on consumer financial stress, housing activity, real estate, bankruptcy and foreclosure. 

The five sub-indices tend to lead an existing economic indicator that sheds light on the health of the U.S. economy. Highlights from July are as follows:

The LegalShield Consumer Financial Stress Index was little changed for the month, ticking down 0.1 point from 66.5 in June to 66.4 in July. Federal efforts to mitigate the economic collapse have kept consumers afloat, but significant uncertainty remains regarding the extension of these measures.

The LegalShield Bankruptcy Index rose (worsened) 6.9 points from 23.4 in June to 30.3 in July, the sharpest increase in series history although still below pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile total

U.S. bankruptcies eased in June and are down 31% from June 2019.

 However, large banks are anticipating the likelihood that thing could get worse, and have set aside tens of billions of

 dollars in Q2 to offset impending loan losses. While consumer bankruptcies remain historically low, most signs point to an increase, and the company’s bankruptcy index is designed to provide an early warning signal.

The LegalShield Housing Activity Index reached a new high for the third consecutive month, suggesting that housing starts should continue to improve over the coming months. The index increased 1.7 points to an all-time high of 128.4 in July. LegalShield and broader housing data suggests construction activity will continue to recover in the near- to medium-term. The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index has followed suit, for example, surging 14 points in July with its next report scheduled for August 17.

The LegalShield Real Estate Index improved to its highest level in 14 years, in line with the jump in existing home sales. The index increased 1.1 points in July to 107.5, the highest level since June 2006. Meanwhile, existing home sales surged a record 21% in June, as anticipated by recent movements in LegalShield data. The National Associations of Realtors will next report home sales on August 21, anticipating another strong month of activity.

The LegalShield Foreclosure Index edged down in July, falling 1.1 points to 38.9 in July, near a historic low. Without the moratorium on evictions, however, there is evidence that foreclosure activity could spike in the coming months.

About LegalShield and IDShield

A trailblazer in the democratization of affordable access to legal protection, LegalShield is one of North America’s largest providers of online legal subscription plans covering more than 4.4 million people.

 Its IDShield identity theft solution for individuals and families has more than one million members. LegalShield and IDShield serve more than 141,000 businesses.

 In addition, over 40,000 companies offer LegalShield and IDShield plans to their employees as a voluntary benefit. Both legal and identity theft plans start for less than $25 per month. For more 

information about LegalShield, visit: https://www.legalshield.com/ or for more information about IDShield, visit: https://www.idshield.com/.

Ohio State Bar Association and Legal Shield Partner to Provide Affordable Legal Services to Ohioans

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA) 

and online legal services provider LegalShield today launched their partnership, which will expand access to affordable legal help for all Ohioans. 

LegalShield is a prepaid legal services provider with a statewide network of attorneys. 

For one low monthly cost, consumers can become members and gain access to an attorney in their 

area who can help with a variety of legal issues. 

Members can contact LegalShield and be connected to an attorney within a few hours. 

  "There is no better program for consumers to access the law and lawyers than LegalShield,” said Wayne Hassay, managing partner at the law firm of Maguire Schneider Hassay and 20-year LegalShield veteran.

 

“It provides what consumers are seeking in the modern world - ease of use, affordability, mobility - while also making certain consumers have by their side a lawyer they know, like and trust for all problems, big or small." 

 The OSBA is a statewide association of attorneys committed to upholding the highest standards in the practice of law. As part of the new partnership, OSBA member attorneys are invited to join the LegalShield network for client referrals. LegalShield members receive the benefit of an expanded network of experienced lawyers in their area who will address their legal concerns at affordable rates.

 “OSBA member attorneys are well-equipped to handle the everyday legal needs of the public as part of the largest network of attorneys in the state who are held to the highest standards in the practice of law and continuing legal education,” said OSBA CEO Mary Amos Augsburger. 

 “This partnership will provide the public with access to some of the most accomplished attorneys in the state for an affordable price, helping us achieve our continuing mission to increase access to justice in Ohio.”

 With plans starting at $24.95 a month, LegalShield members can take advantage of: Simple wills, powers of attorney and living wills prepared by lawyers; Lawyer representation for basic traffic citations; 

Unlimited telephone consultations with a lawyer on any legal matter; Document review and legal research by a lawyer and; Telephone calls and letters by lawyers on a consumer’s behalf. For legal needs outside of the standard benefits,

 LegalShield members receive 25% off their attorney’s standard hourly rates. "Facilitating the attorney client relationship and access to justice are paramount to LegalShield,” said Keri Norris, LegalShield's General Counsel.