Prepaid Legal Customer Service

During these difficult economic times, many consumers are looking to invest in prepaid legal customer service as an alternative to hiring an independent attorney and paying for consultation fees as well as hourly fees for legal services performed.

How does prepaid legal customer service work?

Members subscribe to a plan similar to an insurance plan and pay a monthly fee ranging from $12 to $30 per month depending on the services provided. The customer then has access to attorneys to ask for advice concerning legal situations as often as they may arise.

When determining whether or not a particular prepaid legal customer service plan is right for you, it is necessary to read the details of the plan to see which types of legal services are offered. For example, if you anticipate asking for advice regarding contracts or wills, you will want a plan that provides attorneys in contract law and trusts and estates law.

You will also want to determine how many attorneys are available within your service area and how accessible they are. Some prepaid legal customer service providers will allow you to contact attorneys via a toll free number. Others will provide you with a list of attorneys with whom you may set up an appointment.

Note that the cost of the plan will not necessarily cover the cost of all legal services provided. Generally, plan coverage will only cover the cost of consultation and basic legal tasks such as drafting letters or reviewing contracts. Legal services provided beyond these basic needs will likely come at an additional cost.

What are the benefits of prepaid legal customer service?

While investing in a prepaid legal customer service plan may seem unnecessary, many activities that we engage in during our everyday lives may require attorney assistance.

For example, leasing an apartment, buying a car or a home or drafting a will are all common tasks. Taking time to invest in a prepaid legal customer service plan provides peace of mind with the knowledge that important decisions are under review by a licensed attorney.

Likewise, a person renting an apartment may face a situation that makes the apartment less inhabitable and may need the weight of attorney assistance to pressure a landlord to help pay for repair costs. A person who engages in a large purchase may find that the merchandise is sub-par and may find attorney assistance helpful in securing a full refund.

Many of these are everyday situations, but at the same time may be unforeseeable. Thus, investing in a prepaid legal customer service plan may be your best defense against an unexpected legal conundrum.

Are there any drawbacks?

As with any insurance policy, it is necessary to take certain precautions.

While many legal issues may be simple enough to deal with via a one-time consultation with an attorney, more complex issues may be better dealt with by an attorney of your choosing who has expertise in a particular area of law.

In particular, be wary of using such services for pre-nuptial agreements or divorce settlements where one party may be severely disadvantaged by the use of such services. Also, when drafting a will or a trust where significant assets are at stake, it will be better to consult and hire an attorney with particular expertise on your own to protect your future interests and to ensure your wishes will be carried out.

Overall, prepaid legal customer service plans will work for you if you recognize their limitations and use them intelligently to preempt the small legal hurdles you may face in daily life.