Question 1

1. What Is LegalShield and How Does It Work?

Accepted Answer

Legal problems don't always happen when you expect them—and finding the right attorney when they do can be stressful and expensive.LegalShield gives you access to a network of provider attorneys through a monthly membership, so you have a place to turn when you need legal help.How It WorksWhen you have a legal question or issue, you contact LegalShield and explain what you're dealing with.They'll ask about:What your legal matter involvesWhere the matter is locatedThey use that information to connect you with a provider attorney who is licensed to practice in the appropriate location and handles that type of legal matter.You don't have to spend your time searching for an attorney and wondering whether you've found the right one.What Can You Get Help With?Depending on your membership and the type of matter, your attorney can provide services such as:Legal adviceDocument reviewAssistance with covered legal mattersWill preparationOther legal services available through your membershipIf you need services that go beyond what your membership includes, you may receive a discounted rate on additional legal services, depending on your plan.Why Have Legal Access Before You Need It?Most people don't have a lawyer they can simply call when a legal question comes up.With a LegalShield membership, you already have a place to start.Instead of waiting until you have a legal problem and then asking, “Who do I call?”—you already know where to start.That's the real value of LegalShield: access to legal help when you need it, without having to navigate the process of finding an attorney on your own.

Question 2

2. What Can I Use My LegalShield Membership For?

Accepted Answer

LegalShield is designed to give you a place to turn when you have a personal legal question or problem.Your provider attorney can help with many everyday legal matters, including:Reviewing legal documentsAnswering legal questionsHelping you understand your legal rights and optionsPreparing or reviewing certain documentsAssisting with covered personal legal mattersPreparing your willProviding other covered legal services included with your membershipYou Don't Have to Wait for a LawsuitYou don't have to be sued—or even have a major legal problem—to use your membership.Sometimes you simply want to know:“Before I sign this, should I have a lawyer look at it?”Or:“What are my rights in this situation?”That's where having access to a lawyer can be particularly valuable.What If My Situation Isn't Fully Covered?Your membership provides specific services based on the plan you choose. If you need services beyond what's included, you may receive a discount on additional legal services rather than having to pay the attorney's standard rate.The idea isn't that every legal service is free. It's that you have access to legal guidance and a provider attorney before a small legal question has the opportunity to become a much bigger—and more expensive—problem.

Question 3

3. What Does My LegalShield Membership Include?

Accepted Answer

Your membership provides access to a range of legal services, but the specific services and limits depend on the plan you choose.Legal AdviceYou can contact your provider attorney when you have a covered legal question or situation and receive legal advice without being charged the attorney's normal hourly rate for that covered service.Document ReviewYour attorney can review covered legal documents for you, subject to the page limits of your membership.This can be particularly useful before you sign something you're not sure about.Will PreparationYour membership includes will preparation, with additional benefits depending on the plan you select.Trust ServicesIf you want a trust, the higher-level plan includes trust services, while other plan levels may provide access at a discount.Additional Legal ServicesNot every legal matter is included in the basic membership. When you need services beyond what's covered, your plan can provide discounted rates on additional legal services, with the discount depending on your membership level.Family CoverageLegalShield plans can also provide coverage for eligible family members, depending on the plan.The value isn't just having a lawyer available when something goes wrong. It's having access to legal guidance before you make a decision that could create a much larger legal problem later.

Question 4

Do I Need a Will, a Trust, or Both?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. There isn't one estate-planning solution that's right for everyone.Depending on your situation, a combination of documents such as a will, durable power of attorney, and healthcare/medical power of attorney may address many of your estate-planning needs.What Does a Will Do?A will allows you to document important wishes, including:Who should receive your propertyWho you want to handle your estateYour wishes regarding minor childrenOther instructions you want documentedWhat About a Trust?A trust is a different estate-planning tool that can provide additional options for how your assets are managed and distributed.Whether a trust makes sense depends on factors such as:The type and value of your assetsYour family situationHow you want your assets distributedWhether you want assets managed for beneficiariesYour goals regarding probateHow much control you want over when and how beneficiaries receive assetsA trust isn't automatically better than a will, and not everyone needs one.What About Powers of Attorney?Estate planning isn't just about what happens after you die.A durable power of attorney can address financial and legal decisions if you're unable to make them yourself, while a healthcare or medical power of attorney can address healthcare decisions.These documents can be important parts of an overall estate plan, whether or not you have a trust.So Which Documents Do I Need?That's a question for an attorney who can look at your specific circumstances.LegalShield can give you access to attorneys who can help you understand your options and prepare covered documents based on your situation.The goal isn't to have the most complicated estate plan. It's to have the right documents in place to accomplish what you want—and to make things easier for the people who may have to carry out your wishes.

Question 5

5. What If I Need More Legal Services Than My Membership Includes?

Accepted Answer

Your LegalShield membership provides a defined set of legal services based on the plan you choose. Not every legal matter or service is included in the membership.If you need services beyond what's included in your plan, you may still be able to use the provider attorney for those services at a discounted rate, with the discount depending on your membership level.Start With Your MembershipBefore hiring an attorney on your own, contact LegalShield and explain what you need.They can determine:Whether your situation is coveredWhat services are includedWhether additional services are availableWhat discount may apply if the service isn't includedWhy This Can Be ValuableWithout a membership, you may be reluctant to call an attorney because you don't know what the conversation will cost.With LegalShield, you can start by asking for legal guidance and find out what is covered before deciding how to proceed.Your membership isn't intended to make every legal service free. It's designed to give you access to legal help for covered matters and potentially reduce the cost when you need services beyond your membership.

Question 6

6. How Does Identity Theft Protection Work?

Accepted Answer

Identity theft can involve more than someone using your credit card. Your personal information can potentially be used to open accounts, obtain credit, access financial accounts, or create other problems that can take time and money to resolve.LegalShield's identity-theft protection is included as part of its protection offerings, giving you access to assistance if you become the victim of identity theft.Why Is Legal Help Important?Identity theft can create both financial and legal problems.You may need help dealing with:CreditorsCredit reporting agenciesFinancial institutionsCollection agenciesFraudulent accountsOther organizations involved in resolving the theftHaving access to assistance can make the process easier than trying to figure everything out on your own.What If Something Happens?If you believe your identity has been compromised, contact LegalShield and explain what happened. Your membership can provide access to the appropriate assistance based on your plan and the circumstances.Identity theft isn't just about getting your money back. It's about getting your identity and financial life back under control.The exact identity-theft benefits and services available depend on the membership and plan selected.

Question 7

7. What's the Difference Between the LegalShield Plans?

Accepted Answer

LegalShield offers different levels of membership, so you can choose the level of legal protection that best fits your needs.The plans generally differ in areas such as:The amount of document review includedAnnual will updatesTrust servicesDiscounts on additional legal servicesFamily member eligibilityOther enhanced benefitsBasicThe Basic level provides access to core legal services, including legal advice, covered document review, and will preparation.AdvancedThe Advanced level provides additional benefits, including a higher document-review allowance, additional plan features, and a larger discount on services beyond the membership.PremiumThe Premium level provides the highest level of benefits, including trust services, a higher document-review allowance, and the largest discount on additional legal services.Which Plan Is Right for You?You don't necessarily need the highest level simply because it offers more benefits.The right choice depends on what you're trying to protect and what type of legal help you are most likely to need.For example, someone primarily looking for everyday legal advice and a will may have different needs from someone who wants trust services or broader legal benefits.The goal isn't to buy the most expensive plan. It's to choose the level of protection that makes sense for your situation.

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