Who is eligible for this plan?
Legal Resources™ is only available through employers who are sponsors of the plan. It is not offered to individual subscribers. If you leave your employer and wish to continue your Legal Resources™ plan, you may do so. You need to contact our Subscriber Relations Department as soon as possible to set up an individual payment method. We can be reached 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday - Friday at (757) 498-1220 or 1-800-728-5768.
How do I know if I'm enrolled?
Upon enrollment, subscribers will receive in the mail a New Member Packet with a Membership card. Along with your card(s), you will receive a detailed Summary of Benefits which details all aspects of your coverage and fully defines your plan. If you need new cards, please contact our Subscriber Relations Department.
What if I move, change my name/spouse/dependents?
If you have moved (within the state or out), changed your name, or need to add dependents to your coverage, please contact our Subscriber Relations Department immediately so we can update your subscriber information. If we don't know you have moved, any correspondence from us or your attorney might not reach you.
How do I contact my attorney?
It is important that you call your plan attorney immediately for any scheduled proceeding such as a traffic matter, closing, court appearance, etc. If you wait until the last minute, you might be left to handle things on your own. Attorneys are booked for court appearances weeks and months in advance. They cannot drop obligations to other subscribers and clients to handle a matter for you on short notice. Please be considerate of other subscribers; call well in advance! Also, many attorneys spend mornings in court. It may be easier to speak with them in the afternoon.
When you call your plan attorney, be sure to let them know that you are a Legal Resources™ Subscriber.
Will I have to pay my attorney?
The plan covers the attorney fees for all the covered services listed in the Summary of Services. You will be responsible for all non-attorney costs such as filing and service fees, title searches and surveys, courier fees, etc.
For services covered under the Expanded Coverage Rider/Extended Benefits, you will receive an attorney fee discount. You will arrange payment directly with the attorney and your bills should reflect the appropriate coverage discount. A retainer fee might be requested by the attorney, depending on the legal matter.
How do I pay for my benefits?
Since Legal Resources™ is a benefit offered only through employers, the primary payment method is payroll deduction. If you have left your sponsoring employer and are paying Legal Resources™ directly or are a sponsoring employer with billing questions, you can contact our full-time Billing and Data Maintenance Department. We can be reached 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Monday - Friday at (757) 498-1220 or 1-800-728-5768.
Does my plan cover pre-existing issues?
Your Plan will cover pre-existing matters at a discounted or reduced attorney fee under the Expanded Coverage Rider or Extended Benefits. If you have any questions, please contact our Subscriber Relations Department. You need to join Legal Resources™ before you have a legal need.
Does my plan cover my children/spouse?
Yes! The legal services provided by the plan attorney shall be available to the following covered persons, (if identified in the Subscriber Enrollment Form), who shall be related to the Subscriber as follows:
- Subscriber and spouse, residing in same residence.
- Unmarried child (including adopted, step, and foster child) under 19 years of age who has the same address as the Subscriber and/or is dependent upon the Subscriber for support and maintenance.
- A widow, widower, or a child of a deceased Subscriber (who was enrolled at the time of death), except as to matters arising out of the Subscribers death in which case the individuals shall be considered dependents until the matters are concluded.
- An unmarried child (including adopted, step, and foster child) under 23 years of age, who is dependent upon the Subscriber for support and maintenance and enrolled in a recognized full-time course of study at high-school or college. Representation availability is based on the Subscriber's Covered Area. A full-time college course of study is defined as 12 or more credit hours per semester.
I'd like to get a will prepared. Is this covered?
Yes! Your coverage includes the preparation and review of your Last Will and Testament as well as periodic revisions. Ask your attorney about adding a Contingent Trust Provision for minor children, a Medical Durable Power of Attorney, and an Advanced Medical Directive ("Living Will"), which are included in your coverage.
What if my teenager gets a traffic ticket?
Your dependent teenage children included on your enrollment form are fully covered under your Legal Resources™ Plan. In the event of a traffic ticket, call your Plan Attorney immediately. Advice, counseling, and courtroom representation are included in your coverage.
What if my Plan Attorney tells us he cannot provide representation due to a conflict of interest?
Conflicts may arise. If that happens, call the Legal Resources™ Subscriber Relations Department at (757) 498-1220 or 1-800-728-5768.
I'm confused about what is fully covered and what the Rider covers.
The Master Plan will cover the attorney fees for the Legal Services listed in your "Summary of Services." The Extended Coverage Rider provides up to a twenty five percent (25%) attorney fee and /or legal assistant/paralegal fee discount or reduced rate on customary and usual fees where specialized attorney services are available. Your Plan Attorney will evaluate all factors, before representation will be provided.
My issue is outside of my Plan Attorney firm's covered area. Can I get help under the plan?
Yes, for most situations. If this happens, call our Subscriber Relations Department to discuss the availability of a firm and arrange a referral if possible.
What if I call my law firm, and they tell me my attorney is out of town for a week?
In the legal profession, attorneys may get involved in a case which requires more court days than originally scheduled. In such a case, the law firm should provide alternative representation or counseling when appropriate. If you encounter a problem with your firm, please contact our Subscriber Relations Department.
My spouse and I are pursuing an uncontested divorce. Is my spouse covered?
Only the subscriber is covered in a divorce. An attorney will not meet with both parties to discuss their separation; it could create a potential conflict of interest. Since you are the subscriber, the attorney will prepare all of the legal documents necessary for your uncontested divorce.
I have a question regarding my employer who is the Legal Resources™ Plan sponsor.
Legal Resources™ cannot assist in any way with employer/employee issues.
I am using my Plan Attorney for an uncontested divorce, a civil action in General District Court, and a real estate closing, and I received a bill. I thought those were covered services.
Legal Resources™ covers attorney fees only. You will not be billed an hourly attorney fee for a covered service. However, you are responsible for non-attorney expenses such as filing fees, court costs, commissioner fees, title work, service fees, and other non-attorney expenses incurred in the pursuit of your legal matter. If you believe that you were billed attorney fees for a covered service, call our Subscriber Relations Department.
I have not received my child support, or I have not paid child support, or I need to raise or lower my child support. What can my plan do for me?
Call your Plan Attorney. Your plan provides an initial attorney consultation to review your legal situation and determine your entitlement and/or your responsibilities under the law. Your attorney will recommend a course of action you can take to resolve your situation. If you decide to retain your attorney in this situation, you will be covered under the Expanded Coverage Rider/Extended Benefits Rider, which provides an attorney fee discount, or reduced fee.
I have a summons, but my court date is a week after my effective coverage date. Will this be covered?
The legal proceeding related to the court date was initiated before your effective coverage start dates; therefore, it is considered pre-existing. Signed separation agreements and real estate documents are also considered pre-existing situations. All pre-existing matters are covered under the Expanded Coverage Rider/Extended Benefits at a up to 25 percent attorney fee discount or reduced fee.
We are thinking about financing an addition to our house and then refinancing our home. Can my plan help?
Yes. Refinancing and home equity loans are covered under the Expanded Coverage Rider/Extended Benefits at a up to 25 percent attorney fee discount or reduced fee.
Do you have a legal review/complaint/grievance process?
Legal Resources™ provides a fully staffed Subscriber Relations Department to represent subscribers with attorney issues. Subscribers may submit complaints and grievances directly to this department.
Questions? Contact us today!