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Welcome
New hire employees are eligible to enroll within 90 days from the date of hire
Benefits Proudly Offered to Florida International University Employees
Be fully prepared and confident
with LegalGUARDsm
Learn about legal insurance, a smart option for your protection.
Product Administered By: LegalEASE
Protect your family’s future, with LegalGUARD.
You work hard to make the right choices for your loved ones, especially when it comes to legal and financial matters. Get the peace of mind you want and the protection you need with a LegalGUARD Plan. LegalGUARD offers valuable benefits to shield your family and savings from unexpected legal issues.
According to the American Bar Association,
More than 70 percent of U.S. households will have the need for a lawyer in the next 12 months. And the same study found most consumers feel uncertain about how to tell a good lawyer from a bad one.
Be fully prepared and confident with LegalGUARD.
Nobody likes to be caught off guard, especially when it comes to legal matters. So how can you affordably protect you and your family from those unforeseen events? By becoming a LegalGUARD member for less than a cup of coffee a day, your family and your wallet have the protection of the LegalGUARD Plan.
Life can be complicated. Finding a good attorney doesn’t have to be.
With LegalGUARD, it’s easy to choose the best attorney, because you get assistance from highly trained and qualified personal specialists who review the details of local attorneys and help you find your best source for legal advice.
The value of being a LegalGUARD member.
Being a LegalGUARD member saves you time and costly legal fees. But most importantly, it gives you peace of mind because it supplies fully paid services for: financial issues, home and residential, auto and traffic, estate planning and wills, consumer and civil law and consultation.
With a LegalGUARD plan, you get:
• An attorney with expertise specific to your legal matter
• Access to a national network of attorneys with exceptional experience that are matched to meet your needs
• Coverage for in and out-of-network
• Online articles, tools and tips
• Concierge help finding a better attorney and navigating common individual or family legal issues
• Up to 10 hours of financial counseling per year
Coverage
- Home and Residential
- Financial and Money Matters
- Consumer
- Auto and Driving
- Family and Personal
- Civil Lawsuits
- Estate planning and wills
- Elder Law
LegalGUARD Plan Coverage
Benefits are designed to meet the typical needs of an employee and their family. There are no deductibles to worry about for covered services. Benefits cover the attorney’s time. Other costs such as filing fees or court costs are not covered. Listed below are the types of matters that are covered by the LegalGUARD Plan. This plan offers the convenience of in-network and out-of-network benefits. Many of the below areas are fully covered in-network.
Plan Cost
The LegalGUARD Plan is only $16.56 per individual, or $19.84 per family per month, via payroll deduction. Add InfoARMOR for an additional $5.50 per individual, or an additional $7.50 for individual plus spouse or an additional $10.00 per family per month. LegalGUARD Plan and InfoARMOR totals are $22.06 per individual, $24.06 per individual plus spouse and $29.84 per family.
New hires have 90 days to enroll after hiring.
Who's Covered?
The Member’s lawful spouse and children, and for whom a premium is paid. Eligible family Members are the Member’s spouse, Member's same-sex domestic partner, and Member’s unmarried dependent children, including stepchild, legally adopted child, child placed in the home for adoption and foster child, up to age 19, and from age 19 up to 25 years if they are enrolled in an accredited school or college as full-time student(s) and are primarily dependent upon the Member for support.
|
PLAN OPTIONS |
INDIVIDUAL PLAN |
FAMILY PLAN |
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Price |
$16.56 |
$19.84 |
NOT APPLICABLE |
|
ADVICE AND CONSULTATION |
INDIVIDUAL PLAN |
|
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
|
Law Office Consultation1 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$0 TO $400 |
|
Telephone Consultation |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$0 TO $400 |
|
Consumer |
LegalGUARD Plan Coverage |
|
Typical Costs Without Plan |
|
Document Preparation Simple Deed Promissory Note Consumer Dispute Correspondence Installment Sales Agreement Simple Affidavit General Power of Attorney: Member & Family Member Lease Agreement – Tenant Only Time Share Agreement |
COVERED COVERED COVERED COVERED Covered COVERED COVERED COVERED |
COVERED COVERED COVERED COVERED COVERED COVERED COVERED COVERED |
$75 to $250 $75 to $250 $75 to $250 $75 to $250 $75 to $250 $75 to $250 $75 to $250 $75 to $250 |
|
Life Insurance Claims2 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$1,500 and Above |
|
Consumer Dispute |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$200 to $1,000 |
|
Small Claims Court Representation1 |
COVERED IN FULL UP TO 2 HOURS WITH REMAINING HOURS AT 25% OFF HOURLY RATE |
COVERED IN FULL UP TO 2 HOURS WITH REMAINING HOURS AT 25% OFF HOURLY RATE |
$300 to $800 |
|
Wills and Estate Planning |
LegalGUARD Plan Coverage |
|
Typical Costs Without Plan |
|
Simple Will or Codicil for: Member, Spouse & Family Member |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$150 to $500 |
|
Complex Will1 |
25% DISCOUNT |
25% DISCOUNT |
$150 and above |
|
Living Will Health Care Power of Attorney |
COVERED COVERED |
COVERED COVERED |
$75 to $250 $75 to $250 |
|
Living Trust Document |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$1,200 to $2,000 |
|
Probate of Small Estate1 |
COVERED IN FULL UP TO 2 HOURS WITH REMAINING HOURS AT 25% OFF HOURLY RATE |
COVERED IN FULL UP TO 2 HOURS WITH REMAINING HOURS AT 25% OFF HOURLY RATE |
$300 to $800 |
|
Home |
LegalGUARD Plan Coverage |
|
Typical Costs Without Plan |
|
Purchase of Primary Residence |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$350 to $900 |
|
Sale of Primary Residence |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$350 to $900 |
|
Refinancing of Primary Residence |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$250 to $700 |
|
Landlord/tenant Disputes2 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$500 to $2,000 |
|
Financial |
LegalGUARD Plan Coverage |
|
Typical Costs Without Plan |
|
Debt Collection Defense: Pre-litigation Defense |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$500 |
|
Debt Collection Defense: Trial Defense2 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$2,000 |
|
Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 or 132 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$250 to $700 |
|
Foreclosure2 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$500 to $1,500 |
|
Tax Audits2 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$2,000 and above |
|
Civil |
LegalGUARD Plan Coverage |
|
Typical Costs Without Plan |
|
Civil Litigation Defense2 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$1,500 and above |
|
Family |
LegalGUARD Plan Coverage |
|
Typical Costs Without Plan |
|
Uncontested Separation2 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$500 to $2,000 |
|
Consent/Default Divorce2 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$500 to $2,000 |
|
Uncontested Divorce2 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$500 to $2,000 |
|
Contested Divorce, as defined2 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$1,500 TO $5,000 |
|
Name Change |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$150 to $400 |
|
Guardianship/Conservatorship |
UNCONTESTED: FULLY COVERED |
UNCONTESTED: FULLY COVERED |
$500 to $1,500 |
|
Governmental Agency Adoptions |
UNCONTESTED: FULLY COVERED |
UNCONTESTED: FULLY COVERED |
$500 to $1,500 |
|
Stepparent Adoptions |
UNCONTESTED: FULLY COVERED |
UNCONTESTED: FULLY COVERED |
$500 to $1,500 |
|
Juvenile Court Proceedings |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$1,000 to $2,500 |
|
Preparation of Prenuptial Agreement |
FLAT RATE OF $239 |
FLAT RATE OF $239 |
$500 TO $1,500 |
|
Criminal |
LegalGUARD Plan Coverage |
|
Typical Costs Without Plan |
|
Traffic Defense (resulting in suspension or revocation of license) |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$500 to $1,500 |
|
Administrative proceeding (regarding suspension or revocation of license) |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$500 to $1,500 |
|
Misdemeanor Defense2 |
COVERED |
COVERED |
$1,500 to $5,000 |
|
Traffic Ticket Defense |
FLAT RATE OF $89 |
FLAT RATE OF $89 |
$500 TO $1,500 |
|
Additional Benefits |
INDIVIDUAL PLAN |
FAMILY PLAN |
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
|
Identity Theft Recovery Coaching |
COVERED |
COVERED |
NOT APPLICABLE |
|
Immigration Services |
NOT COVERED |
COVERED |
NOT APPLICABLE |
|
Mediation, (Where available) |
COVERED |
NOT COVERED |
NOT APPLICABLE |
|
Savings Assistance Services |
COVERED |
COVERED |
NOT APPLICABLE |
|
Elder Law Platinum Package |
NOT COVERED |
COVERED |
NOT APPLICABLE |
1Some Limitations May Apply.
2Subject to Managed Case Rules.
Exclusions
This Policy excludes benefits for the following:Appellate court proceedings, class actions, interventions, derivative action and amicus curiae filings.
The preparation and filing of individual, partnership or estate tax returns, appellate or administrative proceedings related to tax returns, litigation before the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Court of Claims or any other federal, state or other courts with respect to tax matters.
Matters relating to securities, trademark or patent matters; business or commercial interests, including, but not limited to, professional, partnership and/or corporate matters; matters involving the law or laws of jurisdictions other than the United States and its territories and Canada; any matters involving a government (domestic or foreign) entity or agency; farm related issues; matters involving commercial or rental property transactions, including the purchase, sale or lease of investment or income-producing property. A two-family house, whether or not used by the Member as his or her primary residence, is deemed an investment or income-producing property.
Legal services which are fully paid for or provided at no cost by any governmental agency, organization or insurance company.
Matters that the attorney deems frivolous, spurious, harassing, or unethical (collectively referred to as “frivolous”) or otherwise prohibited by the Model Rules of Professional Conduct of the state in which the attorney is licensed.
Costs associated with covered legal services, including but not limited to, all fines, court costs, penalties, sanctions, expert witness fees, bonds, bail bonds, attorney fees, exhibits, deposition costs, filing fees, transcripts, postage, telephone, photocopying, recording fees, messengers, judgements, jury fees, court reporter fees, investigative costs and all other incidental and out-of-pocket legal and litigation costs.
Any services on behalf of a Family Member against the interests of the Member.
Any employment-related matter. This includes, but is not limited to, any dispute involving the Member’s employer or its affiliates, their officers or directors, the Member’s employee benefit plans, credit unions, programs or arrangements sponsored by an employer, or cases involving workers’ compensation, unemployment compensation, sex harassment, age discrimination, etc.
Any dispute or proceeding against the following persons or entities, their officers, directors, employees, or agents: any person or entity involved in the sale of the group policy; Administrator or its subsidiaries; Policyholder; Member’s employer; Virginia Surety Company, Inc. it’s parents, subsidiaries or any affiliated or successor company, plan underwriter or reinsurer; Plan Sponsor; or any Participating and/or Non-Participating Attorney, if the dispute or proceeding pertains to services provided under the group policy / Certificate of Coverage.
Except regarding LegalEASE Helpline and Financial Helpline services, benefits will not be provided in connection with pre-existing matters, which includes any matter where the Member and/or Family Member is on notice as to a pending legal dispute or has previously contacted an attorney.
Identity Coverage
Protecting What Matters Most
PrivacyArmor
PrivacyArmor offers consumers a comprehensive and proactive defense against identity theft. Features include:
SNAPD® Identity Monitoring
We create a SNAPD identity blueprint (an acronym for Social Security number, Name, Address, Phone and Date of birth) to monitor over 700 billion data elements (and growing by 45 million more daily) from sources such as new credit cards, wireless accounts, retail credit accounts, automobile loans, mortgage loans, payday loans, check and check reorders, utility accounts and change of address requests.
InfoArmor is capable of identifying anomalies indicative of fraudulent activity up to 90 days sooner than credit monitoring. This patented technology makes InfoArmor’s identity protection more than enough to stand up to 21st century crime.
Privacy Advocate® Remediation
Our Privacy Advocates are CITRMS® Certified and ITRC Trained to be experts in identity restoration. If we detect suspicious activity a Privacy Advocate will:
- Initiate a live phone call to discuss any fraudulent activity associated with the account
- Act as a dedicated case manager to act on behalf of the victim and resolve the issue from start to case completion
- Implement preventative steps to proactively prevent fraud
Additional PrivacyArmor features include:
IdentityMD
Whether it is learning about ID theft, protecting a wallet’s contents, or even restoring an identity following fraudulent events, IdentityMD is designed to offer interactive, step-by-step assistance.
Out of Pocket Expense Coverage Protect consumers from the financial damages of identity theft with our $25,000 identity fraud reimbursement policy that is underwritten by Travelers Insurance.
Solicitation Reduction
We help reduce the root cause of up to 20% of identity theft by reducing junk mail, stopping pre-approved credit offers, and ending telemarketing calls.
Plan Cost: InfoARMOR is an additional $5.50 per individual, or an additional $7.50 for individual plus spouse, or an additional $10.00 per family per month, via payroll deduction.
Who's Covered: Cost includes coverage for both the employee and spouse. InfoArmor coverage may only be added to the LegalGUARD Plan, not sold seperately.
Network
- Experience in the Legal Matter Needed
- Quality Time Spent in Consultations
- Years of Legal Training and Experience
- Up-to-date Legal Training Each Year
- Lawyers Who are Service-Oriented
- Lawyers Who Have a Solid Local Reputation in their Communities
- Exceptional Backgrounds
- Years of Courtroom and Trial Experience
- To comply at all times with the Rules of Civil Procedure and Criminal Procedure and the Rules of Professional Conduct applicable to the jurisdiction.
- To return member's calls promptly within one business day, and communicate with members such that a member and the member's family do not voice substantiated concerns over promptness or frequency of your or your firm's communication.
- To not enter continuances, adjournments, or the like without the member's comfort and consent.
- To not arrange for substitutions or stand-ins unless the member has been previously advised and that the member understands that you remain responsible for the case and to contact you if there is any concern or if proceedings do not go as planned.
- To always respect a member, their needs and family.
- To maintain a professional office, in staffing and appearance.
- To fully explain yourself such that a member has an understanding for the reasons behind your recommendations and suggestions, even if a member may not hire your firm.
- To not complete any additional work that will result in a fee to the member, where not covered by the member's plan, until a fee arrangement is fully understood by the member and there is a written agreement.
- To help each member individually and ensure that everything you do is in the interest of the member.
- To notify Legal Access if there is or may be the possibility of a conflict of interest or violation of ethical codes.
- To notify Legal Access if there may be a misunderstanding or potential service issue where there may be a complaint without breaking any client confidences.
- To direct any grievances or concerns, such as process procedure or billing, to Legal Access and not a member.
- To not refer any member to another attorney without the knowledge and consent of Legal Access if you cannot assist.
- To take responsibility and uphold the highest standards of customer service delivered by any and all firm staff or employees that have interaction with members.
- To communicate and cooperate with Legal Access on any concern, inquiry or issue and return any communication from Legal Access within one business day.
About
We are here to serve you...
We believe people deserve to have a sense of safety and security, a peace of mind, when it comes to being protected in legal matters that they may not be the experts in. To have access to legal professionals that can ease and solve their legal burdens. We are here to serve you.
How we do it is by providing an in-depth pool of resources to accommodate all your legal needs. Legal Access and LegalEASE have broad experiences with employees in small, medium and large companies in the public and private sectors, local, state and federal government offices, unions, employee assistance plans, work-life companies, and organizations, when it comes to solving your legal matters.
What we do is provide value by creating unparalleled access to a network of skilled attorneys to cover your legal needs with options in convenient plans. We are a diversified employee benefits company engaged in administration, network development, technology management and insurance, based in Houston, Texas. Since 1971, we have grown from five attorneys in Los Angeles providing services to a modest amount of companies into a company with the strongest attorney network across America. We provide assistance to members over half of a million times each year throughout the United States and the world.
Legal Access Companies consists of several companies and brands to best meet customer needs, including but not limited to: Legal Plans USA, Legal Access Plans, LegalEASE, and LAMG. Legal Access Plans has a wide array of products across several market segements, including worksite, employee assistance and worklife. LegalEASE is the group's primary insurance brand and focuses primarily in the worksite market. LegalEASE products are underwritten and presented by Virginia Surety Company, part of the Warranty Group.