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Benefits Proudly Offered to KCETLink Employees
Be fully prepared and confident
with LegalGUARD
Learn about legal insurance, a smart option for your protection.
Product Presented By: Nationwide® Product Administered By: LegalEASE
LegalGUARD can help ease the two biggest stresses -finding and paying for an attorney.
Nobody likes to be caught off guard, especially when it comes to legal matters. 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. Being a LegalGUARD member saves you time and costly legal fees. But most importantly, it gives you confidence and provides coverage for common legal matters.
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
- Concierge help finding a better attorney and navigating common individual or family legal issues
- Hours of financial counseling and coaching
We all make some sort of plan in life. But have you ever considered the possibility of a legal problem?
You've graduated from college and are planning for your future - where to get hired, which company will put you on the path to success. Whether to be single or date or settle down, and with the right person. Legal problems can be unexpected and interrupt your plans. LegalGUARD provides coverage for your specific legal matter so you won't be caught off guard.
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. With LegalGUARD you have access to a national network of credentialed attorneys and the help you need to find the best attorney for your legal matter with its concierge service.
Coverage
The value of a LegalGUARD Plan.
- 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.
Plan Cost
The LegalGUARD Plan is only $8.98 per pay period*, via payroll deduction.
*Based on a 24 pay deduction schedule.
Who's Covered?
The Member’s spouse and Member’s unmarried dependent children, including stepchildren, legally adopted children, children placed in the home for adoption and foster children, up to age 19, and from age19 up to 26 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 COVERAGE COMPARED TO COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
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ADVICE AND CONSULTATION |
LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE |
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
LAW OFFICE CONSULTATION1 |
COVERED |
$0 TO $400 |
TELEPHONE CONSULTATION |
COVERED |
$0 TO $400 |
REVIEW OF SIMPLE DOCUMENTS1 |
COVERED |
$50 TO $400 |
Simple Dispute Resolution Correspondence1 |
COVERED | $50 TO $400 |
CONSUMER |
LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE |
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
DOCUMENT PREPARATION: |
COVERED |
$75 TO $250 |
CONSUMER DISPUTE2 |
COVERED |
$200 TO $1,000 |
SMALL CLAIMS COURT REPRESENTATION1 |
FULLY COVERED UP TO 2 HOURS WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT |
$300 TO $800 |
WILLS AND ESTATE |
LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE |
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
SIMPLE WILL OR CODICIL FOR: |
COVERED |
$150 TO $500 |
LIVING WILL OR |
COVERED |
$75 TO $250 |
PROBATE OF SMALL ESTATE1 |
FULLY COVERED UP TO 2 HOURS WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT |
$300 TO $1200 |
HOME |
LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE |
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
REAL ESTATE CLOSING4 |
FLAT RATE: $175 |
$350 TO $900 |
REFINANCING OF PRIMARY RESIDENCE |
COVERED |
$350 TO $900 |
TENANT DISPUTES1,2 |
Fullly Covered up to $1,000 with Remainder at 25% Discount |
$500 TO $2,000 |
FINANCIAL |
LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE |
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
DEBT COLLECTION DEFENSE: PRE-LITIGATION DEFENSE2 |
COVERED |
$500 |
DEBT COLLECTION DEFENSE: TRIAL DEFENSE1,2 |
Fully Covered up to $700 with Remainder at 25% Discount |
$2,000 |
BANKRUPTCY (Chapter 7)4 |
Flat Rate: $750 | $1,200 TO $3,000 |
FORECLOSURE1,2 |
Fully Covered up to $480 with Remainder at 25% Discount |
$1,500 |
TAX AUDIT1,2 |
Fully Covered up to $1,500 with Remainder at 25% Discount |
$2,000 AND ABOVE |
CIVIL |
LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE |
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
CIVIL LITIGATION DEFENSE1,2 |
Fully Covered up to $1,500 with Remainder at 25% Discount |
$1,500 AND ABOVE |
FAMILY |
LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE |
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
UNCONTESTED SEPARATION1 |
FULLY COVERED UP TO 10 HOURS WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT | $800 |
CONSENT/DEFAULT DIVORCE1 |
FULLY COVERED UP TO 10 HOURS WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT | $500 TO $1,500 |
UNCONTESTED DIVORCE1 |
FULLY COVERED UP TO 10 HOURS WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT | $800 TO $1,500 |
CONTESTED DIVORCE1,2 |
FULLY COVERED UP TO $1,500 WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT | $1,500 AND ABOVE |
PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT4 |
Flat Rate: $239 | $500 TO $1,500 |
NAME CHANGE |
COVERED |
$150 TO $400 |
GUARDIANSHIP/CONSERVATORSHIP1 |
UNCONTESTED: COVERED |
$500 TO $1,500 |
GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY ADOPTIONS1 |
UNCONTESTED: COVERED |
$500 TO $1,500 |
STEPPARENT ADOPTIONS1 |
UNCONTESTED: COVERED |
$500 TO $1,500 |
JUVENILE COURT PROCEEDINGS |
COVERED |
$1,000 TO $2,500 |
CRIMINAL |
LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE |
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
TRAFFIC TICKET DEFENSE4 |
Flat Rate: $89 | $500 TO $1,500 |
SERIOUS TRAFFIC MATTERS (RESULTING IN SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE)2 |
COVERED |
$500 TO $1,500 |
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING (REGARDING SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE)2 |
COVERED |
$500 TO $1,500 |
Misdemeanor Defense1,2 |
Fully Covered up to $1,500 with Remainder at 25% Discount |
$500 TO $1,500 |
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS |
LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE |
TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN |
Discounted Contingency Fees3 |
Included | NOT APPLICABLE |
Simple Incorporation4 |
Flat Rate: $239 | NOT APPLICABLE |
IDENTITY THEFT RECOVERY ASSISTANCE3 |
Included |
NOT APPLICABLE |
FINANCIAL ADVISOR3 |
Included |
NOT APPLICABLE |
ELDER LAW3 |
Included | NOT APPLICABLE |
MEDIATION3 |
Included |
NOT APPLICABLE |
1Some limitations may apply.
2Subject to managed case rules.
3Additional benefits
4Discounted Rate
Managed Case Rules require the following:
- Member and/or Covered Family Member must secure a confirmation letter from the Member Service Center prior to proceeding with an attorney.
- The attorney must provide a written estimate of fees reflecting his or her best judgment as to the likely conduct of the case.
- We will set a maximum attorney fee that takes into account the reasonable level of reimbursement of the proceeding and the proposed litigation strategy. Fees as a result of services in excess of the maximum attorney fee are the responsibility of the Member and/or Covered Family Member.
Definitions
Definitions
“CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR” - means Co-ordinated Benefit Plans, LLC; or its subsidiary.
“COMPLEX WILL” - means the Member has a significant net worth and will benefit from tax planning, or the estate is subject to current state or federal estate taxation; or the Member owns a business that will continue in operation after death; or the Member wants to put restrictions on what heirs may do with the property; or the Member wants to leave money to someone in a trust because the person cannot manage his or her own affairs (such as a mentally handicapped child), or wants the property to be managed by a trustee for a period of time past the child’s age of majority, to age 25 or 30, for example; or the Member thinks that someone will challenge the will; or the Member wants to exclude any lawful dependents.
“CONTESTED DIVORCE” - refers to a divorce proceeding that requires more than 5 hours of attorney time, involves disputed issues and both parties are represented by an attorney.
“COVERED FAMILY MEMBER” – means the Member’s spouse and Member’s unmarried dependent children, including stepchildren, legally adopted children, children placed in the home for adoption and foster children, up to age 19, and from age 19 up to 26 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.
“COVERED SPOUSE” - means the Member’s lawful spouse at the time the policy is in effect .
“EFFECTIVE DATE” - means the date a Member’s coverage hereunder begins.
“HEALTHCARE COVERAGE” – means any policy for healthcare that a Member and/or Covered Family Member has in effect over which some type of coverage, benefits, or privacy dispute arising while that policy is in effect as defined by the terms of that policy. Nothing in this Policy will pay or create any obligation to pay any healthcare benefits to any person for any reason, and any coverage related to this definition in this Legal Expense Policy must be related to a Member’s and/or Covered Family Member’s dispute under a healthcare coverage policy.
“INTERNET PURCHASE” - A purchase of goods or services whose purchase value is over $200.00 at the time of purchase by a Member and/or Covered Family Member from a website on the worldwide web.
“LEGAL PLAN ADMINISTRATOR” – LegalEASE, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and/or agents, including third party organizations and their affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and/or agents, hired by LegalEASE to perform services under this Policy.
“MEMBER” - refers to the individual who is as sociated with the Policyholder and who has paid or a premium has been paid on his/her behalf and who meets the eligibility requirements for Covered Services as defined by the Policyholder.
“MEMBER SERVICE CENTER” - means the service location established to help make full use of the Policy.
“NON-PARTICIPATING ATTORNEY” - means an attorney not retained by Legal Plan Administrator who is selected and paid by the Member to provide services covered under the Policy up to the maximum amount as shown in the Schedule of Benefits.
“PAID IN FULL” - means complete payment to a Participating Attorney for covered legal services.
“PARTICIPATING ATTORNEY” - means an attorney retained by the Legal Plan Administrator to provide covered legal services at the amount shown in the Schedule of Benefits.
“POLICYHOLDER” - means the organization named in the declarations page.
“WE”, “US”, “OUR” AND “COMPANY” - means the name of the underwriter indicated on the declarations page of this Policy.
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 LegalEASE if there is or may be the possibility of a conflict of interest or violation of ethical codes.
- To notify LegalEASE 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 LegalEASE on any concern, inquiry or issue and return any communication from Legal Access within one business day.
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