LegalShield: Affordable Legal Protection and Estate Planning
Unlimited Legal Access for You and Your Family Starting at $26.95/Month
Don’t Face Legal Issues Alone and Unprepared
Legal situations arise unexpectedly and frequently throughout life. A traffic violation requires courtroom representation. A landlord dispute needs attorney intervention. Estate planning documents must be created or updated. An employment contract needs professional review. A family law matter demands legal guidance.
Traditional legal services operate on hourly billing, typically ranging from $200 to $500+ per hour. A simple legal consultation can cost $300 to $500. Document preparation runs $500 to $2,000. Even straightforward matters quickly accumulate bills totaling thousands of dollars.
These costs create a barrier preventing many people from accessing legal help when they need it. According to the Legal Services Corporation, 92% of low-income Americans and 71% of middle-income Americans facing civil legal problems don’t get adequate legal help, primarily due to cost concerns.
The result is predictable: people navigate complex legal situations without professional guidance, make preventable mistakes, sign contracts they don’t understand, or simply avoid addressing legal needs entirely. This avoidance creates larger problems that become more expensive and complicated to resolve later.
Prepaid legal services emerged to address this access gap by offering unlimited attorney consultations and certain legal services for a fixed monthly membership fee, making legal help affordable and accessible for everyday situations.
Understanding Prepaid Legal Services
Prepaid legal plans work similarly to health insurance: you pay a monthly membership fee for access to a network of attorneys who provide specified legal services included in your plan, plus discounted rates for services outside the plan.
How Prepaid Legal Plans Work
Members pay monthly or annual subscription fees for access to a designated law firm in their state. This “provider law firm” handles legal matters covered by the membership plan at no additional charge beyond the membership fee.
Services typically included:
- Unlimited telephone consultations on any personal legal matter
- Document review (contracts, leases, agreements)
- Letters and phone calls to third parties on your behalf
- Will preparation and estate planning documents
- Traffic violation defense
- Trial defense hours (varies by plan level)
- Identity theft protection and restoration
- And many other specified services
For legal services outside plan coverage, members receive significant discounts (typically 15% to 25%) off the attorney’s standard hourly rates.
When Prepaid Legal Plans Make Sense
Prepaid legal services work well for people who:
- Need regular access to attorneys for various ongoing matters
- Want affordable estate planning document preparation
- Face frequent small legal issues (landlord disputes, contract reviews, traffic violations)
- Run small businesses needing routine legal guidance
- Want the confidence of immediate attorney access without cost concerns
- Prefer preventive legal advice rather than reactive crisis management
According to the American Bar Association, prepaid legal plans serve millions of Americans effectively by providing accessible legal services for routine matters that don’t require specialized expertise.
When Traditional Attorney Relationships Are Better
Certain situations benefit from traditional attorney-client relationships:
- Complex litigation requiring extensive trial work
- Specialized legal matters (patents, complex tax, securities law)
- Business transactions involving significant money or assets
- Criminal matters beyond traffic violations
- Situations requiring attorney expertise in highly specialized areas
- When you need an attorney with specific experience in unusual circumstances
Prepaid plans handle breadth (many different types of routine matters) better than depth (highly specialized or complex situations).
Limitations and Boundaries
Prepaid legal plans have clear limitations:
- Coverage is limited to specified services
- Attorney time for covered services may have caps (for example, 20 hours trial defense)
- You’re assigned to a specific provider law firm (though you can usually request a change)
- Not all legal matters are covered
- Services requiring significant attorney time may require additional fees
- Some specialized services (like complex trusts) cost extra
The National Association of Consumer Advocates emphasizes that prepaid legal plans work best when members understand exactly what’s covered and what requires additional payment.
Common Legal Situations Requiring Attorney Help
Understanding typical legal needs helps assess whether prepaid legal services fit your situation.
Estate Planning
Creating wills, living wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives prevents family chaos and ensures wishes are honored. According to the Social Security Administration’s guidance on estate planning, proper documentation ensures beneficiaries can access benefits and assets efficiently after death. Traditional attorneys charge $1,000 to $3,000+ for basic estate planning. Prepaid plans typically include these documents at no additional charge beyond membership fees. For a comprehensive approach to organizing your estate planning process, Memorial Merits provides a detailed Estate Planning Essentials Checklist & Worksheet covering all critical documents and decisions, with a complete Estate Planning Guide here.
Living trusts, which help avoid probate, often require additional fees even with prepaid plans because they demand more attorney time for creation and proper asset transfer.
Family and Domestic Matters
Divorce, child custody, adoption, name changes, and other family law matters often benefit from legal guidance. Prepaid plans typically include consultation and advice on these matters, with varying levels of included attorney representation hours depending on plan tier.
Contested family law matters requiring extensive court time usually exceed prepaid plan coverage and require either hourly fee arrangements or additional payment.
Traffic and Driving Issues
Traffic violations, license suspensions, and moving violations frequently trigger legal needs. Prepaid plans typically include defense for traffic matters, saving members hundreds of dollars in attorney fees for each incident.
Consumer Protection
Disputes with contractors, warranty issues, billing problems, and consumer fraud situations benefit from attorney involvement. Having an attorney send a letter on official letterhead often resolves disputes that consumers couldn’t resolve alone.
Real Estate Matters
Lease disputes, landlord-tenant issues, purchase contract reviews, and property matters arise regularly. Prepaid plans typically include document review, consultation, and letters/calls on behalf of members.
Contract Review
Before signing employment contracts, service agreements, purchase contracts, or other legal documents, professional review protects your interests. Prepaid plans usually include unlimited document review up to specified page limits.
Employment Issues
Workplace disputes, wrongful termination, discrimination, and employment contract matters benefit from legal guidance. Prepaid plans provide consultation and advice, with varying levels of representation depending on plan tier and matter complexity.
Identity Theft
Identity theft restoration requires extensive documentation, communication with creditors and agencies, and legal guidance. Many prepaid plans include identity theft protection and restoration services.
LegalShield: Established Prepaid Legal Service
LegalShield, founded in 1972 as one of the first prepaid legal service providers, operates a network of independent law firms across all 50 states and four Canadian provinces. The company serves over 4.5 million individuals and 140,000 businesses, providing accessible legal services through membership-based plans.
What LegalShield Offers
Personal and Family Legal Plans
LegalShield provides three tiers of personal legal protection:
Basic Plan ($26.95/month when billed annually, $29.95/month when billed monthly)
The foundational plan includes:
- Unlimited telephone consultations with provider attorneys on any personal legal matter
- Document review for personal contracts and agreements (up to 15 pages per document)
- Letters and phone calls to third parties on your behalf for dispute resolution
- Last will and testament preparation by provider attorney
- Living will/advance healthcare directive preparation
- Financial power of attorney preparation
- Uncontested traffic violation defense
- 24/7 emergency access to attorneys for covered emergency situations
- Mobile app access for ticket uploads and will questionnaire submission
- Coverage for member and spouse
Advanced Plan (Mid-Tier Pricing)
Builds on Basic Plan with additions including:
- Annual legal review and update of estate planning documents
- Additional trial defense hours for covered matters
- Expanded document review limits
- Coverage for member, spouse, and eligible dependent children
- Enhanced legal support for family matters
Premium Plan ($59.95/month range)
Comprehensive coverage including everything in Advanced Plan plus:
- Maximum trial defense hours for covered matters
- Highest level of legal support across all categories
- Priority access and expanded services
- Coverage for member, spouse, and eligible dependent children
All plans include the provider attorney network, 24/7 emergency hotline, and core estate planning documents at no additional charge beyond membership fees.
Estate Planning Services
All LegalShield personal plans include professional attorney preparation of:
- Last will and testament
- Living will (advance healthcare directive)
- Financial power of attorney
These documents are prepared by licensed attorneys in your state according to your state’s legal requirements, not generic templates. Members complete questionnaires providing necessary information, and provider attorneys draft customized documents.
Advanced and Premium plans include annual review and update of these documents, ensuring they remain current as life circumstances change.
Living Trusts: Available for additional $250 fee per person. Includes consultation, document preparation, and guidance on trust funding. Annual updates available for additional $250 per person.
Provider Law Firm Network
LegalShield maintains a network of approximately 900 attorneys from 30 independent law firms with an average of 22 years of legal experience. Members are assigned to a provider law firm in their state, ensuring attorneys are licensed and experienced in local law.
Attorneys in the network specialize in various practice areas including family law, real estate, estate planning, consumer protection, traffic defense, employment law, and general civil matters.
If a member’s legal need falls outside the provider firm’s expertise or if the member is dissatisfied with service, LegalShield can facilitate referrals to other network attorneys or connections to specialists.
24/7 Emergency Access
All LegalShield plans include 24/7 emergency hotline access for covered emergency situations. Members can reach an attorney immediately for urgent legal matters that can’t wait for business hours.
Covered emergencies typically include arrests, accidents, emergency protective orders, emergency custody matters, and other time-sensitive situations requiring immediate legal guidance.
MEMBERPerks Program
LegalShield membership includes access to MEMBERPerks, a discount program offering savings at major retailers, restaurants, travel services, and other businesses. Participating brands include Verizon, Costco, Amazon, and many others, with discounts ranging from 10% to 50%.
While not a legal service, this program adds value by providing ongoing savings that can offset membership costs.
Mobile App and Online Access
Members access services through the LegalShield mobile app or online portal, allowing them to:
- Contact provider law firms directly
- Submit legal questions and document requests
- Upload traffic tickets for attorney review
- Complete will questionnaires digitally
- Track case status and communicate with attorneys
- Access account information and membership details
Business Legal Plans
LegalShield offers small business plans with services including:
- Unlimited consultations on business legal matters
- Contract and document review
- Debt collection assistance
- Employment law guidance
- Letters and phone calls on behalf of the business
- Trial defense for covered business matters
Business plans are priced based on number of employees and specific business needs.
Supplemental Coverage Options
Members can add specialized supplements to personal plans:
- Home Business Supplement: Extends personal plan benefits to home-based business matters
- Trial Defense Supplement: Adds additional trial defense hours beyond base plan coverage
- Gun Owner Supplement: Provides legal protection for responsible firearm ownership
- Commercial Driver Supplement: Protects professional drivers on and off the road
Service Limitations
LegalShield explicitly states that:
- They are not a law firm; they provide access to independent law firms
- Not all legal matters are covered; some require additional fees
- Attorney time for covered services may have caps
- Tax advice, financial planning, and estate tax planning are not included
- Complex matters may exceed plan coverage
- Members may need to pay additional fees for services outside plan scope
These limitations are standard for prepaid legal plans and underscore the importance of understanding exactly what’s included.
Using Prepaid Legal Services Effectively
Maximizing value from prepaid legal plans requires understanding how to leverage services appropriately.
Before Signing Contracts or Agreements
Always have your provider attorney review important contracts before signing. This includes:
- Employment contracts and offer letters
- Real estate purchase or lease agreements
- Service contracts for home improvements or major purchases
- Business partnership or operating agreements
- Settlement agreements
- Non-compete or confidentiality agreements
Professional review costs nothing beyond your membership fee and can identify problematic provisions before you’re legally bound.
When Disputes Arise
Contact your provider attorney immediately when conflicts emerge. Early intervention often prevents escalation:
- Landlord disputes before they become eviction proceedings
- Consumer complaints before they require litigation
- Employment issues before they become termination or discrimination claims
- Contract disputes before parties become entrenched
An attorney letter or phone call frequently resolves matters that consumers cannot resolve independently.
For Estate Planning
Don’t delay estate planning because of cost concerns. Your membership includes will and advance directive preparation, eliminating the primary barrier most people face.
Schedule time to complete the estate planning questionnaire and have your provider attorney prepare documents. Update these documents annually (included with Advanced and Premium plans) as life changes.
For Traffic Violations
Always use your traffic violation defense benefit. Attorney representation often results in reduced charges, dismissed tickets, or minimized insurance impacts that save hundreds or thousands of dollars.
For Legal Questions
Use unlimited consultation benefits liberally. Before taking any significant legal action, call your provider attorney for guidance. This preventive approach avoids costly mistakes.
Understanding Your Plan Limits
Read your membership agreement carefully to understand exactly what’s covered, what costs extra, and what time caps apply to included services. This prevents surprise bills and helps you plan for legal needs outside coverage.
Prepaid Legal Plans vs. Traditional Attorney Services
Understanding when each model serves you better helps you make informed decisions.
Prepaid Plans Excel For:
- Routine, predictable legal matters
- Situations requiring quick attorney access
- Multiple small legal issues throughout the year
- Estate planning document preparation
- Preventive legal guidance
- Fixed-cost predictability
- Eliminating cost barrier to seeking legal advice
Traditional Attorney Relationships Excel For:
- Complex, specialized legal matters
- Litigation requiring extensive trial work
- Situations requiring deep expertise in specific areas
- Matters involving significant money or assets where attorney skill level is critical
- When you need an attorney with specific experience or reputation
- Criminal matters beyond traffic violations
Many people use both: prepaid plans for routine matters and traditional attorney relationships for specialized needs. The models complement rather than compete when used appropriately.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
LegalShield Personal and Family Plans range from $26.95/month to approximately $59.95/month depending on tier and billing frequency. The Basic plan costs $26.95/month when billed annually ($323.40/year) or $29.95/month when billed monthly ($359.40/year). Advanced and Premium plans cost more but include expanded services and coverage for eligible dependent children. Business plans are priced separately based on business size and needs. Living trusts cost an additional $250 per person beyond membership fees. All plans include will preparation, living will, power of attorney, unlimited consultations, document review, and other core services at no additional charge beyond membership fees.
All LegalShield Personal Plans include unlimited telephone consultations with provider attorneys on any personal legal matter, document review for personal contracts and agreements (with page limits varying by plan), letters and phone calls to third parties on your behalf, will preparation, living will preparation, financial power of attorney preparation, uncontested traffic violation defense, and 24/7 emergency attorney access for covered situations. Advanced and Premium plans add annual estate document updates, additional trial defense hours, and coverage for eligible dependent children. Services NOT typically included without additional fees are complex trusts (basic trusts cost $250 extra per person), extensive trial work beyond plan caps, tax advice, financial planning, business legal matters (unless you have business plan), and highly specialized legal work like patents or securities law.
LegalShield assigns you to a provider law firm in your state from their network of independent law firms. You don’t select your specific attorney initially, though you can request a different provider firm if you’re dissatisfied with service or if your legal need requires expertise your assigned firm doesn’t have. The provider network includes approximately 900 attorneys from 30 law firms with an average of 22 years of experience. While you sacrifice attorney choice compared to traditional hiring, you gain affordability and immediate access. For specialized legal needs outside your provider firm’s expertise, LegalShield can facilitate referrals to appropriate specialists, typically at discounted rates.
LegalShield’s value depends on your anticipated legal needs and attitude toward preventive planning. If you need estate planning documents (will, living will, power of attorney), the membership pays for itself immediately since traditional attorney fees for these documents range from $1,000 to $3,000+. If you frequently need contract reviews, legal consultations, or face regular small legal matters, the unlimited access provides clear value. However, if you rarely encounter legal situations and already have estate planning documents, the membership may not provide immediate return. Many people maintain membership for peace of mind and preventive access, using consultation benefits to review contracts and make informed decisions before problems arise. Calculate your likely legal needs: if you’ll use any covered services worth more than your annual membership cost, the plan provides value.
If your legal matter exceeds plan coverage or requires services outside the scope of included benefits, your provider attorney will explain what additional services are needed and associated costs. As a LegalShield member, you receive a 15% to 25% discount off the attorney’s standard hourly rates for services not included in your membership. You can choose to hire your provider attorney at the discounted rate, seek a referral to a specialist (also typically at discounted rates), or decline additional services. Common situations requiring additional payment include extensive trial work beyond plan caps, complex estate tax planning, business legal matters (without business plan), highly specialized legal work, and matters requiring extraordinary attorney time. The membership still provides value through discounted rates even for services outside base coverage.
LegalShield offers separate Small Business Plans specifically designed for business legal matters. Personal Plans do not include business legal services unless you add the Home Business Supplement for home-based businesses. The Small Business Plan provides unlimited consultations on business legal matters, business contract and document review, debt collection assistance, employment law guidance, letters and phone calls on behalf of the business, and trial defense for covered business matters. Business plans are priced based on number of employees and specific business needs. If you operate a business, evaluate whether the Home Business Supplement (added to Personal Plan) or separate Business Plan better fits your situation. Don’t assume Personal Plans cover business matters, they typically don’t without specific additions.
LegalShield activates memberships within 12 to 24 business hours after purchase and account setup review. Once activated, you can connect with your provider law firm within 8 business hours of submitting your first request during business hours. For emergency situations, the 24/7 hotline provides immediate access to attorneys even during nights, weekends, and holidays. Non-emergency matters are typically handled within normal business hours. The mobile app and online portal allow you to submit questions, requests, and documents anytime, with attorneys responding during their business hours. This quick activation and access is significantly faster than scheduling initial consultations with traditional attorneys, which often requires weeks of waiting.
LegalShield provides varying levels of trial defense depending on your plan tier and the nature of the legal matter. Basic plans typically include limited trial defense hours for covered personal legal matters. Advanced and Premium plans include more trial defense hours. However, complex litigation involving significant stakes, criminal matters beyond traffic violations, or specialized legal areas may exceed plan coverage and require additional attorney fees. For serious legal situations, your provider attorney will assess whether the matter falls within plan coverage or requires additional services. Even if your matter exceeds coverage, you receive discounted attorney rates as a member. For high-stakes legal matters, carefully evaluate whether prepaid plan coverage is sufficient or whether you need to hire specialized counsel.
Get Affordable Legal Protection Today
Legal situations arise unexpectedly throughout life, and professional legal guidance prevents costly mistakes, resolves disputes efficiently, and protects your interests. Traditional hourly attorney fees create barriers that prevent many people from accessing legal help when they need it.
Prepaid legal services like LegalShield remove this barrier by providing unlimited attorney consultations, estate planning documents, document review, and various legal services for a fixed monthly fee. For routine legal matters, traffic violations, estate planning, and general legal questions, membership plans provide significant value and peace of mind.
LegalShield’s established network of 900+ experienced attorneys, 24/7 emergency access, and comprehensive service offerings serve over 4.5 million individuals effectively. For people anticipating regular legal needs or wanting affordable estate planning, membership plans offer accessible legal protection.
The key is understanding what’s covered, what costs extra, and when traditional attorney relationships better serve specialized needs. For appropriate situations, prepaid legal plans democratize access to professional legal services.
Ready to secure affordable legal protection for your family?
Personal and Family Plans starting at $26.95/month when billed annually
