How Much is a MetLife Legal Plan? A Comprehensive Guide to Protecting Your Peace of Mind
Have you ever faced a legal issue and felt completely overwhelmed, unsure where to turn or how much it would cost? Imagine having an experienced attorney on call, ready to assist you without the shocking hourly fees. This isn't a pipe dream; it's the reality of a MetLife Legal Plan. But how much does it really cost, and what do you get for your money? Let's dive deep into understanding this valuable benefit.
Legal matters, whether expected or sudden, can be incredibly stressful and financially draining. From drafting a will to navigating a real estate transaction or even dealing with a traffic ticket, the need for legal guidance can arise at any point in life. That's where a MetLife Legal Plan steps in, offering an affordable and accessible solution to a wide range of personal legal needs.
Step 1: Engage Your Inner Investigator - Why Are You Even Looking into a Legal Plan?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of costs, take a moment to reflect. Why are you considering a legal plan? Are you:
- Planning for the future? (e.g., wills, trusts, estate planning)
- Buying or selling a home? (e.g., contract review, closing assistance)
- Dealing with family matters? (e.g., adoption, name changes, guardianship)
- Facing financial challenges? (e.g., debt collection, bankruptcy consultation)
- Concerned about identity theft? (e.g., identity theft defense)
- Simply seeking peace of mind? (knowing you have legal support when you need it)
Understanding your primary motivations will help you appreciate the true value of a MetLife Legal Plan beyond just the monthly premium.
QuickTip: Skim for bold or italicized words.
Step 2: Demystifying the Dollar Signs - What Does a MetLife Legal Plan Cost?
The cost of a MetLife Legal Plan is often surprisingly affordable, especially when compared to traditional attorney fees, which can easily run into hundreds of dollars per hour (the average hourly rate for an attorney can be around $391!). MetLife Legal Plans are typically offered as an employee benefit through workplaces, which can significantly reduce the individual cost.
While exact figures can vary based on your employer's specific plan design, here's a general breakdown of what you can expect:
- Monthly Premiums: MetLife Legal Plans generally cost somewhere in the range of $14 to $25 per month. Some sources indicate plans as low as $12.30/month for a "Base Plan" and $18.30/month for an "Enhanced Plan," with a "Plus Parents Buy Up" option for around $24-$25/month.
- Annual Cost: This translates to an annual cost of approximately $168 to $300.
- Payroll Deduction: For most employees, the monthly premium is conveniently deducted directly from their paycheck, making it a hassle-free payment method.
Key Takeaway: For a fixed, low monthly fee, you get access to a comprehensive network of attorneys and services that could otherwise cost thousands of dollars out-of-pocket.
Step 3: Unpacking the Value - What's Included in Your MetLife Legal Plan?
Tip: Reread sections you didn’t fully grasp.
The real magic of a MetLife Legal Plan lies in the extensive range of services it covers. When you use a network attorney for a covered matter, all attorney fees are covered, meaning no co-pays, no deductibles, and no claim forms. This "fully covered" aspect is a significant advantage.
Here's a detailed look at what's typically included:
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Estate Planning: This is often a major draw for individuals and families.
- Simple and Complex Wills: Drafting, updating, and ensuring your wishes are legally documented.
- Trusts: Revocable and irrevocable trusts for asset protection and distribution.
- Powers of Attorney: Healthcare, financial, childcare, and immigration POAs.
- Healthcare Proxies & Living Wills: Directives for medical care decisions.
- Codicils: Amendments to existing wills.
- Digital Estate Planning: Some plans offer online tools to create these documents.
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Home & Real Estate: Navigating property matters can be complex.
- Sale or Purchase of a Home: Review of contracts, deeds, and closing assistance for primary and vacation homes.
- Mortgages & Refinancing: Review of loan documents and assistance with home equity loans.
- Tenant Negotiations & Eviction Defense: Support for landlord-tenant disputes.
- Boundary & Title Disputes: Resolving property line and ownership issues.
- Property Tax Assessments & Zoning Applications: Assistance with property-related taxes and permits.
- Deeds & Security Deposit Assistance: Preparation of legal documents and help with deposit issues.
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Family & Personal Matters: Life's significant milestones and challenges.
- Adoption & Guardianship: Legal assistance with these processes.
- Name Changes: Guidance through the legal steps for name changes.
- Prenuptial Agreements: Drafting and review.
- Protection from Domestic Violence: Legal support for those seeking protection.
- Review of ANY Personal Legal Document: A highly valuable benefit for general legal questions.
- Immigration Assistance: For certain matters.
- Juvenile Court Defense: Including criminal matters.
- Parental Responsibility Matters & School Hearings: Support for issues involving children.
- Divorce: While full divorce representation is often excluded, some plans offer limited consultation hours (e.g., 20 hours for divorce or reproductive assistance law).
- Affidavits & Demand Letters.
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Money Matters & Financial Wellness: Addressing financial and debt-related issues.
- Debt Collection Defense & Negotiations with Creditors: Assistance in dealing with collectors and settling debts.
- Personal Bankruptcy: Consultation and guidance.
- Tax Audit Representation & Tax Collection Defense: Support during IRS audits and collection efforts.
- Identity Theft Defense & Identity Management Services: Crucial protection in today's digital world.
- Promissory Notes.
- Online Tax Preparation and Filing: Some enhanced plans may include this benefit (e.g., through TurboTax).
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Civil Lawsuits: When you need representation in court.
- Civil Litigation Defense: For a variety of personal legal disputes.
- Small Claims Assistance: Guidance and document preparation for small claims court.
- Disputes Over Consumer Goods & Services: When you have issues with purchases or services.
- Administrative Hearings & Pet Liabilities.
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Vehicles & Driving: Dealing with common driving-related legalities.
- Defense of Traffic Tickets: Representing you in court for minor traffic infractions.
- Driving Privileges Restoration & License Suspension Due to DUI: Assistance with regaining driving privileges (though typically does not cover DUI defense itself).
- Repossession.
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Plus Parents Coverage (Optional Add-on): Some plans offer an "Enhanced Plan with Plus Parents Buy Up" which extends certain benefits to your parents and parents-in-law (up to 8 parents). This can include:
- Consultation & Document Review for their Deeds/Leases, Wills, Powers of Attorney.
- Assistance with Medicaid, Medicare, Nursing Home Agreements, Prescription Plans.
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Unlimited Consultations: For many personal legal matters, you'll have unlimited access to advice and consultations, even for matters not fully covered, as long as they aren't explicitly excluded.
Step 4: Accessing Your Legal Lifeline - How to Use Your MetLife Legal Plan
Using your MetLife Legal Plan is designed to be straightforward and convenient.
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Sub-heading: Enrollment and Activation
- Enroll through your employer: MetLife Legal Plans are primarily offered as an employee benefit. During your company's open enrollment period, you can typically elect to enroll in the plan.
- Receive your information: Once enrolled, you'll receive an eligibility ID and information on how to access the plan.
- Create an online account: Most plans encourage you to create an account on members.legalplans.com or use their mobile app. This is where you can view your specific coverages and find attorneys.
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Sub-heading: Finding an Attorney
- Online Attorney Directory: The easiest way is usually through the MetLife Legal Plans website or app, where you can search for network attorneys by specialty and location.
- Client Service Center: You can also call MetLife Legal Plans' Client Service Center (often 800-821-6400). Representatives can verify your eligibility, make an initial determination of coverage, and help you find a suitable attorney or schedule an appointment.
- Choice of Attorney: You generally have the option to choose from MetLife's network of prequalified attorneys. These attorneys are vetted and have an average of 25 years of experience.
- Out-of-Network Attorneys: While using a network attorney ensures full coverage for covered matters, you can sometimes use an attorney outside the network. In such cases, MetLife will reimburse you based on a set fee schedule, and you'd be responsible for any difference.
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Sub-heading: What to Expect When You Connect
- Initial Consultation: Once you've chosen an attorney, contact them, identify yourself as a MetLife Legal Plan member, and schedule your consultation. Be prepared to provide your eligibility ID and the type of legal matter.
- Discussion and Guidance: The attorney will discuss your rights, options, and recommend a course of action. They will also confirm what services are covered by your plan.
- No Out-of-Pocket Costs (for covered matters): For fully covered services with a network attorney, there are no co-pays, deductibles, or additional attorney fees.
- Unlimited Use: You typically have unlimited use of the plan over the course of the year for covered legal matters.
Step 5: Weighing the Benefits - Is a MetLife Legal Plan Worth It For You?
Tip: Keep your attention on the main thread.
Deciding if a MetLife Legal Plan is a worthwhile investment boils down to comparing its cost to the potential savings and peace of mind it offers.
- Significant Cost Savings: As mentioned, a single hour with an attorney can cost more than an entire year's premium for a MetLife Legal Plan. For matters like drafting a will, which could cost hundreds or even over a thousand dollars, the plan offers immense savings (e.g., a will for employee and spouse could cost $740 without a plan, but $0 with).
- Access to Quality Attorneys: The plan provides access to a large network of experienced, prequalified attorneys. You don't have to worry about finding a reputable lawyer on your own.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing you have legal support available when you need it, without the added financial stress, can be invaluable. It encourages proactive legal planning rather than reacting to crises.
- Broad Coverage: The wide range of covered services addresses many common personal legal needs that people face throughout their lives.
- Convenience: Easy access to attorneys via phone, in-person, or online, along with online tools for certain documents.
- Covers Family Members: Most plans extend coverage to your spouse and eligible dependent children, providing legal protection for your entire family.
- Pre-existing Matters: Generally, you can use the plan for pre-existing matters, as long as you hadn't already retained an attorney for that matter before becoming eligible for the plan.
Consider this: Even if you only use the plan for one significant legal matter in a year, it could easily pay for itself many times over.
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| How Much Is Metlife Legal Plan |
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about MetLife Legal Plans, with quick answers:
How to get a MetLife Legal Plan? You typically enroll in a MetLife Legal Plan through your employer during their open enrollment period as part of your employee benefits package.
How to find a lawyer through MetLife Legal Plans? You can find a lawyer by logging into your account on the MetLife Legal Plans website (members.legalplans.com), using their mobile app, or by calling their Client Service Center.
QuickTip: Don’t just consume — reflect.
How to use my MetLife Legal Plan for estate planning? Simply log in or call the Client Service Center to connect with a network attorney specializing in estate planning, who will guide you through drafting wills, trusts, and other documents.
How to know what legal matters are covered by my plan? Your specific plan details and a full list of covered services are available by logging into your online account on members.legalplans.com or by contacting MetLife Legal Plans directly.
How to add family members to my MetLife Legal Plan? Most MetLife Legal Plans automatically cover your spouse and eligible dependent children. Check your specific plan documents or contact your HR department for details on adding family.
How to pay for a MetLife Legal Plan? Premiums for employer-sponsored plans are typically paid through convenient payroll deductions from your paycheck each month.
How to cancel a MetLife Legal Plan? Since it's often an annual employer-sponsored benefit, you usually cannot cancel mid-year. Changes to your enrollment can typically only be made during your company's open enrollment period for the following year.
How to get help for a pre-existing legal issue with MetLife Legal Plans? Generally, pre-existing matters are covered, provided you had not already retained an attorney for that specific matter before your MetLife Legal Plan coverage became effective.
How to contact MetLife Legal Plans customer service? You can usually reach MetLife Legal Plans' Client Service Center by calling 1-800-821-6400 during business hours (e.g., Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET).
How to know if a MetLife Legal Plan is worth the cost for me? Consider your potential future legal needs. If you anticipate needing legal assistance for things like estate planning, real estate transactions, or other common personal legal matters, the fixed, low monthly cost can offer substantial savings compared to hourly attorney fees.
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