Navigating the legal system can be overwhelming, and without proper guidance, it can also be costly. Legal services, whether for estate planning, real estate matters, or family law, often come with significant expenses. For individuals seeking affordable and convenient access to legal services, the Hyatt Legal Plan may be a solution worth considering. This prepaid legal plan offers a variety of services for a fixed monthly fee, but is it the right choice for you?
In this post, we'll explore the benefits, potential drawbacks, and key considerations to help you determine if the Hyatt Legal Plan is a good fit for your needs.
The Hyatt Legal Plan is ideal for individuals and families who anticipate needing legal services at some point in their lives but may not have a large legal budget. It's particularly well-suited for the following groups:
Employees of Companies Offering the Plan: The Hyatt Legal Plan is typically available through employer-sponsored benefits packages, allowing employees to add it to their health or other benefits for a relatively low monthly cost. If your employer offers the plan, it can be an affordable option compared to paying out-of-pocket for legal services.
Families and Individuals with Ongoing Legal Needs: If you or your family require estate planning, family law services (like adoption or uncontested divorce), or assistance with real estate transactions, the Hyatt Legal Plan offers a cost-effective way to handle these issues.
People Who Want Predictable Legal Costs: Legal expenses can be unpredictable, with attorneys charging by the hour, which can quickly add up. The Hyatt Legal Plan offers the security of knowing your legal costs in advance. You'll pay a fixed monthly fee (usually between $10-$30), regardless of how much time you spend consulting with attorneys or using the services.
Those Facing Legal Emergencies: If you experience a sudden legal issue, such as being involved in a civil lawsuit, a landlord-tenant dispute, or needing defense against a debt collection agency, having a prepaid plan in place gives you quick access to legal support without worrying about the cost.
One of the key reasons people opt for the Hyatt Legal Plan is the comprehensive coverage it offers for a wide range of legal issues. Here's a look at the services the plan includes:
Estate Planning: Wills, living wills, and trusts are fully covered, as is the preparation of healthcare powers of attorney. These services ensure your estate is in order and your wishes are clear in the event of an emergency.
Real Estate Transactions: The plan covers legal assistance for buying or selling a home, as well as lease agreements, and landlord-tenant disputes. This can be incredibly beneficial if you're navigating a real estate transaction without prior experience.
Family Law: The Hyatt Legal Plan covers uncontested divorces, child custody agreements, adoptions, and name changes. While contested divorce cases aren't covered, legal assistance for family matters that don't involve court disputes is fully available.
Civil Litigation: Legal defense services are included for civil litigation cases where you need to defend your rights, including small claims court representation.
Traffic Offenses: Minor traffic violations, such as speeding tickets or non-criminal moving violations, are covered by the plan, helping you avoid the financial and legal ramifications of a conviction.
Identity Theft: If you become a victim of identity theft, the Hyatt Legal Plan provides legal representation to help you resolve disputes with creditors and recover damages.
Debt Collection Defense: If you're being pursued by debt collectors, the plan offers legal defense to help protect your rights as a consumer.
While the Hyatt Legal Plan offers a wide range of services, there are certain limitations that might make it less appealing for some individuals. Here are a few considerations:
Limited Criminal Defense: If you're involved in a criminal case or need legal representation for serious criminal charges, the Hyatt Legal Plan won't cover your defense. While it offers assistance for traffic violations, criminal law issues are excluded from the plan's coverage.
No Business-Related Legal Services: The plan is designed for personal legal matters, so if you're an entrepreneur or run a small business, you'll need to seek outside legal assistance for business contracts, employee disputes, or other business-related legal needs.
Uncontested Divorce Only: If your divorce is uncontested, meaning both parties agree on all terms, the Hyatt Legal Plan will cover the legal services needed to finalize it. However, if there are disputes over issues like property division, alimony, or child custody, you'll need to pay for additional legal help.
Not Available to Everyone: One of the biggest limitations is that the Hyatt Legal Plan is typically available only through employer benefits programs. If your employer doesn't offer the plan, you won't be able to sign up directly as an individual. This restricts access to many who might otherwise benefit from the plan.
One of the main advantages of the Hyatt Legal Plan is that it allows you to pay for legal services on a predictable, monthly basis. For most individuals, the cost of the plan is between $10 and $30 per month, which is much more affordable than paying for legal services out-of-pocket.
Here's a quick comparison of costs:
Attorney Hourly Fees: Without a legal plan, attorneys typically charge between $150 and $500 per hour, depending on their specialty and location. Even a simple legal consultation can cost several hundred dollars, and more complex cases, like estate planning or divorce, can easily run into the thousands.
Hyatt Legal Plan Fees: By comparison, paying a flat monthly fee of around $20 offers you access to unlimited attorney consultations and covered legal services without additional costs.
For individuals who anticipate needing legal services—even occasionally—the Hyatt Legal Plan represents significant savings over traditional hourly billing.
There are other prepaid legal plans on the market, including offerings from companies like LegalShield. When comparing the Hyatt Legal Plan to these competitors, here are some factors to consider:
Attorney Network: The Hyatt Legal Plan gives you access to over 14,000 attorneys across the country, all of whom are pre-vetted and specialize in various areas of law. Other legal plans may have smaller networks, which could limit your choice of attorneys.
Comprehensive Coverage: While most prepaid legal plans offer similar services, the Hyatt Legal Plan is known for its comprehensive coverage of estate planning, real estate, and family law matters. LegalShield, for example, offers many of the same services but might charge additional fees for certain consultations or court representation.
Employer-Based Enrollment: One drawback of the Hyatt Legal Plan is that it's primarily available through employer-sponsored benefits. Other legal plans, like LegalShield, allow for individual sign-ups, which may be more appealing for people without access to employer benefits.
If you're still on the fence about whether the Hyatt Legal Plan is the right choice for you, here are some key questions to consider:
How Often Do I Anticipate Needing Legal Services? If you foresee needing legal assistance for estate planning, real estate transactions, family law issues, or other common legal matters, the Hyatt Legal Plan can be an affordable way to ensure you're covered.
Am I Comfortable With a Prepaid Plan? Some people prefer the flexibility of hiring an attorney on a case-by-case basis, while others appreciate the predictability of a prepaid plan. Think about your preference and whether a fixed monthly fee is appealing to you.
Is My Employer Offering This Plan? Since the Hyatt Legal Plan is typically available through employer benefits packages, check with your employer to see if the plan is an option for you. If not, you may want to explore other prepaid legal plans that offer individual sign-ups.
Do I Have Ongoing Legal Needs? If you know that you'll need legal assistance for a specific issue in the near future, such as preparing a will or handling a real estate transaction, enrolling in the Hyatt Legal Plan ahead of time can save you significant money in the long run.
The Hyatt Legal Plan offers a broad range of legal services at an affordable price, making it an attractive option for individuals and families who want easy access to legal support without worrying about hourly attorney fees. However, its limited availability (typically only through employers) and exclusion of criminal and business-related legal services mean that it might not be the best fit for everyone.
If your legal needs align with the services covered by the plan and your employer offers it, the Hyatt Legal Plan can provide peace of mind and financial savings in handling common legal matters. Ultimately, the decision to enroll will depend on your personal legal needs, your preference for predictable legal costs, and whether you have access to the plan through your employer.