LegalGUARD Advantage Plan

Welcome

The LegalGUARD Advantage Plan offered to Your Employees

Be fully prepared and confident

with LegalGUARD^sm

Learn about legal insurance, a smart option for your protection.

Product Presented By: Nationwide^®Insurance Product Administered By: LegalEASE

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.

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. 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
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

The value of a LegalGUARD Plan.

Being a LegalGUARD member saves you time and costly legal fees. But most importantly, it gives you confidence and provides coverage for:

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 $16.58 per month, via payroll deduction.

Who's Covered?

The Member’s spouse or domestic partner and Member’s children, including stepchildren, legally adopted children, children placed in the home for adoption and foster children, up to age 26.

PLAN COVERAGE COMPARED TO COSTS WITHOUT PLAN
ADVICE AND CONSULTATION	LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE	TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN
LAW OFFICE CONSULTATION¹	COVERED	$0 TO $400
TELEPHONE CONSULTATION	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 LEASE AGREEMENT - TENANT ONLY TIME SHARE AGREEMENT	COVERED	$75 TO $250
CONSUMER DISPUTE	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: MEMBER, SPOUSE, FAMILY MEMBER	COVERED	$150 TO $500
LIVING WILL OR HEALTH CARE POWER OF ATTORNEY	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
REFINANCING OF PRIMARY RESIDENCE³	COVERED	$350 TO $900
TENANT DISPUTES^1,2	FULLY COVERED UP TO $750 WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT	$500 TO $2,000
FINANCIAL	LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE	TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN
DEBT COLLECTION DEFENSE: PRE-LITIGATION DEFENSE	COVERED	$500
DEBT COLLECTION DEFENSE: TRIAL DEFENSE^1,2	FULLY COVERED UP TO $700 WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT	$2,000
FORECLOSURE	FULLY COVERED UP TO $600 WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT	$1,500
TAX AUDIT^1,2,3	FULLY COVERED UP TO $500 WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT	$2,000 AND ABOVE
CIVIL	LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE	TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN
CIVIL LITIGATION DEFENSE^1,2,3	FULLY COVERED UP TO $1,200 WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT	$1,500 AND ABOVE
FAMILY	LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE	TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN
UNCONTESTED SEPARATION^1,3	FULLY COVERED UP TO 10 HOURS WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT	$500 TO $1,500
CONSENT/DEFAULT DIVORCE^1,3	FULLY COVERED UP TO 10 HOURS WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT	$500 TO $1,500
UNCONTESTED DIVORCE^1,3	FULLY COVERED UP TO 10 HOURS WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT	$800 TO $1,500
CONTESTED DIVORCE^1,3	FULLY COVERED UP TO $1,000 WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT	$1,500 AND ABOVE
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
SERIOUS TRAFFIC MATTERS (RESULTING IN SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE)	COVERED	$500 TO $1,500
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING (REGARDING SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF LICENSE)	COVERED	$500 TO $1,500
MISDEMEANOR DEFENSE^1,2,3	FULLY COVERED UP TO $1,350 WITH REMAINDER AT 25% DISCOUNT	$1,500 TO $5,000
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS	LEGALGUARD PLAN COVERAGE	TYPICAL COSTS WITHOUT PLAN
ELDER LAW¹	COVERED	NOT APPLICABLE
IDENTITY THEFT RECOVERY COACHING¹	COVERED	NOT APPLICABLE
FINANCIAL ADVISOR¹	COVERED	NOT APPLICABLE
IMMIGRATION SERVICES¹	COVERED	NOT APPLICABLE
MEDIATION¹	COVERED	NOT APPLICABLE

¹Limitations apply

²Subject to Managed Case Rules

³6 month waiting period required following effective date

⁴Subject to variation as required by state law

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 except as specifically described under Covered Services; any matters involving a government (domestic or foreign) entity or agency except as specifically described under Covered Services; farm related issues; matters involving commercial or rental property transactions, including the purchase, sale or lease of investment or income-producing property.

Legal services that 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, judgments, 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 Covered 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, marketing, administration or other processes related to this Policy; Legal Plan Administrator or its subsidiaries; Claims Administrator or its subsidiaries; Policyholder; Member’s employer; Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and 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 Policy.

The Policy will not provide benefits in connection with pre-existing matters, which includes any matter where the Member and/or Covered Family Member is on notice as to a pending legal dispute or has previously contacted an attorney, except when prior coverage under another Legal Plan provided by the Policyholder can be demonstrated.

Where there are specific hours or dollar amounts provide in this Policy, or where a maximum is set under the Managed Case Rules, the Member will be responsible for all attorney fees incurred over the maximum. Additional exclusions related to each benefit are included in the Covered Services.

Network

About the Network of Attorneys

When going in for surgery, you don’t want a surgeon that has a poor track record or only a couple years experience. We feel that a legal need is just as important.

Help Focus Infrastructure

When it comes to finding an attorney, an employee can waste days looking for the right one, even with a legal plan. Our process has a Help Focus Infrastructure. We focus on our relationships with our Providers to help us help your employees, faster. Our Attorney Match Technology and dialogue with attorneys and members ensures the right help the first time. Matching an employee to the right help expedites solutions while saving time and stress.

Standards and Qualifications

The credentialing standards that we utilize to vet our providers is the most stringent in the country. We focus on years of experience, as well as insurance and discipline, as well as penalty of perjury submissions with extensive back ground checks.

Under the Provider Network, your employees will receive legal help from professionals with many of these service characteristics:

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

Provider Standards of Care

The Network Provider shall strive to provide the highest quality of legal representation and service to Plan Members.

Plan Providers agree to the following:

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.

About

A legal plan backed by a strong partnership.

We believe you deserve to feel prepared and confident when facing a legal matter. Through a strong partnership, Nationwide and LegalEASE offer LegalGUARD, a robust product offering that protects members when it matters most. How we do it is by providing an in-depth pool of resources to accommodate your legal needs. 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.

For more than 40 years, LegalEASE has established one of the oldest and most comprehensive networks of attorneys in the legal industry. With more than 17,000 participating plan attorneys, LegalEASE specializes in matching attorneys specific to client needs, when it matters most. For more information, visit LegalEASE.

Nationwide partnered with LegalEASE to provide members with solutions that offer support and protection from unexpected legal issues. At Nationwide, we put our members first, because we don't have shareholders.

Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; specialty health; pet, motorcycle, boat and farm insurance. For more information, visit Nationwide.com.