Articles Posted in Legal documents

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legal-forms-300x152We often set goals and resolutions to improve our lives as we approach the start of a new year. One goal that many people overlook is creating a living will. A living will, also known as an advance directive, is a legal document that outlines your medical wishes in case you become incapacitated and unable to communicate. While it may not be the most exciting resolution, drafting a living will can provide peace of mind and ensure your wishes are respected in a medical emergency. Preparing a living will is an excellent New Year’s resolution and pre-paid legal services can help.

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Posted in: Legal documents and Wills
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Reviewing DocumentsWriting a will can seem overwhelming, and many people believe they can handle it on their own. However, without the proper legal advice and guidance, writing your own will is a risky proposition. You can avoid costly and potentially devastating mistakes. Writing your own will is risky, and a group legal plan can provide the protection you need.

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stockfresh_181218_last-will-and-testament_sizeS_72a2cb-300x225A simple will is a testament to what a person wants to be done with their estate once they have died. The document is no more than six pages long and, if properly drafted, will ensure a person’s wishes are fulfilled. However, some things need to be in the paperwork to make the document better enforceable. Here are some improvements a person can make to a simple will that ensures their wishes are carried out as intended. These improvements include:

  • Alternative beneficiaries should be there. It’s vital to name alternative beneficiaries in case the primary ones died before the testator or are unable or unwilling to inherit their portion.
  • The will ordinarily distributes the estate in equal shares among the beneficiaries. If the testator wants to leave specific amounts of money or assets to particular individuals or organizations, these must be included in the simple will.
  • An executor has to be appointed so that the terms of the will are carried out. That person must be someone who is both competent and trusted.
  • Provisions for minor children. This is essential if the testator has little children since their care and guardianship need to be provided if both parents pass away.
  • Tax implications are going to play a role in estate distribution. Therefore, it is essential to consult with an attorney or accountant to be sure that the estate is structured in a tax-efficient way.
  • Regular updating. Drafting a will is one thing, and maintaining it is another. Regular updates will make necessary corrections due to marriages, divorces, changes in assets, births, or deaths of any beneficiaries.

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stockfresh_8628171_legal-advice-book-title-3d_sizeS-300x150Legal practices and procedures heavily influence modern society. People need to know the legal implications of their choices such as entering into contracts or purchasing warranties. Often, a lack of understanding of the legal document provides serious consequences. It helps an ordinary consumer to have legal advice that is readily available and affordable. Group legal plans offer such assistance. Continue reading

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woman reviewing legal documentsAnyone who has tried to read a legal document knows those papers can be confusing and difficult to understand. That is why a person is smart to have an attorney review any legal documents before they sign them. An attorney can help explain the document in plain language and point out any areas that may be cause for concern. In addition, the attorney can offer advice on how to ensure the paper meets an individual’s personal needs. Legal document review helps avoid problems down the road.

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Legal documents can be stressful. The average employee does not understand the verbiage and is easily frustrated. The greatest danger is to sign a document without understanding the obligations or consequences buried within the paperwork.

Common Problems

Some issues make legal documents a pain in the neck.

*Outdated or Invalid Forms. Landlords who own properties in several states may use an out of state lease, which is invalid. These documents might not include current information required by recent changes in the law. The tenant is thus being held accountable for a paper that has no legal standing. Continue reading

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A warranty is essentially a contract between a consumer and a company. A person buys a warranty with the assumption repair services will be provided if the covered product no longer works. It seems pretty cut and dry, but warranties are not always so straightforward. The devil is in the details.

 

What Do You Know about Warranties?

 

Salespeople will apply some pressure to convince a consumer to purchase a warranty. An individual might buy the contract without considering some important questions.

 

*Do You Know What Is Covered? The warranty will specifically note what is covered. Don’t be surprised if inevitable accidents are not included in the coverage. Parts or labor might only be partially covered or not at all. Continue reading

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Private citizens are easily frustrated when they deal with public agencies. It appears that a simple request rarely gets a response and when people ask for help, they are turned away because of a technicality. People begin to think that government employees don’t care or that the bureaucracy is intentionally incompetent. That is a misconception, but experience will make people sincerely believe public employees are lazy and stupid.

Group legal plans offer service to help with public agencies, but the quality provided might not be the best. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services can help a person deal with government offices, and we are successful in getting a Countrywide Group Legal Plan member what he or she needs.

Misconceptions Cause Anxiety

Customer service is a major issue in the private sector. Companies that deal with the public are expected to provide superior service all the time and respond quickly to any inquiry. People have gotten used to this kind of attention and they don’t understand why government agencies cannot do the same. Continue reading

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Legal documents mystify people. The language is not something they are familiar with, but the consequences of misinterpreting the words can be significant. Contracts, leases, and other written forms of agreement can carry clauses that will penalize somebody for noncompliance. The same is true for various government applications and requests for information.

Group legal plans offer a variety of services to people that cover ordinary situations. A review of legal documents is a benefit that employees will appreciate. Countrywide Pre-Paid Legal Services have legal documents reviewed as a benefit option for a Group Legal Plan. It is well worth being considered by employers.

It is a good idea to have documents reviewed before signing them. The individual should be aware of the responsibilities he or she must accept by signing any legal paper. Countrywide has a nationwide network of attorneys who provide pre-paid legal services. These legal professionals can quickly interpret a document and define its meaning. Continue reading

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The advances in modern medicine are nearly miraculous. People who were once considered terminal cases now have a fighting chance to recover, survive, and thrive. Consumers are becoming aware of new therapies and treatments and they are also more cost-conscious. They want second opinions and will decide what they would like to have as their treatment. That freedom of choice is excellent, but it does not mean anything if the patient is unresponsive.

Following the Protocols

Healthcare providers will follow standard protocols of treatment if they have no other instructions from the patient. These procedures might not be what the patient wants. The treatments could also be costly. Nevertheless, without the patient’s instructions, the protocols will be followed. It would be beneficial if group legal plans provided living wills and medical powers of attorney benefits. The documents offer these valuable benefits:

  1. The living will specifies what medical procedures will be used if the patient is not responsive;
  2. Medical powers of attorney authorize a trusted person to make decisions for an unresponsive patient. That person knows what the patient wants and instructs the healthcare providers accordingly.

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