LegalShield Launches Free Coronavirus Resource Center in Response to Increased Demand for Legal Services During the Global Pa...
05 April 2020 - 3:00PM
Business Wire
Resource Center provides legal guidance on
coronavirus’ most impacted areas of life including employment,
healthcare, estate planning, travel, finances, events and
childcare
LegalShield, the world’s leading provider of affordable legal
and privacy protection plans, wants consumers to know their legal
rights during the coronavirus pandemic. With their mission of equal
justice for all, LegalShield has launched the LegalShield
Coronavirus Resource Center to provide free guidance on the
coronavirus’ most frequently searched topics including employment,
healthcare, estate planning, travel, finances, events and
childcare.
”The Coronavirus pandemic has raised a lot of legal questions,
and we want to serve all citizens with this helpful website,” said
Jeff Bell, CEO of LegalShield. “Getting sound legal advice and
support at a time like this can go a long way in reducing stress
and protecting rights. LegalShield lawyers have been working around
the clock to provide our 4.4 million members the guidance and
support they need and we are committed to remaining open throughout
the pandemic to provide legal support.”
The LegalShield Coronavirus Resource Center is being updated in
real-time and touches upon a vast array of critical legal questions
that consumers are concerned about as the pandemic evolves. Below
are some of the hot topics that are trending currently:
Employment Law and Your Income
Coronavirus is wreaking havoc on the economy. LegalShield
lawyers are available to discuss any issues or concerns about
employment including remote work policies and unemployment law. By
speaking with a lawyer, members can get step-by-step instructions
for protecting their rights. With Congress passing new
employment-related legislation on a daily basis, issues are fluid.
Frequently asked questions include:
- My employer does not provide paid sick leave. Can they force me
to come to work? Stay home without pay?
- I’m supposed to travel for work. Can my employer fire me for
refusing to travel?
- Can I use my FMLA time even if I’m not infected?
- If you have been laid off, what are your rights and options
related to unemployment and your bills if your income has
stopped?
Healthcare, Health Insurance & Estate Planning
Issues
LegalShield lawyers are on call to answer questions, provide
advice and even make phone calls or write letters for members to
make sure they are getting the care they need. Also, member
benefits include drawing up critical estate planning and legal
documents like Wills, Living Wills, healthcare directives and
powers of attorney to help manage care and protect finances.
Frequently asked questions include:
- Is your health insurance provider legally required to cover
doctor-ordered tests, including the coronavirus test?
- Should you give someone power of attorney if you become
ill?
- What legal documents are needed if you are admitted to the
hospital?
Travel Related Issues
Whether members are preparing to travel or are currently away
and looking to get back home, LegalShield lawyers can answer
questions and take action for members to provide solutions and
resolve disputes. Frequently asked questions include:
- Do you have the right to be refunded for travel expenses such
as hotel deposits or airline fees if you choose to cancel a
trip?
- Can you demand a refund if your travel plans were canceled due
to a travel ban or other government action?
- If you have traveled overseas, are airlines required to help
you get home in the event of a travel ban?
Financial Concerns
LegalShield’s network of provider lawyers include many
specializing in finance and real estate law. They are available to
give actionable advice that members can use to stabilize current
situations involving rentals, leases and mortgages. Frequently
asked questions include:
- Will the bank foreclose on my home if I miss a mortgage payment
due to governmental action and lost wages?
- What are my rights if there is a run on the banks?
- Are there any specific legal steps I can take to protect my
wealth?
- Can my landlord evict me, or can the electric company
disconnect me if I don’t pay my bill one month?
Events and Shelter in Place Mandates
While many events have already been cancelled, questions remain.
Also, conflicting state, federal and local government rules
regarding the movement of people in and out of certain areas are
confusing. Event related issues that deal with basic contract law
may be simple for a lawyer to address. Pandemic specific issues can
be more complex and fluid. Frequently asked questions include:
- How large of an event can I throw or attend?
- I have a wedding coming up. Can I get deposits back? Can I ask
vendors to reschedule without penalty?
- Can the government force me to stay in my home?
- What happens if I go outside during a shelter in place
mandate?
Issues Related to Children and Childcare
School closings are causing a lot of chaos. Some students are
stranded overseas. Other students have been forced to leave a
college that they’ve already paid for. A lawyer can help you know
your rights. Frequently asked questions include:
- My child’s school or daycare is closed but I have to go to
work. Can my employer punish me if I'm forced to stay home to care
for my child?
- My child is overseas and needs to get back to the US. What
options do we have?
- Can I get a refund for the semester I’m forced to miss but
already paid for?
The LegalShield Coronavirus Resource Center is available at
https://covid19.legalshield.com/legal.
A personal plan from LegalShield allows consumers to speak with
a lawyer about any legal issue for as little as $24.95 per month.
By joining today, consumers can speak with a lawyer about any legal
issue in as little as 4 hours. LegalShield lawyers are available
without leaving the comfort of one’s own home through the mobile
app or 1-800-654-7757. As a member, consumers are connected with an
attorney with an average of 22 years of experience. Additionally,
through the LegalShield mobile app (available on iOS and Android)
there are several free services to help aid consumers and small
businesses.
About LegalShield and IDShield
A trailblazer in the democratization of affordable access to
legal protection, LegalShield is one of North America’s largest
providers of online legal subscription plans covering more than 4.4
million people. Its IDShield identity theft solution for
individuals and families has more than one million members.
LegalShield and IDShield serve more than 141,000 businesses. In
addition, over 40,000 companies offer LegalShield and IDShield
plans to their employees as a voluntary benefit. Both legal and
identity theft plans start for less than $25 per month.
LegalShield’s legal plans provide access to qualified law firms
and their lawyers with an average of 22 years of experience in
family matters, estate planning, financial and business issues,
consumer protection, tax, real estate, benefits disputes and
auto/driving issues. Unlike other legal plans or do-it-yourself
online services, LegalShield has dedicated law firms in 50 states
and all provinces and territories in Canada that members can access
at a fraction of typical law firm hourly rates.
IDShield provides identity monitoring and restoration services
and is the only identity theft protection company armed with a team
of Licensed Private Investigators to restore a member’s
identity.
For more information about LegalShield, visit:
https://www.legalshield.com/ or for more information about
IDShield, visit: https://www.idshield.com/.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200405005017/en/
Media: Elyse Gentile ICR Inc. legalshieldpr@icrinc.com
646-677-1823