The University of Michigan Legal Plan entitles you and your eligible dependents to receive certain personal legal services. The available benefits are very comprehensive, but there are limitations and other conditions which must be met.

Please take time for you and your family to read the description of benefits carefully. All benefit definitions are shown at the "you plus two or more" level of coverage available under the University of Michigan Group Legal Plan.

• If you have chosen the "you only" level of coverage, only you are entitled to the services described.
• If you are enrolled in the "you plus one" level, only you and your spouse or other qualified adult or one dependent child are entitled to receive covered services.
• If you are enrolled in the "you plus two or more" level, you and all your eligible dependents are entitled to receive covered services, unless otherwise noted in the benefit descriptions.

The following services are covered under the Plan.

Advice and Consultation
Debt Matters
Defense of Civil Lawsuits
Document Preparation
Family Law
Real Estate Matters
Wills and Estate Planning

Advice and Consultation

Office Consultation
This benefit provides the opportunity to discuss with an attorney any personal legal problems which are not specifically excluded or prohibited matters.

During the consultation, the attorney will explain the participant's rights, point out his or her options and, if needed, recommend a course of action. The Plan attorney will identify any further coverage available under the Plan, and will undertake representation if the participant so requests.

If representation is covered by the Plan, the participant will not be charged for the Plan attorney's services. If representation is recommended, but is not covered by the Plan, the Plan attorney will provide a written fee statement in advance. The participant may choose whether to retain the Plan attorney at his or her own expense; seek outside counsel; or do nothing.

There are no restrictions on the number of times per year a participant may use this service; however, for a non-covered matter, this service is not intended to provide the participant with continuing access to a Plan attorney in order to undertake his or her own representation.

Telephone Advice
This benefit provides the opportunity to discuss with an attorney any personal legal problems which are not specifically excluded or prohibited matters. The Plan attorney will explain the participant's rights, point out his or her options and, if needed, recommend a course of action. The Plan attorney will identify any further coverage available under the Plan, and will undertake representation if the participant so requests.

If representation is covered by the Plan, the participant will not be charged for the Plan attorney's services. If representation is recommended, but is not covered by the plan, the Plan attorney will provide a written fee statement in advance. The participant may choose whether to retain the Plan attorney at his or her own expense; seek outside counsel; or do nothing.

There are no restrictions on the number of times per year a participant may use this service; however, for a non-covered matter, this service is not intended to provide the participant with continuing access to a Plan attorney in order to seek advice which would allow the participant to undertake his or her own representation.

top

Debt Matters

Debt Collection Defense
This benefit provides participants with negotiation with creditors for a repayment schedule, limiting creditor harassment, and representation in defense of any action for personal debt collection, foreclosure, repossession, or garnishment, up to and including trial if necessary. It does not include defense against a judgment, vacating a judgment, counter claims, cross claims, bankruptcy, any action arising out of divorce or post-decree matters, or any matter where the creditor is affiliated with the University of Michigan.

top

Defense of Civil Lawsuits

Civil Litigation Defense
This benefit covers the participant for defense of civil proceedings in a trial court of general jurisdiction or before an administrative agency or a local, state, or federal agency. It does not apply where services are available or are being provided by virtue of a homeowner or vehicle insurance policy. It does not include divorce, paternity matters, post-decree defense or litigation of a job-related incident.

top

Document Preparation

Deeds
This benefit includes the preparation of any deed for which the participant is either the grantor or grantee.

Demand Letters
This benefit covers the preparation of letters which demand money, property or some other property interest of the participant, except an interest which is an excluded service, mailing them to the addressee and forwarding and explaining any response to the participant. Negotiations and representation in litigation are not included.

Document Review
Any personal legal document of the participant will be reviewed by a Plan attorney.

Mortgages
This benefit includes the preparation of any mortgage for which the participant is the mortgagor.

Notes
This benefit includes the preparation of any promissory note for which the participant is the payor or payee.

top

Family Law

Name Change
This benefit covers the participant for all necessary pleadings and court hearings for a legal name change.

Uncontested Adoption
All uncontested governmental agency and step-parent adoptions are fully covered for the participant and spouse or other qualified adult. If an adoption becomes contested, the member or spouse or other qualified adult must pay all additional legal fees.

Uncontested Guardianship or Conservatorship
This service covers establishing a guardianship or conservatorship over a person and his or her estate by the member or spouse or other qualified adult. It includes obtaining a temporary guardianship or conservatorship if necessary, gathering any necessary medical evidence, preparing the paperwork and attending the hearing. If the proceeding becomes contested, the member, spouse, or other qualified adult must pay all the additional legal fees. This benefit does not include representation of the person over whom guardianship or conservatorship is sought, or any proceedings involving annual accountings once guardianship or conservatorship has been established.

top

Real Estate Matters

Eviction Defense
This benefit provides representation for the participant as a residential tenant, in case of eviction, up to and including a trial defense, if necessary.

Refinancing of Home
This benefit includes the review or preparation, by an attorney representing the participant, of all relevant documents (including the mortgage, deed and documents pertaining to title, insurance, recordation and taxation), which are involved in the refinancing of a participant's primary residence. It does not include services provided by any attorney representing a lending institution or title company.

The benefit does not include the refinancing of a second home, vacation property, unimproved land, rental property or property held for business or investment. The sale or purchase of a home, and home equity loans are not included under this benefit.

Sale or Purchase of Home
This benefit includes the review or preparation, by an attorney representing the participant, of all relevant documents (including the purchase agreement, mortgage, deed and documents pertaining to title, insurance, recordation and taxation), which are involved in the purchase or sale of a participant's primary residence. The benefit also includes attendance of an attorney at closing, in cities where it is the custom to do so. It does not include services provided by any attorney representing a lending institution or title company.

The benefit does not include the sale or purchase of a second home, vacation property, unimproved land, rental property or property held for business or investment. Refinancings and home equity loans are not included under this benefit.

Tenant Negotiations
This service assists the participant as a tenant with matters involving leases, security deposits or other disputes with a residential landlord. It does not include representation in a lawsuit.

top

Wills and Estate Planning

Living Wills
This benefit covers the preparation of a living will for the participant.

Powers of Attorney
This benefit includes the preparation of any power of attorney when the participant is granting the power.

Trusts
This benefit includes the preparation of a living trust for the participant. It does not include financial or tax planning.

Wills and Codicils
This benefit covers the preparation of a will for the participant. The creation of any testamentary trust, other than a simple support trust for minor children, is not covered. The benefit includes the preparation of codicils, or will amendments. It does not include financial or tax planning.

top