When Do You Need a Life Insurance Lawyer?
If you have any issues, questions, or concerns related to your current life insurance policy or a policy that you are considering purchasing in Canada, it is very important to consult with a lawyer for life insurance. The simplest explanation of life insurance is that it is a contract between you, the policy holder, and the insurance company, or the insurer.
The laws that govern life insurance policies can vary by jurisdiction, so it is important to have a local lawyer provide you with advice about the laws in your specific area. Many people have life insurance policies and there are certain problems with these policies that are common, such as vague or technical language.
This can cause issues for policyholders or beneficiaries when they try to cash in the policy if the policy holder tries to use them to avoid paying the claim. There are several examples of conduct that may indicate that your insurance provided is engaging in unfair insurance practices, such as:
- Persuading a claimant not to choose to pursue litigation by offering them substantially less than they would get if they filed a lawsuit in court.
- Not maintaining a set of standards for investigating claims under insurance policies.
- Failing to react to claims that are filed in a reasonable time.
- Not being completely honest or lying about certain provisions of insurance policies, such as what is covered and what is not covered by the policy.
- Providing a reason for the offer of a settlement or a denial of a claim in an unreasonably short amount of time.
- Delaying an investigation of a claim by requiring expert opinions, such as physicians, or requiring those experts to submit reports when the requirements are unnecessary or are unlikely to uncover new information.
If you have any of these types of issues, a life insurance lawyer can help.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Life Insurance Lawyer in Canada?
The cost of having the help of a life insurance lawyer will be different depending on several factors, including:
- Experience: More experienced attorneys often charge higher fees.
- Type of firm: Bigger law firms commonly charge more than smaller law firms or attorneys who practice by themselves.
- Location: Attorneys who practice in large cities commonly charge higher fees than lawyers in rural areas or smaller towns.
- The complexity of the case: If a case is complicated, it will likely take more time to resolve than a simple issue.
- Billing method: An attorney can charge clients using different fee arrangements, such as:
- Contingency fee
- Hourly rate
- Flat fee
- Retainer fee
If you hire a life insurance lawyer who charges you by the hour, their fees may be anywhere from CA$200 to CA$500 an hour, or more. If your lawyer takes your case on a contingency basis, they will only get paid if they win your case.
In contingency cases, attorneys typically receive between 20% and 50% of what the client receives. The specific percentage will be agreed upon before your attorney starts working on your case.
What to Look for in a Life Insurance Lawyer?
When you are looking for a life insurance lawyer, it is essential to find someone who fits your needs and budget. It may be helpful for you to consider several factors when choosing your lawyer, such as:
- Experience: Find a lawyer with previous experience handling life insurance issues.
- Personalized attention: Find an attorney who understands the unique aspects of your issue as well as the resolution you are seeking.
- Communication: It is important to ensure that you will receive regular updates on the status of your insurance issue. Your lawyer should respond to your communications in a timely manner.
- Knowledge of health insurance laws and regulations: Find a lawyer who has knowledge and understanding of life insurance laws that apply to your issue.
Having a lawyer help resolve your life insurance issue can ensure you reach a resolution in an efficient manner. If you are considering purchasing life insurance, your attorney will be able to review the policy and explain the laws that will apply.
How to Prepare for Your Consultation With a Life Insurance Lawyer?
When you have scheduled a consultation with your life insurance lawyer, you should prepare before you go to ensure you get the most out of the meeting. It is important that you bring any documents that are related to the life insurance policy, such as:
- Information about your plan
- Any contracts or documents you signed
- Communications you have had with the insurance company
- Receipts for any payments your have made
You should also write down any concerns or questions related to your life insurance you would like to discuss with your attorney. By doing this, you can ensure that all of your concerns are addressed at the meeting.
Where to Find Life Insurance Lawyers in Canada?
LegalMatch is an easy and convenient way for you to find a life insurance lawyer in Canada, whether you live in a rural area or a large city, such as Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal. Even though it may seem like it would be easy to just do an online search for “life insurance lawyers near me” or “life insurance attorneys near me,” the results you receive might not always be helpful or informative.
You can find a life insurance lawyer in just a few steps using LegalMatch:
- Submit your issue: You can submit information about your life insurance issue at no cost in just a few minutes.
- Get matched: You will get matches near you who are ready to start helping with your issue in around 24 hours.
- Choose a lawyer: When you get a match, you will be able to see the lawyer’s education, fee arrangements, and client reviews.
It is easy and free to take advantage of the lawyer services that LegalMatch provides to find a licensed and pre-screened lawyer near you. There is no obligation to hire any of the lawyers who respond to your submission.
