The day you’re served papers, a clock starts. Miss the response deadline and the other side can win by default — over a debt, a foreclosure, anything. The single most important move is talking to a lawyer before that deadline, not after.
What the plan does when you’re the defendant
- Talk to the firm immediately — unlimited consultation, even about situations that started before you joined
- Civil trial defense hours — when a covered member is sued, the plan provides a scheduled number of provider-firm hours (the schedule starts at 100 total hours in year one and rises each year)
- Letters and negotiation with the creditor or lender where appropriate
The honest part
The defense-hours benefit applies to covered actions that arise while you’re a member — a lawsuit that already exists when you join gets unlimited advice, not the hours. Conditions and schedules are in your state’s plan contract, and Ben will walk you through them before you pay anything.
If you have a foreclosure sale date or court date in the next few days, get immediate local help first — your state bar’s lawyer referral service or legal aid (for example, TexasLawHelp.org in Texas, OkLaw.org in Oklahoma, LouisianaLawHelp.org in Louisiana). Then, if ongoing legal access makes sense, we’re here.
Common questions
I got a debt-collection summons. Is it too late to join?
You can join and get unlimited advice on it right away — that alone beats facing a courtroom blind. The defense-hours benefit, though, applies to covered matters that arise during membership — Ben will be straight with you about which side of that line you’re on.
Affordable Legal Support is operated by an independent associate of LegalShield. Affordable Legal Support is not a law firm and does not provide legal services, representation, or advice. Legal services are provided by independent provider law firms to members through membership-based participation. Benefits, availability, and conditions vary by state; certain services involve waiting periods or additional fees. See a plan contract for complete terms.