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The Legal Needs of American Families Study shows that working Americans and their families face a myriad of legal issues on almost a daily basis.  The study shows that 57 million full-time working Americans experienced at least one significant legal event in the past 12 months, but only 50% of those who experienced such an event actually sought out the  services of a lawyer to help them.

 

The areas of greatest need identified in the survey include auto and traffic issues such as traffic tickets and accidents, family issues such as adoption and divorce, and estate planning concerns such as wills, trusts, and estate or inheritance management.  The Legal Needs Study also shows that legal problems know no economic boundaries.  All income levels experience legal issues or events at about the same rate - 65%.

 

The study of full-time employees in the U.S. was conducted over the Internet.  A national probability sample of males and females aged 18 to 64 was drawn from American Consumer Opinion* Online, Decision Analyst's worldwide panel of over eight million consumers.  The sample was balanced by geography and selected demographics such as gender, age, ethnicity, and houshold income.  Panalists were invited by email to the screening survey and those employed full-time were invited to Decision Analyst's DAISurvey (TM) website to participate in the study.    A total of 1000 interviews were completed online from September 20 through September 26, 2012.

 

(Decision Analyst is one of the largest marketing research and analytical consulting firms in North America; and serves an array of Fortune 500 companies around the world.  The Firm specializes in strategy research, product testing, advertising testing, and marketing optimization using advanced simulation techniques.  The firm is headquarted in the Dallas Fort Worth area.

 

 

TOP 25 LEGAL ISSUES IDENTIFIED

 

• Automobile Accident

• Execution of a contract

• Secured a home mortgage / refinanced home

• Divorce

• Speeding ticket or traffic violation

• Prepared a will

• Marraige

• Leased an apartment or home

• Set up a trust

• Became executor of parents' estate

• Was subpoenaed

• Vehicle damaged while parked on street.

• Sold faulty merchandise

• Identity theft

• Inherited property

• Filed bankruptcy

• Friend who owes you money files for bankruptcy

• Injured someone accidentally

• Leased a vehicle

• Challenged a will

• Creditor taking legal action

• Adoption of a child

• Property was damaged while in storage

• Dog bit someone

• A tenant sued you.

 

The Legal Needs Study shows that Americans forgo or avoid legal help because of cost, access and trust issues.  According to survey results 93% of respondents believe lawyers charge too much for their services.  Respondents reported paying an average hourly rate of $284, with nearly 25% paying in excess of $400 per hour.  Additionally, nearly 20% did not know their attorney's hourly rate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victoria Lleras a Independent Associate - Director of Small Business and Group Benefits Specialist with Legal Shield in Louisville, Kentucky will provide regular updates on legal issues that affect Americans on a daily basis. 

https://sites.legalshield.com/aasites/Multisite?site=hub&assoc=victorialleras.  Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/legalshieldvl, email legalshield.vl@gmail.com or visit Face book https://www.facebook.com/victorialleras01 for more information.