Legal Advice for $39.95 a telephone call

You can talk to an attorney for an unlimited time on a single matter.

If you want legal advice on which document you need, or advice on any aspect of a document that you have purchased from SmartLegalForms.com, you can purchase telephone legal advice. The ARAG Group administers a network of law firms which offer state-specific advice and answer your personal legal questions. 

The ARAG Group is one of the leading pre-paid insurance companies in the United States, already serving hundreds of thousands of people.

Instead of retaining a lawyer to handle every detail, you can purchase the legal advice you need, when you need it, at a time that is convenient to you.

Attorneys from different law firms, located in all fifty states, comprise this Legal Advice Service. Each attorney has been approved as part of The ARAG Group Network, meeting ARAG's exclusive criteria. 

This Legal Advice Service is open for calls from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. in your time zone.

Your personal attorney will help you understand:

• how the law applies in your state to your individual legal situation; and
• what steps can you can take to resolve it. 

The attorneys in the ARAG network have an average of 20 years' experience practicing law, and ARAG has screened and approved each of them. If you aren't happy with the service you receive, ARAG offers a money-back guarantee.

Once you have ordered the service using the shopping cart, proceed to the check out. You will be presented with a personal identification number and a toll-free phone number once the system has authorized your credit card. 

Call the toll-free number and follow the instructions from the interactive voice response system, which will ask for your ID number. The state-of-the-art call routing technology transfers your call and is valid for one conversation with an attorney. You have up to seven (7) days to place your call. 

What to expect from your attorney:

The attorney will:   

• listen to your situation;   
• ask clarifying questions;   
• sort out the legal issues;  
• apply the law in your state to the set of facts as you present them;
• provide advice and recommend a course of action. 

That’s it. No hassles, no bills to pay, just straightforward advice from a competent attorney. 

How to Purchase and Access the Ask an Attorney Service

The Ask an Attorney service is available to take calls from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., local time, Monday through Friday.

Step 1: Go to Ask an Attorney on ARAGdirect.com and click on the "Buy Now" button.

Step 2: The "Buy Now" button will allow you to register as a user.

Step 3: After you register, log in on ARAGdirect.com using your password. You will be able to order the Ask an Attorney service on a secure server using your credit card.

Step 4: Call the toll-free number. When prompted, enter your identification number and your call will be transferred to the attorney's office. Provide your name, personal identification number and the nature of your legal need to the person who answers.

SmartLegalForms.com and ARAG

Although SmartLegalForms.com does not offer legal advice, many of our customers have expressed a desire for some personalized legal advice. SmartLegalForms.com does not operate the "Ask an Attorney" service offered on our website. The service is provided by ARAG, a company that provides prepaid legal insurance to hundreds of thousands of employees in Fortune 500 companies. Attorneys who answer questions are affiliated with ARAG, not SmartLegalForms.com.

SmartLegalForms.com chose to offer ARAG's phone advice service because we believe it's an excellent and much needed service. If you use a SmartLegalForms.com legal document to handle your own legal matters, you may want some expert help or advice -- but without turning over the entire legal matter to a lawyer. For the first time, we know an easy way to buy just the legal services you need.

We've been impressed with the integrity, as well as the affordability, of the service. The attorneys who staff the phones for the "Ask an Attorney" network are screened (they must be licensed and in good standing with their state bar association) and monitored by ARAG. They are also forbidden from offering to sell you more services -- which means that they have no incentive to recommend more lawyer's services than you need. Finally, there's a money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied.

Once I buy a call, how do I use it?

When you purchase a call, you will be given a Personal Identification Number that is valid for seven days. When you want to contact the attorney, simply call 800-378-9167, enter your PIN, and you will be automatically routed to the telephone attorney in your state.

If you wish to speak to an attorney in a different state, you will be manually routed to the proper attorney.

Attorneys are available from 9am-5pm in your local time zone.

How are Telephone Attorneys selected?

In selecting telephone attorneys, ARAG interviews each attorney via the telephone or through on-site visits. At these interviews they determine the attorney's:

• Commitment to customer service
• Telephone demeanor
• Experience in providing advice and counsel
• Ability to provide advice and counsel on general areas of law
• Office support (associate attorneys, staff, etc.)
• Technological capabilities
• Accessibility during regular business hours
• Emergency access availability
• Community involvement

In addition, each telephone attorney must meet certain requirements to participate on the ARAGdirect telephone network.

What are the requirements of Telephone Attorneys?  

Each telephone attorney must meet the following requirements:

• Be licensed to practice in their particular state
• Be a member in good standing with the appropriate state bar association
• Maintain an office for the regular practice of law
• Have Internet and e-mail access
• Hold professional liability coverage of at least $500,000
• How does ARAGdirect monitor the service of telephone attorneys?

Service of telephone attorneys is monitored through customer satisfaction surveys, complaint handling and annual on-site visits. If service from an attorney should ever fall below acceptable levels, ARAGdirect will work with them to improve their performance or they will be removed from the network.

In addition, ARAGdirect receives annual updates on each attorney's status with their state's bar association. If any changes occur, they investigate the reported incidents and make decisions based on their findings.

What kind of guarantee do I get?

If at any time you are not satisfied with the customer service of your telephone attorney, contact ARAGdirect and they will refund your purchase. For more information, see their money-back guarantee.

I don't want to use my credit card online. Can I still order?

Yes. ARAGdirect understands that some people are not comfortable using their credit card online. Since it is their goal to provide their customers with the highest standard of service, you may place your order over the telephone by calling a ARAGdirect customer service representative at 800-378-9167.

If I'm not satisfied, can I get my money back?

Yes. If you are not totally satisfied with the products and services offered at ARAGdirect, you can receive a complete refund by calling 800-378-9167 within 30 days of your order. They will promptly credit your account for any items purchased through ARAGdirect. Please note, however, that transactions with individual attorneys are non-refundable.

What if I have a complaint?

The primary goal at ARAGdirect is customer satisfaction. Send them an e-mail or call them at 800-378-9167.

If at any time you feel you have not received the highest level of service, please let them know.

The best way they can make their site better is by listening to what you, their customers, have to say. So let them know how they can improve your online experience, and they'll do everything they can to satisfy your needs.