Frequently Asked Questions
What are faith related legal issues?
Non-Profit Organizations may have a variety of legal issues, including but not limited to issues pertaining to business formation, real estate, contract disputes, employer-employee relations, taxes on unrelated business income, as well as issues such as nuisance or trespass. Tax exempt issues, whether at the State or Federal level can present very real problems for non-profit organizations due to their complexity. Access to a trustworthy and knowledgeable attorney is a valuable asset to the Member Organization.
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Do I have to worry about hourly rates for experienced and dedicated attorneys?
When a Member uses the services of the Law Firm under the Plan, Members are provided a regular statement of hours used and hours remaining. Once you become a member of Faith Legal Services, LLC you do not have to worry about hourly rates for experienced and dedicated attorneys. Let Faith Legal Services, LLC, do that for you! Member Organizations are able to work with a qualified, dedicated, and experienced attorney.
How does the Legal Plan work?
Faith Legal Services, LLC will assess the nature of the legal issue presented by a Member Organization. Faith Legal Services, LLC will hire an attorney to provide competent legal representation. Faith Legal Services, LLC has arranged to use the law firm of Haynes & Haynes, LLC to provide legal services to Member Organizations. The number of hours used to resolve the issues are deducted from the number of hours available, depending on the type of Membership Plan purchased. A regular statement of hours used and hours remaining is provided to Member Organizations.
How long is a Membership period?
Membership in the Plan is on an annual basis, renewable between the last month of the calendar year and the first month of the next year.
Are all legal issues that non-profit organizations encounter covered?
While most legal matters which affect non-profit organizations are covered, some legal matters are beyond the scope of the Plan. Some matters which are beyond the scope of the Plan are criminal, patent, or copyright matters to name a few. Whether a matter is covered is determined at the time the issue is presented. (See “What are faith related legal issues?”)
Do unused hours carryover to the next Membership period?
Faith Legal Services, LLC will assist the Member Organization in making a decision as to which Plan will best suit the needs of the agency so that there should be few if any unused hours of services. However, a limited number of unused hours can be carried over to the next Plan year by Premium Plan Members only. Other Plans do not allow the carryover of unused hours. Faith Legal Services, LLC has arranged for the provider attorneys to offer their services for substantially reduced fees. This arrangement was successful because Membership in the Plan is restricted to non-profit organizations, in order to assist them in making their missions successful. To maintain the arrangement for the substantially lower priced legal costs, the Membership Dues are for the Plan year even if all of the hours are not used.
What is a Legal Services Plan?
A Legal Services Plan is an arrangement in which a participant prepays for legal services which may be required in the future. There are many different types of Plans, most of which are for individuals. Faith Legal Services, LLC is a Plan designed for “Organizations” and not individuals.
Are individual employees of the Member Organization eligible for coverage under the plan?
The Plan is designed to assist the non-profit organization in its mission; the Plan is not for individuals.
How is Faith Legal Services, LLC different from other Legal Services Plans?
Faith Legal Services, LLC is designed for the needs of organizations that are benevolent, religious, or charitable and which are specifically exempt or eligible for exemption under Federal Law from taxation. Faith Legal Services, LLC will allow a non-profit organization to utilize its Membership to apply for a tax exempt status and/or non-profit status with the state and/or Federal government.
Can our Organization make payments when joining Faith Legal Services, LLC?
In order to offer all members access to legal services at such a profoundly discounted rate, membership fees are paid upon joining. Only Premium Members may join by paying membership fees in two installments. See the Plan contract for membership rates.
Will Faith Legal Services, LLC charge additional fees in addition to the Membership Dues?
Faith Legal Services, LLC will not charge any fees in addition to the Membership Dues for your Plan. (Please review your plan) However, there may be additional costs associated with court costs, filing fees, application fees, and costs that governmental entities may require. In fact, the Law Firm which has been selected by Faith Legal Services, LLC will advise you in the event there are additional costs required by any Court or Agency.
What is an “Extended Membership” Benefit?
Some legal issues which non-profit organizations may encounter can result in extensive litigation and require additional legal work. Extended benefits are apart of your Membership Plan and include access to legal counsel at a significantly reduced hourly rate for legal matters beyond the scope of your contract. Each Plan is designed to give the Member legal counsel for the purpose of continuing its charitable missions. However, in the event that your organization is faced with legal issues that are more extensive and time consuming than your plan allocates, you will already have access to dedicated attorneys at a reduced rate. This benefit is available to all members of Faith Legal Services, LLC.
What is an “Excluded Services” benefit?
An “Excluded Service” is a legal issue in an area of law that is not practiced by the primary counsel dedicated to Faith Legal Services, LLC. These legal issues require legal counsel in areas of law outside the benefits offered in your contract. Some examples of these areas of law are patent law, criminal law, environmental law, and cyber law. However, Faith Legal Services, LLC was established to help assist its Members in successfully accomplishing their charitable purposes. The primary counsel will use its experience and knowledge to identify a referral counsel for you. Secondly, the primary counsel will communicate the nature of your issue and interview the referral attorney to ensure qualified representation. Lastly, primary counsel will use its experience to assist you in negotiating a fair hourly rate. This benefit is offered exclusively for Standard and Premium Plan Members of Faith Legal Services, LLC.
In any of the Plans, a Member may schedule a personal interview with an attorney.
Call Faith Legal Services, LLC if you have any additional questions. Our trained and Professional Staff are waiting to Assist you.
