Are prepaid services ever worth the money?
Although not nearly as popular here as in the litigious United States, a few Canadian companies offer prepaid legal plans as an employee benefit.
Much like medical insurance, you pay a set amount each month and have access to the plan’s pool of lawyers. Members can prepare certain documents for you, such as draft a will, and you can have consultations (on the phone at least) a few times a year.
It's a hard-won perk for unions like the Canadian Auto Workers but is it worth the expense? Maybe, depending on your needs, but I’d prefer to go the 'a la carte' route, calling in the professionals when I need them and then taking my chances.
In fact, I’m hard pressed to come up with many services that I’d be willing to pay for before I really need them.