Structured Settlement Annuity Companies and Reviews

Structured Settlement Buyers

Structured Settlement Buyers

 


There are many companies that will advertise about them being the best in purchasing your structured settlement. But whenever you choose to sell your structured settlement you must first do your research and look at the companies with some of the best track records.

The role of  a structured settlement company is for creating the agreement, getting your court approval and liaising with the payer. The more experienced and balanced structured settlement companies will help you get through these processes smoothly while giving you the most in your lump some payment. There are some mediocre structured settlement companies who campaign big but deliver small on providing your with the best deal when selling and drags out the process much longer than general time it takes for all processes to complete.

Here are some simple things that you must look at when picking a company to handle your structured settlement.

• Company Stance or Strength. How reputable is this company, how long have they been in business and how do they deliver their products.
• Website functionality and Service. The company website must provide you with very specif detail and step by step processes with clear and precise instructions. 
• Customer Service. Is always key, you will be engaging with the company and therefore you will need all your queries answered in a professional and timely manner. Staff must be courteous and not acting as if they are doing you a a favor.

Total Cash for Your Structured Settlement

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TopConsumerReviews.com  has done several reviews and has rated these companies as top in structured settlement.

Stone Street Capital Cash Cow

1. STONE STREET CAPITAL

You may recognize Stone Street Capital from their "Cash Now from the Cash Cow" commercials. In business since 1989, Stone Street Capital, headquartered in Maryland, is a pioneer of the structured settlement funding service providers. They lead the way in top quality customer service, which is reflected in their A+ Better Business Bureau rating and numerous satisfied clients.

The Stone Street Capital structured settlement website exceeded our expectations in information and education. We were able to browse through a number of helpful articles and information that helped us understand the structured settlement buyer, press releases about Stone Street over the past several years, structured settlement tips, and more.

The process at Stone Street is very straightforward. Here's what you can expect:

• You first identify how much money you need, and when you'll need it.
• You call or email Stone Street to discuss your options.
• Necessary paperwork is overnighted to you for signatures and a notary if you accept their offer.
• You return the documents back in a pre-paid envelope.
• Stone Street works with the payer to verify the payments and establishes a court date with an attorney in your local area.
• Stone Street will send a wire transfer or check upon court approval.
• Average turnaround is based on the state you reside in, but you can anticipate 45 to 90 days from start to finish.
• You will work with one Stone Street representative through the entire process.

We found the customer service team to be top notch at this company. The representatives are very informative and offer no pushy sales pitch on why you should choose them. We felt most comfortable dealing with Stone Street Capital and really appreciated their no pressure approach.

In summary, Stone Street Capital provides the highest level of service among structured settlement providers. Their informative website added a lot of value in our search effort. Stone Street offers a long history of strong performance and an excellent BBB rating. If you are looking for a structured settlement company, Stone Street Capital should be your first stop.

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2. SETTLEMENT CAPITAL CORPORATION 

Settlement Capital Corporation is a financing company that provides lump sum payments to recipients of structured settlements, annuities, and lottery winnings. They offer the flexibility of both partial and full payment purchases along with guaranteed and life contingent purchases depending on your situation. Settlement Capital does require a minimum funding amount of $10,000 to do business with them.

Formed in 1989, this Dallas based company currently holds an A+ Better Business Bureau rating and offers customers an informative website. Despite a lot of moving parts and colors we found their website to be quite helpful. We especially appreciated the clear explanation of the legalities of selling a structured settlement and how Settlement Capital Corporation will assist throughout the process.

The process at Settlement Capital Funding is pretty straightforward:

• Start by submitting your name, email and contact information in their online form or call them directly.
• Settlement Capital will evaluate the structured settlement and help you choose a plan.
• Once you identify the plan they will send necessary contracts for you to sign and have notarized.
• Once the forms are signed and returned Settlement Cap will verify your payments with the insurance company and work to apply for a court date.
• The exact settlement length can vary depending on the seller's state and the insurance company but ranges between 45 to 90 days.
• The seller will receive funds 5 to 10 working days from the time the order is approved.

We spoke with Jason at Settlement Capital Corporation and he was happy to assist with our questions. He clearly explained the process, and as the website states, provided no aggressive sales pitch that made us feel uncomfortable or pressured.

In summary, Settlement Capital Corporation has a strong BBB rating and years of experience. In working with their customer service representative, we were impressed with their clear explanations to our questions and professional demeanor. If you’re looking for a solid structured settlement company that is customer friendly, Settlement Capital Corporation is worth a look.

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3. JG WENTWORTH

G Wentworth has been in business since 1992. They reside in Pennsylvania and currently hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. JG Wentworth is one of the largest structured settlement companies in business and you may have seen one of their many TV commercials. They have a good overall reputation and their website is informative and provides helpful information.

The process of establishing a structured settlement payment with JG Wentworth includes:

• Call or submit your request on line to JG Wentworth. A customer service rep will ask that you complete necessary paperwork to move forward.
• Client returns signed docs to company.
• Upon receiving the paperwork and analyzing the client's structured settlement JG Wentworth will make a lump sum offer in exchange for a portion or all of the future settlement payments.
• JG Wentworth sends documents to their attorney to file for court approval.
• Upon court approval, approximately 4-6 weeks in most states, client receives check.

Our customer service experience was average with the two representatives we encountered at JG Wentworth. The first was unable to answer both of our questions but was friendly. The 2nd seemed rushed and a little pushy. We were disappointed that each time we called JG Wentworth we had to speak to a new contact

Overall, JG Wentworth is a strong company with a good reputation. We would have liked to have seen more knowledgeable customer service representatives. Despite their less customer friendly approach we appreciate the strong reputation at JG Wentworth and find it's worth your time for a quote.

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4.CBC SETTLEMENT FUNDING

 

Founded in 2004 CBC Settlement Funding is a Pennsylvania based company. They currently hold an A rating with the Better Business Bureau. CBC is a member of the National Structured Settlements Trade Association and their top executives worked historically for some of the largest structured settlement firms. Since then they've built a well run business with a strong focus on customer service.

The website at CBC Settlement was very informative with state specific regulation information, numerous resources to help you understand CBC Settlement Funding. While in business shorter than those higher ranked the innovative and informative website was the best of the bunch. We appreciated their level of professionalism.

The process of starting a structured settlement payment at CBC Settlement Funding includes:

• Contact CBC to discuss options.
• Necessary paperwork is sent for signatures and a notary.
• Return the documents back to CBC Settlement.
• CBC works with the insurance company to verify the payments and establish a court date with an attorney in your local area.
• CBC will expedite a wire transfer or check upon court approval.
• Stated 3 to 6 week average turn around based on the state you live in.

The customer service team at CBC Settlement was knowledgeable and courteous. We were able to get all of our questions answered in our first call.

If you are looking for a lump sum payment from a structured settlement CBC Settlement Funding is a company worth requesting a quote from.

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5.WOODBRIDGE SETTLEMENT FUNDING

A California based company, Woodbridge Structured Funding has been in business since 1993 and currently holds an A+ Better Business Bureau rating. Our first impression of Woodbridge was concerning. We felt their website lacked the professionalism we expected. We saw more of a sales pitch then valuable information. When you're making a decision worth thousands of dollars you don't want to see "free" gimmicks at every corner.

While the Woodbridge process wasn't laid out on the website we were able to identify the standard protocol:

• Start by calling and talking to a representative.
• They will evaluate the structured settlement and offer you a quote.
• If you agree with their quote, they will send via overnight package forms to complete.
• Once you complete and have notarized the documents you return in their pre-paid overnight envelope.
• Woodbridge will verify your payments with the insurance company.
• Once verified they will apply for a court date in your area and hire an attorney. Depending on the state and delays in establishing court dates, most customers can anticipate 45 days for their settlement check.

Customer Service was very good. We spoke with a very knowledgeable customer service representative who was not pushy or in a rush. He answered all of our questions in detail and then provided his direct extension.

Instead of providing an informative website, Woodbridge Structured Funding focuses on driving customers via gimmicks and promises. While we appreciated their strong BBB rating and customer service, we would have liked more information to help make a decision. In the end, Woodbridge is probably worth getting a free structured settlement quote, but don't get hung up on big promises or gas cards.

Understand Structured settlement even more before you sell.

You Have Received Structured Settlement Cash - Now What?

Many people who have awarded a structured settlement don't really know how to spend their lump sum cash once sold. When they sell their settlement, the proceeds of the sale goes as fast as a runaway Lamborghini. If you are smart and money wise, there are several beneficial things you can do with your funds as the money arrives. Here are a few suggestions 

Structured Settlement Fund Advice

One of the first things you need to learn to do with your settlement is not count it as free money. There is a very good chance you will need the funds in future, so learn how to budget each payment of the settlement you receive. Use a portion of it for any expenses that are needed to maintain a decent standard of health and living, but stick the rest back into some sort of interest bearing account. You may choose to go with something as basic as a savings account, or something a little more ambitious, such as an IRA or certificates of deposit.

Along with putting some money into savings, you may also want to use your structured settlement cash to either acquire a house or to pay down the outstanding balance on your current home. The idea, once again, is to invest in your well being in the future. Not only do you make sure you have a place to live for many years to come, you also create a tangible asset that can be liquidated and help to pay for long term care should you have to go to a rest home later in life.

While there is a temptation to see any funds that come from a settlement to be extra income, it is important that you budget your structured settlement cash with the same level of responsibility that you would your regular paycheck. By all means enjoy your assets, but do not allow the excesses of today blind you to the need to think about the future. By planning properly and saving or investing your settlement money, your later years will be much more comfortable.

How To Sell Your Life Insurance Policy For Cash Lump Sum

Many people sell life insurance policy when they reach retirement age or when their all their accounts have paid off. Selling has several advantages over keeping the policy - it gets rid of premium payments, conforms to the needs of your dependents, and gives you access to a large sum of cash that would take weeks to get through a bank loan. But there are important things to know if you're planning to cash in.

For instance, not all policy holders are qualified to sell life insurance policies. In most cases, life settlements are exclusive to people over 65 who are expected to live the next 20 years or so. There's usually also a minimum value, which may range from $100,000 to $250,000.

There are also doubts on the security of insurance policy selling. As with other settlements, there is always a risk of investment and insurance fraud. That is why it's important to know how a settlement works, and what to watch out for when you sell life insurance policy.

People sell life insurance policies to a third party, which is usually an investment company. The buyer determines the purchase value of the policy based on two main factors: its face value, and the health of the policy holder. This is because a healthy policyholder likely to live for a long time can generate more profit for the buyer.

Investors pay only a percentage of the policy's face value to compensate for the risk they will assume when they buy the policy. They will pay all the future premiums and get all of the death benefits after the holder dies. After you sell life insurance policy, the company might check on you from time to time, or assign a lawyer or some other third party to stay in touch with you.

There is another type of settlement called a viatical. This applies to policy holders who are terminally ill, as opposed to life settlements where the holder's health has merely declined. They are worth more than life settlements because there is some certainty of the policyholder's time of death, which makes it less risky. You may be able to sell life insurance policy in a viatical sale for up to 80% of its value, while a simple life settlement might fetch you only 20%.

Life settlements also pose a few risks to the policyholder. If you make a life settlement and have existing health problems, you may not be able to get insurance coverage in the future. People who sell life insurance policies will also waive the insurance benefits of their beneficiaries. Most insurance companies recommend that you check all your options before selling.
Also take note of investment scams commonly practiced by unlicensed investment companies. If you're not using a broker, get rates from a number of firms before you sell life insurance policy. Two of the most common scams are the following:

"Cleansheeting" - People may buy life insurance policies for the sole purpose of selling them to the investor. Often, the investor will tamper with the medical report to make you appear healthier on paper and make the policy more profitable.

"Wet paper" - Some investment companies urge older people to buy life policies, then sell it back to them after a few weeks.
Life settlements are a great way to benefit from your life insurance. Why pay premiums when you can use your money now? As long as you work with professionals, selling your life insurance policy can help you enjoy your investments while you still can.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/568735

What Is a Viatical Settlement And When To Use It

Know About The Viatical Settlement

Life insurance Viatical Settlement

Many people who hold Life Insurance Policies may not have heard of the term Viatical Settlement and for that matter will not know what is a viatical settlement. How a viatical settlement comes to be of great value to you is this: Your life insurance policy can be sold by you to a third party. The owner of the policy can sell that policy for a percentage of the death benefit value, the buyer that has the responsibility to pay all future premiums and in return collects the full death benefit when the insured has passed away. This is a good option to pursue with people who have terminal illness and may be experiencing stiff financial problems.

One other benefit of a Viatical Settlement is that if you are a healthy policy holder and you are no longer interested in the policy and wants to opt out of paying those premiums.and wishes to get more cash other than the surrender value of that life insurance policy. In a life Insurance settlement, the insured is re-underwritten, and any offer made for the policy based on their current life expectancy. This can be more than the surrender value. There are however certain steps you should follow before you get all head over heels and decide to go sell you policy. Follow these simple guides listed below:

Gain as much knowledge and Information regarding Life Settlement

• The more familiar you are with this financial instrument, the better your choices and decisions will be when it comes on to getting the right value for your settlement. Speak with your insurance agent about settlements and of course the viatical settlement. Try and see if you can find out also about any financial laws that stands as it relates to insurance policies and settlements.

Seek Financial Advice

• Not many people have a financial adviser, but you can always seek the service of one who will look into your current and future financial state and give you sound advise as it relates to you financial needs.

Life Insurance Settlement

From my own experience and knowledge, sometimes we may have other sources of cash that we sometimes forget about or probably do not know that that instrument may have some sort of cash value. Selling your life insurance policy should always be your last option when it comes down to needing cash for any form of expenses. Look at all other avenues to see if you have any money hanging around before you go viatical settlement. You must also look at what selling for a viatical settlement means and what are the consequences of selling.

Your Financial Options

• Do you have any cash value in your insurance policy? If so, you  may use some of the cash value to offset your immediate needs and keeping your policy in force for sometime.
• Some life insurance policies have an accelerated death benefits provision. It pays you a substantial portion of your policy's death benefit.
• First know that the proceeds are subject to the claims of any creditors.
• Find out whether receipt of a cash settlement would cause you to drop any public assistance benefits like food stamps or Medicaid.(law)
• You are obligated to provide certain medical and personal information.

Settlement Tips

• Find out as much as possible about how the process works from start to finish and time periods.
• If you choose to go through a settlement broker, you need to do comparison shopping. Remember that all brokers charge different rates and some are much knowledgeable than others.
• Check all application forms for accuracy.
• Make a decision whether to sell your policy directly to a life or viatical settlement provider or go through a settlement broker who would do the comparison shopping for you.
• Also be sure that the giver agrees to put your settlement proceeds in escrow with a financial institution to make sure that your funds are safe during the transfer.
• Find out what are the consequences of deterring to viatical settlement. Meaning if you change your mind after the sale is complete.

Once you are satisfied with your financial transaction and everything is crystal clear to you and you have no other option but to sell your insurance policy then  go ahead and do so. Never sign off on any transactions which you have strong doubts or uncertainty about.

Dog Bite Structured Settlement

Dog Bites

There are many persons who have been viciously attacked, bitten and mauled by Dogs. Sometimes it is the carelessness of owners who sometimes have not properly secured their dogs or just cannot manage and command their dogs which leads to these attacks. Injury from a dog bite has result in many dog bite compensations. Thousands of people have solicited the services of Dog bite injury lawyers to act on their behalf.

Dog Bite Law

The Minnesota dog-bite statute says:
If a dog, without provocation, attacks or injures any person who is acting peaceably in any place where the person may lawfully be, the owner of the dog is liable in damages to the person so attacked or injured to the full amount of the injury sustained.”
The victim doesn't have to show that the dog owner did anything wrong. To win a lawsuit under this statute, an injured person must, however, prove four things:

1. The injured person was attacked or injured by a dog.
2. The person being sued (the defendant) is the owner of the dog.
3. The victim didn't provoke the dog to bite.
4. The victim was acting peaceably somewhere he or she had the right to be.

The law doesn't require that the dog bite someone, or even make physical contact. For example, if a dog runs at and frightens someone, causing him to injure himself, the statute applies. (Morris v. Weatherly, 488 N.W.2d 508 (Minn. App. 1992).) The dog must, however, take some action that’s directed at the injured person. For example, a woman who fell on an icy walk sued the owners of the dog that she said cut in front of her in its hurry to get inside. The court ruled that because the dog had not been focused on the injured woman (it had not bumped into her or frightened her), but had been simply trying to get into the garage, the statute did not apply. (Knake v. Hund, No. A10-278, Kandiyohi County, Minn. District Court, Aug. 10, 2010.)

Statutes That Cover Only Bites

Some statutes do only cover dog bites. Here's the Arizona statute:
24-521 Liability for dog bites 
The owner of a dog which bites a person when the person is in or on a public place or lawfully in or on a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by the person bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner's knowledge of its viciousness.
24-523 Provocation as defense 
Proof of provocation of the attack by the person injured shall be a defense to the action for damages.
To win under this statute, the injured person must prove three things:

1. The victim was bitten (other injuries aren't covered by the statute) by a dog.
2. The person being sued (the defendant) is the owner of the dog.
3. The victim was in a public place or lawfully on private property when bitten.

Th bottom line is that once you have been awarded money because of an injury caused by dog or dog bite. You may be given a dog bite structured settlement. this is no different than a regular structured settlement as all this is saying that instead of receiving a limps sum cash. You will receive increments of payments. Most times its monthly.

How To Get Quick Cash For Your Structured Settlement And Pay Your Debts

Get Cash Now!

It is never good to be involved in any sort of accident which may lead to physical or mental breakdown. Even though you will be awarded cash for your injuries. It would have been better if you were actually receiving these monies from inheritance or some matured policy. But the fact of the matter is that you have been awarded some lump some cash and which have been negotiated into payment of increments which is called structured settlement. How a structured settlement works is that your total cash payment is paid in increments over a specific time frame while your money grows little to no interest. Structured settlement has its benefits in the sense that it is IRS proof. hoooray! no taxes! that's right, you do not pay tax on your structured settlement income. structured settlement really drags out those payments and if you need cash now the only option is for you to sell your structured settlement to a reputable company that buys settlement in order to receive you cash for settlement.

There are some good companies which have had the expertise and sound qualifications and experience in structured settlement instruments. Selling your structured settlement is not fixed into selling all of your settlement at once. You can sell a portion of your settlement while still enjoying the monthly payments for the remaining years of your settlement. So as an example; suppose you were to receive structured payments for 20 years. You can negotiate with the company who is buying the settlement from you and sell them only half of that period while securing the other half. So in essence you could sell them 2, 5 or 10 years out of the twenty. The choice is up to you and the company which buys those settlement.

We are living in very tough times and many people who are in structured settlement payments have opt to selling part of their settlement to meet increasing financial needs that require a little bit more than just a few 200 or 300 dollars. Ensure that if you decide to sell your settlement it is your last option in funding your need and that you take time out to find the right attorney and settlement company who will try to be transparent in all aspects of your transaction.

So what are your steps in selling your settlement

• Decide how much of your settlement you are willing to sell
• Consult your lawyer about selling
• Find a reputable settlement company and start negotiations

Then as soon as all paper works are complete and have passed through the legal system. You will have lump some cash in hand.

What Is a Structured Settlement and What Are The Benefits

For many of us who have been through the Justice system. We know the huge slow churning wheel of time that seems to make many cases takes years to complete and agree upon mutual settlements. The court system can sometimes be a drag and proves to be even more expensive to see through a case than to being awarded a settlement. Many of this has changed with the introduction of Structured Settlements.

A structured settlement is a financial or insurance arrangement whereby a claimant agrees to resolve a personal injury tort claim by receiving periodic payments on an agreed schedule rather than as a lump sum. The increased popularity was due to several rulings by the IRS, an increase in personal injury awards, and higher interest rates. The IRS rulings changed policies such that if certain requirements were met then claimants could have federal income tax waived.^] Higher interest rates result in lower present values, hence annuity premiums, for deferred payments versus a lump sum. Structured settlement payments are sometimes called periodic payments and when incorporated into a trial judgment is called a “periodic payment judgment."

What is Structured Settlement Annuities

An Annuity overall is termed as a fix amount of money paid yearly to an individual. Structured settlement annuities are complex contracts or products, paid out to injured parties in lieu of one large lump sum.The payee does not or will never own the annuity, but instead is controlled by the defendants insurance company.
Some Types of Annuities
Immediate Annuity

• An immediate annuity provides income right away or at least within a year after you buy it. You plunk down a big lump sum payment, which is also called a single premium, and start receiving an income stream from that money each month. For example, let’s say you receive a life insurance payment of one million dollars after taxes and you want to create a monthly income from investing that money in an annuity.

Differed Annuity

• The other broad category of annuities is a deferred annuity, where you receive income at a future date. You make one or multiple contributions during the annuity’s “savings phase” and then receive income either as periodic payments or as a lump sum during the “distribution phase.” So it’s similar to a retirement account where you set aside money that you access in the future.

 

Selling Your Structured Settlement

Why would anyone want their lump sum payment. Well i can think of a couple reasons why some people would prefer to have their lump sum payment than a structured settlement. Suppose you may need to buy or repair a home, start or invest in a business, fund a college education, pay off a debt or invest in something much lucrative than a monthly payment. These are some valid reasons why you’d like to have lump sum in your hands rather than your periodical payments. The process of selling an annuity or structured settlement is not difficult, but it involves you taking the step to sell, deciding how much to sell and going before a judge to approve your request before you will be able to access that lump some cash.
After you have made you complete decision on selling your structured settlement, then you will need to follow the simple steps below in order for the sale of your settlement to begin. It will take a little time for the process of sale to complete, most sales of settlement materialize into cash in an approximate time of around forty days (40). You must also remember that every structured settlement purchase transaction is different in its own way due to each state's laws regulating such purchase transactions.

• Shop around to find the best rate on your sale
  Companies do everything to make a profit, and buying your Structured Settlement is one way of doing so. There are many companies who offer good deals while there are others who will burn you deep. What is happening is that you are selling future money for now money, so the company is taking an economical risk as in any investment when they buy or broker the sale of your annuity or structured settlement.
• Choose the right company and Start your paper work
  You must now submit all your documentation which may include, your structured settlement or annuity policy, settlement agreement letter, your application for sale and ID. These important documents are needed to verify payments and also yo ensure accuracy of all pieces of document.
• Sale is approved by JudgeAfter the relevant documents are returned and they are fully signed, a local attorney files them with court and after that the court will schedule a hearing. In the court you will be required to justify why the money is needed and you should be in a position to show that you are not putting your and your family’s financial future in jeopardy. Unless there are any problems with your request of transfer, the judges mostly approve the transfer at this stage.
• Collect Your Funds
  Once the judge signs off on the sale, you will just have to wait until a check is cut or the funds is wired to your account of choice from the sale of your structured settlement.

Some Structured Settlement Benefits

• Since Many Lump Sump settlements are considered by Law as a form income, and since income is taxable. Funds received from your annuity are tax free as long as the plaintiff is in no control of the funds.
  
• Persons tend to squander their lump sum payments within a couple of years without properly investing it. Then they will become quite dependent on the government for support after they become penniless. When a structured settlement is agreed on, periodic payments are maintained and controlled through the lifetime of the plaintiffs disabilities.
• Annuities are controlled and managed by professional qualified financial companies and ensures that present ad future expenses are covered. There is special needs planning and contingency plan for any future developments.
• Most states have laws protect annuities and ensures that even if the insurer goes broke. The annuities forthcoming to the plaintiff will be honored.

The Drawbacks in Structured Settlements

• If a plaintiff holds too much control over the structured settlement proceeds, the IRS may look at the situation and decide that the tax break must be cancelled
• A plaintiff may fear that, no matter how the settlement protects against negative economic conditions such as inflation or recession, unknown changes in the economy could make the annuity payments too small.
• Sometimes, an annuity is placed with brokers who do not have sufficient protection for insolvency (when financial obligations outweigh assets).
• Insurance companies are usually reluctant to disclose how much they will have to pay to buy an annuity covering the amount of the settlement. A structured settlement frequently costs insurance companies much less than it would to make a lump-sum settlement. Without this information, however, the plaintiff's attorney may not be able to make a complete assessment of the benefits and drawbacks of a settlement offer.

In many circumstances, a settlement may be a faster, cheaper, and less stressful alternative to trial. An experienced personal injury attorney can discuss the facts of you case with you and help you decide whether a structured settlement would be your best interests.

Structured settlements is a good way of ensuring that money is controlled and payed when needed. it is a way to monitor and control monies awarded to a plaintiff which has become physically challenged due to some form of accident or any other incident. Even though some say structured payments is a way for insurance companies to not pay large sums which is of better value now that slices of that large sum which value depreciates over time. What ever you decision is regarding your structured settlement, ensure that you have legal aid in order to help you make the right and sensible decisions.