A. Legal services insurance may be offered in this Commonwealth subject to the following conditions:

Terms Used In Virginia Code 38.2-2300

  • City: means an independent incorporated community which became a city as provided by law before noon on July 1, 1971, or which has within defined boundaries a population of 5,000 or more and which has become a city as provided by law. See Virginia Code 1-208
  • Commission: means the State Corporation Commission. See Virginia Code 38.2-100
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Insurer: means an insurance company. See Virginia Code 38.2-100
  • Person: means any association, aggregate of individuals, business, company, corporation, individual, joint-stock company, Lloyds type of organization, organization, partnership, receiver, reciprocal or interinsurance exchange, trustee or society. See Virginia Code 38.2-100
  • rates: means any rate of premium, policy fee, membership fee or any other charge made by an insurer for or in connection with a contract or policy of insurance. See Virginia Code 38.2-100
  • State: means any commonwealth, state, territory, district or insular possession of the United States. See Virginia Code 38.2-100

1. Premium rates shall be made in accordance with Chapter 19 (§ 38.2-1900 et seq.) of this title.

2. No policy of legal services insurance may be delivered or issued for delivery in this Commonwealth unless it contains a provision that the insurer shall issue to the person in whose name the policy is issued, for delivery to each insured, a certificate summarizing the essential features of the insurance coverage and to whom benefits under the policy are payable. If dependents are included in the coverage, only one certificate need be issued for each family unit.

B. An insurer authorized to transact legal services insurance in this Commonwealth may, in connection with the implementation and operation of any legal services insurance program, contract with any person that offers and manages a group legal services insurance plan, including a state, city, county, or circuit bar association; or any person permitted to practice law in this Commonwealth.

C. The Commission shall not approve any legal services insurance contract if, after providing notice and opportunity to be heard, the Commission finds that the contract violates any law of this Commonwealth.

1976, c. 636, § 38.1-389.4; 1986, c. 562.