MetLife Legal Plans and Estate Planning: How to Verify Coverage
Educational guide for people who have a legal benefit through work. A MetLife Legal Plans benefit may help with a covered estate-planning matter, but the answer depends on the member’s actual plan, the people eligible under it, the matter, and any costs the plan excludes. This guide explains how to verify those points without promising that a particular document or service is covered.
As of: October 4, 2026 (PT). Plan terms, networks, and member tools can change. Use your current MetLife Legal Plans account and confirm the matter with the firm before relying on coverage.
At a glance
- Coverage depends on the member's current plan, eligible people, exact matter, and attorney participation.
- MetLife directs members to their account for specific coverage details and an Eligibility ID.
- A broad label such as estate planning does not prove that every document or follow-through task is covered.
- MetLife says attorneys decide whether to accept matters based on the facts.
- For a covered matter, public plan materials describe no copays, deductibles, or claim forms, while filing fees and other costs may remain the member's responsibility.
- CBM and the member must confirm authorized work and any outside-plan cost before engagement.
- MetLife members can upgrade to CBM’s Private Client package at a reduced rate for services beyond plan coverage.
- This guide does not suggest that MetLife covers Medi-Cal planning or post-death trust administration. CBM does not offer probate services.
- If the benefit is ARAG rather than MetLife, use the separate ARAG legal-plan guide.
On this page
Quick answer: coverage is plan-specific
If your employer offers MetLife Legal Plans, you may be eligible to receive most estate planning services at no cost for yourself—and often for an eligible spouse and dependents under your plan. Coverage depends on your plan. MetLife members can upgrade to CBM’s Private Client package at a reduced rate for services beyond plan coverage. Mention MetLife when you book.
MetLife Legal Plans says members can create or use an account to view specific coverage details, find an attorney, and obtain an Eligibility ID. Its public materials also say that individual attorneys decide whether to accept a legal matter based on the facts.
For a covered matter, MetLife’s public explanation says there generally are no copays, deductibles, or claim forms. It also says members remain responsible for filing fees, costs, and fines. Those general statements are not a promise that CBM, a particular estate-planning package, every family member, or every related task is covered under your plan.
The reliable process is:
- Sign in to your current member account.
- Identify the exact estate-planning matter and the people who need documents.
- Obtain the eligibility information the plan provides.
- Ask CBM to confirm whether the firm can accept that matter and what the plan authorizes.
- Get any outside-plan cost explained before work begins.
What to verify before the consultation
Your plan and eligibility details
Bring the plan name, employer or group information, member name, and your Eligibility ID. Do not send sensitive member numbers by ordinary email. A short note that you have MetLife Legal Plans is enough for the first contact.
Who needs estate-planning documents
Coverage can differ for the employee, spouse or partner, dependents, or other family members. Do not assume that everyone in the household is eligible because the employee is enrolled. Check the current plan record.
The exact matter—not just “estate planning”
Estate planning can involve several different documents and follow-through tasks. A broad topic label does not establish coverage for every document or task.
This page deliberately does not publish a covered-document list. The member portal and plan authorization control, and CBM must separately confirm what the firm can accept.
Covered work and outside-plan work can sit next to each other
A plan may authorize a defined legal matter while the family also wants work that is outside the plan. Examples could include additional planning, unusual title work, tax coordination, business interests, or ongoing funding help—but whether any item is inside or outside your plan must be confirmed, not guessed from examples.
Before signing an engagement, ask for a clear explanation of:
- What the plan has authorized.
- Which person or people the authorization covers.
- What work CBM has agreed to perform.
- Which filing, recording, third-party, or other costs remain yours.
- Whether any requested work is beyond plan coverage. MetLife members can upgrade to CBM’s Private Client package at a reduced rate for services beyond plan coverage.
The engagement agreement—not this webpage—defines the attorney-client work.
Estate-planning coverage is separate from other legal work
A benefit that helps with an estate-planning document does not automatically cover:
- Medi-Cal eligibility or long-term-care planning.
- Tax, financial-advisory, or business-law services.
This guide does not suggest that MetLife covers post-death trust administration. CBM does not offer probate services. If a matter is outside the firm’s work or outside the plan, the next step may be a private engagement, another professional, or a referral—not an assumption that the employer benefit applies.
How to prepare for the meeting
Bring your goals and a high-level asset list, but do not send account passwords or confidential details by ordinary email. Useful preparation includes:
- Names of the people whose planning you want to discuss.
- Existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives.
- A general list of real estate, accounts, retirement plans, insurance, and business interests.
- Current deeds and beneficiary designations when available.
- The MetLife plan or eligibility information described above.
Related reading: Estate planning · Trust funding · Living trust vs will · Durable power of attorney and advance health care directive.
If your employer benefit is ARAG rather than MetLife Legal Plans, read ARAG legal plan estate planning. That page explains how to get an ARAG case number and call CBM. It does not promise coverage.
FAQs
Does MetLife Legal Plans cover a living trust in California?
It may, depending on the member’s specific plan, eligibility, matter authorization, and facts. This page does not promise living-trust coverage. Check the member portal and ask CBM to confirm before work begins.
Does the plan cover my spouse or dependents?
Some plans include eligible family members, but eligibility is plan-specific. Verify each person in the current member account rather than assuming household coverage.
What will I pay?
If your employer offers MetLife Legal Plans, you may be eligible to receive most estate planning services at no cost for yourself—and often for an eligible spouse and dependents under your plan. Coverage depends on your plan. MetLife members can upgrade to CBM’s Private Client package at a reduced rate for services beyond plan coverage. Mention MetLife when you book. MetLife’s public materials say members remain responsible for federal or state filing fees, costs, and fines.
Do I need an Eligibility ID?
MetLife’s public process directs enrolled members to use their account to find an attorney and obtain an Eligibility ID. Bring the current plan information to the consultation, but do not send sensitive identifiers by ordinary email.
Does MetLife decide whether CBM accepts my matter?
No. MetLife’s public materials state that attorneys accept matters at their discretion. CBM must review conflicts, scope, plan authorization, and the facts before agreeing to represent anyone.
Does estate-planning coverage include trust administration or probate?
This guide does not suggest that MetLife covers post-death trust administration, and CBM does not offer probate services. Ask MetLife about your own plan.
Next step
If your employer offers MetLife Legal Plans, you may be eligible to receive most estate planning services at no cost for yourself—and often for an eligible spouse and dependents under your plan. Coverage depends on your plan. MetLife members can upgrade to CBM’s Private Client package at a reduced rate for services beyond plan coverage. Mention MetLife when you book.
Mention MetLife Legal Plans when you request a consultation. Bring the current plan and eligibility information, and ask for a written explanation of authorized work and any outside-plan cost before deciding. Request a free 60-minute consultation or call (805) 915-4793.
This guide is general educational information, not a summary of your benefit and not a guarantee of coverage, cost, attorney availability, or representation. Plan terms and attorney participation can change. Attorney advertising.