Even if you’ve already broken one or two New Year’s resolutions, it doesn’t mean you can’t make one more. NYSUT Member Benefits Trust endorses a plan to help members actually achieve it.

Members who do not have a will, or who have one but need to update it, are encouraged to do it as soon as possible. The importance of having a will to protect members’ loved ones and personal wishes cannot be stressed enough.

This is especially true for members with children under the age of 18 or who have dependents with special needs. A will allows members to legally name a guardian(s) for their children. It also ensures that estates will be distributed according to the members’ wishes. Without an executed will, these very important, personal decisions are made by the state.

The Member Benefits-endorsed Legal Service Plan provides one simple will or update, at no charge. Enrollees also receive access to unlimited, toll-free legal advice from plan attorneys, who will make phone calls and write third-party correspondence, at no charge, to resolve legal situations before they become major problems.

In addition, members who purchase this plan receive two coupons for free, hour-long consultations with a plan attorney.

Is there a real estate transaction coming up in the near future? Traffic violations? With the Legal Service Plan, enrollees can receive legal assistance with a variety of legal matters. Many other benefits are provided when enrolled in the plan, including plan attorneys located nationwide, guaranteed maximum fees on a number of personal legal matters, and a legal newsletter covering consumer-oriented issues. Optional riders providing benefits in the areas of elder law and business protection can be purchased to provide specialized benefits to the plan.

Members should consider taking advantage of this opportunity to receive a free simple will by enrolling in the Legal Service Plan. Retirees can opt to enroll in the Retiree Legal Service Plan.

For more information about these plans, contact NYSUT Member Benefits Trust at (800) 626-8101, visit the Web at www.memberbenefits.nysut.org or e-mail at benefits@nysutmail.org.

(For information about contractual expense reimbursement/endorsement arrangements with providers of endorsed programs, please contact NYSUT Member Benefits Trust or refer to your NYSUT Member Benefits Trust Summary Plan Description. Agency fee payers to NYSUT are eligible to participate in NYSUT Member Benefits Trust-endorsed programs.)