Phil Liso - LegalShield Independent Associate

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge.

It's important to remember in law, time is money. That said, in California: Experienced attorneys charge $300-500 per hour. A simple, amicable divorce costs around $6,000. Almost all divorce lawyers will ask for an advance on their fees (called a retainer) when you hire them. A typical retainer may run from $2,000 to $5,000.

Shred all documents. Use a cross-cut shredding machine to prevent dumpster divers from obtaining your information and creating accounts in your name. Dumpster diving is still alive and well. Have a locked mailbox. This will keep thieves from stealing your mail. Maybe look into renting a mailbox. Also, think about going paperless as much as possible. Secure your files. Get a fire-proof safe to store sensitive documents including credit cards you hardly use. Or a bank deposit box. Check your bank and credit card statements. Do this, at the least monthly. If you use your credit card a lot, look for tiny amount around $1.00. Thieves may be feeling you out. Be noticeable of skimmers. Skimming is where a hacker illegally obtains information from the magnetic strip on the back of your credit or ATM card. This information can then be used to access your accounts or produce a fake credit card with your name and details on it.

Retain an attorney who is an expert in privacy law, identity fraud and labor law. This attorney can advise you about your legal obligations to protect this information, both as a commercial entity and as an employer. Reputable IT business consultants can assist you in setting up internal systems and protections. If your employees conduct business in public places, be sure they are carefully trained not to allow written or verbal release of information. Do not allow commingling of personal and business information on these devices. Do thorough background checks on potential employees. Government agencies such as the FTC and nonprofit organizations can also provide helpful guidance. Also, an identity monitoring service would be a good idea.

Be picky. Be careful when sharing personal information online. Just because a website is asking for your information doesn’t mean it’s necessary to provide it to them. Ask who wants the information and why. Also, limit the amount of information you share on social media. Does everyone need to know the year you were born? We also like to share where we are at, especially when on vacation. That may be an open door for thieves. Slow down. Really look at the screen when clicking on links and opening email attachments. If the link or attachment is from someone you don’t know, don’t open it. Also, check your SENT folder periodically. Is there an email you may not have sent, or something suspicious? Immediately change your Password at minimum. Use secure Wi-Fi. When shopping or banking online, make sure you are using a secure wireless connection. Try using your PC, and refrain from doing this at the local coffee shop. Permanently delete files from your PC.

No, financial identity theft, using your personal information to access your money or credit, is not the only type of identity theft, although it is the most common. There are other kinds of identity theft identity theft. Medical identity theft is when someone uses your information to receive medical care. On the dark web, where information is bought and sold, your personal information is worth a lot of money. The more a thief has the better cash return. Other forms are IRS fraud, Synthetic fraud, criminal fraud as in using your information to create a drivers license to commit crimes. Thieves are always looking for ways to separate you from your hard-earned finances.

Identity theft is when a person has enough information to impersonate you to access money, credit, medical care, and other benefits. These thieves obtain your identity by stealing and using your personal information such as a government ID number or bank account number. You’ve probably heard of the ‘dark web’. Simply put, these are websites where personal information is bought and sold. Once the information is obtained, identity thieves can wreak havoc on your life. As an example, your bank account can be wiped out. A thief can also impersonate you in order to get a job or commit a crime. It can take a long time to clean up the mess. Unfortunately, many people do not know this has happened until it’s too late. For example, you’re stopped for a missing tail light. The officer runs your license and the next thing you know, you’re being arrested for a crime in a state you never visited. How? Someone is impersonating you by using your stolen personal information.

IDShield offers most comprehensive identity protection and reputation management solution available. IDShield provides TransUnion credit monitoring and alerts, social media and dark web monitoring for enhanced privacy protection, privacy expert support and an identity restoration guarantee.

Yes LegalShield provides a gun owners supplement. You must purchase a Legal Plan to qualify for supplement. Here's a brief overview: Owning guns increases the potential liability of our members, so gun-related issues are excluded from our standard Personal Plan. To better protect yourself and your family, consider adding LegalShield’s Gun Owner Supplement. Phone consultations and 24/7 emergency access Trial defense services NFA Gun Trust services I am available to answer more specific questions and of course you may visit my website: https://pliso.wearelegalshield.com/legal/gun-owner

LegalShield partners only with full service law firms. The short answer is yes, and a Will, Living WIll and Health Directive are provided free with membership.

The cost of LegalShield legal plan is $24.95/month. No contracts to sign.