Structure Settlement For Free

Structured settlements offer plaintiffs the certainty of payments over a fixed period of time. However, lump sum payments may be better suited for cases involving minors, as they allow for long-term investing, or those suffering from a debilitating injury that will require future medical expenses.

A structured settlement is a stream of payments issued to a claimant after litigation or a court case. The settlement is intended to pay for damages or injuries, providing financial security over time rather than one lump sum of cash.

If you receive a structured settlement instead of the $300,000 cash, you'll get payments over a term of years or your lifetime (however you choose), and each payment is fully tax free. Thus, a structure converts your after-tax earnings into a tax free return.

Structured settlement payments are guaranteed by the insurance company that issued the annuity. They do not fluctuate with market changes like stocks, bonds and mutual funds. There are more pros than cons for choosing to receive a structured settlement over a lump sum.

A structured settlement is when part or all of the settlement amount is paid to the plaintiff over a period of years. Part of the settlement will generally be paid to the plaintiff and his/her lawyer immediately after the settlement as a lump sum, and the rest will be structured over a period of years.

When the defendant and the plaintiff in a lawsuit agree to settle a claim with a structured settlement, the parties negotiate a cash amount payable by the defendant in exchange for the plaintiff dropping the lawsuit. The money is distributed as a series of periodic payments, typically funded through an annuity.

A major drawback of a structured settlement is that it may jeopardize the beneficiary's eligibility for public benefits, which may be particularly problematic when the person's medical needs are covered by Medicaid rather than private health insurance.