Structured Settlement Affidavit and Structured Settlement Declaration
4structures.com, LLC is one of the only structured settlement brokerage and consulting firms that offers transparency and protection from fraud and misrepresentation through a Structured Settlement Affidavit ("SSA") or Structured Settlement Declaration ("SSD"). The SSA or SSD maintains the integrity of the structured settlement process, provides a full disclosure of terms, and carries all penalties for perjury.
Why do we offer the SSA and SSD?
Most states have legal and regulatory prohibitions against rebating or "pay to play" schemes. Purportedly such regulations are sometimes ignored as some structured settlement brokers, or their firms, directly, or indirectly, pay consideration to their casualty insurer clients, or even to lawyers. Although tied to a percentage of commissions earned by the broker, such arrangements have been called "service fees" or "administrative fees". Our position is that these are transparent attempts to avoid anti-rebating laws on the books in most states. Yet if anyone is doing it, NOT EVERYONE is doing it, as some sensationalists would lead you to believe. Broad generalizations by certain plaintiff structured settlement consultants and settlement planners through techniques such as jaundiced "scare blogs", newsletters, mass marketing campaigns and other web site content have been irresponsible and such generalizations are inaccurate. Yet ANY instance serves to undermine consumer confidence in the structured settlement process thereby hurting the consumer and those law firms, casualty insurers and structured settlement brokers, consultants and settlement planners (i.e. the overwhelming majority) who DO NOT engage in these practices.
We are committed to protect the integrity of the structured settlement process as everyone ultimately benefits from an honest system.
Our Practice
The Structured Settlement Affidavit (notarized), or Structured Settlement Declaration, is a series of affirmative representations and warranties issued in writing for a case on which we are involved. These certify among other things that we:
- Do not pay commission rebates to any party or insurer, or evade the anti-rebating statutes through "service fee" or "administrative fee" arrangements
- Fully disclose age ratings and never misrepresent the cost of a structured settlement by engaging in post settlement medical underwriting
- Always disclose the true cost of the structured settlements that we participate in or negotiate and do not attempt to artificially inflate the value of any settlement by using unrealistic present value calculations
- Are not an "in house" or captive broker owned or controlled by an insurance carrier
Insist on the Structured Settlement Affidavit or Structured Settlement Declaration
All parties and the courts can feel comfortable that the facts and the numbers are indeed as they are represented when we handle a case. The warranty section of the Structured Settlement Affidavit, or Structured Settlement Declaration, would expose us to civil and criminal liability if any statement were false.
Sample Structured Settlement Affidavit click here
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