End Of Year Signals Opportune Time For Everyone To Evaluate Their Wills And Powers Of Attorney

Cleveland, OH, December 20, 2004 – Plan usage for preparation of wills, living wills, trusts and powers of attorney has increased 139 percent from January 2000 to December 2004 among Hyatt Legal Plans’ voluntary enrollment legal plan members. During this period, preparation of estate planning documents accounted for more than half of all voluntary group legal plan services. Attorney services for preparation of powers of attorney were the most frequently used, comprising 36 percent of services for documents prepared in the estate planning category. Services for preparation of wills were second at 31 percent, followed by living wills at 24 percent and trusts at 9 percent.

"According to a recent LIMRA study, most Americans do not have a will, living will or durable power of attorney for financial affairs," said Bill Brooks, CEO of Hyatt Legal Plans. "A legal plan removes the fear of high attorney fees that may be keeping some people from obtaining these essential documents. Our plan members recognize the value of their legal plan and are taking advantage of it to prepare for their future. I would encourage everyone to use the end of the year to review their estate plan."

Through payroll deductions, legal plan members contribute a monthly premium, usually less than $20, which gives them access to a local attorney for consultations and fully covered services on the most frequently needed personal legal matters. When using a plan attorney, participants incur no additional fees for attorney services for covered matters, including preparation of wills, living wills, trusts and powers of attorney.

"Preparation of wills and powers of attorney are among the most popular services that I provide to Hyatt’s plan members," said Norman E. McFarlane, Esq., of Long Island, New York, a participating attorney on Hyatt’s national panel. "I advise my clients who come in for will preparation to evaluate their finances and estate plans. It’s important to plan for unexpected circumstances – for your own peace of mind and the well being of loved ones."

Employees interested in participating in a group legal plan should ask their employer if one is offered as a part of their benefits package.

Hyatt Legal Plans, a MetLife subsidiary, is the largest provider of group legal plans in the country, serving 1.6 million participants through a nationwide network of 4,000 law firms to date.  Group legal plans are made available by Hyatt Legal Plans, Inc., Cleveland, OH. In certain states, the plans are underwritten by Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates, Warwick, RI.

MetLife, a subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to individual and institutional customers. The MetLife companies serve individuals in approximately 13 million households in the U.S. and provide benefits to 37 million employees and family members through their plan sponsors. Outside the U.S., the MetLife companies serve approximately 8 million customers through direct insurance operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan and Uruguay