why does my lawyer need my social security number

by Catherine Walter DVM Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago 8 min read

One of the ways to do this is with your Social Security number. By law, we are required to provide this information to the defense attorneys. It allows them the ability to do background checks on you as well as investigate your past and current issues.

By law, we are required to provide this information to the defense attorneys. It allows them the ability to do background checks on you as well as investigate your past and current issues.

Full Answer

Do I need to give my Social Security number to lawyer?

Jun 14, 2013 · Social security numbers are necessary when filing for bankruptcy or in other types of legal representation. Of course, it is up to you when you want to provide it, you may want to wait until you actually retain the attorney. You should bring up your discomfort at your consultation and see what the attorney says. More.

Who has a legal right to your Social Security number?

Jan 18, 2014 · The lawyer called me on my phone asking me for my social security number to file papers against me, then he send me papers and at the bottom of the forms , the AFFIDAVIT OF DEFENDANT he hand wrote asking me for my ss # , I do not want to send my ss# My Husband could use it to ruin me . I am not comfortable with this at all

What can someone do with your Social Security number?

Mar 13, 2013 · There is no need for it unless there is some claim of identity theft or something. There should be some compelling reason for the other side to need a social security number and they should have to prove that reason to a court. Too much information is available once a social security number is given out.

Is my Social Security number protected from the defendant?

May 08, 2010 ·

Can you refuse to give your Social Security number?

Anyone can refuse to disclose his or her number, but the requester can refuse its services if you do not give it. Businesses, banks, schools, private agencies, etc., are free to request someone's number and use it for any purpose that does not violate a federal or state law.Feb 27, 2019

Why you should not give your SSN?

A dishonest person who has your Social Security number can use it to get other personal information about you. Identity thieves can use your number and your good credit to apply for more credit in your name. Then, when they use the credit cards and don't pay the bills, it damages your credit.

Who is allowed to ask for Social Security numbers?

Who has the right to request your SSN? Federal law mandates that state Departments of Motor Vehicles, tax authorities, welfare offices, and other governmental agencies request your SS number as proof that you are who you claim to be.

Why does the claim adjuster keep asking for my Social Security number?

First let's talk about why the insurance adjuster is asking for your social security number. The primary legal reason that the insurance company is asking for your social security number is to verify if you are enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B (or have ever previously received Medicare Part A or Part B).Feb 6, 2013

How do I know if someone is using my Social Security number?

If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490. You can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).Nov 19, 2019

Can someone access my bank account with my Social Security number?

They can use your SSN to open a bank account in your name.

That means that anyone with your SSN can easily open a bank account in your name, especially if the identity thief already obtained a driver's license in your name.Oct 14, 2021

Is SSN mandatory?

Evidence of identity is required of all applicants regardless of age. A valid nonwork reason is defined as a federal statute requiring an SSN to receive a benefit or a state/local statute requiring an SSN to receive a public assistance benefit.

What can someone do with the last 4 digits of your SSN?

As long as a hacker or scammer has access to other personal information such as your name and address, they can use the last four digits of your SSN (in most cases) to open accounts in your name, steal your money and government benefits, or even get healthcare and tax refunds in your name.

What can someone do with a Social Security number?

5 things someone can do with a stolen Social Security number

Open new accounts. If someone has your SSN, they can open new accounts in your name. ...
File fraudulent tax returns. Your Social Security number is also used to file your taxes in most cases. ...
Obtain medical care. ...
Steal your benefits. ...
Commit crimes.

Dec 10, 2021

Why would an insurance company ask for my Social Security number?

The reason the insurance company wants your social security number is to see if you have coverage under Medicaid or Medicare. If you do, the insurance company is entitled to be paid back by your Medicaid or Medicare for anything they (the insurance company) pays you for your medical expenses.

Does insurance ask for Social Security number?

There is no law prohibiting insurers from requesting a social security number. An insurer has the right to ask for a social security number where the information is reasonably related to underwriting. One such purpose is to obtain a credit report of an insured.

How does Lemonade pay claims?

Although many cases are transferred to a person on the claims team, Lemonade says it handles 30% of claims instantly and wires money to your bank. If you don't have web access, you can call 844-733-8666 to file your claim. Customer service: Logged-in policyholders can use the Maya chatbot service.

Lee Alan Thompson

Attorneys on Avvo donate their time and your feedback is appreciated. Be sure to mark the "Best Answer" or Helpful" to your questions.

Daniel M. Luisi Esq

No! Don't give your social. He doesn't need that to start a divorce proceeding against you. And don't sign any affidavit of defendant. Please talk to a lawyer before you have any other communication with your husband's lawyer.

Do you have to give your SS number?

You don't have to give your SS#, but more than likely, if you don't, the other side will ask the Court to order you to and if you don't comply with the judge's order, the judge is likely to kick your case out of court. The other side is allowed to discover anything that could likely be admissible in the case. Presuming you have an injury case, almost all your medical records will be indexed by SS# and they will need the number to get those records. Your income records will be indexed that way too. The other side is entitled to get those records if you are claiming injuries and lost income. Good luck.

Can an attorney ask for information?

A person can ask for anything, but whether the attorney can force you to produce the information is a different question. Since you want to know if an attorney can ask, the answer is yes he or she can ask. It is legal also for the lawyer to have you ask questions over the phone as well.

Is it legal to ask an attorney to ask questions?

No, it is not illegal. A person can ask for anything, but whether the attorney can force you to produce the information is a different question. Since you want to know if an attorney can ask, the answer is yes he or she can ask. It is legal also for the lawyer to have you ask questions over the phone as well.

Do you need a social security number to devise a will?

No social security number is needed to devise property to a beneficiary under a will or trust. It is possible that the social security numbers were requested because the aunt wanted to name you and your sons as beneficiaries to a payable on death account with a bank, or an IRA account.

Why did my aunt ask for my social security number?

It is possible that the social security numbers were requested because the aunt wanted to name you and your sons as beneficiaries to a payable on death account with a bank, or an IRA account. It might also have been for life insurance policies, although not all providers would have asked for such information in order...

Do you need SS for a beneficiary?

It is not uncommon for a beneficiary form, such as for an IRA, to require (or at least request) a SS for a beneficiary. Also, while you don't need the SS of a person you name in your will, when the person dies it is typical to need the beneficiary's social in order to file necessary tax returns such as trust/estate income tax returns.

Do you need SS in a will?

Also, while you don't need the SS of a person you name in your will, when the person dies it is typical to need the beneficiary's social in order to file necessary tax returns such as trust/estate income tax returns. This is not legal advice nor intended to create an attorney-client relationship.

Is it better to ask for a Social Security number from a patient?

But it’s certainly not best for patients, who may be exposing themselves to identity theft.

Who has the right to your SSN?

Only a few organizations actually have a legal right to your SSN, including your employer, banks and lenders, investment funds, the IRS and government-funded programs such as workers’ compensation . The more your number is out there, the greater the risk of identity theft.

How many social security numbers were breached in 2017?

In 2017, there were 830 data breaches involving Social Security numbers, representing more than half of the total reported number of breaches. A whopping 158 million numbers were exposed, according to the Identity Theft Resource Center ― more than eight times the number exposed in 2016.

Can you close your Social Security number?

But you can’t close your Social Security number. And it gets worse: It’s an open secret that a person’s Medicare number includes their Social Security number. It’s printed right out on the front of every Medicare card for the world to see.

Why are Social Security numbers not used as identity authenticators?

Decades ago, they began being issued as a way of recording your earnings to determine the amount of benefits you would be paid at retirement or if you claimed a disability.

Can a cybercriminal steal my credit card?

While no cybercriminal worth his salt would turn down a chance to get his hands on your credit card information , there’s an even bigger prize: your Social Security number , which cybersecurity experts say is now the single most valuable piece of information in terms of being able to steal your identity.

Who had it right about storing your social security number?

Monty Python had it right. The moral to these horror stories is that if your Social Security number is stored on any computer anywhere, hackers will find a way to access it, or a compromised or disgruntled employee may well walk out the door with it.

How to identify someone without a social security number?

There are many different ways to identify you without a Social Security number, including your driver's license or account number. Fight to use those instead. 3. If you must share your Social Security number, do so, but make sure the people taking it down have strong security measures in place to protect it.

Is a social security number a fraud?

Just say no For better or worse, you are the gatekeeper.

Do you need a social security number for Little League?

3. Little League, summer camp and the like: For the same reasons as school, a Social Security number should never be required by these groups. If they ask for your child's birth certificate, show it to them, don't leave it with them unless they can prove they will protect it.

What happens when you are an identity thief?

With it an identity thief can wreak havoc, hijacking your old credit accounts, establishing new ones, buying cars and houses, committing crimes, even obtaining medical products and services while pretending to be you, endangering not just your credit and your reputation, but also your life.

Is a frequent shopper card a loan?

Supermarkets: A frequent shopper card is neither a loan, nor a bank account. It's merely a tool grocery stores use to track your purchases, primarily for marketing purposes. Regardless, many supermarket chains request customers' Social Security numbers on their application forms. Refuse.