Generally anything you need it for. Unlike a loan tied to a purchase, an advance against your claim usually carries no spending restrictions and no receipts to submit. Any restrictions that do apply would be stated in your funding agreement.
What people actually use it for
Ordinary things that stopped being affordable when the income stopped. Rent or the mortgage. Groceries and utilities. Childcare. Transportation, including replacing a vehicle if the collision took it. Out-of-pocket medical costs and co-pays.
There's no category that's more legitimate than another. The point of the money is to keep your life stable while the claim runs its course.
What it isn't for
It isn't a substitute for your attorney's case costs — expert fees, filing fees and record retrieval are handled by your firm under your representation agreement, not by you.
It also isn't a reason to take more than you need. Every dollar advanced is claimed against your eventual recovery, so the amount that leaves you the most at the end is usually the smallest amount that gets you through.
One thing worth thinking about
People sometimes ask whether taking an advance affects their case. It shouldn't affect how your attorney handles it, and California law bars a funding company from influencing settlement decisions.
What it changes is your own position: having the rent covered means an early offer is a decision rather than a necessity.
Talk to Green Light
Green Light Legal Funding, LLC is a California consumer legal funding company based in Beverly Hills, serving eligible personal injury plaintiffs with claims pending in California.
Call 310-303-1858 or request funding. There's no cost to ask and no obligation.
More on Pre-settlement funding in California.