Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection
Browse published legal information questions related to Bankruptcy, Debt & Consumer Protection.
Can an old money order or cashier’s check be sent to the state as unclaimed property?
In Utah, an old money order or cashier’s check may sometimes be turned over to the state as unclaimed property if it remains unclaimed for long enough and the holder is required to report it under Utah’s unclaimed proper...
Can a car dealership cancel my financing two weeks after I drove the car home?
In Louisiana, a car dealership may sometimes tell a buyer that financing did not go through and that a different contract, lender approval, or vehicle return is needed. But whether that is allowed depends on the paperwor...
Can I record a conversation if the other person is threatening to sue me?
In California, the answer is often no unless you follow California’s recording-consent rules. California is generally treated as a two-party consent state, which means recording a confidential conversation usually requir...
Our upstairs neighbor’s bathtub leaked into our closet and ruined clothes. Do we deal with them or the landlord?
In Illinois, the answer is usually that you may need to deal with both, but for different reasons. If the leak came from an upstairs neighbor’s bathtub, that neighbor may be the person connected to the source of the wate...
Can a Car Dealer Refuse to Return My Deposit After Financing Fell Through?
In California, whether a car dealer can keep your deposit after financing falls through usually depends on the exact paperwork, what kind of deposit it was, and whether the sales agreement was truly final. In general, a...
What happens if my car is repossessed even though I made a partial payment?
If your car is repossessed after you made a partial payment, that does not automatically mean the repossession was improper. In Iowa, as in many states, the lender or repossession company will usually look first to the l...
Can a prenuptial agreement protect me from my fiancé’s credit card debt?
In general, a prenuptial agreement may help set expectations about debts before marriage, but it does not automatically stop a creditor from trying to collect a debt that already exists or was incurred in ways the law tr...
What happens if the other person was in Nevada but I was in California during the recorded call?
If one person was in California and the other person was in Nevada during a recorded call, the legal question may become more complicated than a simple one-state recording issue. In general, California is a two-party con...
Can I Sue My Roommate for Leaving Unpaid Rent?
In general, a roommate dispute over unpaid rent is a contract and shared-housing issue, not a criminal matter. In Massachusetts, whether you may be able to bring a civil claim usually depends on how the housing arrangeme...
Do I have to pay my medical bills upfront while waiting for a personal injury settlement?
In general, you may still be responsible for medical bills while a personal injury claim is pending, even if you expect a settlement later. A claim against the person or company you say caused the injury does not usually...
Can a Vet Charge Me for Treatment I Did Not Approve?
In general, a veterinarian may charge for treatment that was authorized, reasonably necessary in an emergency, or covered by a signed consent or estimate agreement. If you did not approve a procedure, medication, test, o...
What Can I Do If a Repair Technician Damaged My Home?
If a repair technician damaged your home, you may have several general options depending on what happened, what you can prove, and whether the technician was independent, employed by a company, or hired directly by you....
What are my rights if my credit union says my account was dormant but I logged in online last year?
If a credit union says your account was dormant, but you believe you accessed it online last year, the first issue is usually what the credit union counts as “activity.” In many cases, a simple online login may or may no...
What are my rights if a telehealth provider recorded my appointment without clear notice?
In Illinois, a telehealth recording made without clear notice can raise privacy, consent, and professional responsibility concerns, but the exact rights involved usually depend on the facts. The key questions are often w...
What happens if a gym sends my account to collections after I moved and could not use the location?
If a gym in Georgia sends your account to collections after you moved and could not use the location, the account may still be treated as an unpaid debt unless the contract, cancellation rules, or the facts give you a de...