Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law
Browse published legal information questions related to Civil Rights, Government & Administrative Law.
How do I fix my income driven repayment plan if my monthly payment jumped from $120 to $640?
A sudden jump in an income-driven repayment, or IDR, payment can happen for several reasons. In general, it may mean your servicer updated your income, your family size changed, your recertification was processed differe...
Can police use what I said during a traffic stop if they never Mirandized me?
In general, yes, police may be able to use what you said during a traffic stop even if you were never read Miranda warnings. Miranda warnings are usually required only when a person is both in custody and being questione...
Do I have to explain why I am invoking my right to remain silent?
In general, no. If you are in Mississippi and you are being questioned by law enforcement, you usually do not have to explain why you are choosing to remain silent. The purpose of the right to remain silent is to let you...
Can graduate school loans qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness?
In general, graduate school loans may qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, but only if the loans and the borrower’s repayment history meet the program’s requirements. The key issue is usually not whether the loan...
Is it legal for a landlord to charge a pet fee for my certified service dog?
In general, a landlord in Michigan usually may not charge a pet fee, pet rent, or a pet deposit for a properly recognized service dog when the animal is needed because of a disability. Under fair housing rules, service a...
Can I get an emergency court order to stop someone from posting more false claims?
In some situations, a court in Wyoming may be asked to enter an emergency order to stop another person from making or repeating false claims. But that type of relief is usually limited, and courts often look carefully at...
Do I have to pay a fee to claim money that was escheated to the state treasury in New York?
In New York, you usually do not have to pay a fee just to search for or file a basic claim for unclaimed property that was turned over to the state treasury, often called escheated property. In many situations, the state...
Can police use my answers if I was handcuffed but told I was not under arrest?
In general, yes, police may sometimes use your answers even if you were handcuffed and told you were not under arrest. The key question is usually not the handcuffs alone, but whether your statements were voluntary and w...
Do I have to pay for a hotel stay if they gave my reserved room away when I arrived at midnight?
In general, if you had a confirmed hotel reservation and the hotel gave your room away when you arrived, you may have grounds to dispute the charge or ask for a refund, but the answer depends on the facts and the reserva...
Is it legal for police to arrest me without saying Miranda warnings first?
Yes, in general, police can arrest you without first reading Miranda warnings. Miranda warnings are not usually required before an arrest itself. They are generally required only before a person is subjected to custodial...
What are my rights if a former friend recorded my private apology and shared it online?
If a former friend recorded your private apology and posted it online, you may have several possible legal concerns in Illinois, but the answer depends heavily on the facts. In general, the first questions are whether yo...
Do I have to send a cease and desist letter before suing for online defamation in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, you usually do not have to send a cease and desist letter before filing a lawsuit for online defamation. In general, a defamation claim does not have a universal legal requirement that you first demand a...
How do I ask a judge to exclude a recording that was made without my consent?
In California, asking a judge to exclude a recording usually means asking the court not to admit it as evidence. That request is often made through a motion or objection, depending on the stage of the case and the type o...
Is it legal for my spouse to hide a camera in our bedroom during a divorce?
In Nevada, hiding a camera in a bedroom during a divorce may raise serious privacy and recording issues, but the answer usually depends on exactly what was recorded, where the camera was placed, whether audio was capture...
Can I file for harassment if the person only threatened me once but the threat was serious?
In Washington, a single serious threat may sometimes be enough to support a harassment filing, depending on the exact words used, the surrounding facts, and whether the threat would reasonably make a person fearful for s...