Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
What are my rights if my spouse has been financially supporting their new partner with marital money?
In Illinois, if a spouse may be using marital money to support a new partner, that conduct can matter in a divorce or other family-law case. In general, money earned during the marriage is often treated as marital proper...
Can a landlord send an old security deposit to the state if they cannot find my forwarding address?
In Ohio, a landlord usually does not simply “send” an old security deposit to the state just because they cannot find a tenant’s forwarding address. In general, the question turns on Ohio landlord-tenant law, what notice...
Is it legal for my insurance to deny a claim because my teenage son was not listed on the policy?
In general, an insurance company may deny or limit a claim if the policy required household drivers, resident relatives, or teen drivers to be listed and they were not disclosed. Whether that denial is lawful usually dep...
Is It Legal for a Store to Reject Cash Payments?
In general, a private store may sometimes refuse cash, but the answer depends on the facts and on whether any federal, state, or local rule applies. In Virginia, there is not always a simple blanket rule that requires ev...
Can a Landlord Refuse to Fix a Broken Refrigerator?
In Georgia, whether a landlord must fix a broken refrigerator often depends on the lease, the facts, and whether the refrigerator is part of the rental arrangement. In general, landlords are usually responsible for maint...
Is it legal for a dealership to charge me for add-ons I never signed for?
In general, a dealership should not be able to charge you for add-ons that you did not agree to, but the answer often depends on what paperwork you signed, what was disclosed, and how the charge was presented. In Kentuck...
Can My Employer Fire Me for Missing Work After a Car Accident?
In Tennessee, an employer may be able to fire an employee for missing work after a car accident, especially if the employee is an at-will worker and the absence is not protected by a contract, policy, or specific law. In...
What are my rights if I am accused of damaging property because of someone’s race or religion?
If you are accused of damaging property because of someone’s race or religion, you generally have important rights, including the right to remain silent, the right to understand the accusations, and the right to defend y...
How do I calculate damages if someone violated Penal Code 632 by secretly recording me?
In California, damages for a secret recording claim under Penal Code 632 are usually not calculated by a single fixed formula. The amount may depend on what kind of harm the recording caused, how the recording was used,...
Can a prenup cover student loan debt from before the marriage?
Yes, in general, a prenuptial agreement can address student loan debt that existed before the marriage, including how that debt will be treated during the marriage and if the couple later separates or divorces. In Virgin...
What happens if my bank let an automatic subscription charge go through after I revoked authorization?
If you revoked authorization for an automatic subscription and your bank still let the charge go through, the situation may involve both the merchant and the bank. In general, whether money can be taken depends on how th...
Can I sue a restaurant if I chipped a tooth on a small rock in my salad?
In general, yes, it is possible to bring a claim if a foreign object in restaurant food causes a dental injury. But whether a restaurant may be legally responsible depends on the facts, the amount of harm, and the proof...
A contractor used my driveway to access another job and cracked it. Who pays?
In California, the contractor who caused the damage may be responsible for repairing or paying for the damage, depending on the facts. If the driveway was cracked because the contractor or the contractor’s equipment used...
How do I handle a car accident claim when the police report has the wrong street listed?
If a police report lists the wrong street after a car accident, that mistake does not always control how an insurance claim is handled. In Georgia, as in many states, a crash report is usually one piece of evidence, not...
How do I claim funds from a closed bank that no longer exists in Vermont?
If a bank has closed or no longer exists, the money connected to your old account may not be gone, but the process for finding and claiming it can be complicated. In general, dormant accounts, returned deposits, cashier’...