Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
My apartment’s fire alarm goes off constantly and management ignores it. Can I break the lease?
In Texas, a constant fire alarm problem may be more than a nuisance if it creates serious safety concerns, interferes with your use of the apartment, or shows that the landlord is not maintaining the property in a livabl...
Can I face criminal charges for secretly recording a conversation to protect myself?
Yes, in California, secretly recording a conversation can sometimes lead to criminal exposure, even if a person says they were trying to protect themselves. The basic issue is that California is generally considered a tw...
Can I Break My Lease in Oklahoma Due to Unsafe Structural Conditions in My Apartment?
In Oklahoma, a tenant may sometimes be able to end a lease early if the apartment has serious unsafe structural conditions, but the answer depends heavily on the facts and on what the lease says. Not every repair problem...
How do I file a personal injury claim against a city for a dangerous sidewalk?
In Iowa, a personal injury claim against a city for a dangerous sidewalk usually involves more than simply reporting the injury and asking for payment. Claims against a city often involve special notice rules, shorter de...
What are my rights if a contractor recorded our payment dispute and threatened to use it against me?
In California, a situation like this may raise privacy, harassment, contract, and evidence issues, but the exact rights depend on what was recorded, how it was recorded, where it happened, and what was said or threatened...
How do I handle a claim when the liable business went out of business after my injury?
If the business that may be responsible for your injury later went out of business, that does not automatically mean a claim is impossible. In general, the important questions are whether the business still has insurance...
Can I sue if a dog knocked me down and I broke my wrist but it never actually bit me?
In Ohio, a dog bite is not always required for someone to have a possible civil claim after a dog-related injury. If a dog knocked you down and you broke your wrist, the key question is usually whether the dog owner or k...
I was charged a cleaning fee by Airbnb for stains that were already there. How do I fight it?
If Airbnb charged you a cleaning fee for stains that were already present before your stay, you may be able to dispute the charge by gathering proof and using Airbnb’s dispute process. In general, these disputes often tu...
Is it legal for my landlord to shut off utilities to force me to leave?
In Alabama, a landlord generally should not shut off utilities as a way to pressure a tenant to move out. In many situations, turning off electricity, water, heat, or other essential services to force a tenant to leave m...
Do I have to go through probate in Alabama if my parent died with only a bank account and a car?
In Alabama, the answer is usually: maybe, but not always. If your parent left only a bank account and a car, probate may or may not be necessary depending on how those assets were titled, whether they had a beneficiary,...
What are my rights if I got an eviction notice even though I have receipts showing rent was paid?
In Illinois, getting an eviction notice after you believe you paid your rent can be stressful, but the notice does not automatically mean you must leave right away. In general, a landlord still has to follow the legal ev...
Can unpaid child support affect my passport renewal?
Yes, unpaid child support can sometimes affect passport renewal, but usually only in certain situations and often through federal enforcement rules rather than the passport process itself. In general, child support agenc...
What are my rights if a car wash damaged my side mirror and the sign says they are not responsible?
If a car wash damaged your side mirror in Montana, a sign saying the business is “not responsible” does not always end the issue. In general, a business cannot always avoid responsibility just by posting a notice, especi...
What happens if the at-fault driver’s insurance coverage is only $10,000 and my medical bills are higher?
In Texas, if the at-fault driver’s insurance policy is only $10,000 and your medical bills are higher, the insurance company usually will not pay more than the policy limit for that driver’s liability coverage. That does...
How do I know if a voicemail message counts as consent to record the rest of a call?
In general, a voicemail message does not automatically count as consent to record the rest of a live phone call. Whether it counts usually depends on what the speaker actually said, whether the statement clearly allowed...