Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
How do I recover money from a contractor who abandoned my home renovation halfway through?
If a contractor abandons a home renovation partway through, the first step is usually to document exactly what happened and what money was paid. In many situations, homeowners try to recover funds by showing that the con...
Do I have to pay a contractor if the work failed inspection twice?
In general, maybe—but it depends on what your contract says, what work was actually completed, and why the inspection failed. In West Virginia, the fact that a project failed inspection twice does not automatically mean...
How do I report a hidden camera found in a tanning salon room?
If you find what appears to be a hidden camera in a tanning salon room, the safest general approach is to treat it as a possible privacy and criminal issue and report it promptly. In Minnesota, as in many states, the exa...
Can My Employer Deny Sick Leave Because I Didn’t Find Coverage?
In Oregon, an employer usually cannot require you to find someone to cover your shift before allowing protected sick leave, but the answer can depend on the type of leave involved and the employer’s policies. If the abse...
Can a court settlement payment become unclaimed property if the law firm cannot reach me?
Yes, a court settlement payment can sometimes become unclaimed property if the money cannot be delivered to you and remains unclaimed for a period of time. In general, when a law firm or other holder is trying to distrib...
Can I Break My Lease Because the Elevator Has Been Broken for Weeks?
In Maryland, a broken elevator may be a serious housing problem, but it does not automatically let a tenant break a lease. In general, the legal question is whether the problem is severe enough to make the rental unit or...
Can a prenup decide who gets the family dog if we divorce?
In Ohio, a prenuptial agreement may be able to address what happens to a family dog if the marriage ends, but the answer often depends on how the agreement is written and how a court treats pets under state law. In gener...
What happens if I accidentally shared someone else’s defamatory post without checking it?
If you accidentally shared someone else’s defamatory post, you may still face legal risk, but the outcome usually depends on several facts, including what you knew, what you repeated, how widely it spread, and whether yo...
How do I handle a private investigator who recorded my conversation through an open window?
In general, a private investigator recording a conversation through an open window can raise several legal issues, but the answer depends heavily on the facts and on Washington law. The most important questions are usual...
What are my rights if the bite happened while I was working as a mail carrier?
If you were bitten by a dog while working as a mail carrier in Kansas, you may have more than one possible path for help, depending on the facts. In general, a work-related dog bite can raise workers’ compensation issues...
Do I have to pay a cancellation charge when the cleaning company canceled on me twice?
In general, if the cleaning company canceled on you twice, whether you owe a cancellation charge depends on the contract, the company’s cancellation policy, and what actually happened. If the company was the one that fai...
Can a Contractor Work Without a Permit and Still Charge Me?
In general, a contractor may not be allowed to do certain work without the permits that the law or local code requires, but whether they can still charge you depends on the facts, the contract, and Utah law. A permit iss...
How do I get credit toward forgiveness for payments I made before consolidating?
In general, whether payments made before consolidation count toward forgiveness depends on the type of loan forgiveness program, the type of loans you had before consolidation, and the specific consolidation rules that a...
Can my landlord evict me because my rent was late while I was waiting on disability benefits?
In New Jersey, a landlord may try to evict a tenant for unpaid rent, even if the tenant was waiting on disability benefits. In general, being behind on rent can give a landlord a basis to start an eviction case, because...
Can I fight a DUI if the breathalyzer showed 0.08 exactly?
In Ohio, a breath test showing 0.08 exactly can still be challenged. A breath result at or near the legal limit does not automatically end the inquiry, and the state still generally has to prove the DUI charge under the...