Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Can a School Charge Me for a Laptop My Child Says Was Stolen?
In general, a school may try to charge a family for a laptop that was issued to a student if the school believes the device was lost, damaged, or not returned as required under school policy. But whether the school can a...
How do I know whether a conversation counts as confidential under California Penal Code 632?
Under California Penal Code 632, whether a conversation counts as confidential usually depends on the setting, the participants, and whether anyone involved reasonably expected privacy. In general, the law is aimed at pr...
Can a Tow Company Charge Storage Fees While I’m Disputing the Tow?
In Illinois, a tow company may be able to charge storage fees while you are disputing the tow, but that usually depends on the type of tow, the agreement or notice provided, and whether the charges are otherwise authoriz...
How do I protect a comic book that uses AI backgrounds but human-drawn characters?
In general, the part of your comic book that a human author created may be eligible for copyright protection, while purely AI-generated material may be treated differently. If your characters, dialogue, panel layout, sto...
Do I have to hire a lawyer for an RCW harassment protection order hearing in Washington?
In Washington, you usually do not have to hire a lawyer for an RCW harassment protection order hearing. These hearings are often handled in civil court, and many people represent themselves. That said, having a lawyer ca...
Is it legal for a subscription service to charge me after I canceled during a free trial?
In general, a subscription service may be allowed to charge you after a free trial if the terms said the trial would convert to a paid subscription unless you canceled by a certain date or method. The key question is usu...
Is it legal for a landlord to threaten eviction after I reported harassment by another tenant?
In Washington, a landlord generally should not use eviction threats as punishment for a tenant’s good-faith complaint about harassment or other habitability problems. In many situations, a threat to evict after a tenant...
Can I Get My Deposit Back If the Venue Canceled My Event?
In Georgia, whether you can get your deposit back after a venue cancels your event usually depends on the contract, the reason for the cancellation, and what money was paid as a deposit versus a nonrefundable booking fee...
My Neighbor’s Tree Fell on My Fence During a Storm — Who Pays?
In North Carolina, who pays for a fence damaged by a neighbor’s tree during a storm usually depends on why the tree fell and whether anyone was negligent. In general, if a healthy tree falls because of strong winds, rain...
Do I have to pay a cancellation fee if the company never provided the service?
In general, whether you have to pay a cancellation fee if the company never provided the service depends on the contract, the company’s policies, and the facts of the situation. If you agreed to a cancellation fee in a v...
How do I handle medical liens after receiving a personal injury settlement?
After a personal injury settlement, medical liens can affect how much money you actually keep. In general, a lien is a claim that a provider, insurer, or other party may assert against part of your settlement to recover...
What are my rights if my landlord increases rent in the middle of my lease term?
In Colorado, a landlord usually cannot raise the rent in the middle of a fixed-term lease unless the lease itself allows that kind of increase or the tenant agrees to a change. A written lease often sets the rent amount...
Can I recover lost wages after missing three weeks of work from a car accident?
In Alabama, you may be able to recover lost wages after a car accident if someone else’s negligence caused the crash and your missed work is supported by evidence. Missing three weeks of work is not, by itself, what deci...
Do I have to report unclaimed property from a small business I closed five years ago?
In general, you may still have reporting duties after closing a small business, including in Oregon, if the business held money or other property that became unclaimed before it shut down or while records were still acti...
Do I have to divide property bought after separation but before the divorce is final?
In Alabama, property bought after spouses separate but before the divorce is final may or may not be divided between them. The answer usually depends on how the property was acquired, what money was used to buy it, and h...