Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Is it legal for a landlord to keep both a cleaning fee and a security deposit for the same issue?
In general, a landlord may not be able to charge two separate amounts for the exact same damage, cleaning, or lease violation if that would amount to a double recovery. But whether a landlord can keep both a cleaning fee...
Do I have to sign a Miranda waiver form before talking to police?
In general, no. You usually do not have to sign a Miranda waiver form before speaking with police. A form is one way officers may try to document that you understood your rights and agreed to talk, but a signature is not...
Is it legal for the insurance company to subtract old dents from my repair payment?
In general, an insurance company may try to reduce a repair payment if part of the damage was pre-existing, unrelated to the current claim, or not covered by the policy. In Nevada, as in many states, the key question is...
What happens if my PSLF payment count shows 82 payments but I think it should be 110?
If your Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) payment count shows 82 qualifying payments but you believe you should have 110, that usually means the loan servicer or PSLF review process has not yet credited some months...
Do I have to report a minor accident to my insurance if there was only a small bumper scratch?
In general, a minor accident with only a small bumper scratch may still be something you consider reporting to your insurance company, even if the damage looks cosmetic. Whether you have to report it often depends on you...
What are my rights if my bank will not refund fraudulent debit card charges reported within two days?
If you reported fraudulent debit card charges within two days and your bank still will not refund the money, you may have consumer rights under federal law and possibly under your account agreement or state law. In gener...
How do I sue a mechanic who kept my car for 40 days and still did not repair it?
In Nevada, a dispute with a mechanic who kept your car for a long time and did not finish the repair may involve contract issues, consumer-protection concerns, or a property dispute, depending on what you agreed to, what...
Can my landlord evict me for a bounced rent check if I replaced it within 24 hours?
In Maine, a bounced rent check can create a serious rent-payment issue, but whether it leads to eviction usually depends on the lease terms, the landlord’s actions, and the facts surrounding the replacement payment. Repl...
How do I prove I asked for a lawyer during police questioning?
In general, the most important thing is whether you clearly asked for a lawyer and whether that request can be shown from the evidence. In police questioning, a request for counsel is usually strongest when it is direct,...
Do I have to pay a loan if the lender lost my payment records?
In general, yes — losing payment records does not automatically erase a loan or end your obligation to pay it. If you still owe money on a valid loan, the lender’s missing records usually do not by themselves cancel the...
My Neighbor’s Construction Cracked My Wall — Who Pays for Repairs?
In California, who pays for a cracked wall from a neighbor’s construction usually depends on what caused the damage and who was legally responsible for it. In general, if the construction activity caused the crack, the n...
Do I have to pay a parking ticket issued on private property?
In general, a parking ticket issued on private property is not the same as a government-issued traffic citation. A private parking notice is usually a demand for payment from the property owner, landlord, business, or a...
I paid a deposit for a couch and the store keeps pushing delivery back. Can I cancel and get my money back?
In New Jersey, the answer is often “maybe,” but it depends on the store’s contract, the reason for the delay, and what the store promised when you paid the deposit. In general, if a retailer keeps missing the delivery da...
How do I apply for student loan forgiveness after teaching at a low income school for five years?
If you have taught at a low-income school for five years, you may be asking about federal teacher loan forgiveness or another federal student loan relief program. In general, these programs are separate from each other,...
What happens if a client asks me to remove all AI-generated content after delivery?
In general, what happens next depends on the contract, the scope of the work, and whether the content was delivered as a final product or only as a draft. A client’s request to remove AI-generated content after delivery...