Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Do I have to pay alimony if the divorce agreement says it is nonmodifiable?
In Alabama, a divorce agreement that says alimony is “nonmodifiable” usually means the court and the parties may be limited in changing the amount, duration, or other agreed terms later. That said, the exact effect depen...
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,...
What happens if we agreed on divorce terms by text but my spouse changed their mind?
In general, a text message agreement about divorce terms may matter, but it does not always mean the divorce terms are final or enforceable. In Michigan, as in many states, whether a text exchange counts depends on the e...
Do I have to get everyone’s consent before recording a Zoom call with a contractor?
In California, the answer is often yes if the Zoom call is a confidential communication. California is a two-party consent state for certain recorded conversations, which means all parties may need to agree before the ca...
Is it legal for a property manager to serve an eviction notice instead of the owner?
In general, yes, a property manager may be able to serve an eviction notice instead of the owner if the manager is authorized to act for the landlord or property owner. In many rental situations, the property manager ser...
Do I Have to Pay a Medical Bill I Never Received Until It Went to Collections?
In general, you may still owe a valid medical debt even if you never personally received the bill before it was sent to collections. In Virginia, as in many states, the key questions are usually whether the medical servi...
What are my rights if my credit union says my account was dormant but I logged in online last year?
If a credit union says your account was dormant, but you believe you accessed it online last year, the first issue is usually what the credit union counts as “activity.” In many cases, a simple online login may or may no...
Do I have to pay HOA dues included in rent if the lease does not mention them?
In general, if your Maryland lease does not mention HOA dues, the answer depends on what the rental agreement actually says, how the rent was set, and whether the landlord communicated that HOA dues were part of your pay...
How do I handle a claim if my injury symptoms got worse two days after the accident?
If your injury symptoms got worse two days after an accident, that does not automatically mean the claim is invalid. In many personal injury situations, symptoms can appear later or become more noticeable after the shock...
How do I ask the court to include my workplace in a harassment protection order?
In Washington, a person asking for a harassment protection order may usually ask the court to include places where they need protection, and that can sometimes include a workplace. The court will generally look at the fa...
Is it legal for my landlord to give me a notice to vacate because relatives visited for the holidays?
In Arkansas, a landlord usually cannot force a tenant out for a reason that is not allowed by the lease, local rules, or applicable landlord-tenant law. If relatives visited for the holidays, that fact by itself does not...
What happens if multiple people were hurt by the same dangerous condition at a store?
If multiple people were hurt by the same dangerous condition at a store, that usually means there may be more than one potential injury claim arising from the same incident. In general, each injured person’s claim is sti...
How do I start a divorce when I do not know my spouse’s current address?
In Georgia, you can often start a divorce even if you do not know your spouse’s current address, but you usually need to make a reasonable effort to find it first. Courts generally expect you to try to locate your spouse...
Is it legal for the court to order child support before paternity testing is finished?
In general, a court may be able to address temporary child support before paternity testing is fully finished, but that usually depends on the facts, the court’s procedures, and whether paternity has been legally establi...
Do I have to prove the person knew the statement was false?
In general, it depends on the type of legal claim and the facts. In some disputes, proving that the speaker knew a statement was false can be important. In others, the law may focus more on whether the statement was fals...