Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
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...
Is it defamation if someone falsely says my nonprofit misused donations?
In general, a false statement that a nonprofit misused donations can be defamatory if it is communicated to someone else and harms the nonprofit’s reputation. A statement like this may be especially serious because it su...
Is it legal for my insurance to cancel my policy after a DUI conviction?
In general, yes, an insurance company may be allowed to cancel or choose not to renew a policy after a DUI conviction, depending on the policy language, state insurance rules, the timing, and the reason the insurer gives...
What happens if my employer refuses to sign the PSLF certification form?
If your employer refuses to sign a PSLF certification form, it usually does not automatically end your chance at Public Service Loan Forgiveness, but it can make it harder to document your qualifying employment. In gener...
How do I handle harassment from a former dating partner if there was no domestic relationship?
If a former dating partner is harassing you, the fact that there was no domestic relationship does not necessarily mean you have no legal options. In Washington, the available options often depend on what the person is d...
Is it legal for an apartment lease to say the landlord is not responsible for any repairs?
In Ohio, a lease may try to shift repair responsibility to the tenant, but a clause that says the landlord is not responsible for any repairs is not necessarily the end of the story. In general, lease language has to be...
What happens if several small damage incidents are added together over six months?
In Minnesota, several small damage incidents may sometimes be considered together, but not automatically. Whether they are “added together” usually depends on the legal claim, the facts, and how the incidents are connect...
Can a landlord charge me for landscaping when I live in an apartment?
In general, a landlord in Tennessee may charge a tenant for landscaping costs if the lease clearly allows it or if the charge is part of a lawful fee structure agreed to by the tenant. In many apartment rentals, however,...
What happens if my loan was forgiven but the balance still shows on my credit report?
If a loan was forgiven, that usually means the lender or servicer has agreed not to collect the remaining balance, at least under the terms of the forgiveness. But a forgiven loan may still appear on your credit report f...
How do I prove which dog bit me if two dogs were loose at the same time?
If two dogs were loose at the same time, proving which dog bit you can be difficult, but it is often possible to build a factual record from witnesses, photos, medical records, animal control reports, and other evidence....
Can a prenup cover student loan debt from before the marriage?
Yes, in general, a prenuptial agreement can address student loan debt that existed before the marriage, including how that debt will be treated during the marriage and if the couple later separates or divorces. In Virgin...
Is it legal for a state to keep interest earned on money after it is escheated?
In general, the answer depends on the law that governs the unclaimed property and on what happened to the money while the state held it. Escheat or unclaimed property laws usually let the state take custody of abandoned...
What are my rights if my spouse used marital money to pay for an affair?
If you are in Tennessee and your spouse used marital money to support an affair, that fact may matter in a divorce or legal separation case, but it does not automatically create a separate claim for every dollar spent. I...
Do I Have to Return Wrong Items Sent With My Buyee Order From Japan?
If Buyee or a seller sent you the wrong item, the answer is usually fact-specific. In general, whether you have to return it depends on the purchase terms, who made the mistake, what was delivered, and whether any return...
What happens if my employer qualifies now but did not qualify during my first two years there?
In general, the answer depends on what law you are talking about. Some workplace laws apply only if an employer has a certain number of employees or meets another coverage test. If your employer did not meet that test du...