Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
What are my rights if my private student loan interest rate increased without clear notice?
If your private student loan interest rate increased without clear notice, you may have rights under your loan contract, general consumer-protection principles, and any notice rules that apply to your lender or servicer....
What happens if I waived Miranda once but later changed my mind?
In general, if you waive your Miranda rights and start talking to police, you may later try to stop the questioning and ask for a lawyer or choose to remain silent. Whether that later change of mind is effective usually...
Do I have to restart my forgiveness count if I switch from one government job to another?
In general, switching from one government job to another does not automatically mean you have to restart a forgiveness count. Whether prior service still counts usually depends on the specific forgiveness program, the em...
How do I lower my student loan payment after my hours were cut in half?
If your hours were cut in half, you may have several general options to reduce your student loan payment, but the best choice depends on the type of loan, your current income, and whether your loans are federal or privat...
Do I have to pay an early termination fee if the service provider breached the contract first?
In general, a customer may have a legal argument against paying an early termination fee if the service provider breached the contract first. That is because contract law often treats a serious breach by one side as some...
How do I split tax debt from a joint return in divorce?
In general, tax debt from a joint return is treated as a financial issue that must be addressed during the divorce, but a divorce decree does not automatically change how the tax debt is owed to the IRS or, if applicable...
Can I sue if someone copied my AI-generated character design?
In general, maybe—but it depends on what exactly was copied, how the character was created, and what rights you may have in the design. A copied AI-generated character design can raise several different legal issues, inc...
Is it legal for child support to be recalculated every year automatically?
In general, child support may be reviewed or changed when a court order, agreement, or state procedure allows it, but it is not always legal for support to be recalculated automatically every year without any new request...
Do I have to pay a debt buyer if they cannot show the original contract or account statements?
In general, a debt buyer may still try to collect a debt even if it does not have the original contract or detailed account statements in hand. Whether you actually owe the debt, and whether the debt buyer can enforce it...
How do I divide a pension that was earned partly before and partly during marriage?
In Minnesota, a pension that was earned partly before marriage and partly during marriage is usually treated as a mix of nonmarital and marital property. In general, the portion earned before the marriage may be consider...
Can a Utah employer withhold my final paycheck because I did not sign a separation agreement?
In general, a Utah employer should not be able to hold back earned wages simply because you refused to sign a separation agreement. Final wages are usually treated as wages that must be paid under the employer’s normal p...
What happens if someone edits a recorded conversation to make me look bad?
In California, an edited recording can create legal problems, but what happens depends heavily on the facts. A recording that has been cut, rearranged, or selectively presented may be challenged if the editing makes it m...
Is it legal for alimony to continue after my ex starts receiving Social Security retirement?
In Nevada, it is generally possible for spousal support, often called alimony, to continue even after an ex starts receiving Social Security retirement benefits. The fact that a former spouse begins collecting retirement...
Can a broken apartment door lead to a felony under Minn. Stat. 609.595?
In Minnesota, a broken apartment door can sometimes be part of a felony property-damage charge, but not every broken door leads to a felony. Under Minn. Stat. 609.595, the legal issue usually turns on whether the damage...
Do I have to pay court costs mentioned in an eviction notice that has not been filed yet?
In general, not necessarily. If an eviction notice has not yet been filed in court, the amount listed for “court costs” is often part of a demand from the landlord, not yet a court-ordered charge. Whether you must pay it...