Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Can I use a secret recording in court if it shows a contractor admitting they overcharged me $2,800?
In California, a secret recording may sometimes be useful as evidence, but whether it can be used in court depends on how the recording was made and what kind of case you have. California is generally considered a two-pa...
How do I dispute fault when the insurance company says the accident was 50/50?
In Nebraska, a 50/50 fault finding usually means the insurance company is treating each driver as equally responsible for the crash. If you believe that does not match what happened, you can usually dispute it by gatheri...
What are my rights if a delivery company lost a $900 package and the retailer says it is not their problem?
If a delivery company lost your package, your rights usually depend on the sale terms, the shipping terms, who arranged the shipment, and whether the package was insured or declared with a value. In Alabama, as in many s...
Is it legal for a subscription service to require 30 days notice to cancel?
In general, a subscription service may be allowed to require 30 days’ notice to cancel if that term was clearly disclosed and is not otherwise prohibited by applicable law. In Utah, as in many states, the details usually...
What are my rights if the landlord accepted rent after the eviction notice deadline passed?
In general, if a landlord accepts rent after an eviction notice deadline has passed, that acceptance may affect the eviction process. In some situations, taking rent can be treated as waiving the default or as evidence t...
What are my rights if my apartment has had no hot water for 9 days and the landlord keeps ignoring texts?
In Illinois, a long outage of hot water in an apartment may raise serious habitability issues. In general, a rental unit is expected to have essential services, and hot water is often treated as one of those basic necess...
What are my rights if I was burned by hot coffee because the lid was not attached correctly?
If you were burned by hot coffee because the lid was not attached correctly, you may have a potential claim under Maryland personal injury or product liability principles, depending on what caused the injury and who may...
How do I handle a dog bite claim involving a child who was playing with the dog?
In New Mexico, a dog bite claim involving a child who was playing with the dog is usually handled by looking closely at the facts, the child’s age, the dog owner’s conduct, and how the injury happened. When a child is in...
Is it legal for someone to contact my family members after I told them not to contact me?
In general, it may be legal for someone to contact your family members even after you told that person not to contact you, but that depends on the facts and the reason for the contact. In Washington, as in many states, a...
How do I file a small claims case in Alabama over a contractor who took my $2,500 deposit?
In Alabama, a small claims case may be one way to ask a court to decide a dispute over a contractor deposit, including a claim involving $2,500. In general, small claims courts are designed for lower-dollar disputes and...
What happens if a homeowner’s insurance company denies my claim after I fell on a broken porch step?
If a homeowner’s insurance company denies your claim after you fell on a broken porch step, that usually means the insurer is not agreeing to pay under the policy at that time. The denial may be based on the insurer’s vi...
What happens if my car is repossessed even though I made a partial payment?
If your car is repossessed after you made a partial payment, that does not automatically mean the repossession was improper. In Iowa, as in many states, the lender or repossession company will usually look first to the l...
Can a Gym Charge Me After I Tried to Cancel My Membership?
In general, a gym in California may still charge you after you tried to cancel if the cancellation was not completed in the way the membership contract requires, if the gym had a lawful right to bill for a notice period...
What happens if a business gift card balance is treated as unclaimed property?
In general, if a business gift card balance is treated as unclaimed property, the business may have to turn the unused value over to the state rather than keep it indefinitely. The exact result depends on how Michigan la...
How do I divide tax debt from a joint return in divorce?
In general, a debt tied to a joint tax return does not automatically disappear because spouses divorce. A joint return can create joint federal tax responsibility, which means the IRS may look to either spouse for the fu...