Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Can I copyright a board game rulebook drafted with AI and then rewritten by me?
In general, a board game rulebook may be copyrightable if the final version contains enough original human authorship. The key issue is usually not whether AI was used at some point, but whether the copyrighted material...
Do I have to delete a recording if I later learn the other person did not consent?
In California, the answer depends on several facts, including how the recording was made, what was recorded, and whether any consent was actually required in the first place. In general, California is known for having st...
Do I have to keep paying a personal loan if the lender closed my online account and will not send statements?
In general, yes: closing your online account or stopping paper statements usually does not cancel a personal loan or end your duty to make payments. The loan contract still may remain in effect, and the balance may conti...
How do I calculate alimony if my spouse stayed home for 12 years during the marriage?
In Vermont, alimony is usually not calculated with a simple formula. Instead, a court generally looks at the whole financial picture, including the length of the marriage, each spouse’s income and earning ability, the st...
Is it legal for an insurance company to escheat life insurance proceeds without contacting the beneficiary?
In general, an insurance company may have obligations to search for or contact a beneficiary before life insurance proceeds are treated as unclaimed property and transferred to the state, but the exact rules can depend o...
Is it legal for a landlord to shut off my parking access because I complained about repairs?
In general, a landlord usually should not retaliate against a tenant for making a good-faith complaint about needed repairs. If parking access is part of your lease or part of the rental you were promised, shutting it of...
Is it legal for a business to claim I assumed the risk because the floor was obviously wet?
In Nevada, a business may try to argue that a customer assumed the risk if the danger was open and obvious, including a wet floor that seemed easy to notice. But that does not automatically end the issue. Whether the arg...
How do I dispute a $980 charge from a hotel that claimed I smoked in a non-smoking room?
If a hotel charged you $980 for allegedly smoking in a non-smoking room, the dispute usually turns on the hotel’s terms, the evidence it has, and whether the charge was authorized. In general, hotels may impose smoking f...
Can a court settlement payment become unclaimed property if the law firm cannot reach me?
Yes, a court settlement payment can sometimes become unclaimed property if the money cannot be delivered to you and remains unclaimed for a period of time. In general, when a law firm or other holder is trying to distrib...
How do I renew an antiharassment protection order before it expires?
In Washington, a person with an antiharassment protection order may be able to ask the court to renew the order before it expires. In general, renewal is something the protected person asks the court to consider, and the...
What are my rights if my landlord gave me notice for unpaid rent but never fixed the broken furnace?
If you are in North Dakota and your landlord gave you notice about unpaid rent, the first question is usually whether the rent is actually overdue and whether the landlord has followed the lease and any required notice p...
Can I request back child support if the father was not listed on the birth certificate?
In Virginia, the fact that a father was not listed on the birth certificate does not necessarily prevent a child support claim. In general, child support depends on legal parentage, not only on what appears on a birth ce...
Is it legal for a former tenant to post false claims that I illegally kept deposits?
In Hawaii, a former tenant generally may have some freedom to talk about a dispute, including saying they believe a landlord kept a deposit unfairly. But if the tenant posts statements that are false and presented as fac...
Do I have to leave if I received a notice to vacate but no court papers yet?
In general, a notice to vacate does not always mean you have to move out immediately. In Oregon, a notice to vacate is often an early step in the eviction process, but it is usually not the same thing as a court order. I...
My bank reopened a closed account and charged overdraft fees. Is that allowed?
In general, a bank should not simply reopen a truly closed account and start charging new overdraft fees without some legal or contractual basis. But whether the bank’s actions are allowed often depends on the account ag...