Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Do I have to pay a contractor if the work does not match the contract?
In general, whether you have to pay a contractor when the work does not match the contract depends on the facts, the contract terms, and Oregon law. If the contractor completed work that is substantially what was promise...
Can a Landlord Charge Pet Rent for an Emotional Support Animal?
In California, a landlord generally may not treat an emotional support animal as a pet just because the animal lives with a tenant. An emotional support animal, sometimes called an ESA, is usually considered a housing ac...
Is it legal for my student loan servicer to deny forgiveness because my employer form was signed late?
In general, a student loan servicer may deny or delay forgiveness if the required employment certification or employer form was not completed in the way the program requires. A late signature can matter because these pro...
How do I get a refund from a travel booking site that charged me twice for the same hotel room?
If a travel booking site charged you twice for the same hotel room, the first step is usually to gather proof of both charges and contact the booking site right away. In many situations, duplicate charges are billing err...
What happens if child support services intercepted my tax refund for arrears I already paid?
If child support services intercepted your tax refund for arrears you believe were already paid, the first thing to know is that this can happen for several different reasons. In general, a refund offset is based on the...
Is it legal for officers to ask basic booking questions without Miranda warnings?
In general, yes. Officers may usually ask routine booking questions without giving Miranda warnings first, as long as the questions are limited to basic identification or administrative information and are not designed t...
Can I ask the court to make my spouse pay the mortgage until the divorce is final?
In Virginia, you can usually ask the court for temporary relief while a divorce is pending, and that may include asking a spouse to help pay the mortgage. Whether a judge will order that kind of payment depends on the fa...
Can I break my lease if my landlord refuses to address ongoing noise complaints from neighbors?
In New Jersey, a tenant may sometimes have legal arguments for ending a lease early if serious, ongoing noise problems make the rental unlivable and the landlord does not take reasonable steps to address them. But that i...
How do I handle a moving company that doubled the price after loading my belongings onto the truck?
If a moving company increases the price after loading your belongings, that can be a serious problem, but the right response usually depends on the contract, the estimate, and what was said before and during the move. In...
My Landlord Changed the Locks After I Fell Behind on Rent — What Should I Do?
If you are in Nevada and your landlord changed the locks after you fell behind on rent, that may be an unlawful lockout depending on the facts. In general, a landlord usually cannot use self-help to remove a tenant witho...
What happens if I got a notice to vacate because the landlord wants to sell the house?
In Connecticut, a notice to vacate because the landlord wants to sell the house usually means the landlord is asking the tenant to leave so the property can be sold or prepared for sale. In general, that notice does not...
How do I get my $1,200 deposit back from a contractor who never started the job?
If a contractor took a $1,200 deposit and never started the job, you may be able to ask for the money back through a demand letter, direct negotiation, a payment dispute, or a small-claims type court process, depending o...
Can my employer make me pay back training costs if I quit after two months?
In New York, an employer may sometimes try to require repayment of training costs if you leave soon after starting, but the answer usually depends on the written agreement and the way the repayment was structured. A repa...
Do I have to make payments during an administrative forbearance for them to count toward forgiveness?
In general, whether payments made during an administrative forbearance count toward forgiveness depends on the type of loan, the forgiveness program, and the specific rules that apply to your repayment status. An adminis...
Can I Sue My Roommate for Leaving Unpaid Rent?
In general, a roommate dispute over unpaid rent is a contract and shared-housing issue, not a criminal matter. In Massachusetts, whether you may be able to bring a civil claim usually depends on how the housing arrangeme...