Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Do I have to announce recording every time I join a recurring work call?
In Florida, the answer usually depends on whether the call is being recorded and whether everyone’s consent is required under the circumstances. Florida is generally treated as a two-party consent state for many private...
Can I sue a contractor for poor workmanship if I do not have a formal contract?
In Montana, and in many other states, the absence of a formal written contract does not always mean you have no legal claim against a contractor. In general, disputes over home repairs, renovations, or construction work...
My Roommate Moved Out Early and Left Me With the Whole Lease — Can I Recover Their Share?
In Colorado, you may sometimes be able to recover money from a roommate who moved out early and stopped paying their share, but it usually depends on the lease, any roommate agreement, and the facts of what each person p...
Is it legal for an insurer to reduce my settlement because I had a prior back injury?
In general, an insurer may try to reduce the value of a settlement if it believes part of your current back condition was already present before the accident or event at issue. That does not automatically mean the reduct...
Is it legal for my tax refund to be taken because of defaulted student loans?
In general, yes. A tax refund may be taken, or offset, to collect certain past-due debts, including defaulted federal student loans, depending on the facts and the type of debt involved. This is a common collection tool...
Is it legal to use AI to translate a copyrighted article and publish the translation?
In general, translating a copyrighted article and publishing the translation can raise copyright issues because a translation is usually treated as a derivative work. That means the original copyright owner may have righ...
How do I know whether my loans are federal or private before applying for forgiveness?
Before applying for any student loan forgiveness program, one of the first things to check is whether your loans are federal or private. In general, forgiveness programs are usually tied to federal student loans, while p...
Can an apartment complex charge pet fees for a visiting dog that stayed one weekend?
In Colorado, an apartment complex may sometimes try to charge a pet fee for a visiting dog, but whether that charge is allowed usually depends on the lease, the community rules, and what exactly the fee is meant to cover...
Can my landlord require renters insurance halfway through the lease?
In Georgia, a landlord may be able to require renters insurance halfway through a lease, but the answer usually depends on the lease language, any amendments, and whether the landlord has the legal right to change the re...
Can my landlord evict me for complaining to the city about code violations?
In New Jersey, a landlord generally cannot lawfully evict a tenant simply because the tenant complained to the city or another government agency about housing code violations. In many situations, a tenant’s report of uns...
Do I have to pay HOA fees if they were never disclosed before I signed the lease?
In Maryland, the answer often depends on what the lease says, who agreed to pay the fee, and whether the HOA charge was part of the rental terms at all. In general, a tenant is usually responsible only for charges the le...
Do I have to go to court if we reached a full divorce settlement?
In South Carolina, reaching a full divorce settlement often reduces how much court involvement is needed, but it does not always mean you can skip court entirely. In many divorce cases, a judge still has to review the pa...
Can a contractor demand additional payment after the project is finished?
In general, a contractor may ask for additional payment after a project is finished, but that does not automatically mean the homeowner or customer must pay it. Whether the demand is valid usually depends on the contract...
How do I make a personal injury claim for burns from a defective pressure cooker?
If a defective pressure cooker burned you, the general process usually starts with getting medical care and preserving evidence. In a product-related injury claim, people often try to show that the product was defective,...
Can I sue the other driver for $3,800 in repair costs if their insurance denies liability?
In general, yes, a driver may be able to bring a civil claim for vehicle repair costs if another driver caused the damage and the insurer denies liability. In Ohio, the key issue is usually not the dollar amount by itsel...