Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Do I have to show actual malice if I am a local business owner?
In Rhode Island, the answer is usually: it depends on the kind of claim, the statement at issue, and whether you are treated as a public figure, limited-purpose public figure, or private person for defamation purposes. A...
What are my rights if I did not understand the Miranda warning because English is not my first language?
If you were questioned by police in Tennessee and you did not understand the Miranda warning because English is not your first language, that may matter. In general, police are supposed to give Miranda warnings in a way...
Do I have to pay alimony if my former spouse now earns more than I do?
In New York, the fact that your former spouse now earns more than you do does not automatically mean alimony, also called spousal maintenance, ends or never has to be paid. Courts usually look at the full financial pictu...
Can I break my lease if my apartment has repeated flooding every time it rains?
In Maryland, repeated flooding in an apartment may sometimes give a tenant a basis to end a lease, but it depends heavily on the facts. The key question is usually whether the flooding is serious enough to make the home...
Can I sue a landlord if my child got lead poisoning from peeling paint in the apartment?
In general, a tenant may be able to bring a claim against a landlord if a child was harmed by lead paint in an apartment, but the answer depends heavily on the facts, the lease, the condition of the property, notice to t...
How do I know if a voicemail message counts as consent to record the rest of a call?
In general, a voicemail message does not automatically count as consent to record the rest of a live phone call. Whether it counts usually depends on what the speaker actually said, whether the statement clearly allowed...
Do I have to make a written demand before penalties start for a late final paycheck in Utah?
In general, Utah final paycheck rules can depend on the reason you left the job, what wages are owed, and whether the employer has already paid or is still delaying payment. A written demand may matter in some wage dispu...
What happens if the dog that bit me was off leash but the owner says it was provoked?
In Wisconsin, an off-leash dog and a claim of provocation can both matter in a dog bite case, but neither fact automatically decides the result. In general, dog bite claims depend on the specific facts, including what th...
Do I have to pay for a service that was not completed as agreed?
In California, whether you have to pay for a service that was not completed as agreed usually depends on the contract, the work that was actually performed, and why the service was not completed. In general, if a provide...
Can my insurance company drop me after filing two claims in one year?
In general, an insurance company may have the right to cancel or choose not to renew a policy after claims, but the answer depends on the type of insurance, the policy language, and West Virginia law. Filing two claims i...
What happens if I was arrested for DUI in another state while on vacation?
If you were arrested for DUI in another state while on vacation, there can be consequences both in the state where the arrest happened and back home in New Hampshire. In general, the other state handles the criminal case...
What happens if I never received the eviction notice but my landlord says it was mailed?
In Wisconsin, the fact that you personally never received an eviction notice does not automatically end an eviction case. If a landlord says the notice was mailed, the key question is usually whether the landlord followe...
Can I be charged if I broke my own property while it was in someone else’s apartment?
In Minnesota, you generally cannot be charged just for breaking your own property. But the fact that the item belonged to you does not always end the legal question. If the property was in someone else’s apartment, polic...
What happens if I paid off a loan before learning it might have qualified for forgiveness?
If you paid off a loan before learning it might have qualified for forgiveness, the main issue is usually whether the loan was actually eligible for forgiveness under the program rules and whether any deadline, applicati...
Is it defamation if someone posts a fake warning about me in a local parents’ group?
In general, a fake warning posted about you in a local parents’ group may be defamatory if it makes a false statement of fact about you and harms your reputation. Whether it counts as defamation usually depends on exactl...