Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Is it criminal damage to property if I tore down a political sign from someone’s yard?
In Minnesota, tearing down a political sign from someone else’s yard may be treated as a criminal property offense, depending on the facts. The exact charge, if any, can depend on whether the sign was damaged, taken, des...
Do I have to pay student loans if I never finished the program?
In general, yes—if you signed a student loan agreement, you usually still have to repay the loan even if you never finished the program. The basic rule is that the obligation to repay often comes from the loan contract i...
Do I have to pay a locksmith $475 when they quoted $95 on the phone?
In Ohio, a phone quote of $95 does not always control the final bill, but it can matter a lot. In general, if a locksmith clearly quoted one price and then charged a much higher amount without explaining extra work, part...
How do I prove which dog bit me if two dogs were loose at the same time?
If two dogs were loose at the same time, proving which dog bit you can be difficult, but it is often possible to build a factual record from witnesses, photos, medical records, animal control reports, and other evidence....
Do I have to pay child support if my parental rights were terminated?
In general, termination of parental rights can change a parent’s future child support obligation, but it does not always erase every support-related duty automatically. In Montana, the effect usually depends on how and w...
Can my landlord evict me for having a pet if they knew about the dog for six months?
In Missouri, a landlord may sometimes try to evict a tenant for having a pet if the lease or house rules prohibit pets. But if the landlord knew about the dog for six months and did not object right away, that fact may m...
Can a landlord charge late fees when their online payment portal was down on the due date?
In general, a landlord may only charge late fees if the lease allows them and the fee is otherwise lawful under Tennessee law. If the landlord’s online payment portal was down on the due date, that fact may matter becaus...
What are my rights if a hidden camera recorded me changing clothes at a gym?
If a hidden camera recorded you changing clothes at a gym in Illinois, you may have serious privacy concerns and possibly several legal options, depending on the facts. In general, recording someone in a changing area is...
How do I dispute a student loan that appears on my credit report twice?
If a student loan appears twice on your credit report, it usually means the loan may be reported more than once by the same furnisher, by related servicers, or under slightly different account information. In general, th...
Can a Phone Company Keep Billing Me After I Canceled Service?
In general, a phone company should not keep charging you for service that was properly canceled, but billing problems can still happen. Sometimes the company continues billing because the cancellation was not processed c...
Can My Boss Make Me Pay for a Cash Register Shortage?
In New York, a boss usually cannot simply decide that an employee must pay for a cash register shortage just because the drawer is short. Whether an employer may require repayment often depends on why the shortage happen...
Do I have to pay student loans if I was the victim of identity theft?
In general, if a student loan was taken out in your name because of identity theft, you may not be responsible for repaying that debt. But the answer often depends on who actually signed the loan documents, whether the l...
What happens if an AI image I used in an ad looks almost identical to another artist’s work?
If an AI-generated image used in an advertisement looks almost identical to another artist’s work, the situation may raise copyright, trademark, false advertising, unfair competition, or contract issues, depending on the...
What happens if my spouse refuses to sign a deed transferring the house after divorce?
In Connecticut, if a divorce judgment or property settlement says one spouse must transfer a house, a refusal to sign a deed does not usually end the matter. The divorce order may still control, and the court may have wa...
What are my rights if the at-fault driver died in the accident?
If the at-fault driver died in the crash, you may still have rights to seek compensation for your injuries and other losses. In general, a driver’s death does not automatically erase a claim for a collision caused by tha...