Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Do I have to pay a cleaning fee if I left my rental unit spotless with photos as proof?
In Michigan, the answer usually depends on your lease, the condition of the unit, and whether the landlord is trying to charge for normal cleaning, actual damage, or unpaid rent. If you left the rental unit clean and hav...
What are my rights if my landlord refuses to repair a leaking roof for over a month?
In Connecticut, a landlord’s failure to repair a leaking roof can raise serious habitability and repair-and-deduct issues, depending on the facts. In general, tenants are entitled to a rental unit that is maintained in a...
Do I have to call the police for a fender bender if nobody was injured?
In Mississippi, whether you have to call the police after a minor car accident can depend on the facts of the crash, what the law requires, and whether the collision can be handled safely at the scene. In general, even i...
Can Someone Go to Jail for Blackmailing a Minor With Nude Photos?
Yes, in Illinois, blackmailing a minor with nude photos can potentially lead to jail or prison, depending on what happened and what charges the government files. In general, threatening to expose, share, or use intimate...
How do I handle a car accident settlement when Medicare or health insurance paid some bills?
In general, when Medicare or a health insurer has paid some of your crash-related medical bills, those payments may affect how your car accident settlement is handled. The basic issue is that another payer may have a rig...
Do I have to leave by the end of a 30-day notice if I have nowhere else to go?
In Oregon, a 30-day notice usually means the landlord is telling you that the tenancy is ending, but it does not always mean you must move out immediately on day 30 without any further process. In many situations, the la...
Can an employer deduct credit card processing fees from tips?
In general, a New York employer usually may not reduce an employee’s tips just because the customer paid by credit card. Tips are ordinarily treated as the employee’s property, and employers typically have to handle tip...
Do I have to go through probate in Alabama if my parent died with only a bank account and a car?
In Alabama, the answer is usually: maybe, but not always. If your parent left only a bank account and a car, probate may or may not be necessary depending on how those assets were titled, whether they had a beneficiary,...
How do I value a family business for divorce settlement purposes?
In a divorce, valuing a family business usually means figuring out what the business is worth as part of the marital property division process. That value may affect how property is divided, whether one spouse keeps the...
My Roommate Refuses to Pay Utilities That Are in My Name — Can I Sue?
If your roommate agreed to share utilities and then stopped paying, you may have a possible repayment claim. In Virginia, as in many states, the answer often depends on what agreement existed, what proof you have, and wh...
Do I have to sign a settlement release before I know whether my knee injury needs surgery?
In general, no one can force you to sign a settlement release before you are ready, but a defendant or insurer may make that a condition of paying a settlement. A release is usually a final agreement that ends your claim...
How do I challenge a DUI if the officer’s body camera was not working?
If an officer’s body camera was not working, that may make a DUI case harder for the government to prove, but it does not automatically defeat the charge. In Vermont, as in many states, a missing recording is only one pa...
What are my rights if a contractor recorded our payment dispute and threatened to use it against me?
In California, a situation like this may raise privacy, harassment, contract, and evidence issues, but the exact rights depend on what was recorded, how it was recorded, where it happened, and what was said or threatened...
What are my rights if my landlord changed the laundry room hours after I signed the lease?
In general, a landlord cannot casually change an important rental term after you sign a lease if the lease gives you a right to use the laundry room during certain hours or as part of the tenancy. Whether you have a lega...
What are my rights if I was hit by a government vehicle in Idaho?
If you were hit by a government vehicle in Idaho, you may have the right to seek compensation for injuries and property damage, but claims against government bodies often follow special rules. Those rules can affect who...