Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Can My Ex Keep a Dog We Bought Together During the Relationship?
In West Virginia, a dog is usually treated as property for legal purposes, even though many people see a pet as part of the family. That means a court or other decision-maker may focus on ownership evidence rather than o...
What happens if my business forgot to report unclaimed customer refunds by the state deadline?
If your business missed the Delaware deadline for reporting unclaimed customer refunds, the first thing to know is that the issue usually does not disappear on its own. In general, unclaimed property rules are designed t...
Can I get child support if the father is paid in cash and says he has no income?
Yes, possibly. In Ohio, a parent’s child support obligation is generally based on income and other financial facts, not just what the parent says on paper. If a father is paid in cash, works off the books, is self-employ...
Is it legal for a prenup to include penalties for infidelity?
In Kentucky, a prenuptial agreement may be able to address infidelity in some way, but whether a specific “penalty” is enforceable depends on the exact wording, the circumstances, and how Kentucky law treats the rest of...
Do I have to go to court if I already moved out after receiving an eviction notice?
If you already moved out after receiving an eviction notice in South Carolina, that may reduce the need for an eviction hearing in some situations, but it does not always end the case. In general, once a landlord starts...
Can I sue if a dog knocked me down and I broke my wrist but it never actually bit me?
In Ohio, a dog bite is not always required for someone to have a possible civil claim after a dog-related injury. If a dog knocked you down and you broke your wrist, the key question is usually whether the dog owner or k...
Can I make a personal injury claim if I slipped on grapes in the produce aisle and injured my back?
Yes, in California, a slip and fall in a grocery store may sometimes support a personal injury claim if the store or another responsible party acted negligently and that negligence contributed to the fall. A claim usuall...
My Neighbor’s Dog Bit Me While I Was Delivering Food — Who Is Liable?
If you were bitten by a neighbor’s dog while delivering food in New Jersey, the dog’s owner is often the first person people look to for liability. In general, New Jersey has a dog-bite rule that can make an owner respon...
Can a landlord refuse to fix a dishwasher because they say it is a convenience appliance?
In Kansas, the answer often depends on the lease and on whether the dishwasher was part of the rental agreement when you moved in. In general, a landlord usually has to maintain the basic habitability of a rental unit, b...
Can a Contractor Demand Full Payment Before Finishing the Job?
In general, a contractor cannot simply demand full payment before finishing the job unless the contract allows it or the parties later agree to a change in payment terms. In Georgia, as in many states, the written contra...
What are my rights if I asked for a lawyer but detectives kept questioning me?
In Illinois, if you are in police custody and you clearly ask for a lawyer, detectives generally must stop asking you questions until a lawyer is present. This rule is based on the idea that a person should be able to en...
What are my rights if my mineral royalty payments were turned over as unclaimed property?
If your mineral royalty payments were turned over as unclaimed property, you generally still may have a right to claim the money from the state or the holder that reported it. In North Dakota, as in other states, unclaim...
The dentist did a crown on the wrong tooth. What kind of lawyer handles that?
If a dentist placed a crown on the wrong tooth, the kind of lawyer who often handles that issue is a medical malpractice lawyer, dental malpractice lawyer, or personal injury lawyer who has experience with professional n...
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 my landlord charge me a $500 repainting fee when I only lived there for eight months and didn’t damage the walls?
In California, a landlord usually cannot charge a tenant for ordinary wear and tear, but a repainting charge may be allowed if the landlord can show the paint damage went beyond normal use. The fact that you lived there...