Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Is it legal for a landlord to threaten eviction after I reported harassment by another tenant?
In Washington, a landlord generally should not use eviction threats as punishment for a tenant’s good-faith complaint about harassment or other habitability problems. In many situations, a threat to evict after a tenant...
The moving company broke my TV but their claim form says they owe pennies per pound. Can they do that?
In general, a moving company may try to limit how much it pays for damaged household goods, including a TV, through the contract or claim paperwork. A “pennies per pound” statement usually means the company is relying on...
Do I have to pay for a subscription service that auto-renewed for $299 annually without notice?
In California, whether you have to pay for an auto-renewed subscription usually depends on the contract terms, how the renewal was disclosed, and what notice you received before the charge appeared. A subscription agreem...
How do I dispute a $700 ambulance bill that my insurance says should have been covered?
If your insurance company says an ambulance ride should have been covered but you still received a $700 bill, the first step is usually to identify where the breakdown happened. In many cases, the issue may involve the i...
Do I have to pay for repairs after a mechanic misdiagnosed the problem and replaced the wrong part?
In Florida, whether you have to pay after a mechanic misdiagnoses a problem and replaces the wrong part usually depends on the repair agreement, what you authorized, and whether the shop’s work was reasonable under the c...
How do I respond to an eviction notice for lease violations when there are no photos or proof?
In Massachusetts, a lease-violation eviction notice does not automatically mean you must move out right away. In general, a landlord still has to follow the proper legal process, and the landlord usually bears the burden...
How do I file a personal injury claim against a city for a dangerous sidewalk?
In Iowa, a personal injury claim against a city for a dangerous sidewalk usually involves more than simply reporting the injury and asking for payment. Claims against a city often involve special notice rules, shorter de...
What happens if a business records calls for training but never gives customers notice?
In California, recording customer calls without notice can create serious legal risk. In general, California is a two-party consent state for confidential communications, which means a business usually cannot record a ca...
Do I Owe Rent If My Apartment Had No Heat for Two Weeks?
In Michigan, a two-week loss of heat can be a serious habitability problem, but it does not automatically mean you can stop paying rent without risk. In general, tenants still owe rent unless a legal remedy applies, and...
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...
My employer pays bonuses but skipped me after I gave notice. Is that legal?
In California, the answer often depends on what kind of bonus it was, what the employer’s written policies said, and whether you had already met the conditions for earning it before you gave notice. In general, an employ...
Is it legal for a landlord to post an eviction notice on my door where neighbors can see it?
In general, a landlord may be allowed to post an eviction notice on your door, but whether that is legally proper depends on the applicable notice rules, the type of notice being used, and the facts of the situation. In...
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...
Is it legal for my landlord to send an eviction notice by text message only?
In Florida, a landlord’s text message may be a warning or a communication about a rental problem, but it is not always the same thing as a legally effective eviction notice. Whether a text message-only notice is valid us...
What are my rights if my spouse is hiding income from a side business during the divorce?
In general, if you are going through a divorce in Washington and you think your spouse is hiding income from a side business, you may have the right to ask for full financial disclosure and to challenge incomplete or ina...