Legal Q&A Topics
Browse published legal information questions. Pages are sorted by recent reader activity.
Do I have to pay rent if my apartment ceiling collapsed and I cannot use the bedroom?
In Alabama, a ceiling collapse that makes a bedroom unusable may affect whether full rent is still owed, but the answer usually depends on the facts, the lease terms, and the landlord’s response. In general, if part of a...
What happens if the paying parent quits their job to avoid child support?
In Wisconsin, a parent usually cannot avoid child support just by quitting a job. Courts often look at whether the parent is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed and may decide support based on earning capacity rather...
How do I collect if I win a $1,200 small claims judgment and the business still refuses to pay?
If you win a small claims judgment in South Dakota and the business still does not pay, the judgment does not usually collect itself. A court judgment is a legal debt, but you generally still have to take collection step...
Do I have to get everyone’s consent before recording a Zoom call with a contractor?
In California, the answer is often yes if the Zoom call is a confidential communication. California is a two-party consent state for certain recorded conversations, which means all parties may need to agree before the ca...
How do I prove lost income if I am self-employed and missed three weeks of work?
If you are self-employed and missed three weeks of work, proving lost income usually means showing what you normally earned, what work you lost, and how the missed time affected your business income. That often involves...
What happens if the prenup was never notarized?
In Colorado, a prenuptial agreement that was never notarized is not automatically impossible to enforce, but the missing notarization can create real questions about validity, proof, and how a court may treat the documen...
What are my rights if my renters insurance denies a claim after my laptop was stolen from my car?
If your renters insurance denies a claim after your laptop was stolen from your car, you usually still have the right to ask for the reason in writing, review the policy language, and challenge the denial if it appears u...
Can I break my lease if there has been mold in the bedroom for three months and my child keeps getting sick?
In New Jersey, mold problems may sometimes support a tenant’s right to end a lease, but it depends on the facts. A lease is not usually broken just because mold exists. The key question is whether the mold and any relate...
What are my rights if I got an eviction notice while waiting for rental assistance to be approved?
If you are in Tennessee and you receive an eviction notice while a rental assistance application is still pending, you may still have important rights, but those rights usually depend on the type of notice you got, your...
I bought a mattress online and the return window ended before it fully expanded. Any rights?
In California, you may have some options, but the answer usually depends on the seller’s return policy, the product listing, and whether the mattress was defective or not as described. A mattress that arrives compressed...
What are my rights if my mechanic overcharged me by $800?
If a mechanic overcharged you by $800, you may have several general options depending on what happened, what was agreed to, and what proof you have. In Nebraska, as in other states, the first question is often whether th...
Do Property Showings While Selling a House Affect My Lease Rights in Rhode Island?
In general, property showings while a landlord is selling a house do not automatically cancel or reduce a tenant’s lease rights in Rhode Island. If you have a valid lease, the landlord usually still has to honor its term...
Can I get child support in Alabama if the other parent is paid mostly in cash?
In Alabama, a parent being paid mostly in cash does not automatically prevent child support from being ordered. Child support is generally based on a parent’s income and the child’s needs, and courts may look beyond a pa...
How do I handle harassment from a former dating partner if there was no domestic relationship?
If a former dating partner is harassing you, the fact that there was no domestic relationship does not necessarily mean you have no legal options. In Washington, the available options often depend on what the person is d...
I bought concert tickets from someone online and they vanished after payment. Is small claims worth it?
If you paid for concert tickets online and the seller disappeared, small claims court may be one possible way to try to recover your money in Tennessee. Whether it is worth it usually depends on how much you paid, whethe...