Legal Resources

Abiding by Wage and Hour Laws

• Wage and Hour Laws FAQ
• When Do I Have to Pay Overtime?
• When Do I Have to Pay the Minimum Wage?

Adoption

• Adoption Basics
• Who Can Adopt a Child?

Bankruptcy: Deciding Whether to File

• Alternatives to Bankruptcy
• Bankruptcy FAQ
• What Is Bankruptcy?

Before You Sue

• Deciding Whether to Sue Someone

Billing and Contracting as an Independent Contractor

• Use Written Service Contracts for Your Clients
• When can I charge late fees or finance charges?

Bookkeeping and Accounting

• Accounting Terms Every Businessperson Should Know
• Bookkeeping and Accounting Basics

Buying or Leasing a Car

• Buying a New Car
• Buying a Used Car
• Leasing a Car

Buying or Selling a Business

• Buy-Sell Agreement FAQ
• Buying a Business: What You Need to Know
• Buying or Selling a Business: An Overview
• Closing Your Business: What You Need to Do
• Eight Key Steps to Selling Your Business
• Figuring Out What Your Business is Worth
• Tips for Financially Troubled Businesses
• What to Investigate Before You Buy a Business

Changing Your Name

• Changing Your Name After Divorce
• Changing Your Name After Marriage
• Changing Your Name in California
• Name Changes FAQ

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

• An Overview of Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

• An Overview of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
• When Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Is Better than Chapter 13

Child Custody and Visitation

• Child Custody FAQ
• Child Visitation FAQ
• Parenting Agreements
• Types of Child Custody

Child Support

• Establishing and Calculating Child Support FAQ
• Who Must Pay Child Support FAQ

Collecting a Judgment

• Can You Collect Your Judgment?

Contracts & Transactions

• Buying vs. Leasing Business Equipment
• Consumer Credit Laws
• Consumer Protection Laws
• Contracts 101: What Makes a Valid Contract

Copyrighting Your Work

• Copyright Basics FAQ
• Copyright Ownership and Rights

Corporations

• Corporation Basics
• Corporations FAQ
• How to Form a Corporation
• S Corporation Facts

Crafts & Visual Arts

• Consigning Your Arts and Crafts
• Should You License or Assign Your Art?

Credit and Debit Cards

• Avoiding Credit Card Debt
• Different Types of Credit and Debit Cards

Credit Repair & Debt

• Dealing With Debt Collectors FAQ
• How do I improve my credit position after bankruptcy?
• How to Clean Up Your Credit Report
• Personal Finances 101: Overview
• Rebuilding Credit FAQ
• Ten Tips to Survive the Holidays Without Going Broke
• What to Do If a Bill Collector Crosses the Line
• When You Can't Pay Your Debts FAQ
• Which Debts Must You Repay?

Dealing With Insurance Companies

• Dealing With Insurance Companies FAQ
• Negotiating With an Insurance Company

Debt Collections

• Taking a Business Customer to Small Claims Court
• Ten Tips for Minimizing Losses Due to Customers' Bankruptcies

Determining Who Is at Fault

• General Rules for Proving Fault in Accidents
• Who's at Fault for an Accident FAQ

Divorce Without Court

• Divorce Mediation FAQ
• Divorce Mediation Myths

e-Commerce

• Getting Your Business Online
• Making Contracts Online: Electronic Signatures
• Sales Tax on the Internet: Who Pays It, Who Doesn't
• Terms and Conditions for Your Website

Elder Care

• Caring for an Elder Relative: Where to Begin

Employee Rights

• Asserting Your Rights in the Workplace
• Dealing With Unsafe Conditions at Work
• Don't Embellish or Lie During the Application Process
• Employment At Will: What Does It Mean?
• Fair Pay and Time Off FAQ
• Fighting Race and National Origin Discrimination
• Fighting Sexual Harassment
• Losing or Leaving a Job FAQ
• Right to Privacy at Work FAQ
• Taking Family and Medical Leave
• Your Health and Safety at Work FAQ
• Your Rights When You Leave a Job

Ensuring Privacy in the Workplace

• Privacy in the Workplace FAQ

Estate Taxes

• Estate and Gift Tax FAQ
• The Estate Tax Is Dead (Maybe)

Evicting a Tenant or Ending a Lease

• Resolving Landlord-Tenant Disputes FAQ
• Terminating a Lease or Rental Agreement FAQ

Executors & Probate Court

• FAQ for Executors
• The Executor's Job
• What Is Involved With Becoming an Executor?

Firing Employees

• Firing Employees FAQ

First Steps in Settling Your Personal Injury Claim

• First Steps in Settling Your Injury Claim FAQ
• Should You Pursue a Personal Injury Claim?

Getting a Divorce

• Annulment vs. Divorce
• No Fault Divorce Vs. Fault Divorce FAQ
• Separation vs. Divorce
• When You Can Keep Lawyers Out of Divorce -- And When You Need One

Getting a Patent

• Enforcing a Patent FAQ
• Profiting From Your Patent FAQ
• Qualifying for a Patent FAQ
• What can I do if a company uses my idea without permission?
• You Don't Need a Lawyer to Get a Patent

Getting Organized for Your Family

• Final Arrangements FAQ
• Get Organized Now
• Planning Your Funeral or Memorial Services

Guardianship of Children

• Establishing and Maintaining a Guardianship FAQ
• How Guardianships Work FAQ

Health Care & Elder Care

• Getting the Most From Your Health Insurance
• Medicare and Medicaid: What's the Difference?
• Medicare FAQ
• Medicare's New Prescription Drug Coverage: Medicare Part D

Hiring Employees

• Avoid Disability Discrimination When Hiring New Employees
• Conducting Job Interviews
• Hiring Employees FAQ
• How Can Job Descriptions Trigger Lawsuits?
• Running Background Checks
• Testing Job Applicants
• Writing and Using Job Descriptions
• Written Employment Contracts: Pros and Cons

Hiring Independent Contractors

• Hiring Independent Contractors FAQ
• How to Protect Your Intellectual Property Rights in Works Created By Contractors
• Pros and Cons of Hiring Independent Contractors

Home Business Issues

• Home & Hobby Businesses: Overview

How to Become a U.S. Citizen

• Applying for U.S. Citizenship
• U.S. Citizenship by Birth or Through Parents

ID Theft

• Identity Theft FAQ
• Preventing Identity Theft
• What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen

Immigration & Green Cards

• Applying for a Green Card
• First Step for Family and Employment Green Cards: The Visa Petition
• U.S. Immigration Basics

Landlord Liabilities: Repairs, Safety & Privacy

• Lead Disclosures for Rental Property FAQ
• Repairs, Maintenance, and Entry to Rented Premises
• Tenant Injuries: Landlord Liability and Insurance FAQ

Legal and Tax Rules for Independent Contractors

• How can I convince a firm to hire me as a contractor, not an employee?
• Minimal Requirements for Working as an Independent Contractor
• Top Ten Tax Deductions for Professionals

Lesbian and Gay Couples

• Domestic Partnership Benefits
• Same-Sex Marriage: Developments in the Law

Life Insurance

• Do You Need Life Insurance?
• Life Insurance Options

Limited Liability Company (LLC)

• Creating an LLC Operating Agreement
• How to Form an LLC
• Limited Liability Company FAQ
• LLC Basics
• When Your Spouse Helps Out With Your LLC

Living Together

• Living Together Contracts
• Property Rights of Unmarried Couples FAQ

Living Trusts and Avoiding Probate

• Living Trust FAQ
• Probate FAQ
• Ways to Avoid Probate
• Why Avoid Probate?

Long-Term Care

• Is Home Health Care an Option?
• The First Step: Discussing the Need for Long-Term Care

Marketing

• Marketing Without Spam
• Ten Ways to Build and Market Your Business Image
• Ten Ways to Help Your Customers Find You

Marriage

• Common Law Marriage FAQ
• Getting Married: An Overview
• Marriage Requirements, Procedures, and Ceremonies FAQ
• Marriage Rights and Benefits

Mediation

• Mediation FAQ
• The Six Stages of Mediation
• What Kinds of Cases Can Be Mediated?
• Why Consider Mediation?

Mortgages & Home Affordability

• Finding a Down Payment to Buy a House
• Fixed Rate vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgages
• Mortgage Basics FAQ
• Qualifying for a Mortgage
• Tips for Buying an Affordable House

Moving Out or Getting Evicted

• Get Your Security Deposit Back
• How Evictions Work: What Renters Need to Know
• When Your Lease or Rental Agreement Ends FAQ

Music & Entertainment

• Getting Permission for Sampling Others' Work
• Ten Tips for Songwriters: Credits, Copyrights, and Coauthors

Neighbor & Home-Related Disputes

• Fences FAQ
• Homeowners' Right to Views
• Noise FAQ
• Trees FAQ
• Understanding Homeowners' Associations and CC&Rs

Online Issues

• Cyber Squabbles: Where Do You Sue?

Ownership Structures

• Can my husband and I own our business together as a sole proprietorship?
• Chart: Ways to Organize Your Business

Parenting

• Health Insurance Coverage During Your Pregnancy and for Your New Baby
• Social Security Numbers and Why Your Baby Needs One
• Starting a Family: A Checklist for New Parents
• Tax Breaks Every Parent Should Know About

Partnership

• Creating a Partnership Agreement
• Partnership Basics
• Partnerships FAQ

Permissions & Licensing: Copying Others' Work

• Blogs, Websites & Podcasts: When Do You Need Permission?
• Using Works in the Public Domain: No Need to Get Permission
• When Copying Is Okay: The "Fair Use" Rule

Personnel Policies & Practices

• How to Conduct Employee Evaluations
• Personnel Policies and Practices FAQ
• What You Should -- and Shouldn't -- Keep in Employee Personnel Files
• Who Has a Right to View Personnel Files?
• Why You Need an Email Policy
• Why You Should Create an Employee Handbook

Pets: Rights & Responsibilities

• How Dog Owners Can Avoid Being Bitten by a Lawsuit
• Taking Your Pet on the Plane

Power of Attorney

• Advance Directives, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney: What’s the Difference?
• Choosing Your Health Care Agent
• Do You Need a Financial Power of Attorney?
• How a Financial Power of Attorney Works
• Living Wills and Powers of Attorney for Health Care: How They Work
• Medical and Financial Powers of Attorney

Prenuptial Agreements

• Is a Prenuptial Agreement Right for You?
• Prenuptial Agreements -- An Overview

Preventing Discrimination

• Avoiding Age Discrimination
• Avoiding Discrimination Based on Race and National Origin
• Guidelines for Handling Discrimination and Harassment Complaints
• Preventing Employment Discrimination FAQ
• Preventing Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Privacy Rights

• Email Privacy
• You've Got Spam

Property Division and Alimony

• Property and Debt Division FAQ
• Tips for Dividing Your Property During Divorce

Providing Family, Medical, and Other Types of Leave

• Leave Policies in the Workplace FAQ
• Providing Family and Medical Leave
• Providing Vacation and Sick Leave

Purchasing Goods & Services

• Consumer Scams FAQ
• Warranty Rights FAQ

Real Estate

• Buying a Home: Overview
• Choosing Your Real Estate Agent
• Home Inspection: First Time Home Buyer
• Homeowners' Insurance: What You Need to Know
• Trading Up: Tips for Selling Your Home and Buying Another

Renters' Rights: Repairs, Privacy & Safety

• Renters' Rights to Privacy and Repairs FAQ

Renting a House or Apartment

• Signing a Lease or Rental Agreement FAQ
• Take Steps to Protect Your Security Deposit When You Move In

Renting Out Your Property

• How to Screen and Select Tenants FAQ
• Leases and Rental Agreements FAQ
• Top Ten Legal Mistakes That Can Sink Your Landlord Business

Representing Yourself

• How to Represent Yourself in Court FAQ
• Ten Tips for Staying Sane in Court

Saving Business Taxes

• Deductions Your Small Business Shouldn't Miss
• If I lease a car, can I deduct the payments?
• Small Business Taxes FAQ
• Top Ten Tax Deductions for Landlords
• What Auditors Look for When Examining a Business

Search, Seizure, and Interrogations

• Arrests and Interrogations FAQ
• Searches and Seizures FAQ

Selling a House

• Home Sales Tips
• Preparing Your House for Sale
• Required Disclosures When Selling Real Estate
• Selling Your Home: Overview
• Selling Your House FAQ

Small Claims Court

• Chart: Statutes of Limitations in All 50 States
• How Much Can I Sue for in Small Claims Court?
• Small Claims Court FAQ
• What Types of Cases Can Be Resolved in Small Claims Court?

Social Security & Retirement

• Checking Your Social Security Earnings and Benefits
• Plan For a Healthy Retirement
• Retirement Plan FAQ
• Retiring: An Overview
• Social Security FAQ
• Sorry! A Fulfilling Retirement Is Not for Sale
• Top Myths About Retirement Plans
• Top Seven Tax Deductions for Seniors and Retirees

Software & Web Development

• Getting Permission to Publish: Ten Tips for Webmasters
• Increasing Traffic to Your Website
• Why You Should Copyright Your Software

Sole Proprietor

• Sole Proprietorship Basics
• Sole Proprietorships FAQ

Special Education

• Overview of Special Education Law

Starting a Business

• Can I safely start a business with a money-bungling buddy?
• Choosing a Business Name FAQ
• Domain Names and Trademarks FAQ
• Local Start-Up Requirements for Small Businesses
• Registering Your Business Name
• Starting a Business: 50 Things You'll Need to Do
• Starting and Researching the Right Business
• Ten Steps to Determining the Space You Need for Your Business
• The Essentials of a Business Plan
• The Lowdown on Business Loans
• Understanding Promissory Notes
• What Are Some Tips for Financing a Small Business?
• What Should You Know When Leasing Commercial Space?
• Writing a Business Plan FAQ

Starting a Franchise

• Create a Strategic Plan for Your Nonprofit
• Employers' Rights and Responsibilities
• Five Reasons to Incorporate Your Nonprofit Association
• How to Form a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corporation
• Nonprofit Basics
• Nonprofits FAQ
• Using Your Nonprofit's Website to Help Fundraise
• When Do I Need an Employment Lawyer?

Student Loans

• College Students: Make a Budget for Your Expenses
• When You Can't Pay Your Student Loans: Cancellation, Deferment, and Forbearance
• Your Student Loan Repayment Options

Taxes & Audits

• Filing a Tax Return When You Live Outside the United States
• Filing and Paying Taxes Late
• IRS Audit FAQ
• IRS Installment Payment Plans
• Keeping Tax Papers
• Personal Taxes: Overview
• Seven Steps to Lower Your Taxes
• Tax Bill FAQ
• Tax Credits: The Easy Way to Save Money
• Top Ten Questions on Filings Taxes FAQ
• Top Ten Tips for Appealing an IRS Audit
• Top Ten Tips for Surviving an Audit
• Top Ten Tips for Surviving an IRS Tax Collection

Tenant Issues With Roommates

• Renting a Place With Others
• When a Roommate Leaves

Trade Secrets

• Noncompete Agreements
• Nondisclosure Agreements
• Trade Secret Basics FAQ

Trademarks

• Conducting a Trademark Search FAQ
• Filing a Federal Trademark Application FAQ
• Qualifying for Trademark Protection FAQ
• Types of Trademarks FAQ

Traffic Tickets

• Drunk Driving FAQ
• Fines, License Suspensions, and Traffic School
• Five Strategies for Fighting a Traffic Ticket
• Traffic Accidents FAQ
• Traffic Tickets: Deciding Whether to Fight or Pay Up
• Your Driver's License FAQ

When Workers Leave

• Chart: Final Paychecks for Departing Employees
• Should You Offer Severance Pay?
• When Workers Leave FAQ

Wills & Estate Planning

• Can I make a will online?
• Choosing a Guardian for Your Children
• Choosing an Executor FAQ
• Do I Need a Lawyer to Make My Will?
• Do You Need a Will or a Trust?
• Does my will have to be notarized?
• Making a No-Frills Will
• Married Couples: Who Owns What?
• The Right Estate Plan for You
• Wills FAQ

Working With a Lawyer

• Finding Free Legal Services
• Working With Your Lawyer