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Law Guide
The Law Guide contains articles written by attorneys that are easy to understand and answer frequently asked questions covering 100+ legal topics. Select a legal category below or use the search button to find a Law Guide article of interest to you.
Creating effective co-op and condo house rules is an essential part of maintaining harmonious community living. Rules are similar to regulations that are typically created and modified by the organization's board of directors. The best house rules strike a fair balance between protecting the...
Property owners are the party ultimately responsible to know, address and pay for building compliance requirements in each jurisdiction, such as with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) in New York City. Board members take the responsibility to ensure that they, or an experienced...
Courtroom interpreters play a crucial role in ensuring that the US justice system is able to serve the needs of individuals with low English proficiency. Census data in the past decade has shown that the number of LEP individuals in the United States has reached 25 million, making court...
In order to obtain a divorce, you must establish a reason or "grounds" for your divorce. There are generally two grounds provided by state laws for dissolving a marriage - fault-based divorce and no-fault divorce. State law varies with regard to which (or both) apply and a chart listed below...
It is demoralizing to apply for a job having great qualifications only to be denied due to an employer’s discriminatory hiring practices. If you suspect that you've been denied an opportunity at work due to your race, religion, gender, age or disability, you may have a case for employment...
Alimony, often referred to as maintenance or spousal support, is a payment made by one ex-spouse to the other. While the concept is simple its implementation is often very complex. Spousal support determinations involve the application of state law and financial awards create a need for good...
A medical problem known as a “stroke” occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is suddenly interrupted and brain cells die a quick death. It is an emergency medical condition that requires immediate attention. In many instances there are prior warnings that a stroke is likely to occur and...
The Miranda Warning read to a criminal defendant upon arrest generally states that “you have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you free of charge.” Your "right to counsel" is the right to have an attorney present to help you defend against...
Auto accidents that happen in parking lots are a common occurrence. Collisions will usually occur at a low rate of speed although the consequences can vary. Regardless of whether your accident is a minor “fender bender” or a pedestrian being struck by a motor vehicle, the first step is to...
Who determines the punishment after a criminal defendant is convicted of a crime? How can a defendant be sure of receiving fair treatment and not being punished more harshly than other defendants? Is there some flexibility and leniency allowed in the sentencing process? It is important to know...
Alternative sentencing usually provides criminal defendants a way to avoid serving a jail or prison sentence. The most common alternatives include suspended sentences, fines, probation, community service, restitution, deferred adjudication and pretrial diversion programs. A judge will use a...
Motorcycle insurance is a requirement for every rider and it’s extremely important that your policy covers what you are expecting. For many riders, they only discover the limitations of their motorcycle insurance after they are involved in an accident and it comes time to determining how much...
If you are a passenger in a car involved in an auto accident, can you make a claim and recover damages against either driver? What if you were the operator of a car and the other driver was at fault? The answer to these questions depends upon the state within which you live and where the...
This article answers frequent questions about child support law in New York. Child support is the financial obligation of one parent to pay the custodial parent to help raise the child both created together. Each parent shares in the expected costs of raising a child which include health and...
The process of criminal procedure is similar in all states even though criminal law and penal codes may vary. This is because the purpose of criminal procedure is the same - to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to find you, a person who has been arrested, guilty of a crime. The law...
This article provides answers to the most frequently asked questions about child support. It is a general guide to how most states approach common issues concerning support payments including calculation of obligations, increases and reductions, failure to pay and failure to appear in court...
There are several factors used by a court in order to make child custody decisions.
The Best Interests of the Child Standard
The courts in every state use the "best interests of the child" standard to award child custody. The standard generally tries to find the optimal mix of factors that...
Children born to unmarried parents create a host of child custody and child support issues. While the identity of the mother is usually obvious, it's not always as clear when it comes to the father. Family law governs and provides guidance. Questions of child support and custody /visitation...
Senior citizens living in nursing homes require health care assistance and are more vulnerable to abuse than the average person. The elderly are less able to defend themselves because of their aging physical and mental capabilities. As a result, the Nursing Home Reform Act (part of the Omnibus...
What makes a person legally liable for causing a motorcycle accident? This article explains the standard of negligence, the times when nobody will be found liable for an accident and also provides best practices tips for motorcycle safety and avoiding legal liability.
Negligence: The Standard...
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has two programs which provide financial assistance to people with a disability. SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits Program) is financed with work related Social Security taxes and pays benefits to disabled workers and their families. SSI...
In order to receive social security benefits, you must meet all requirements for eligibility. This article will provide you with a short summary of important items you should know when you apply for your own Social Security benefits and Medicare. You may need additional documentation if you are...
In order to obtain social security benefits for a child, all requirements for eligibility must be met. This article will provide an essential list of information you’ll need for your child’s Social Security Application. You may require additional documentation if you are seeking to apply for...