Other Areas of Law

The mortgage tax deduction is one of the most valuable financial benefits to owning your own home. On your annual income tax return you can deduct the amount of all interest paid on a mortgage on...

In some states, foreclosures are a very time consuming and tedious process, but in Texas it's different. In Texas, it is fairly easy to foreclose on a property and the process moves quickly. ...

Since the AIDS epidemic began in the early 1980s, much has changed in the way that HIV and AIDS are treated medically and legally. A number of laws have been passed to help ensure that individuals...

The state of Michigan prohibits state residents from carry a concealed handgun without a Class 3 firearms license. Any resident over the age of 21 may apply for a Class 3 license, provided they...

Due to the large number of civil suits that are filed in courts across the country every day, sheriff's departments cannot keep up with all of the documents that needs to be served in regard to...

Homeowner associations are created for the purpose of developing, managing and selling a category of residential housing called common-interest developments. This category includes condominiums,...

Before any step is taken in acquiring dual citizenship, a connection to the country of application must be made. You cannot point your finger to a map and choose to be a dual citizen of any place...

Water rights are highly desired in real estate transactions. Whether for agricultural use, recreational use or other purposes, water rights can significantly increase the appeal of a real estate...

Rent control laws limit the amount landlords can charge tenants for rent. Rent control laws also affect how much rent may can increase from year to year. In the U.S., there are no federal or state...

The U.S. Department of State reports that about 400,000 Americans flock to the Philippines each year. Most go back to their homeland bearing stories and memories of bustling cities dotted with...

U.S. naturalization is a lengthy procedure, and in many cases it is the final step in the immigration process whether through marriage, family, or residency. The qualifications vary in individual...

Many senior citizens are eligible for federal weatherization grants to upgrade their home insulation. Weatherization services are provided by the states, and criteria may differ slightly by state....

When you sell a vehicle, most states require that you notify the appropriate state agency--usually the department or division of motor vehicles (DMV)--regarding the sale. Filing the required...

Prevention of violence in psychiatric emergency rooms is a primary administrative objective of these facilities. Psychiatric emergency rooms are particularly prone to violence. A considerable...

Tax deduction limits vary according to the type of deduction claimed, and the tax laws that apply for the current tax year. Tax deduction limits can change from year to year as new laws are passed...

Leasing a home, apartment, appliances or motor vehicle is a great way to be able to use something without having to fully pay for it. The lease agreement should specify the duration of the lease...

Medical malpractice is defined as a deviation from the standard of practice accepted by the medical community. Failure to abide by this standard and causing an injury to a patient can result in a...

I am not a lawyer nor do I claim to be one. However, I do know some of the basics of the law in the US and I intend to share. This is just a bit of a primer. Get legal counsel fast if you're in...

Child day-care laws vary from state to state; there are no federal laws overseeing the profession. These laws are often similar, and knowing what to expect will help you as you prepare to start...

Along with responsibilities, landlords have certain rights and protections under federal law. Rights granted to landlords include collecting security deposits, evicting tenants, raising rent and...

Imitation is thought to be the best form of flattery. However, if you have to compromise your integrity to emulate someone, maybe imitation is more of an insult. On a daily basis, actors,...

A quitclaim, which is often erroneously but commonly called a quick claim, is a simple way for an individual to give up interest in a property. The legal document, or deed, is basically a real...

When a vehicle is so badly damaged that an insurance appraiser declares it a total loss, a salvage title is issued that prevents the vehicle from being legally registered or driven. If the vehicle...

The U.S. Postal Service enforces laws and regulations that direct the manner in which a homeowner must deal with her mailbox. These statutes and regulations include restrictions on how a mailbox...

People who lease properties for residential use are known as tenants (also known as "lessee"). The owner of the home being leased is called a landlord (also known as "lessor"). Laws for each state...

President George W. Bush declared several Southern California counties were major disasters as a result of wildfires in October 2007. The declaration allowed taxpayers in those counties to obtain...

Bonded and insured refers to two different types of financial protection that individuals or businesses may be required to purchase in order to work in an industry or to qualify for a job...

Most tax-exempt non-profit organizations are required to file annual reports about financial details and make certain forms available for public perusal. For example, forms submitted to the United...

Record retention concerns the federal government requiring businesses, organizations and government bodies keeping copies of records that may or may not be immediately relevant to day-to-day...

Motorcycle riders know the exhilaration and freedom of cruising the open road. But as wonderful as it can be, it's undeniably dangerous to ride, usually because drivers of cars and trucks don't...

Have you been called on for jury duty? Don't want to serve? I'll teach you how get out of serving on a jury!

How to keep our neighborhood children safe.

If personal injury occurs that may be due to negligence on some party's part, you need to have an idea of how the legal and insurance systems are set up to respond.

A power of attorney letter is a legal document that grants power over your financial or legal affairs to another person. Power of attorney letters are often used by people in the event they become...

Income taxes in Canada are fairly straightforward. The system is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) except in Quebec, whose system is administered by Revenue Québec. The system...

In California, a certified law student is allowed to perform certain activities related to the practice of law under the supervision of a qualified attorney. These activities include court...

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in 2009 that in comparison with their male counterparts, women earned 75 cents on the dollar. This puts single moms at a distinct...

During the beginning of the 21st century, identity theft increased considerably with the rise of computer access by the population. In response, a number of companies have invented new...

Driving through a stop sign at a busy intersection is a reckless act that could result in serious consequences. It is difficult to imagine such conduct being done willfully. However, when a stop...

Although the U.S. has recently passed tax incentives to produce energy from renewable sources such as wind turbines, tax write-offs for wind power are not necessarily a new idea. Since the 1970s,...

If you want to become a skip tracer, you will face some difficult challenges. No federal standard exists for becoming an accounts collector, the most basic skip tracing job, but specialized fields...

The U.S. presidential cabinet includes the Vice President and the heads of 15 different departments. While it may be argued that all departments are important, some wield much more power and...

Every fee-based, brokered real estate transaction must now be facilitated by a state-licensed real estate professional. A Real Estate License Act has been passed in every state plus the District...

Anyone who's ever eaten a chili pepper, or touched their eyes after handling one, knows the intense irritation they can cause. Capsicum spray, based on the chemical that makes chili peppers spicy,...

From abandonment, to broken bones, financial exploitation or neglect, elder abuse takes a horrific toll on one of America's most vulnerable populations. In recent years, nursing homes and...

A guide to understanding Alternative Dispute Resolution

A tax amnesty act is a state law, created by individual states within the United States. It is an act aimed at encouraging tax evaders to pay back taxes that they owe. The act creates a time frame...

Due to the complex nature of land survey regulations, the California legislature adopted The California Professional Land Surveyors Act in order to govern the land surveyor industry. It is...

Even the most careful drivers can be involved in automobile accidents that will require them to pursue insurance claims. Knowing the accident claim information that you will need to provide is...

Embryonic stem cells contain the potential for development into any number of specialized adult human cells. Stem cells are used in medical treatment for diseases such as leukemia, and researchers...