Other Areas of Law

There are a number of legitimate reasons to change your name including marriage, adoption, religious conversion or personal preference. Unless you're trying to avoid prosecution or hide a part of...

Spouses who are married but living in different states must consider the implications of both federal and state options for filing taxes. A spouse may have to file and pay taxes even if he did not...

Lawyers are held to high standards of professional conduct. Black's Law Dictionary defines malpractice as "negligence or incompetence" by a professional. If you believe you've lost a case or been...

An employer who asks an applicant to get a criminal background check needs time to fill out forms, wait for applicant fingerprints and have the application processed. A state agency, such as a...

Corporations are required by law to disclose and update on an annual basis a list of officers. If you have the need to obtain a list of officers of a corporation there are a couple of resources...

A notary public performs an important role in our legal system by giving confidence to the public that important legal documents, such as property records, are authentic. Each state establishes...

A death record can provide a treasure trove of information for a family historian. A place of burial can lead you to the cemetery. Cause of death might lead you to a newspaper article. Birth and...

Articles of incorporation are filed with a state government. Once a group has filed its articles of incorporation, it becomes a legal entity. Incorporating has several benefits. Among them are...

If you have a good idea for an organization that can help improve the lives of others, you may want to form a legal nonprofit corporation. This has several benefits. Among them are that you can...

Small-claims court is designed to allow individuals a speedy and uncomplicated method for resolving claims for damages that fall under a certain amount (usually $3,000, $5,000 or $10,000,...

State and national background checks contain information on an individual's criminal record, property transactions, history of civil lawsuits, marriages and divorces. Background checks are used...

When an individual is issued a subpoena, legal summons, complaint, writ or other court document, the law states that the individual must receive the documents through a non-involved third party,...

A wage garnishment is a legal method for enforcing debt collection that enables a judgment creditor to take a portion of a debtor's paycheck until the judgment debt is paid off.

Civil rights protect your right to exercise civil liberties without being repressed or discriminated against. In the United States, these rights include freedom of religion, freedom of speech and...

In most states, felony criminal cases and civil lawsuits may start with local police or courts but are usually processed in a state-level court. Each county houses a court to handle those matters,...

There are a number of reasons why someone might want to change the name of a minor. Normally, this is due to marriage, divorce, or an adoption. With the exception of some adoption proceedings,...

Legally speaking, changing the spelling of your name, even one letter, takes as much paperwork as changing your name entirely. When people change their names due to marriage or divorce, the...

Nursing home neglect is becoming an increasing concern for both the elderly living in the homes and their families. With elderly people living longer and entering nursing homes to receive the...

A notary is a person of sound ethical standards registered with the state to perform certain legal functions, such as witnessing signatures and administering oaths. In some states, notaries...

A disabled parking permit, also known as a handicap permit, is a tag that individuals with qualifying disabilities can apply for and display for special parking privileges. In the U.S., a disabled...

While it is extremely easy for a woman to take her husband's name at marriage, since most states simply allow her to automatically change it for free if she wishes at that time, going back to a...

Your paycheck is shrinking. California now withholds 10% more in state taxes on your paycheck than before. Find out how to stop them!

Federal and state income taxes must be paid every year. In Indiana, if you fail to file a return and/or pay the taxes owed to the state, you face civil and criminal penalties.

The Federal Unemployment Tax Act provides that the federal government collects a tax from employers to fund all state workforce agencies. Federal law requires each state to have a system for...

The amount of tax you must pay on salary paid outside the US depends on where you were located at the time the services were performed, the specific jurisdiction that is asserting taxation...

Individual states keep birth records of anyone born in a hospital, and having a birth certificate is essential for obtaining a driver's license, passport and other identification documents. The...

Fire safety laws for state responsibility areas in California Public Resources Code 4290 are regulated under what is known as the "SRA Fire Safe Regulations." This can be found in Title 14,...

Turning 18 years of age marks a milestone in your life. It's accompanied by new privileges and responsibilities, and also serious consequences for getting caught breaking the law.

Filing federal tax returns can be challenging and confusing. One issue is making certain you provide the IRS with appropriate documentation for your tax return. For example, you may be wondering...

If you need to raise money, fundraisers are a great way of accumulating funds in a short amount of time. When car washes and bake sales stop earning cash, hosting a raffle can prove to be a...

The retention of police records depends on the level of crime and the state in which it occurred. Arrests prior to the age of 18 (the legal age of an adult in the United States) are often sealed;...

Raffle ticket drawings are considered games of chance. Raffles can bring in a good sum of money for a nonprofit organization, especially if valuable items such as a car or a vacation are donated...

Dental practice act laws vary greatly from state to state. A practitioner in the dental industry licensed to practice in one state is not automatically eligible to practice in another state....

Apostille stamps are certifications that a document is valid and was issued from the nation that created the stamps. All nations that are subject to the Hague Convention, abolishing the...

The cosmetology industry is guided by state cosmetology laws and cosmetology boards, which set the standards for educational requirements, licensing and business operations. The policies of each...

For more than 300 years, the New York State Supreme Court has served as a role model for other U.S. state courts and ruled on thousands of cases involving freedom of speech, workers' rights and...

When you earn money working in the United States, you have to think about income tax laws. Income taxes are filed on your own, which means it is up to you to make sure they get filed. Nobody will...

If you are an insurance agent and move from the state of Washington to California, your insurance license will not transfer with you when you move. This is because each state has their own...

Death records are an important resource for compiling health statistics and conducting genealogical research. Due to the importance of such information, death certificates have long been mandated...

A vendor's license can be issued by a state or local government depending on the laws for a particular state. The description of a vendor can vary depending on the authority issuing the license....

The state of Washington has various laws and regulations that apply to the licensing and operation of a boat. If you plan to own and operate a boat in the state you will be required to register...

Although debate continues about how to interpret the Second Amendment right to bear arms, many U.S. states offer law-abiding citizens the right to carry a concealed weapon, which means the right...

Motorized bicycles, which are also known as scooters or mopeds, have regulations that are determined by each state. Motorized bicycles are typically considered a motor vehicle and a rider needs to...

Whether or not you have incorporated your business in Florida, you will need to register your corporate name if you want to do business in that state. Although you can simply ask an attorney to do...

Home health providers such as a home health agency are regulated by states and the federal center for Medicare and Medicaid services. A home health agency provides health services such as skilled...

Starting a home health care business in Illinois will require obtaining a license for the type of service that will be provided. In Illinois, you have the option of obtaining a license for a home...

There are a number of ways to locate a person if he is in prison. The Federal Bureau of Prisons keeps an up-to-date and accurate database of listings of anyone presently incarcerated in prison...

A restraining order, also called a protective order, is a legal injunction issued by a state court to protect someone from violence, abuse or harassment. In general, a restraining order can be...

If you wish to carry a concealed weapon, you will need to obtain a permit. Each state's laws are different and just because you have a permit in one state does not mean it will be valid in another...

Despite laws against the recreational use of marijuana, it remains the third most popular drug in the United States, following closely behind alcohol and tobacco. Almost 80 million U.S. citizens...