Home › Everyday Law

Everyday Law?

Your rights in ordinary situations, without the legalese. 21 questions and counting.

Can my landlord raise the rent whenever they want?Not mid-lease: a fixed-term lease locks the rent until it ends. Month-to-month tenants get notice, typically 30 to 60 da…
Do you legally have to answer the census?Yes, federal law requires a response, though the fines are almost never enforced. Your answers are sealed for 72 years a…
What should you do when you get pulled over?Pull right, engine off, hands on the wheel, and move only when asked. Provide license and registration, skip the roadsid…
Is jaywalking actually illegal?In most states yes, technically, though enforcement is rare and shrinking: California, Virginia, and others have decrimi…
How does small claims court actually work?No lawyer needed: file for a modest fee, bring every document, and tell the judge a short factual story. Limits run abou…
Can employers look at your social media?Anything public, yes, and most recruiters do. What they cannot do in many states: demand your password. What they can ne…
What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor?The line is usually the maximum possible sentence: over a year in prison makes it a felony, a year or less makes it a mi…
Do you have to answer police questions?Generally no. You have a right to remain silent and to say you want a lawyer, and you must say so out loud rather than j…
What is the difference between a lawyer and an attorney?In American usage, practically none, and the words are used interchangeably. Technically a lawyer is someone trained in …
What does pleading the fifth actually mean?Invoking the Fifth Amendment right not to give testimony that could incriminate you. It is not an admission of guilt, an…
How does jury duty work, and can you get out of it?You are summoned from voter and driver records, report for selection, and may or may not be seated on a case. Legitimate…
What is a statute of limitations?A deadline for bringing a case. Civil claims typically run one to six years depending on type and state; serious crimes …
What is the difference between civil and criminal court?Criminal cases are brought by the government to punish crimes, with proof beyond a reasonable doubt and jail on the tabl…
Do you need a lawyer for a traffic ticket?Usually not for a minor ticket, but often worth it when points threaten your license or insurance, or when the charge is…
When does a landlord have to return your security deposit?Most states require return within 14 to 60 days after move-out, with an itemized list of any deductions. Normal wear and…
What is power of attorney, and who needs one?A document letting someone act for you legally, usually on finances or medical decisions. Almost every adult should have…
What is probate, and how do you avoid it?The court process that validates a will and transfers property after death. It is public, can take months to years, and …
Is it legal to record a conversation?Depends on your state. Most are one-party consent, meaning you may record a conversation you are part of. Around a dozen…
What actually happens if someone sues you?You are served papers and have a deadline, often 20 to 30 days, to file a formal answer. Missing it is the catastrophic …
What does innocent until proven guilty actually mean?It is a rule about who must prove what in a criminal trial, not a claim about reality. The state carries the entire burd…
Are non-compete agreements enforceable?It depends heavily on your state, and the ground has been shifting. California, Minnesota, North Dakota, and Oklahoma vo…