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Everyday Law?

Your rights in ordinary situations, without the legalese. 37 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 days…
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…
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 just…
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 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 burden…
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 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…
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 table…
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 roadside…
Can police search your phone?Not without a warrant, even during an arrest, under the Supreme Court's unanimous 2014 Riley decision. The unsettled…
What is a living will, and how is it different from a regular will?A living will states your medical treatment wishes if you cannot speak for yourself, and it operates while you are alive. A…
What happens if you die without a will?State intestacy law decides who inherits, following a fixed formula by relationship that ignores what you would have wanted…
What does the First Amendment actually protect?It restricts government action, not private ones. It bars the government from abridging speech, religion, press, assembly…
What are Miranda rights, and when do police have to read them?Only before a custodial interrogation, not at every arrest. If police arrest you and never question you, no warning is…
What is double jeopardy, and why do some people get tried twice?The Fifth Amendment bars trying someone twice for the same offense by the same sovereign. Separate state and federal…
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 never…
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…
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 about…
Is jaywalking actually illegal?In most states yes, technically, though enforcement is rare and shrinking: California, Virginia, and others have…
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, and in…
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…
Are non-compete agreements enforceable?It depends heavily on your state. There is no federal ban: the FTC's 2024 rule was struck down and formally removed from the…
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 like…
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…
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 law…
Should you bother joining a class action settlement?Usually yes if filing takes minutes, even for a small payout. The more consequential decision is whether to opt out, because…
What are your rights if your car gets towed?You are generally entitled to retrieve personal belongings, to an itemized bill, and to notice of where the vehicle went…
How is child support actually calculated?By state guideline formulas using both parents' incomes and the parenting time split, not by negotiation. Courts can deviate…
How does bail actually work?Money or conditions securing your return to court, set by a judge weighing flight risk and danger. Cash bail is refunded…
What does a grand jury actually do?Decides whether there is enough evidence to charge someone, not whether they are guilty. Proceedings are secret, the defense…
What is habeas corpus?A court order requiring the government to justify detaining someone. It does not test guilt; it tests the legality of the…
What is a subpoena, and can you ignore one?A court-backed order to testify or produce documents, and ignoring it can result in contempt, fines, or arrest. You can…
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 and…
What is the difference between a statute of limitations and a statute of repose?A statute of limitations starts running when a claim accrues or is discovered. A statute of repose starts from a fixed event…
What is jury nullification?When a jury acquits despite believing the defendant broke the law, usually because they think the law or its application is…
What can a notary actually do?Verify identity and witness signatures. A notary is not a lawyer, cannot give legal advice, cannot draft documents for you…