Nolo’s Encyclopedia of Everyday Law: Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Legal Questions

By Shae Irving, Nolo Press

Description:

Everything you wanted to know about the law, but couldn't afford to ask.

How do I get a collection agency to stop harassing me? If I work 50 hours a week shouldn't I be getting overtime? My new car is a lemon -- what can I do?

Like it or not, the law affects practically every aspect of our lives, and legal questions come up daily. Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law has the answers.

Table of Contents

About This Book

1. Houses

• 1.2 Buying a House
• 1.10 Selling Your House
• 1.15 Deeds

2. Neighbors

• 2.2 Boundaries
• 2.3 Fences
• 2.4 Trees
• 2.6 Views
• 2.8 Noise

3. Landlords and Tenants

• 3.2 Leases and Rental Agreements
• 3.4 Tenant Selection
• 3.4 Housing Discrimination
• 3.6 Rent and Security Deposits
• 3.8 Tenants' Privacy Rights
• 3.9 Cable Access and Satellite Dishes
• 3.11 Repairs and Maintenance
• 3.14 Landlord Liability for Criminal Acts and Activities
• 3.16 Landlord Liability for Lead Poisoning
• 3.17 Landlord's Liability for Exposure to Asbestos and Mold
• 3.18 Insurance
• 3.19 Resolving Disputes

4. Workplace Rights

• 4.2 Fair Pay and Time Off
• 4.12 Workplace Health and Safety
• 4.15 Workers' Compensation
• 4.20 Discrimination
• 4.32 Harassment
• 4.35 Workplace Privacy
• 4.38 Losing Your Job

5. Small Businesses

• 5.2 Before You Start
• 5.8 Legal Structures for Small Businesses
• 5.15 Nonprofit Corporations
• 5.18 Small Business Taxes
• 5.24 Home-Based Businesses
• 5.29 Employers' Rights & Responsibilities

6. Patents

• 6.2 Qualifying for a Patent
• 6.7 Obtaining a Patent
• 6.9 Enforcing a Patent
• 6.13 Putting a Patent to Work
• 6.14 How Patents Differ From Copyrights and Trademarks

7. Copyrights

• 7.2 Copyright Basics
• 7.4 Copyright Ownership
• 7.6 Copyright Protection
• 7.10 Copyright Registration and Enforcement

8. Trademarks

• 8.2 Types of Trademarks
• 8.5 Trademark Protection
• 8.8 Using and Enforcing a Trademark
• 8.11 Conducting a Trademark Search
• 8.14 Registering a Trademark
• 8.18 How Trademarks Differ From Patents and Copyrights

9. Your Money

• 9.2 Purchasing Goods and Services
• 9.7 Using Credit and Charge Cards
• 9.10 Using an ATM or Debit Card
• 9.12 Strategies for Repaying Debts
• 9.18 Dealing With the IRS
• 9.22 Debt Collections
• 9.25 Bankruptcy
• 9.28 Rebuilding Credit

10. Cars and Driving

• 10.2 Buying a New Car
• 10.7 Leasing a Car
• 10.10 Buying a Used Car
• 10.12 Financing a Vehicle Purchase
• 10.13 Insuring Your Car
• 10.16 Your Driver's License
• 10.19 If You're Stopped by the Police
• 10.21 Drunk Driving
• 10.23 Traffic Accidents

11. Wills and Estate Planning

• 11.2 Wills
• 11.8 Probate
• 11.9 Executors
• 11.13 Avoiding Probate
• 11.15 Living Trusts
• 11.18 Estate and Gift Taxes
• 11.22 Funeral Planning and Other Final Arrangements
• 11.25 Body and Organ Donations

12. Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney

• 12.2 Health Care Directives
• 12.7 Durable Powers of Attorney for Finances
• 12.11 Conservatorship

13. Older Americans

• 13.2 Social Security
• 13.7 Medicare
• 13.12 Retirement Plans

14. Spouses and Partners

• 14.2 Living Together-Gay & Straight
• 14.6 Domestic Partnership and Civil Unions
• 14.8 Premarital Agreements
• 14.16 Marriage
• 14.17 Divorce
• 14.26 Domestic Violence
• 14.30 Changing Your Name

15. Parents and Children

• 15.2 Adopting a Child
• 15.13 Stepparent Adoptions
• 15.15 Adoption Rights: Birth Parents, Grandparents, and Children
• 15.19 Child Custody and Visitation
• 15.26 Child Support
• 15.31 Guardianship of Children

16. Courts and Mediation

• 16.2 Representing Yourself in Court
• 16.12 Small Claims Court
• 16.19 Mediation
• 16.25 Finding and Working With a Lawyer

17. Criminal Law and Procedure

• 17.2 Criminal Law and Procedure: An Overview
• 17.8 If You Are Questioned by the Police
• 17.9 Searches and Seizures
• 17.13 Arrests and Interrogations
• 17.17 Bail
• 17.19 Getting a Lawyer

Appendix: Legal Research

Glossary

Index