Encyclopedia of Everyday Law - Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Legal Questions

Web Resources......Page 0
Table of Contents......Page 2
1. Houses......Page 6
Buying a House......Page 7
Selling Your House......Page 14
Deeds......Page 20
2. Neighbors......Page 24
Boundaries......Page 25
Fences......Page 26
Trees......Page 27
Views......Page 29
Noise......Page 31
3. Landlords and Tenants......Page 35
Leases and Rental Agreements......Page 36
Housing Discrimination......Page 38
Rent and Security Deposits......Page 40
Tenants’ Privacy Rights......Page 42
Repairs and Maintenance......Page 43
Landlord Liability for Criminal Acts and Activities......Page 46
Landlord Liability for Lead Poisoning......Page 48
Landlord’s Liability for Exposure to Asbestos and Mold......Page 49
Insurance......Page 50
Resolving Disputes......Page 51
4. Workplace Rights......Page 57
Fair Pay and Time Off......Page 58
Workplace Health and Safety......Page 65
Workers’ Compensation......Page 68
Age Discrimination......Page 73
Sexual Harassment......Page 77
Disability Discrimination......Page 81
Losing or Leaving Your Job......Page 85
5. Small Businesses......Page 90
Before You Start......Page 91
Legal Structures for Small Businesses......Page 97
Nonprofit Corporations......Page 104
Small Business Taxes......Page 107
Home-Based Businesses......Page 113
Employers’ Rights & Responsibilities......Page 118
6. Patents......Page 133
Qualifying for a Patent......Page 134
Obtaining a Patent......Page 139
Enforcing a Patent......Page 141
Putting a Patent to Work......Page 144
How Patents Differ From Copyrights and Trademarks......Page 146
7. Copyrights......Page 149
Copyright Basics......Page 150
Copyright Ownership......Page 152
Copyright Protection......Page 154
Copyright Registration and Enforcement......Page 158
8. Trademarks......Page 161
Types of Trademarks......Page 162
Trademark Protection......Page 165
Using and Enforcing a Trademark......Page 168
Conducting a Trademark Search......Page 171
Registering a Trademark......Page 174
How Trademarks Differ From Patents and Copyrights......Page 178
9. Your Money......Page 181
Purchasing Goods and Services......Page 182
Using Credit and Charge Cards......Page 187
Using an ATM or Debit Card......Page 190
Strategies for Repaying Debts......Page 191
Dealing With the IRS......Page 198
Debt Collections......Page 202
Bankruptcy......Page 205
Rebuilding Credit......Page 208
10. Cars and Driving......Page 214
Buying a New Car......Page 215
Leasing a Car......Page 220
Buying a Used Car......Page 223
Financing a Vehicle Purchase......Page 225
Insuring Your Car......Page 226
Your Driver’s License......Page 229
If You’re Stopped by the Police......Page 232
Drunk Driving......Page 234
Traffic Accidents......Page 236
11. Travel......Page 240
Airlines......Page 241
Rental Cars......Page 250
Hotels and Other Accommodations......Page 255
Travel Agents......Page 260
Travel Scams......Page 264
12. Wills and Estate Planning......Page 272
Wills......Page 273
Probate......Page 279
Executors......Page 280
Avoiding Probate......Page 284
Living Trusts......Page 286
Estate and Gift Taxes......Page 289
Funeral Planning and Other Final Arrangements......Page 293
Body and Organ Donations......Page 296
13. Healthcare Directives and Powers of Attorney......Page 298
Healthcare Directives......Page 299
Durable Powers of Attorney for Finances......Page 304
Conservatorships......Page 308
14. Older Americans......Page 312
Social Security......Page 313
Medicare......Page 319
Pensions......Page 323
Retirement Plans......Page 330
15. Spouses and Partners......Page 334
Living Together—Gay & Straight......Page 335
Premarital Agreements......Page 339
Marriage......Page 341
Divorce......Page 349
Domestic Violence......Page 359
Changing Your Name......Page 362
16. Parents and Children......Page 369
Adopting a Child......Page 370
Stepparent Adoptions......Page 380
Adoption Rights: Birthparents, Grandparents and Children......Page 382
Child Custody and Visitation......Page 386
Child Support......Page 393
Guardianship of Children......Page 399
17. Courts and Mediation......Page 404
Representing Yourself in Court......Page 405
Small Claims Court......Page 416
Mediation......Page 424
Dealing With Your Lawyer......Page 430
18. Criminal Law and Procedure......Page 435
Criminal Law and Procedure: An Overview......Page 436
If You Are Questioned by the Police......Page 442
Searches and Seizures......Page 444
Arrests and Interrogations......Page 448
Bail......Page 451
Getting a Lawyer......Page 454
Appendix: Legal Research......Page 460
Glossary......Page 472
Index......Page 493