Nolo's encyclopedia of everyday law : answers to your most frequently asked legal questions

Table of Contents......Page 11
Introduction: About This Book......Page 17
1. Houses......Page 19
Buying a House......Page 20
Selling Your House......Page 27
Deeds......Page 32
2. Neighbors......Page 35
Boundaries......Page 36
Fences......Page 37
Trees......Page 39
Views......Page 40
Noise......Page 42
3. Landlords and Tenants......Page 47
Leases and Rental Agreements......Page 48
Tenant Selection......Page 50
Housing Discrimination......Page 51
Rent and Security Deposits......Page 52
Tenants’ Privacy Rights......Page 53
Cable Access and Satellite Dishes......Page 54
Repairs and Maintenance......Page 56
Landlord Liability for Criminal Acts and Activities......Page 58
Landlord Liability for Lead Poisoning......Page 60
Landlord’s Liability for Exposure to Asbestos and Mold......Page 61
Insurance......Page 62
Resolving Disputes......Page 63
4. Workplace Rights......Page 67
Fair Pay and Time Off......Page 69
Workplace Health and Safety......Page 77
Workers’ Compensation......Page 79
Discrimination......Page 84
Harassment......Page 94
Workplace Privacy......Page 97
Losing Your Job......Page 100
5. Small Businesses......Page 105
Before You Start......Page 106
Legal Structures for Small Businesses......Page 112
Nonprofit Corporations......Page 118
Small Business Taxes......Page 120
Home-Based Businesses......Page 125
Employers’ Rights & Responsibilities......Page 129
6. Patents......Page 145
Qualifying for a Patent......Page 146
Obtaining a Patent......Page 151
Enforcing a Patent......Page 153
Putting a Patent to Work......Page 156
How Patents Differ From Copyrights and Trademarks......Page 157
7. Copyrights......Page 159
Copyright Basics......Page 160
Copyright Ownership......Page 162
Copyright Protection......Page 164
Copyright Registration and Enforcement......Page 167
8. Trademarks......Page 171
Types of Trademarks......Page 172
Trademark Protection......Page 175
Using and Enforcing a Trademark......Page 177
Conducting a Trademark Search......Page 179
Registering a Trademark......Page 182
How Trademarks Differ From Patents and Copyrights......Page 186
9. Your Money......Page 189
Purchasing Goods and Services......Page 190
Using Credit and Charge Cards......Page 195
Using an ATM or Debit Card......Page 197
Strategies for Repaying Debts......Page 198
Dealing With the IRS......Page 204
Debt Collections......Page 207
Bankruptcy......Page 209
Rebuilding Credit......Page 212
10. Cars and Driving......Page 217
Buying a New Car......Page 218
Leasing a Car......Page 223
Buying a Used Car......Page 225
Financing aVehicle Purchase......Page 227
Insuring Your Car......Page 228
Your Driver’s License......Page 231
If You’re Stopped by the Police......Page 234
Drunk Driving......Page 235
Traffic Accidents......Page 237
11. Wills and Estate Planning......Page 241
Wills......Page 242
Probate......Page 248
Executors......Page 249
Living Trusts......Page 252
Estate and Gift Taxes......Page 256
Funeral Planning and Other Final Arrangements......Page 259
Body and Organ Donations......Page 263
12. Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney......Page 265
Health Care Directives......Page 266
Durable Powers of Attorney for Finances......Page 272
Conservatorships......Page 275
13. Older Americans......Page 279
Retirement Plans......Page 280
Social Security......Page 284
Medicare......Page 289
Finding a Caregiver or Residential Care Facility......Page 294
14. Spouses and Partners......Page 299
Living Together— Gay or Straight......Page 300
Domestic Partnership and Civil Unions......Page 304
Premarital Agreements......Page 305
Marriage......Page 308
Divorce......Page 312
Domestic Violence......Page 320
Changing Your Name......Page 323
15. Parents and Children......Page 329
Adopting a Child......Page 330
Stepparent Adoptions......Page 340
Adoption Rights: Birth Parents, Grandparents, and Children......Page 342
Child Custody and Visitation......Page 344
Child Support......Page 350
Guardianship of Children......Page 355
16. Courts and Mediation......Page 361
Representing Yourself in Court......Page 362
Small Claims Court......Page 371
Mediation......Page 377
Finding and Working With a Lawyer......Page 381
17. Criminal Law and Procedure......Page 393
Criminal Law and Procedure: An Overview......Page 395
If You Are Questioned by the Police......Page 399
Searches and Seizures......Page 401
Arrests and Interrogations......Page 404
Bail......Page 407
Getting a Lawyer......Page 409
Glossary......Page 415
Appendix: Legal Research......Page 433
Learning About a Particular Area of the Law......Page 434
Finding a Specific Law......Page 436
Finding Answers to Specific Legal Questions......Page 441
Finding Legal Forms......Page 443
Index......Page 447