Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law: Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Legal Questions, 8th Edition

Compiled by Nolo's team of attorney editors and written in our straightforward, plain English style, this book provides answers to the legal questions that come up every day. Organized by topic, it steers readers clear of legal potholes involving: divorce; credit; workplace rights; wills; estate planning; lemon laws; child support; criminal law; patent, copyrights and trademarks and much more. Web Resources......Page 0 Table of Contents......Page 11 About This Book......Page 17 1. Houses......Page 19 Buying a House......Page 20 Selling Your House......Page 28 Deeds......Page 33 2. Neighbors......Page 37 Boundaries......Page 38 Fences......Page 39 Trees......Page 41 Views......Page 42 Noise......Page 44 3. Landlords and Tenants......Page 49 Leases and Rental Agreements......Page 50 Housing Discrimination......Page 52 Rent and Security Deposits......Page 54 Tenants’ Privacy Rights......Page 55 Cable Access and Satellite Dishes......Page 56 Repairs and Maintenance......Page 58 Landlord Liability for Criminal Acts and Activities......Page 61 Landlord Liability for Lead Poisoning......Page 63 Landlord’s Liability for Exposure to Asbestos, Mold, and Bedbugs......Page 64 Insurance......Page 65 Resolving Disputes......Page 67 4. Workplace Rights......Page 73 Fair Pay and Time Off......Page 74 Workplace Health and Safety......Page 83 Workers’ Compensation......Page 86 Discrimination......Page 92 Harassment......Page 103 Workplace Privacy......Page 107 Losing Your Job......Page 110 5. Small Businesses......Page 115 Before You Start......Page 116 Legal Structures for Small Businesses......Page 122 Nonprofit Corporations......Page 129 Small Business Taxes......Page 132 Home-Based Businesses......Page 137 Employers’ Rights & Responsibilities......Page 142 6. Patents......Page 159 Qualifying for a Patent......Page 160 Obtaining a Patent......Page 165 Enforcing a Patent......Page 167 Putting a Patent to Work......Page 169 How Patents Differ From Copyrights and Trademarks......Page 172 7. Copyrights......Page 175 Copyright Basics......Page 176 Copyright Ownership......Page 178 Copyright Protection......Page 181 Copyright Registration and Enforcement......Page 184 8. Trademarks......Page 187 Types of Trademarks......Page 188 Trademark Protection......Page 191 Using and Enforcing a Trademark......Page 194 Conducting a Trademark Search......Page 196 Registering a Trademark......Page 199 How Trademarks Differ From Patents and Copyrights......Page 202 9. Your Money......Page 205 Purchasing Goods and Services......Page 206 Using Credit and Charge Cards......Page 211 Using an ATM or Debit Card......Page 214 Strategies for Repaying Debts......Page 216 Dealing With the IRS......Page 222 Debt Collections......Page 226 Bankruptcy......Page 228 Rebuilding Credit......Page 231 10. Cars and Driving......Page 237 Buying a New Car......Page 238 Leasing a Car......Page 243 Buying a Used Car......Page 245 Financing a Vehicle Purchase......Page 248 Insuring Your Car......Page 249 Your Driver’s License......Page 252 If You’re Stopped by the Police......Page 255 Drunk Driving......Page 256 Traffic Accidents......Page 258 11. Wills and Estate Planning......Page 263 Wills......Page 264 Probate......Page 270 Executors......Page 271 Living Trusts......Page 275 Estate and Gift Taxes......Page 279 Funeral Planning and Other Final Arrangements......Page 282 Body and Organ Donations......Page 286 12. Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney......Page 289 Health Care Directives......Page 290 Durable Powers of Attorney for Finances......Page 296 Conservatorships......Page 300 13. Older Americans......Page 305 Retirement Plans......Page 306 Social Security......Page 310 Medicare......Page 315 Finding a Caregiver or Residential Care Facility......Page 321 14. Spouses and Partners......Page 327 Living Together—Gay or Straight......Page 328 Domestic Partnership and Civil Unions......Page 332 Premarital Agreements......Page 333 Marriage......Page 336 Divorce......Page 340 Domestic Violence......Page 350 Changing Your Name......Page 353 15. Parents and Children......Page 359 Adopting a Child......Page 360 Stepparent Adoptions......Page 371 Adoption Rights: Birth Parents, Grandparents, and Children......Page 373 Child Custody and Visitation......Page 376 Child Support......Page 382 Guardianship of Children......Page 388 16. Courts and Mediation......Page 393 Representing Yourself in Court......Page 394 Small Claims Court......Page 404 Mediation......Page 411 Finding and Working With a Lawyer......Page 416 17. Criminal Law and Procedure......Page 429 Criminal Law and Procedure: An Overview......Page 430 If You Are Questioned by the Police......Page 436 Searches and Seizures......Page 437 Arrests and Interrogations......Page 441 Bail......Page 445 Getting a Lawyer......Page 447 Glossary......Page 453 Appendix. Legal Research......Page 473 Learning About a Particular Area of the Law......Page 474 Finding a Specific Law......Page 476 Finding Answers to Specific Legal Questions......Page 481 Finding Legal Forms......Page 484 Related Products......Page 511 Read Me First -1 Table of Contents 11 About This Book 17 1. Houses 19 Buying a House 20 Selling Your House 28 Deeds 33 2. Neighbors 37 Boundaries 38 Fences 39 Trees 41 Views 42 Noise 44 3. Landlords and Tenants 49 Leases and Rental Agreements 50 Tenant Selection 52 Housing Discrimination 52 Rent and Security Deposits 54 Tenants’ Privacy Rights 55 Cable Access and Satellite Dishes 56 Repairs and Maintenance 58 Landlord Liability for Criminal Acts and Activities 61 Landlord Liability for Lead Poisoning 63 Landlord’s Liability for Exposure to Asbestos, Mold, and Bedbugs 64 Insurance 65 Foreclosure 67 Resolving Disputes 67 4. Workplace Rights 73 Fair Pay and Time Off 74 Workplace Health and Safety 83 Workers’ Compensation 86 Discrimination 92 Harassment 103 Workplace Privacy 107 Losing Your Job 110 5. Small Businesses 115 Before You Start 116 Legal Structures for Small Businesses 122 Nonprofit Corporations 129 Small Business Taxes 132 Home-Based Businesses 137 Employers’ Rights & Responsibilities 142 6. Patents 159 Qualifying for a Patent 160 Obtaining a Patent 165 Enforcing a Patent 167 Putting a Patent to Work 169 How Patents Differ From Copyrights and Trademarks 172 7. Copyrights 175 Copyright Basics 176 Copyright Ownership 178 Copyright Protection 181 Copyright Registration and Enforcement 184 8. Trademarks 187 Types of Trademarks 188 Trademark Protection 191 Using and Enforcing a Trademark 194 Conducting a Trademark Search 196 Registering a Trademark 199 How Trademarks Differ From Patents and Copyrights 202 9. Your Money 205 Purchasing Goods and Services 206 Using Credit and Charge Cards 211 Using an ATM or Debit Card 214 Strategies for Repaying Debts 216 Dealing With the IRS 222 Debt Collections 226 Bankruptcy 228 Rebuilding Credit 231 10. Cars and Driving 237 Buying a New Car 238 Leasing a Car 243 Buying a Used Car 245 Financing a Vehicle Purchase 248 Insuring Your Car 249 Your Driver’s License 252 If You’re Stopped by the Police 255 Drunk Driving 256 Traffic Accidents 258 11. Wills and Estate Planning 263 Wills 264 Probate 270 Executors 271 Avoiding Probate 275 Living Trusts 275 Estate and Gift Taxes 279 Funeral Planning and Other Final Arrangements 282 Body and Organ Donations 286 12. Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney 289 Health Care Directives 290 Durable Powers of Attorney for Finances 296 Conservatorships 300 13. Older Americans 305 Retirement Plans 306 Social Security 310 Medicare 315 Finding a Caregiver or Residential Care Facility 321 14. Spouses and Partners 327 Living Together—Gay or Straight 328 Domestic Partnership and Civil Unions 332 Premarital Agreements 333 Marriage 336 Divorce 340 Domestic Violence 350 Changing Your Name 353 15. Parents and Children 359 Adopting a Child 360 Stepparent Adoptions 371 Adoption Rights: Birth Parents, Grandparents, and Children 373 Child Custody and Visitation 376 Child Support 382 Guardianship of Children 388 16. Courts and Mediation 393 Representing Yourself in Court 394 Small Claims Court 404 Mediation 411 Finding and Working With a Lawyer 416 17. Criminal Law and Procedure 429 Criminal Law and Procedure: An Overview 430 If You Are Questioned by the Police 436 Searches and Seizures 437 Arrests and Interrogations 441 Bail 445 Getting a Lawyer 447 Glossary 453 Appendix. Legal Research 473 Learning About a Particular Area of the Law 474 Finding a Specific Law 476 Finding Answers to Specific Legal Questions 481 Finding Legal Forms 484 Related Products 511 Web Resources -1

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.

written By Nolo's Expert Team Of Attorneys, The Book Provides Concise, Plain-english Answers To Hundreds Of The Most Frequently Asked Legal Questions About Issues You Face Every Day.

this Edition Is Completely Updated To Reflect The Latest In The Law.

harry Wessel -

nolo's Everyday Law Book Uses A Question-and-answer Format To Cover A Wide Range Of Everyday Legal Issues.

Offers an overview of law, as it applies to everyday life, including information on credit and debt, workplace rights, wills, divorce, social security, landlord-tenant laws, child custody and visitation, and criminal law.