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

How do I get a collection agency to stop harassing me? What exactly is a limited liability company? Do I need a living trust? If I work 50 hours a week shouldn't I be getting overtime? What can I do if my ex won't pay child support? 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, a handy, information-packed resource, has the answers. Written by Nolo's expert team of attorneys, it brings together answers to hundreds of the most frequently asked legal questions on issues you face every day, including: *credit and debt *workplace rights *wills *divorce *bankruptcy *social security *tenants' rights *child custody and visitation *adoption *and much more The 4th edition is completely updated to provide the lastest in the law. Web Resources......Page 0 Table of Contents......Page 11 About This Book......Page 15 1. Houses......Page 17 Buying a House......Page 18 Selling Your House......Page 25 Deeds......Page 31 2. Neighbors......Page 35 Boundaries......Page 36 Fences......Page 37 Trees......Page 38 Views......Page 40 Noise......Page 42 3. Landlords and Tenants......Page 47 Leases and Rental Agreements......Page 48 Housing Discrimination......Page 50 Rent and Security Deposits......Page 52 Tenants’ Privacy Rights......Page 54 Repairs and Maintenance......Page 55 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 69 Fair Pay and Time Off......Page 70 Workplace Health and Safety......Page 77 Workers’ Compensation......Page 80 Age Discrimination......Page 85 Sexual Harassment......Page 89 Disability Discrimination......Page 93 Losing or Leaving Your Job......Page 97 5. Small Businesses......Page 103 Before You Start......Page 104 Legal Structures for Small Businesses......Page 110 Nonprofit Corporations......Page 117 Small Business Taxes......Page 120 Home-Based Businesses......Page 126 Employers’ Rights & Responsibilities......Page 131 6. Patents......Page 147 Qualifying for a Patent......Page 148 Obtaining a Patent......Page 153 Enforcing a Patent......Page 155 Putting a Patent to Work......Page 158 How Patents Differ From Copyrights and Trademarks......Page 160 7. Copyrights......Page 163 Copyright Basics......Page 164 Copyright Ownership......Page 166 Copyright Protection......Page 168 Copyright Registration and Enforcement......Page 172 8. Trademarks......Page 175 Types of Trademarks......Page 176 Trademark Protection......Page 179 Using and Enforcing a Trademark......Page 182 Conducting a Trademark Search......Page 185 Registering a Trademark......Page 188 How Trademarks Differ From Patents and Copyrights......Page 192 9. Your Money......Page 195 Purchasing Goods and Services......Page 196 Using Credit and Charge Cards......Page 201 Using an ATM or Debit Card......Page 204 Strategies for Repaying Debts......Page 205 Dealing With the IRS......Page 212 Debt Collections......Page 216 Bankruptcy......Page 219 Rebuilding Credit......Page 222 10. Cars and Driving......Page 229 Buying a New Car......Page 230 Leasing a Car......Page 235 Buying a Used Car......Page 238 Financing a Vehicle Purchase......Page 240 Insuring Your Car......Page 241 Your Driver’s License......Page 244 If You’re Stopped by the Police......Page 247 Drunk Driving......Page 249 Traffic Accidents......Page 251 11. Travel......Page 255 Airlines......Page 256 Rental Cars......Page 265 Hotels and Other Accommodations......Page 270 Travel Agents......Page 275 Travel Scams......Page 279 12. Wills and Estate Planning......Page 287 Wills......Page 288 Probate......Page 294 Executors......Page 295 Avoiding Probate......Page 299 Living Trusts......Page 301 Estate and Gift Taxes......Page 304 Funeral Planning and Other Final Arrangements......Page 308 Body and Organ Donations......Page 311 13. Healthcare Directives and Powers of Attorney......Page 313 Healthcare Directives......Page 314 Durable Powers of Attorney for Finances......Page 319 Conservatorships......Page 323 14. Older Americans......Page 327 Social Security......Page 328 Medicare......Page 334 Pensions......Page 338 Retirement Plans......Page 345 15. Spouses and Partners......Page 349 Living Together—Gay & Straight......Page 350 Premarital Agreements......Page 354 Marriage......Page 356 Divorce......Page 364 Domestic Violence......Page 374 Changing Your Name......Page 377 16. Parents and Children......Page 385 Adopting a Child......Page 386 Stepparent Adoptions......Page 396 Adoption Rights: Birthparents, Grandparents and Children......Page 398 Child Custody and Visitation......Page 402 Child Support......Page 409 Guardianship of Children......Page 415 17. Courts and Mediation......Page 421 Representing Yourself in Court......Page 422 Small Claims Court......Page 433 Mediation......Page 441 Dealing With Your Lawyer......Page 447 18. Criminal Law and Procedure......Page 453 Criminal Law and Procedure: An Overview......Page 454 If You Are Questioned by the Police......Page 460 Searches and Seizures......Page 462 Arrests and Interrogations......Page 466 Bail......Page 469 Getting a Lawyer......Page 472 Appendix: Legal Research......Page 479 Glossary......Page 491 Index......Page 513 Related Products......Page 535 Read Me First -1 Table of Contents 11 About This Book 15 1. Houses 17 Buying a House 18 Selling Your House 25 Deeds 31 2. Neighbors 35 Boundaries 36 Fences 37 Trees 38 Views 40 Noise 42 3. Landlords and Tenants 47 Leases and Rental Agreements 48 Tenant Selection 50 Housing Discrimination 50 Rent and Security Deposits 52 Tenants’ Privacy Rights 54 Repairs and Maintenance 55 Landlord Liability for Criminal Acts and Activities 58 Landlord Liability for Lead Poisoning 60 Landlord’s Liability for Exposure to Asbestos and Mold 61 Insurance 62 Resolving Disputes 63 4. Workplace Rights 69 Fair Pay and Time Off 70 Workplace Health and Safety 77 Workers’ Compensation 80 Age Discrimination 85 Sexual Harassment 89 Disability Discrimination 93 Losing or Leaving Your Job 97 5. Small Businesses 103 Before You Start 104 Legal Structures for Small Businesses 110 Nonprofit Corporations 117 Small Business Taxes 120 Home-Based Businesses 126 Employers’ Rights & Responsibilities 131 6. Patents 147 Qualifying for a Patent 148 Obtaining a Patent 153 Enforcing a Patent 155 Putting a Patent to Work 158 How Patents Differ From Copyrights and Trademarks 160 7. Copyrights 163 Copyright Basics 164 Copyright Ownership 166 Copyright Protection 168 Copyright Registration and Enforcement 172 8. Trademarks 175 Types of Trademarks 176 Trademark Protection 179 Using and Enforcing a Trademark 182 Conducting a Trademark Search 185 Registering a Trademark 188 How Trademarks Differ From Patents and Copyrights 192 9. Your Money 195 Purchasing Goods and Services 196 Using Credit and Charge Cards 201 Using an ATM or Debit Card 204 Strategies for Repaying Debts 205 Dealing With the IRS 212 Debt Collections 216 Bankruptcy 219 Rebuilding Credit 222 10. Cars and Driving 229 Buying a New Car 230 Leasing a Car 235 Buying a Used Car 238 Financing a Vehicle Purchase 240 Insuring Your Car 241 Your Driver’s License 244 If You’re Stopped by the Police 247 Drunk Driving 249 Traffic Accidents 251 11. Travel 255 Airlines 256 Rental Cars 265 Hotels and Other Accommodations 270 Travel Agents 275 Travel Scams 279 12. Wills and Estate Planning 287 Wills 288 Probate 294 Executors 295 Avoiding Probate 299 Living Trusts 301 Estate and Gift Taxes 304 Funeral Planning and Other Final Arrangements 308 Body and Organ Donations 311 13. Healthcare Directives and Powers of Attorney 313 Healthcare Directives 314 Durable Powers of Attorney for Finances 319 Conservatorships 323 14. Older Americans 327 Social Security 328 Medicare 334 Pensions 338 Retirement Plans 345 15. Spouses and Partners 349 Living Together—Gay & Straight 350 Premarital Agreements 354 Marriage 356 Divorce 364 Domestic Violence 374 Changing Your Name 377 16. Parents and Children 385 Adopting a Child 386 Stepparent Adoptions 396 Adoption Rights: Birthparents, Grandparents and Children 398 Child Custody and Visitation 402 Child Support 409 Guardianship of Children 415 17. Courts and Mediation 421 Representing Yourself in Court 422 Small Claims Court 433 Mediation 441 Dealing With Your Lawyer 447 18. Criminal Law and Procedure 453 Criminal Law and Procedure: An Overview 454 If You Are Questioned by the Police 460 Searches and Seizures 462 Arrests and Interrogations 466 Bail 469 Getting a Lawyer 472 Appendix: Legal Research 479 Glossary 491 Index 513 Related Products 535 Web Resources -1 Provides Answers To Frequently Asked Legal Questions That Arise In The Course Of Daily Life, Covering More Than One Hundred Topics Ranging From Buying A House To Running A Small Business. Houses -- Neighbors -- Landlords And Tenants -- Workplace Rights -- Small Businesses -- Patents -- Copyrights -- Trademarks -- Your Money -- Cars And Driving -- Travel -- Wills And Estate Planning -- Healthcare Directives And Powers Of Attorney -- Older Americans -- Spouses And Partners -- Parents And Children -- Courts And Mediation -- Criminal Law And Procedure. Edited By Shae Irving, Kathleen Michon, And Beth Mckenna. Includes Index. Answers questions about home buying and selling, disputes with neighbors, adoption, workplace rights, tenant's rights, small business, patents, finances, estate planning, and criminal law. Software programs for personal and small business productivity in organizing and developing personal legal documents