Title: [Hypothetical] TX Can I pull off into the shoulder and stop with my flashers on if I see someone coming down the shoulder but using it as a lane?

Question:
My commute to work has a really wide shoulder. Probably around once a week for the half a mile I'm on this road, I'll see someone attempting to bypass traffic. They'll drive down the shoulder, then merge back in at the lights, then pop back out as soon as they're past the intersection to drive past all the slow moving traffic again.

Even if it is legal, I'm thinking I should stick to fantasizing about doing this. My mom likes to send/tell me about road ragers in Texas who get out and shoot people.

I'm guessing it would definitely be illegal to move at the speed of traffic but move back and forth in front of them to keep them from simply going around me. That's usually how the fantasy goes. And then it ends with me not getting shot.

Edit: I should say this road goes on quite a ways, but it is only 0.5-1 mile of my own commute.

Answer:
 The shoulder is for clearing the road for emergency vehicles, stopping for an urgent need or dealing with a breakdown. It's not for vigilante justice and I guarantee you'll cause more problems than you'll solve.

Leave it as a fantasy and wait for the day they get a ticket for doing it. In my state it's at least an improper passing (3 point) violation but I've heard of people getting reckless for it which is a class 1 misdemeanor. No idea on texas. Answer #2: Driving on the shoulder when you don't need to stop and pull over for a legitimate reason is illegal.  You'd be in as much trouble as the person you're trying to stop.  More if your actions cause an accident.


Title: My roommate wants to sue me for rent even though he asked me to leave the apartment and I no longer occupy the unit. (WA)

Question:
I posted a couple weeks ago asking if he could do this, but some things have changed. I have SOME screenshots for evidence but imgur is being weird and won't let me upload everything.

I used to occupy the unit as an add-on (or so I was told). Early in August, I had expressed my intent to leave the unit due to my roommate's repeated anger outbursts, but had not made any definite plans. I had already paid for the rent for August.

On August 14, he sent me a text saying ["Get your stuff out by Sunday."](https://imgur.com/a/nGZOe3l) I take this as an obvious sign that he wanted me to leave. [I rented a UHaul](https://imgur.com/a/hivtPyv) on Friday that week and moved my things out.

On August 19, I surrendered my key to the unit. I texted him saying I was coming over.

On August 28, he sent me a text saying I [need to pay for drip pans](https://imgur.com/a/qVkm03C) since I damaged them. I have done so.

Today he sent me a text saying that he will not sign the paperwork to take me off the lease and that I owe him $300/mo. until the lease is up in February.

To reiterate:

1. I no longer occupy the unit.

2. He told me to leave the unit.

3. He will not allow me to return to the unit.

4. Even if he did allow me to return to the unit, his anger outbursts make me feel unsafe. I have called the police before because of a domestic incident with his ex girlfriend.

5. I surrendered my key.

6. I have no property in the unit.

7. I paid for all damages that he requested me to pay for.

8. I signed the paperwork to remove myself from the lease as requested, but he is withholding his signature.

Can he sue me for rent? Or can he only sue me for half of damages to the apartment? I'm planning on consulting a lawyer but I'd like to know what to expect.

Answer:
 Did you sign a lease, either with him or with the landlord?Answer #2: He’s your roommate? Not your LL?Answer #3: That's an interesting one.

You might point out to him that you can sue him for rent for the week in August that you paid but couldn't use the apartment plus the six(?) months that you were denied access to the unit.  If you start to stand up for yourself he may decide to cut his losses.

If he sues you then you can counter sue.

He's trying to have an apartment to himself while making you pay part of his rent.  Judges don't look favorably on that.


Title: Terminated from federal job

Question: [deleted]

Answer: You're talking about a fishing expedition here. why would you think a lack of training or supervision would be illegal?


Title: The neighbor dog came in my backyard and killed my dog.

Question: [removed]

Answer:
 >I don't want to do something stupid but I don't want to do nothing. We thought of making him pay the medical bill and contacting the police to "evaluate" the dog (he's known in the street to be very agressive and threatening).

It would usually be animal control that deals with dog bites but those are generally the options you have. Answer #2: Contact police and animal control and get his dog put down and him arrested for threatening bodily harm.Answer #3: Not a lawyer, but Quebec got some specific law that deals with domestic animals. They aren't considered as property like in the US, they have their own set of rights.

Read up [https://www.educaloi.qc.ca/en/capsules/responsibility-animals](https://www.educaloi.qc.ca/en/capsules/responsibility-animals)

Specifically :

* your animal is lost or has escaped

The law is strict toward animal owners: they are  responsible under a no-fault system. This means that if your animal  injures someone or causes damage, it doesn't matter that you weren't at  fault. It is enough that you owned the animal.
Answer #4: NAL but in Quebec and a dog owner.
You should call the police. There’s been a lot of press about dogs attacking lately so it shouldn’t be taken lightly. The neighbors dog might need to be put down, or be required to wear a muzzle every time it goes outside.


Title: Can police use a relatives blood against me?

Question:
Okay a long time ago I was a different person who was big into hard drugs and alcohol. There are some things I'm not very proud of during that period of time. Back then there were at least three crimes scenes where I left blood and probably no prints. My brother is under suspicion of rape. He didn't do it and his blood will show that but will his blood pop up for those other things I did? Will they see "hey this blood is almost a match for such and such" don't know much about that. But could they use his blood against me and get a warrant to force me to give them blood which would tie me to other crimes? Advice?

>edit

United States

Answer:
 That's how the '[Grim Sleeper](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grim_Sleeper)' was caught. A relative was arrested on other charges, and the DNA found a familial relationship which led them to the killer.

If you're a serial killer, serial rapist, or even just a regular killer or rapist, it might be an issue.

I'm trying to figure out what other types of crime would involve leaving blood. Maybe injecting drugs?

If it's injecting drugs, I think you'll probably be okay. If it's murder or rape, well, not so much.
Answer #2: CODIS searches don't (today) trigger for familial matches, so unless something unusual makes them compare your brother's DNA to the evidence from those other crimes, no one will see the near-match.Answer #3: Yes, your blood and your brother's blood, when compared side by side, will show a familial link. In fact, a good lab can tell you how far back the link is - sibling, parent, grandparent, et cetera. So they will likely be able to tell that the blood they have is the blood of your brother's sibling.

Do not voluntarily produce your blood for testing. If they have sufficient cause for a warrant, then they can make the effort to get one, first.


Title: Is my landlord allowed to do this?

Question: I am currently living in a studio apartment in Chicago and my lease is ending on 6/30. I do not plan on renewing the lease. I recently got a letter from my landlord stating, "Leasing agents will begin showing your apartment effective Monday the 2nd of May. This is your notice 48 hours in advance to cover all entries from now until your lease expiration."  Are they allowed to do this or are they supposed to give me a notice every time there is going to be a showing? I feel uncomfortable knowing that they could come into my apartment at any time without my knowledge.

Answer:
 From the Chicago Residential Landlord Tenant Ordinance 5-12-60:

>If the landlord makes an unlawful entry or a lawful entry in an unreasonable manner or makes repeated unreasonable demands for entry otherwise lawful, but which have the effect of harassing the tenant, the tenant may obtain injunctive relief to prevent the recurrence of the conduct, or terminate the rental agreement pursuant to the notice provisions of Section 5-12-110(a). In each case, the tenant may recover an amount equal to not more than one months rent or twice the damage sustained by him, whichever is greater.

Issuing a blanket notice of entry for two months is unreasonable on its face.  It defeats the entire point of the 48 hours notice scheme.Answer #2: One of the things I appreciate about my local jurisdiction is that landlord notices must specify the purpose, the date, and the approximate time of entry, which puts a stop to blanket notices pretty effectively. It doesn't look like Chicago's ordinances have the same requirement - do you feel like getting involved in city politics to lobby for it?


Title: Is it legal to capture several invasive spiders and release them in a public place?

Question: I can't explain why I would want to do something like this, but hypothetically if I gathered about twenty rather large invasive spiders from local forests and released them outside of, let's say, a public park, would it be illegal?

Answer: This goes on list of things of “I don’t know if it’s illegal. I can’t think of a reason you would do it unless you were up to no good. So don’t.”


Title: Roommate died, what are my rights as a tenant?

Question: Late October my roommate died in a car accident.  He was the sole signer on the lease, my contract with him was verbal and I paid him cash for rent.  He paid October's rent, but obviously not November.  The rental company offered me a new lease, but it is yearly which I don't want and 25% higher.  My intention is to move out, but they are rushing me out asap.  Do I have any rights to stay til the end of the month so I can figure out where to go next?  This is in Arizona.

Answer: Do you know if your roommate's lease allowed him to sublease? If it didn't then they can likely start the eviction process against you pretty quickly.


Title: I accidentally signed something that gave my mother power of attorney over me and now I see that she is fucking insane and not doing it to help me but to control me, what should I do to rectify it?

Answer: Google revoke power of attorney.


Title: [ON, Canada] Car door was dinged; driver refuses to produce information

Question:
I know that this is pretty low-stakes compared to other questions here - sorry!

I was sitting in my parked car when another vehicle parked next to me. The passenger slammed her door open into my rear passenger door. I got out of my car to check the damage and confront her. She caused a chip in my car's paint, although the damaged area is quite small.

The occupants of the vehicle appeared to be a family - mom, dad, and a young child - I didn't want to make a big scene but I asked for their insurance information and they refused to provide it saying that they were late and that the damage was "nothing."

I took down their VIN and license plate number (it was a dealership plate, but based on the content of the front seat, I imagine it's their personal vehicle). I also took some photos of the vehicles and the damage.

I went to the Regional Police station (which was across the street) hoping they could do something to help. They pulled the vehicle owner's info, but obviously could not provide it to me directly. I was ultimately told that this was not a motor vehicle collision so the driver had no obligation to provide insurance information and, because it wouldn't be possible to make out intent, they could not make a criminal charge. It was suggested that I could follow the civil route.

I'm just trying to figure out what, if anything, I can do about this and hope that someone here may have some advice. The damage is rather minor, but it feels instinctively wrong that someone could cause damage to another person's property and walk away without repercussion.

I do not have an estimate for the damages and there is no police or other collision report. Please let me know if further information would be helpful and thank you in advance.

Answer: Call your insurance. You pay them a lot of money to handle situations exactly like this.


Title: When is an officer legally allowed to stop your recording?

Question: If somebody is recording their traffic stop, and that person gets arrested, how much can he record? Can the cop take the phone and stop it as soon as he decides he is making an arrest? Does he have to wait until suspect is fully in custody? If it's in suspect's shirt pocket, can he just leave it in the pocket and continue recording the ride to jail?

Answer:
 The officer is going to put cuffs on, then search your person for items for officer safety and inventory.

Once they say “you’re under arrest” you’re effectively in custody.
If the phone is on and recording, the officer is (likely) going to take it out of your pocket and put it in an evidence bag or something similar depending on why you’re arrested.Answer #2: The ACLU has a good write-up on this situation, and other similar situations:
 https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/stopped-by-police/


Title: Someone I knew online tried killing themselves because I refused to date them?

Question: So I met this person through social media and talked regularly. We never met, but this person was interested in doing so and dating. I said no. This person began to get increasingly abusive so I told them that I would not contact them. They threatened suicide, so I referred them to receive help and the suicide hotline since I don't know where they actually lived, otherwise I would have called the police. Well a mutual friend told me that they attempted suicide and their things we're seized by the police and I may be in trouble for whatever. What am I to do here? I never coaxed him into anything, but he explicitly said that me leaving was the reason. What should I do about this? If anything (legally of course). [IL]

Answer:
 You did nothing wrong. Go about your life and rest assured that you probably dodged a bullet by choosing not to date this person. Answer #2: First off you are not to blame.

Are you in school or college? You may want to talk to a counselor about this.


Title: My wife is being harassed by her former employer for "her new employment info"

Question:
I could be long winded but I'll paraphrase and offer more info if needed.

My wife was forced to quit her job last summer due to the threatening actions of one of the board members of the company she worked for. They are now asking her to comply with a "non disclosure/non compete agreement" by sending them the particulars of her new place of employment.

She worked in the real estate appraisal industry before, now she works for a freight logistics company. So no competition there. Also, her previous job did not entail any "trade secrets" she just took orders from clients and collected payments.

We feel unsafe with these crazy people knowing where she works. What should we do? Just tell them she works in another industry and to basically fuck off? We already had the police go to the CEO's house to ask that they stop contacting us.

We live in Utah and it is a "Right To Work" state. I have heard and read that these things don't hold up in court. What should we do?

EDIT/UPDATE: We decided to just fill the form out and send it in. Scanned it first for your amusement. http://imgur.com/9MfgiIq

EDIT 2: Some folks wanted story time so I typed it up over here: http://www.reddit.com/r/offmychest/comments/2tmz6z/former_employer_psychopath_inc/

Answer:
 > They are now asking her to comply with a "non disclosure/non compete agreement" by sending them the particulars of her new place of employment.

Did she actually sign this agreement?  If so, it may be enforceable depending on the exact terms.  But I don't believe they can actually do anything to force her to disclose her place of employment even if she has a valid NDA/non-compete.

> We live in Utah and it is a "Right To Work" state

That's a union thing, unrelated to this issue.  You're probably thinking of at-will employment, but that also doesn't really come into play.

> I have heard and read that these things don't hold up in court. What should we do?

There are limitations on how burdensome a non-compete can be in Utah.  They have to be limited in time, geography, and have a legitimate tie to business need.  Without knowing exactly what hers says, it's hard to say for certain whether it's enforceable or not.  But there's a very slim chance that they could force her, as an ex-employee, to disclose where she works now.  Answer #2: Have her send them a letter via certified US mail that they are not to contact her for any reason using any method. If they continue to harass her she will sue them for it. If you can pay a lawyer to write the letter that would even be better.


Title: Personal day for a funeral

Question: Hey Reddit, I'm looking for some advice and responses about a situation with my employer. My girlfriend and I work together. We work at a bank, she is a teller and I work on the desk side for sales. Her aunt passed away last week, and her funeral services were yesterday. Of course this was a situation where we both needed off on the same day. My girlfriend informed them on Monday that we would not be able to make it in on Thursday due to the funeral. The issue is that the bank has a "policy" that only two employees can have an approved "vacation" day in advance, and one other employee had already requested this day off. I put policy in quotations because that particular policy is not written anywhere in our 2019 policy manual, and vacation in quotations because this is obviously not a vacation request, and my company does have a distinction between personal and vacation time. Because I informed them in advance, my manager says this is considered a vacation request and due to the 2 employee per day "policy" he is forcing me to take a no pay day even though I have more than enough personal time to cover the day. I believe this situation is not being handled or enforced correctly, and what really grinds my gears is that if I hadn't let them know in advance and had just instead called out the day of, they would have just applied a personal day without issue. Do I have a legitimate grievance here, or am I in the wrong with this situation? If this is legitimate is there any action or legal recourse I can take? We work in New Jersey if this affects anything. Sorry for the long post, and thank you in advance for and help and advice.

Answer: This is a policy matter not a legal matter. There's no law that says they have to give you time off to attend your girlfriend's aunt's funeral.


Title: Texas Employer clocking me out for breaks

Question:
Hey rLegalAdvice,
I've been with the same company for the better part of a decade and they have regularly clocked me out for breaks I did not take. I was the only person working during these times and unable to take an actual break.
I was also recently transferred to a new location and promised the same position and pay and revived neither.

Is there anything I can do?

Thanks,
DecentLifeChoices

Answer:
 You can either:

A) Calmly and politely point out that they owe you $X for Y amount of time that you were not paid. This will either result in them being horrified that someone would deduct hours or acknowledge that they do this. This could put a target on your back pretty quickly but being fired for this would be retaliatory.

Or B) File a wage claim directly with TWC.

Keep a record of timeline of events. The date you noticed, the date you brought it to TWC or your employer. Your employers response. Etc If you can get their response in an email, even better.

You should probably start looking for a new job either way. Don't quit though. If you're fired, file for unemployment.


Title: Is it legal for my landlord to let the Comcast guy in my bedroom while I'm at work, with no notice? [Utah]

Question:
My boyfriend came home from work today to find a Comcast service guy hanging out in our bedroom. Or rather, the guy SAID he was from Comcast, but he wasn't wearing a uniform or anything to identify him with Comcast, and his truck was unmarked. He didn't have an ID badge or anything. My boyfriend freaked out and told the guy to get out.

Our property manager left a note on our door on July 6 saying that Comcast services would be coming by on July 7. We were concerned about a tech being in our apartment unsupervised while we were both at work, so the manager said she would have the maintenance guy oversee the service call. We were still apprehensive, but we know the maintenance manager and trust him, so we thought it would be fine.

July 7 came and went. We came home from work and hadn't seen any Comcast person. We didn't know if anyone had come or not. Our management, as you can see, is terrible about communication.

Note: we did not request Comcast to come out. We already have our internet service all set up with Comcast--this is our complex's service setup.

Our lease does say that management has access to our apartment for maintenance and such, but I was under the impression that the law in Utah says that they must give us 24 hours' notice. Notice was given that they would be coming three days ago, but the visit today was completely unexpected and unwelcome.

Also, he broke a shelf on our bookshelf when he moved it to do his work, tracked mud onto our brand new rug, had his grimy work gear all over our bed, and left sawdust all over the place.

So one, the tech was here 3 days after they said he would be. Two, he was unsupervised. Three, he wrecked our stuff. This feels like a huge violation.

Our downstairs neighbors were not home when the tech came to their unit, but they said he left a huge mess, left the lights on, their furniture was moved around, and again, sawdust everywhere.

Do we have any recourse? The manager has been unresponsive so far. We do have renters insurance. Our main concern is this violation of them letting just anyone barge into our place with no/inadequate notice.

Answer:
 Property managers are required to be licensed by the dept of Real Estate in Utah. So file a complaint against the manager there. I'd also document this in writing and send a copy of that letter to upper management at the apartment company, as well as management at Comcast. Let them know next time you will call the police and have the person charged with trespassing. http://www.utahlegalservices.org/public/self-help-uploads/NoTrespass.pdf And I'd be a squeaky wheel, make them come clean your rug and fix or replace your item that was broken.

Realistically, you can't do much with a first offense like that. If you want to break your lease and move you would have to file in court, and I'm not sure the judge would really be that sympathetic if they are like ooops our bad won't happen again. However if it does happen again you would be more likely able to break the lease, and the judge might award you some of your moving costs. But that's a big maybe.


Title: I feel like I'm being ripped off, being bought out of my share of home?

Question:
Hi,

Im in the UK. Me and my wife separated when i found out she was having an affair. Her dad wants to buy my share of the house we own.

Bit of background:
Her parents gave us £44k deposit for a £220k house. They said it was a gift and it was her inheritance early. Due to this, the house was split 60/40 in her favour. I have all this in emails.

As i said, she had a few affairs so we are separated, we cant afford to divorce at the min. We also have a little girl who was born after we bought the property. Her father has offered to buy my 40%. He is claiming that as the house is now worth £250k and was worth 220k when we bought it, i am only entitled to 40% of the profit (about £12k for 40% share).

I told him that it was from the equity of the property (we owe £160k so that would be £90k equity. 40% being £36k) he said that because he put down the deposit that that should be deducted and he "isnt just giving that inherritance money away to me."

As the property is split 60/40 in my ex wifes favour because of that inherritance am i correct in thinkong that i am entitled to the whole £36k?

12 grand for 40% of a 250k house with 90k equity seems very underhanded to me. But we are keen to do this without a  horrible divorce and court battle.

Any advice appreciated! (Sorry for all the numbers)

Answer:
 From a math perspective, you have 40% of a 250k house (100k) and you owe 40% of a 160k loan (64k).

100k less 64k would be 36k.

Edit - If he wants to seperatly state the down payment, you can back that out first but then you would be entitled to 50%, not 40%.

250k less 44k is 206k to be split evenly. Less that 160k mortgage is 46k value, or 23k to you.


Title: Reverse engineering oracle product, curious what I should expect.

Question:
Location: USA, California

My company has a need internally for me to help reverse engineer a portion of oracle's database server to integrate it with another set of systems oracle does not provide integration points with.

We've successfully completed the project, and to my surprise we were actually able to not just reverse engineer a portion, but all of it.  The software would be incredibly valuable as an open source platform so I suggested we should consider opening it up.  My managers have gotten together and we'll be meeting with the legal team to review our options.

Note our company is fairly inclined to open source it and all of the reverse engineering was clean roomed with only raw packets, the original query and open documentation oracle has produced without a license attached, each member has no TOS with oracle nor have they ever downloaded/used oracle products.

The question I have is what I should expect from this meeting? What could my company expect from me?  Could I be personally liable if oracle came after everyone?  Should I get a lawyer?

Answer:
 What should you expect?

1.  A lawyer to be in the room who understands Oracle's licensing & their propensity to sue the pants off people.

2.  Business people in the room who understand the business advantages & disadvantages of open sourcing.

3.  A funder in the room who is willing to pay for the inevitable lawsuit.

Oh... wait.  You should expect a bunch of engineers to sit around and gloat about how they got around licensing restrictions and how this would be neat, without considering any of the above.


Title: [OR] Cottage rental company refusing refund for cancellation, but also not fulfilling their end of the contract

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Yes I think you could either dispute the charge or win in court unless the contract says they may substitute. The cottage you rented is unique. You wanted that cottage not some other cottage because no other cottage would be the same. Generally a substitution must be the same thing unless you agree in advance that something similar may be substituted. They literally cannot give you an identical substitute in this case. How did you pay?


Title: Sexting. Freaking out. I'm a moron. USA

Question:
I realize there's a sticky. I'm still stupid. Sorry.

About a week ago I was chatting in an adult chat room with someone who told me they were 18. We talked for a while and they wanted to text. I used an app to text, so they never sent anything to my actual phone number. After texting for a bit they started pushing the conversation in a sexual direction. There was no discussion of doing anything with anyone under the age of 18. No meeting up, nothing like that. They then offer to trade pics. I sent one clothed picture, and they sent one back.

They were obviously not 18. I call them out and they admit they are under age. I tell them that I don't want to text. They apologize and we stop. They send a few more messages and I block them.

Just to clarify, no explicit images were obtained or requested by myself, and the conversation died when I figured out what was up.

I can't get this stuff of my mind. Am I okay? I'm done with chat rooms and texting strangers. I'm never ever ever doing anything like this again because I realize how dumb it is after this experience.

Thanks, and again sorry for beating a potentially dead horse.

Answer: Which part of this, exactly, isn't covered by the sticky on this topic?


Title: Vehicle sold to "cash for scrap" place, now I am receiving tickets for it

Question:
Hi guys, I live in New Jersey. In August 2013, I was deployed, and my vehicle (which my parents were using while I was gone) broke down. When we determined that the cost to fix it wasn't worth it, I had my parents sell it to one of those "cash for scrap" type places. They came and picked up the vehicle, paid my parents in cash, and they turned over the title.

Several weeks ago I received a notification from the Trenton, NJ police department that my vehicle had been impounded, because it was sitting on the street for a long time, unregistered. When I called about a week after receiving the notice that to notify them that I no longer owned the vehicle, I was told the vehicle had been picked up.

This morning, when I went to pay a traffic ticket online , I learned that there are two outstanding tickets on that vehicle, listed under my name. However the plate number shown does not match my vehicle. I obtained the vehicles VIN number from my insurance records, and contacted the DMV. I was told that the VIN still brings up my name, however the plate number on the ticket lists a completely different vehicle (mine was a Mazda 626, this plate is registered to a Chevy Cavalier). The VIN number associated with this plate is completely different, and the plate on the ticket does not match the plate registered to my car in their system. It was recommended that I request a Title Search from the DMV, to get a copy of the paperwork including my registration and license plate information (which I will do as soon as I leave work).

I have my parents trying to find out who they sold the car to so I can attempt to get some form of proof of sale. They had to sell several cars in that fashion that year, and went through several different places, so they're not sure who they sold mine to. It doesn't seem they obtained a receipt (I went through one of those companies years ago for another car. The tow truck driver paid me then, and never offered a receipt, so they probably didn't get one).

So, now that the background info is out of the way, I have two questions. First off, is there anything else I should do/get here so I can fight the tickets? Would the result of a Title Search be enough, or would I definitely need a proof of sale? Is there any other documentation I can use in place of others/use to strengthen my case? I'm not 100% confident that I'll be able to obtain a proof of sale, so anything I could use as a backup would be appreciated.

Second, do I have any recourse for getting this vehicle out of my name? I have no idea who currently owns the vehicle, but it appears that they have simply put their old plates on the car and have not registered it. Given that the tickets and impounding happened several weeks ago, my understanding is the vehicle is back in the current owners possession, and as of this morning the vehicle still shows as owned by me... I have to assume they have no intention of registering it. Is there any way I can get my name cleared from the vehicle. Alternatively, can I report it to the police to have them fine the people for not registering it? Basically, is there anything I can do, or am I up the proverbial creek without a means of propulsion?

Thanks in advance for any assistance!

Answer:
 New jersey is wierd.

Most states have a release of liability form. - New jersey has a Turn in your license plate system.

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Vehicle/SurrenderingPlates.htm

Did you parents turn in the license plate to the MVC?

Also,

look here http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Violations/parking.htm

relevant info from the above link

**"Tickets on plates that are no longer yours**

**If you receive a parking ticket on plates that are no longer yours, you need to bring proof that the plate is not yours to the scheduled court date. MVC can provide you with supporting documentation if you follow these steps:
Get a copy of the original ticket (not the summons) from the municipality that issued it
Write a letter to MVC explaining that the plates are no longer yours
Include your former plate numbers, your new plate numbers and your driver license number
If you surrendered the old plates and kept the receipt, please provide a copy of that receipt
Send the letter, a copy of the ticket and the summons to:**

**Motor Vehicle Commission
Customer Advocacy Office
P.O. Box 403
Trenton, New Jersey 08666-0403**

**MVC will complete a search for the plate number and send you a letter with the results**

Good luck!


Title: Roommate threw party, my tv I put in the living room for the community got broken. Details inside.

Question:
So during nye, my roommate had a party and some randos that showed up started moshing in the fucking living room; que dummy crashing into it and breaking the screen. It's a 60 in dlp and Dean's tv repair estimated it to be 400ish dollars to repair.

I spoke with one of the guys (J ) who was  involved and he claimed, "someone bounced off of him into the tv".He initially said he would help pay for it but is now denying involvement after the $400 figure was presented to him via text message.

 There were 2 others involved, one other, H, whom I've gotten in contact with via facebook messenger (the guy who apparently got thrown into the tv, based on witnesses and his own statements) , but said " I'll do what I can to help, but I don't remember much about that night because I was drunk."

 The night of the incident he claimed he didn't know who else was involved, but through facebook messenger, he fingered the same people everyone else I've spoken with has pointed to. It seems he doesn't want to be cooperative with letting me know exactly who was involved and to what extent.

There have been multiple people who have come forth to tell me exactly who was involved and who did what. They point to the same people I have spoken of, C, J, and H.

Basically, 2 guys grabbed one dude, ( all had begun roughhousing in the living room as my roommate and I were elsewhere) and two guys, I'll call them C and J threw H into my tv.

I have heard the same story from multiple people and have a few of the direct sources on iPhone video stating the same thing without their knowledge of themselves being recorded as I assumed they would not be cooperative with me in court proceedings..

I was curious what I could do legally to get restitution.

Also, I didn't sign a lease with my roomie. His parents own this house and allow him to live there and he takes rent from me to pay his parents.
I have renters insurance, but as I moved in the week prior to NYE, I didn't transfer my renter's insurance to my new place until after the incident.

I live in Austin,TX.

Answer:
 Your recourse (iirc) would be small claims court against the moshers. IANAL, but you have a pretty damn solid case imo. You have texts stating they would pay, you have people acting negligently and causing damage, and you have multiple witness accounts corroborating your story.

Keep every message you have a evidence. Send a letter via certified mail to everyone involved with the mosh pit giving them 14 days to pay for the repairs, wait until the weekend after the 14 days expire, and then file small claims.


Title: [TX, USA] Controversial church still using previously recorded services containing my face and name, even after I've left the church. How to get them to stop?

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 > Do I have any legal options to force this organization to stop using any material containing my face and/or name?

Likely not.  They almost assuredly hold the copyright to those videos, and you consented to their use at the time.  You can certainly express that you no longer hold those beliefs.


Title: How can I legally get my meds?

Question:
My insurance company is forcing me to pay a 6k deductible to get my meds, or I suffer, very badly. It is along story but I desperately need answers.

I am in Iowa City, Iowa.

Answer: I think we need more info than that to give realistic advice.


Title: I [21] was wrongfully held against my will in a mental hospital for 6 days because I talked to a cop about god while sober.

Question:
edit: This was in California and I this isn't a "how can I sue these bastards" post. I don't want to sue and I don't want any money. I have no one to listen to my story so I guess I just want to know what I can do, if anything. Or do I just keep it all bottled up and die on the inside.

Well I just deleted like a page of writing so I'm just going to sum everything up real fast. I'm sorry that this is written in bullet point style but its a long story and A LOT has happened.

TL:DR;Got thrown into a crazy bin for talking about god. They tried to keep me in there and fucked up my life by labeling me with a bunch of disorders.

I talked to my grandpa about god and he called the cops on me.

I talked to the cop and went as a voluntary.

He took me to the hospital because the thought I was drunk or on meth but I'm just eccentric.

They strapped to the hospital bed and shoved a catheter up my dick while I was awake and screaming.

They put me in with the craziest people section in the hospital.

I yes sir'd and yes Maam'd and showed the nurses I wasn't batshit crazy.

They put me with the normal people and I helped a lot of them get out quicker.

We weren't aloud to hug people or shake peoples hands or share any of our items.

For what they called "exercise" we had to walk around like zombies and I got written up for jumping and doing a pull up on a tree.

I talked to the nurses filled out all the papers took my meds and attended all the meetings.

When it was time for me to get out they took every word I said out of context and twisted them to make me seem crazy.

My 5150 went to a 5250 so I was supposed to be held there for 14 days.

They wouldn't give me a bible for the entire week I was there.

I was finally able to talk to a judge and prove my sanity.

The head honcho of the nuthouse says "Blank is a paranoid bipolar psychopathic maniac who claims he can see god and hasn't slept in a week".

I pretty much died inside and thought I would never get out of that place.

I explained that what I said was being taken out of context like I didn't "see" god I felt him and I haven't slept for a week because they woke me up 3 times a night to take my blood pressure.

I got out that day and my grandpa drove me home then and there.

Once I got out my "support system" treated me as if I was crazy and I pretty much got kicked out of my house.

Found out my girlfriend of 3 years had a second relationship for a couple months and my best friend said he was going to find me and beat the shit out of me over something I said.

I had a mental breakdown and some sort of PTSD episodes where I couldn't eat or sleep for days.

I couldn't focus on anything, keep track of anything or remember anything.

I lost/misplaced/got stolen a lot of personal items that meant a lot to me.

I lost my shit my friends my family my love and most importantly my mind.

If you have gotten this far I'm sorry for my shitty bullet point story but I deleted the well written story on accident but I'll write it again someday if anyone cares.

I pretty much just want to know what actions I can take to right the wrongs that happened to me. I'm not looking to sue anybody or any money really I just don't know which steps I should take in getting assistance for what happened to me.

If anything I mainly want to bring to the public eye how fucked up mental hospitals for labeling people as crazy and holding them against their will in the name of "helping them".

Thank you for reading this if you did. It means a lot to me that my story gets read and I just don't know who to tell.

Answer:
 Sounds like the got the diagnosis just about right. You can't sue them for doing their job and confining someone with psychiatric issues to a facility.Answer #2: It sounds like they followed all the legal processes 5150/5250. A lot of people (your family, police, hospital staff) felt you were not doing great and needed since help. So I doubt you will be able to sue anyone.

You can call the governing agency (medical board?) And file a complaint. Answer #3: I'm typing this from my office on a psych unit. I'm not even sure I should respond. It seems like your blame, and focus, is going everywhere but at yourself.

Psych hospitals suck. They're very boring and other patients can be scary. The doctors are never as available, as they should be, and the staff is overworked. But we're all just here to help people. It annoys us when people have to stay longer too. It's not like we live to make someone have a shit day.

What I'm trying to say is, sorry for you terrible experience but it sounds like you do need some help. Though, inpatient probably wasn't the best place.

The most important thing is that you stay on your medication, or make changes with your outpatient psychiatrist. It's what will keep you out of the hospital. I would also consider a day program or support groups. NAMI has great resources, and is run by people recovering from mental illness. contact them, even if you hate psychiatry.


Title: She sees the kids 2-3 days a week (max) and still wants child support.

Question:
My brother's wife left. They have 5 kids.

We live in Indiana, a no fault/no alimony state.

She sees the kids less than half the time, 2 and sometimes 3 days. She has no desire to see the kids more often.

Today was supposed to be the day everything was done. She asked for child support at the last minute. Her lawyer asked for 700/mo, then lowered it to 400/mo. Her lawyer said the court goes by last year's tax return, and she worked part time while he worked full time, and that his ex wife should be getting money based on that alone. I don't know why or what that really is referring to since there is no alimony and she doesn't want full or even primary custody. They originally wanted this to be 50/50 with no support, and had agreed to it up until today.

My brother pointed out to her lawyer how she doesn't spend all the time she could with her kids, and his ex said "I need a day off to myself, too" right in front of the lawyers.

Needless to say, there was no agreement.

His family and friends watch the kids, her family has nothing to do with them, and she pays exactly 0 dollars for any childcare provided by his friends and family.

TL;DR She left, can't afford it, and wants support even though she doesn't even see the kids very much. Does his lawyer just suck or is this really what he has to deal with until his kids are grown?

His youngest 2 are 3 years old. I'd hate to see him have to pay her for at least 15 more years.

Peripheral info:

My brother is pretty messed up about this. They were married 10 years, she denied having affair, and now she's posting pictures all over FB with her new BF and his kid. She even posted a photo with his kid while her kids were dressed in their coats and waiting for her to pick them up. She shows up a few hours late. She also called and said she was going to pick them up for church and never showed up. It'd be nice if there was a magic wand that would end all of these problems for him, but obviously life isn't that easy. He married a psychopath and he's forever tied to her.

Answer:
 Your brother's lawyer should handle this, unless he wants to get screwed.Answer #2: Child support isn't about how much time she spends with them, it's about ensuring the children have adequate standard of living during the time they are with her. After all, it would be ridiculous for kids to live in a mansion 6 days a week and squalor the 7th. If she only worked part time last year her income potential is probably low and so child support will provide the children with essentials for those 3 days. Answer #3: As a side note - he needs to document everything starting now regarding the kids and how often she sees them, when she shows up late, if she drops them off early,  etc
Just a simple notebook with dates and note will do.

Over a period of time it will show a patten and if/when there's a need to go back and get something modified it will be a big help as long as it's kept fact based. A judge won't care that shes got a new boyfriend in most cases but will care if she's claiming she has the kids 50% of the time but really has them 25% of the time.

Answer #4: Here are the support guidelines for Indiana.

http://www.in.gov/judiciary/rules/child_support/

Its just a calculation based on time spent with the kid and income, that's all there is to it.


Title: Can some one revoke a cosignature? Oregon

Question: My girlfriend recently bought a car and her mother consigned. My gf is 21 and does not live with mom. Recently they have not been seeing eye to eye on some things that do not involve the car. Her mom has been threatening to "drop her signature" can she really do that?

Answer: Only if the car gets refinanced.Answer #2: No, that signature protects the bank from default, they aren't going to give up that.  But if mom is on the title with daughter and has a key she can simply take/move/hide her car.


Title: [AB] I [35M] am finally seperating from my abusive ex gf/common law "wife" [35F]. The house is under my name and she's claiming that she deserves it. Does she have any right to my home? What should I do to win this thing?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Get a lawyer. You need one. Although Alberta doesn't have a statute dealing with common law relationships, Canadian courts have principles that they will follow in these circumstances.


Title: ADA clarification?

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 People have attended universities for hundreds of years without ever being given the opportunity to get "lecture recordings" from the University.

They used a technique called *Gasp* "taking notes."

I think that it's a reasonable accommodation.


Title: Was offered a great job, now the company is saying that wont hire me due to internal screw ups.

Question:
So I was offered a job and given a start date as a contractor for a company hired by Dell to refresh all of the computers for Dell in the Wichita, KS. area. I completed the back round check, the drug screen and the mile and a half of paper work. They told me I was going to get my company phone and laptop and to be ready with with some brand new clothes within the week.

It's been a month since I was offered the job, and since, they've shipped nothing, and I've been told I will most likely not get the job, because at the time of the offer, the on-site manager requested the addition team members without checking to see if the Hospital could front the bill. So now, here I stand a month later, no job. No hope.

I was just called by my rep and he told me, if it happens *at all* it could happen by the 13th of July, but to not hold my breath. The kicker is, I'm not the only one being affected by this. Not only this, but my background check and drug screen are out of date and must be completed again. Several other people were also offered jobs and quick working at their current ones to do so, but they haven't started yet. These people have families and they're lives have been sent into a financial shit storm because of someone else's mistake.

Could I take someone to court for breach of contract? Should we get together and file a lawsuit for lost wages? How is this legal, that one person could fuck and and ruin lives?

Answer:
 > Could I take someone to court for breach of contract?

Did you sign a contract?


Title: Is it legal to sell candy you brought on a commercial aircraft?

Question: Say you're in a commercial plane and you bought like 100 Snickers bars for really cheap and then sold them on the flight for less than what the plane staff is selling them for, and keep all the profit. Is that legal?

Answer: It’s legal. It would also probably get you banned from the airline. Answer #2: You would certainly be banned from the airline and you could probably be detained by TSA if you were told to stop and didn’t which caused a disturbance.  The amount of money you could make is certainly not with the hassle you would face.


Title: My dad put my name on his house before he passed away. Now my siblings are suing me for a claim on house. Can they do so?

Question:
Hi everyone,

Two years before my dad passed away, he put my name on his two houses so that I would become the second owner of them (alongside of my dad).

He died in 2016. I then became the sole owner of the houses. So the house was not willed to me. My name was added to the house while he was still alive.

Now one of my sisters is suing me because they want a piece of the house too.

Because of some familial relationship problems in the past, my dad made it *very clear* to me that he did not want my sisters to have claim to the house.

My sisters are about to pay several thousand dollars to hire a lawyer to fight for ownership of the houses in court. Do they have any chance of winning the case?

I respect my dad and want to respect his wishes to not hand over ownership to my sisters. However, I also don’t want everyone in my family to pay thousands of dollars in legal fees to being this case to court.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

Also, if it matters, I’m in Canada.

Answer:
 Grief makes people do strange things when a loved ones die. Things like this are not uncommon. Your sisters may not be thinking clearly, or may see this as evidence that your father loved you more than he did them and so be acting it in anger against you.

If your father was of sound mind, and wasn't unduly influenced, then your father was perfectly free to do as he did. The house was not part of the estate. your sisters would have to convince a court that he WASN'T of sound mind, that you DID unduly influence him, or provide some other compelling argument to convince a court to set aside the conveyance of the house to you as a joint tenant.

Its likely that when they go see a lawyer, the lawyer will give them sober second thoughts, or at least doubts. If they do find a lawyer to take them on, perhaps by convincing that lawyer there was undue influence, you will need one of your own.

Keep in mind that well over 90% of all lawsuits never make it to trial. Just because they sue you doesn't mean that they won't drop the suit, or that you can't get it dismissed, or that you don't come to some private settlement.
Answer #2: You are very much into "in need of a layer" territory. Answer #3: Which Province are you in? Each Province has different estate laws.

Also, do you know if you were on the deed together as joint tenancy or tenants in common? The house is only part of the estate if you were tenants in common.

Also if you’ve been served, get a lawyer asap.


Title: Cops gave me a ticket (California)

Question: Well yeah like the title says, I was driving home from dropping of my friend. He lives a block away from the Police station, as soon as I turn on to 1st Street (which is the major cross street) and sure enough a squad car gets behind me. As I drive I make a turn to get on Soto, (the main Street to get to my house) and since he was following me out of nowhere he just turns on his siren. At first I thought he was responding to a call but no he's pulling me over. He walked up to my car real slow with his hands on his gun and states: "is there any one else in the car?" To which I respond "no" (it was just me, I had just dropped of my friend). After a long look in my car he starts, "you know why I pulled you over?" My response " no, what seems to be the problem" he goes on an states "I pulled your over because the front passenger and driver windows are tinted." (I've had the car for 2 months and my previous car had the exact same tint job, I take it to the same guy) I reply with this remark. To which his response is "you've just been lucky before" and he goes on, "license and registration and so on" I point to the car that's is a cross from where we are parked, which sure enough, HAS THE WINDOWS TINTED. He gave me a ticket and said "it's illegal to have any form of window tints in the front". I have been driving for 8 years now, where is this law that he speaks of?

Answer:
 The law is [CVC §](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=26708) [26708](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=VEH&sectionNum=26708).

The "fish in a barrel" defense does not work. It does not matter whatsoever that other cars have tinted windows.

You are responsible for knowing your tint levels on your windows; it is not the tint shop's responsibility to ensure they are installing legal tints.Answer #2: [Yes](https://www.latimes.com/local/abcarian/la-me-abcarian-window-tint-20170915-story.html), it’s illegal.


Title: Burglary claim denied I'm still out everything that's stolen, what is the best approach to challenge it?

Question:
My house was burglarized in January this year (2016). I filed a police report upon discovering the intrusion, then the next morning I filed a claim. While filing the claim I learned that the property stolen from the home which belongs to my housemates will not be covered in the claim.

I continue to submit the claim with items which belonged to my housemates hoping that the worse case scenario would be that their items would not be paid out. However after a long wait and a few interviews with the insurance adjuster, my wife and I were asked to go in for an Examination under Oath (EUO).

In the EUO I removed all the items that belonged to my housemates. Today, end of June, 1 month after the EUO, I get a letter from the attorney denying my claim because in one interviews with the insurance adjuster (not the EUO) I claimed all the items claimed were mine. (A highlight of this was included in the claim denial letter)

I understand that I should not have reported my housemate's items which were stolen. But emotionally, I felt that the injustice of things stolen from my home would not be covered by my home owners insurance convinced me to claim these items. I do consider everything in my home to be my responsibility and mine.

Anyone who thinks I can still at least recover a payment for the things I owned(not my housemates) I am desperate for your advice.

The location of the events in this post is in the San Francisco bay area of California.
Topic:
Insurance

Answer: Take this as an expensive lesson in why you should not try to defraud an insurance company. Going forward you should suggest to any tenants of yours that they have renters insurance.


Title: Friend facing drug charges is possibly having them dropped due to flag in courtroom.

Question:
Hello,  my friend is facing drug charges in Tennessee.  His mother is telling me that due to the courtroom displaying a military flag with gold fringes on it and the fact that he read a certain statement pertaining to this particular flag, he may be having his charges dropped. I cannot find anything on Google about this and I have never heard of this before. Can someone with some experience in this sort of thing tell me how or if this is actually possible?  Thank You!  This may seem stupid (and definitely sounds like bs to me), but I suppose dumber things have happened...

Edit:  Thank you all for your responses and for not slamming my stupid question... seriously,  I believe whole heartedly that civil discourse gets us further than anything else... your civility in this post has made me very happy. I understand now that thi is utter bullshit as I believed initially.

Answer:
 She's right technically.

The trick is to immediately declare yourself a "Free Inhabitant" not a "citizen" and refuse to enter into joinder with the anybody present.

Just tell him to stick to those guns and most importantly *record the proceedings and the video of them here*.  Answer #2: > I understand now that this is utter bullshit as I believed initially.

DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING? SINGING THE SONG OF INTELLIGENT MEN!Answer #3: By the way, OP, you're doing it all wrong accepting the advice. You're supposed to get angry and combative because you don't like the answers you got.Answer #4: I actually sell flags at my day job. The only difference between a flag with fringe and without fringe is $10 in the price and that you don't want to fly it outdoors. It has no meaning in regard to military status, its just a way to fancy up the flag. I've sold plenty of state flags with fringe, and added fringe to flags of various civilian organizations.


Title: My manager decided to tell me "take this pink paper clip back, I'm not a Fag**t" can I do something like report him to another boss and not get fired over causing trouble? MO

Question:
Handed him a stack of papers with a pink paper clip, said he doesn't want it because he's not a faggot. I have gay family members who have been dealing with people like him for ages and I shouldn't have to hear about his bigotry in the goddamn workplace.

All I want is for him to stay the fuck away from me. I don't want him fired or any sort of lawsuit. Can I talk to another boss and give him a incident report over what happened and request that I be left alone unless he needs to speak to me on a professional level?

I just don't want to waste the energy if I'm going to get fired over "causing additional problems in the workplace"

Answer:
 Yes you can complain.

Who knows what action the company will take. They may fire him, do nothing, or promote him. They may decide to terminate you as well.

Good thing you don't want to sue because you can't.


Title: My GF is a pathological liar, an alcoholic, threatening, and my baby momma.

Question:
I have found myself in quite the situation.
In late 2015 I met a girl on tinder and got her pregnant. At the time, I thought things were great, so I rented a townhome (where I am the sole person under the lease agreement) and began to prepare for a blissful life together.

Things went great for awhile, until I started to catch her drinking, even while being pregnant. I caught her more and more to the point I've realized she is an alcoholic.  I almost always smell it on her breath, and I know that she has driven drunk on many many occasions, with out being caught.

She  is a pathological liar, some of the worst lies include
 -having an other brother die in a car accident leaving her the guardian of his 3 children. The children belonged to an ex of hers.
-She said that she was a diabetic, so when she was too hammered in public, she could blame it on her sugars being Low.
-playing college basketball at an "ivy league" college.
-owning not one, but two homes and a boat.
     I could go on all day about lies that she has told me, but I will save that for another day.

She has threatened to "fucking kill me in my sleep with this knife" if I tried to end the relationship, and she has been violent on more than one occasion, she has thrown her empty booze bottles at me, and around the house. I have called the police on two occasions and filed police reports. Resulting in me taking my child to my parents house, as she was too drunk to leave (according to the police)

We have a 6 month old who is the light of my life, and she is threatening to take the infant to Missouri, from Utah, where we both live.  Because I know how mothers are typically given more favorable rights, I have just kind of played along, and pretended to be happy, for the fear of losing my little one, whom I am listed on the birth certificate as the father.

I am ready to end this toxic relationship and have thoughts, and ideas about how to go about doing so.
-I would like to file for at least 50/50 custody (preferably full custody), which would give me rights, and would prevent the mother from leaving the state. I think she is a "flight risk" as she is unemployed, and without any connections here. She is know to disappear from her family for months at a time, with zero contact.
-I figure I would need to file an eviction notice, to have her legally removed from my home. I say mine, because I have paid every bill since we moved in, with the exception of the internet bill, some food here and there, and the liquor store bill.
-I also would like to file a protective order. She has threatened to kill me, and has been violent with me in the past.  Her last relationship ended with her chasing her ex around with a knife. Where she was admitted to a mental unit in a hospital for a day or two.

I realize that with a problem this complex, I need an attorney, and was recommended one by a family friend.  I have contacted him, but without response yet, he doesn't seem to work weekends. What I want to know, are what things can I document, photograph, and collect as evidence of her being an unfit mother? I would really like to get full custody, but I am doubtful if that is an option.

Any advice would be appreciated, as I need help to get out of this relationship, while still maintaining a relationship with my child. If you have any questions, please let me know! Thanks Reddit.

TL;DR
Stuck it in crazy, got her pregnant. She is an alcoholic, a liar, abusive, and manipulative.  I want out with our child.

Edit- I apologize for the terrible formatting.  I am mobile, in the baby's room.

Answer:
 You document everything she does, every text she sends, etc. If her actions can be proven, the court isn't likely to rule in her favor just because she's the mother. If what you say is true, you should be seeking much more than shared custody.

Get the protection order, keep records, and generally be prepared to use them.


Title: Is it shoplifting if...

Question: Let's say you go to a chain store and buy an item (maybe a movie or CD), you have the receipt. But you see that the case is not in the best shape. Legally could one go back in and just exchange it for a better looking ( but still same ) item without informing the store? You still have the receipt.

Answer:
 No. You bought the item you paid for in the transaction, not something else you have decided is of equivalent value. Answer #2: Uhm...no. These things are tracked for a reason. The store has inventory. You don't do that.

While you're in your 30 day return window, return it and buy a new one of the same type.


Title: [WA] Wife trapped me in our house

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Talk to a divorce lawyer ASAP.


Title: (new Jersey)

Question: The other night I was doing some spirited back driving on some back roads. I rounded a corner doing about 65 to 70 mph. Then to see a marked tahoe coming the other way. I keep continuing to drive in my direction. I saw him depress his brakes but never did I see and red or blue lights. I have information that tells me that my licence plate is flagged now from that insistent. What is the best course of action I can take.

Answer:
 >What is the best course of action I can take.

Stop driving like a maniac would be my first piece of advice.


Title: [Nebraska] EMERGENCY: How do I go about getting emergency custody of children to be taken to a safe place (out of state) with a family member.

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Absent a court order, you can take your kids anywhere you want (as long as you are legally their guardian)


Title: Coworker worked 42 hours in a work week and employer moved the extra 2 hours to the following weeks check to avoid paying over time- legal or no? Oklahoma

Question: As the  title says: Coworker worked 42 hours in a work week and employer moved the extra 2 hours to the following weeks check to avoid paying over time- legal or no? This is in Oklahoma.

Answer: Illegal. But double check the employer's work week. I have guys work on Saturday and complain that they didn't get paid overtime, but our work week is Saturday to Friday.Answer #2: Your coworker is owed 1.5x their payrate for any hours worked over 40 in the same work week.


Title: Food Delivery Fraud?

Question: I use a large service (eg GrubHub) for food delivery. I recently found a loophole that lets me sign up for new accounts and claim a $10 credit each time. Is exploring this loophole fraud? What would be the penalty for this if discovered?

Answer: Someone did a similar thing with bank accounts to the tune of several thousand dollars.  I think he wad convicted of fraud.


Title: [NJ] (27M) Protecting my home as an asset while girlfriend moves in

Question:
I am potentially having my girlfriend move in at some point this year into a home that I own outright. Solely my name is on the deed and all my name is on all of the bills. My question is if some time down the line we were to break up would she have any claim to the home? AFAIK contributing to household expenses and utilities  does not grant her any claim to equity.

Would this situation change if we were to get married? Would she have a claim to half the house if a marriage were to dissolve even though I am coming into the marriage with the home as a previous asset? I would assume this would all need to be laid out in a prenup.

Thanks for any advice and answers.

Answer:
 If you stay single and keep the house in your name it is yours. She is a roommate and just helping to the pay the bills doesn't give a roommate equity. NJ doesn't have common law marriage.

If you get married and keep the house in your name it is yours as it would be non-marital property. A few caveats, if she helps pay the mortgage and for improvements, she could get a piece of the action. If you refinance the mortgage someday down the line after marriage she could argue the house is marital property.

tl;tr - get a pre-nupAnswer #2: > My question is if some time down the line we were to break up would she have any claim to the home?

It is very unlikely she would have any claim at all.  To better cement this, sign a lease with her, like you would any other roommate.

> Would she have a claim to half the house if a marriage were to dissolve even though I am coming into the marriage with the home as a previous asset?

Possibly.  Pre-marital assets are handled differently than marriage-acquired assets.  Regardless, if you want to protect your home, a proper pre-nup is the way to go.  Note that you would likely have to give up something in that agreement, so be prepared for that,


Title: Is it in anyway illegal for me to use a promo code I found through a Google search?

Question:
I'm in the United States. I was going to buy a ticket for an American Airlines domestic flight in January. When the promo code option came up, I decided to search for one and found the Business Insider one listed a number of codes to use. Feels like it would be too good to be true to save a bunch of money on my purchase that easily.

Thank you for your time

Answer: No. There are websites dedicated to this sort of thing. The worst thing the company could do is choose not to honor the discount, but it’s certainly not illegal.


Title: [NC] Dog legal questions

Question:
I have a dog and I love her! But I'm planning on moving out with her and I have questions.

Will I have to get her legally transferred to my name if i want to give her vet care?

If so, is there a certain form I need, or do I just get my mom to sign something saying it's my dog? Or could I just go to some sort of court with proof that I'm her caretaker?

Thanks for any help provided!

Answer:
 > Will I have to get her legally transferred to my name if i want to give her vet care?

No. The vet doesn't care.


Title: refusing service to a paying customer

Question:
I live in New York

if the woman in the described situation below paid for ice cream, but acted in a way that disturbed other customers before I gave her the ice cream, do I have to give her the ice cream that she paid for? or can I kick her out without giving her ice cream or a refund?

i work at an ice cream shop and our policy is one sample per person. she paid for ice cream and after i told her about our policy she became very rude and belittled me/started complaining to other customers about our "stupid policy". i ended up just refunding her and giving her a free scoop anyway because it was a really busy night and i had to get to the next customer.

What i wanted to do was kick her out even though she had already paid, without giving her her money back.

Answer:
 No, you can't charge a customer and refuse to give them what they paid for. You can refund them and kick them out or give them the product and kick them out, but you can't kick them out without doing one of those. Answer #2: No, you can't charge her and then give her nothing. That would be fraud. She paid for ice cream, so she either gets ice cream or a refund.

The appropriate response here is to give her a refund and tell her to leave immediately.


Title: [Michigan] Any possibility of getting our money back for a planned trip to Mexico due to dangers of travel?

Question: Hello guys. So a group of girls have been planning a trip to Mexico for a while. The travel agent has already been paid, the trip is September 22nd-26th. With the recent issues in Mexico regarding kidnappings, deaths, and tampered-with alcohol in the resorts, we are really second guessing the trip's safety. And now there has been an [official travel warning](https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html). Is there anything we can legally stand behind in order to get our money back from the travel agency? I figure it is a long shot, but worth a try. Thank you!

Answer:
 > With the recent issues in Mexico regarding kidnappings, deaths, and tampered-with alcohol in the resorts, we are really second guessing the trip's safety.

This has been happening for years, so this should be no surprise.

> And now there has been an official travel warning.

That same warning has been around for a long time. The December 8th, 2016 warning can be found [here](https://web.archive.org/web/20170731231424/https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html) and as you will notice, very little has changed. I have been traveling to Mexico for work for the past 4 years and the same warning has always been in place.

>Is there anything we can legally stand behind in order to get our money back from the travel agency?

This depends on your contract/agreement. They may allow a partial refund or other items (destination change or reschedule) in lieu of full money back.


Title: My father told me he was laid off from an old job because his employers were looking to hire younger engineers. He was in his low 40s at the time. Was that legal?

Question:
[deleted]
Topic:
Employment Law

Answer:
 What your father told you and what HR communicated to him are likely two completely different stories. The underlying reason may be correct but unless they're idiots they would cover themselves.Answer #2: Sure, it could be age discrimination.

Proving it is another story.


Title: If I back into someone who drives behind me who is at fault?

Question: [deleted]

Answer: Fault/liability doesn't have to be 100%. You could both be at fault. It would be up to insurance or a judge to decide


Title: Husbands ex is going for custody, how can we show that she is unable to provide for the child?

Question:
In short husband got full custody in the divorce for son, but because of his job and the mother pleading he left him with her and paid her child support agreed in the divorce. She has had him for about 4 years now. Husband asked son if he wanted to come live with him for a little while so he can spend more time with him and bond rather then their once a week phone calls and she flipped out and now filed for custody and had him served.

She is not a good provider and has three other kids all with different fathers. She never holds a job longer than a few months if she does work, lives off child support, the state, and whoever is in a relationship with her at the time (she is currently married, though hasn't been for long, he is the only one bringing in money to the household). She is also very much in debt. My husband gives the most out of all the fathers and we are sure she is mostly fighting for the money.

How can we show that we can provide better for his son than she can? What documents should we bring? Will my paycheck also be included to show we have even more stability than her? Will her husbands count also? Can we make her show her (bad) debts and how much she owes? That she has received help from the state?

What type of chance do we have of gaining custody?
The custody fight will be in the United States, Georgia.
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 >husband got full custody...he left him with her and paid her child support agreed in the divorce. She has had him for about 4 years now...How can we show that we can provide better for his son than she can?

After voluntarily letting her raise him for the last four years? That's going to be a hard sell. Your husband's actions show that he was OK with voluntarily giving her physical custody for years. She's been raising the child in her home all this time with your husband's agreement.

Additionally, she is clearly now the child's primary caregiver. Courts usually don't take custody away from a primary caregiver unless there's a compelling reason.

All the stuff about the various step-parents income, the mother's debt, multiple siblings, public aid, etc, is largely irrelevant to the custody issue if the child is being fed, clothed and housed to state expectations.

Does your husband have a lawyer? If not, he should hire one and ask what documents to bring to the hearing.


Title: employee is harassing everyone during his notice.

Question:
I’m in New York.

I’m kind of afraid to post this but I’m out of options. I’m going to be very vague.

I have an employee that put in his notice but is continuing to harass me and all of my employees. He’s breaking things and keeps calling my manager on me, but my manager won’t do anything about it. He says to let him do his thing or else he can collect unemployment if we fire him before his notice. Ive talked to him multiple times, but he refuses to do anything and it’s just getting worse. Is this true? We don’t have cameras.

Answer:
 If you have the authority to fire him, fire him. Easy peasy.

If you don't have the authority, and you can't convince anyone who does have authority to fire them, then there's nothing you can do.

> He says to let him do his thing or else he can collect unemployment if we fire him before his notice.

It's slightly more complicated than that but WHO CARES. The business's rate goes up a fraction of a percentage point? It's not like businesses pay the direct, actual unemployment monies.Answer #2: How much time is left in his notice?

 I’d just send him home and pay him since I have to pay him anyway.  Easy way out. Tells him “we don’t need you.”


Title: Any advice on helping with an adoption by my fiancé of my son?

Question:
So my fiancé and I have been together since my son was 10 weeks old. My son, we'll call him Cody, is now almost 4. His biological father has nothing to do with us at all. He isn't on the birth certificate and he has only seen Cody the night he was born. However, legally, I am married. When I was 19 (I'm now 27) got married and it was stupid. My "husband" and I broke up after 3 months and he moved across the country. We aren't in contact. I've tried to contact him to go through the steps of a divorce, but to no avail. So since we are legally married, I had to put his name on Code's birth certificate. I was told there would be issues getting his social security number if I didn't.

So my fiancé and I are obviously planning on getting married and he is Cody's father as far as I'm concerned, and he wants to legally adopt him. But I'm not sure how to to go about that. Has anyone been through anything like this? I don't know what to do.

Answer:
 1.  Get divorced.

2.  During the divorce get consent from your ex for the adoption.  (Bonus for him:  no child support liability).

3.  File adoption papers.


Title: Canadian facing sudden US hospital bills after a night drinking.

Question:
Hi guys,

This is my first  Reddit post, so I totally apologize in advance if I'm doing it wrong.

I'm a Canadian female and I visited Las Vegas last summer. I ended up going to the ER after drinking, and now I am faced with a total of $4,000 USD in hospital bills. ($5,375 CAD) Half of this has been paid for. But half has not.

**The Incident:**

I was at a nightclub in Las Vegas with some girlfriends. We were dancing, getting drinks, having a good time. We met some promoters earlier in the day who had a 'free promoter booth' at a beach club and we went to drink there.

I drink regularly and enjoy a good beer/wine. I'm not a light weight. I had no more than 2-3 cocktails at that night club. I don't even remember getting to that point where I think "oh shit I'm pretty drunk I better stop". It went from 1 - 100. All I can think of is that because the guys at the table made the drinks and not a bartender, maybe the alcohol ratio was a lot higher than I thought.

The next thing I knew, I woke up in the middle of a hallway in a hospital with an IV strapped to my wrist.

**The Hospital:**

&#x200B;

I woke up scared and confused around 6 - 7 a.m. My memory is very fuzzy here. I don't remember the exact sequence of events. When I came to, the nurses gave me my personal belongings back and gave me some forms telling me I was ok to leave. They asked for my ID along with my credit card, which I gave them. I knew that the US, unlike Canada, charges for hospital visits, and asked hazily how much I was paying. They said something along the lines of, "Oh we don't know yet, we put a hold on for $2500 and refund you the difference."

&#x200B;

I didn't think much about it. I just wanted to get the heck out of there. I signed the papers (without reading them, I know I know but my head was ringing and I was just so dazed) and called a cab.

When I got back to the hotel room, my friends told me that I suddenly started losing my motor functions at the nightclub after a few drinks. I couldn't keep my eyes open, and I started to go 'limp' in the booth. The bouncers were going to kick me out, so they put me in a taxi back to my hotel. They said when I got in the taxi I told them I was fine and to leave me, but I guess I fainted in the taxi and the driver took me to the ER rather than back to the hotel.

**The Bills:**

When I got home to Canada, I saw they had charged me for the entire amount of $2,500 USD on my credit card. A few weeks later, I received a bill. The amount I actually owed was closer to $2,000 USD so they refunded me the $500. There were no medical records, nothing that showed a breakdown of costs or any drug tests performed.

I called the hospital to ask for my results. I heard that it was possible someone put something in my drink, so at least I wanted to know if any drug tests were done. No one sent me anything. To this day I still don't know what I'm paying for, except that I should consider myself lucky bills were all that I ended up with. (And I agree, it was stupid and reckless and I should have been more careful.)

I thought it was over and done with. But about a month later, another hospital bill came in the amount of close to $2,000 USD. This one has yet to be paid. It just says it's for the actual physician.

I'm confused as to what this additional amount is for. When I called the hospital, they just said in the US, the hospital and doctors bill separately. Whenever I call and ask for exactly what I'm paying for, no one can give me any information aside from, "This is the Doctor's fee." I didn't receive any medical results or records. Just the same bills that show one line item - no breakdown. I can't go back to the hospital either to ask in person, the people on the phone are not helpful.

(My insurance will not cover anything because it's alcohol related - the bill was put on hold until now since we were seeing if insurance would cover.)

I don't know anything about the US medical system.

&#x200B;

Am I on the hook legally for this additional bill?
Is there any way I can contest it?

Can they really charge me this amount without me agreeing to it beforehand? (I only agreed to the first bill, when I handed over my credit card, or so I thought ...)

\- Confused Canadian

Answer: You are on the hook for the dr's bill. In the US the provider's bill independently so there will be a separate bill for the facility fees (hospital) and the physician.   You owed the hospital $2000 for whatever they did and now owe the emergency room dr for what they did.


Title: Evil Jury Duty Pains

Question: So I have jury duty and was denied excusal with having a full shoulder surgery in 6 days as well as being on Vicodin and being in a restrictive sling/pillow cast why was I denied excusal? Location Michigan.

Answer:
 >why was I denied excusal?

Because none of those are reasons you can't complete jury duty until the day of trial.

If you actually have to go in, make the attorneys aware of what is going on and you will probably be dismissedAnswer #2: Because your shoulder doesn’t impact your ability to sit and listen. You could get put on a jury for a trial the lasts 2 days and be able to successfully complete your service before surgery.


Title: Started a harassment case against my boss fired 2 days later

Question:
So I work in a factory that produces office furniture. Recently I felt I have been under fire from my boss.  Pulling me aside and telling me my work ethic is bad and slowed down the line, on a night where we had a record amount of cabinets built. He would also lecture me on things like not using a cross walk. When other people wouldn't use them and was never told to use them.  When I brought it up to other employees they had never used them I'm the 4 years they worked there or ever heard of people being asked to use them.  I was brought into the office to talk about my attitude towards another employee.  They ended up finding out the other person was embellishing story and no rude things were said. (still got in trouble was removed from forklift position and put back on assembly) so after all this and speaking with another trusted employee I decided enough was enough and went to human resources and made a harassment case. Let them know what was going on and how I felt very uncomfortable around my boss and that I felt he was trying to make me quit.  So fast forward to Thursday last day of the week.  We are in a company meeting before it starts I notice the school was calling and got worried because if the school is calling me they can't get a hold of my fiancee or my mother.  My wife broke down on the way to pick her up about 4 miles from home and 3 from the school.  She forgot her phone at home and was walking towards the school.  I made arrangements for my daughter to be picked up.  While I was on the phone with her teacher the director of human resources came outside and began to yell at me. I went to explain the situation and she threw her arms up swore and took off back into the meeting.  So after everything is done I go back into meeting sit down and listen.  Meeting gets over my boss's boss asks to speak with me he gets real loud and upset about how I just put on a show.  He doesn't care that I have a family emergency. Goes on about how disrespectful I am.  I said to him that I accept full responsibility but I had to do what I had to do.  Family comes first.  He slams his hands down on the table and tells my boss to write me up.  The night goes on I don't get written up.  Then at the end of the night my boss calls me in,  he is very friendly with me we discuss what happened earlier everything goes great I apologise and he says that he isn't going to do anything he will let his boss decide how this matter will be taken care of.  And to come in on Monday at my normal time.  So Monday comes around and I do just that I'm a little early and I'm walking around the shop and I see my boss's boss in the office so I walk in a request to speak with him and apologise the whole 9. He thanks me for apologizing and tells me everything is good.  I tell him I am going to speak with the director of human resources and apologise to her as well. So I go find her let her know the whole situation. She says that no one even told her what was going on.  She said now that she does she can understand why I did what I did and that family comes first always and goes on to tell me a story about her childhood.  After all that she pats me on the back and says don't worry about it.  So I continue my shift. I'm feeling good I didn't even get written up.  Half hour before my shift ends my boss says he wants to speak with me in the office and he's being really nice.  Talking about the recent football game over the weekend,  tells me a joke and as I'm laughing I'm thinking wow. He's actually being nice car once and then just hits me with your fired. And tells me the decision came from human resources and said that I was being dishonest about the situation.  He then walks me out without a  rebuttal.  As im sitting here thinking about it he won. He got me out the door.  He didn't like me at all and I even went to human resources about it.  I want to know where I stand as I have never been in trouble no written warnings the entire time I've been there just verbally harassed and picked on.  I've never signed any paper work starting that I have been given a verbal warning or a written warning.  As many other have that I work with.  I  am just so confused right now.

I am in Michigan and looking for legal action I can take.

Am on mobile sorry for formatting and any grammatical errors.

Answer:
 That's a helluva wall of text. But there was no illegal harassment going on from what i read.

File for unemployment while you look for a new job. There is no legal action you can take here. I'm assuming you had no contract and were not in a union.


Title: I fear as though I am being scammed on Craigslist... Can anyone help?

Question:
Hey, so this is a bit odd.
I've been taking some hardware classes on computers and feel as though I can handle simple IT.

I put an ad on Craigslist saying I can build or fix a computer for you... I was trying to get some extra cash you know?

I was thinking some people local who didn't want to spend hundreds of dollars at a computer shop to only get told their HDD is broken would be the kind of people I'd be getting.

I get an Email that is very professional seeming/ they said they had 6 laptops they needed servicing, reinstall Windows, format hard drive, install antivirus etc.

I say yeah, I can do that, sort of taken aback that someone from a seemingly corporate position would come to me for something they probably have an IT team for.

I tell them the cost will be $50 per laptop, so $300. They obliged. They said a check for $1600 (holy shit what?) will be in the mail shortly. This is a huge red flag for me... As why would they send me $1600 for a $300 job?

Well the check came and I deposited it Into the bank. Everything seems to be in order. I even transfered $1300 from my saving to checking to make sure my accounts weren't frozen or anything. It seems as though this money is legally mine, yes? But why would they send me that much money??

I hate that this is a problem... But I am tempted to keep it.

Today, they said to deduct my fee ($300) and send the rest back to them. I expected this but I'm still baffled as to why they sent me that much money, honestly it's the only reason I'm making this post.

They want me to send money via moneygram, which id never heard of before this.

I googled it and apparently it's safe to use... I went to Walmart which is where I am now, I'm typing this on mobile and apparently they offer moneygram services, which eased my mind, as I don't think Walmart would use it if it was big on scams etc.

Keep in mind I haven't even seen one of the laptops. They just sent me this $1600 check with naught but my word I'd work on the laptops. They're telling me the idea is that I will return the rest of the money so they have money for shipping fees for the laptops... Again this makes no sense

I'm a senior in high school and I just wanted some extra cash. I feel like if I go through with this it could potentially ruin me... Although everything points in the direction that they are in a much easier place to get scammed (me keeping the money and blocking Their number)... But they're not asking for bank info or anything... It just baffles me.

Could someone give me some insight to what is going on?

Thank you so much

**Edit**- apparently it's a scam and the check is a fake... I will keep the money in my bank account and move the $1300 back to my savings for ease of access by the bank.

Thanks to all who helped me out! You're doing gods work!

Answer:
 It's a very very common scam and Craigslist specifically warns you about it.

The check will bounce in about a week.  Any money you sent will be gone.  You will have to repay the back $1600.

Did you send the money already?  If not, stop!Answer #2: This is the classic counterfeit check scam.

A scammer sends you a real-looking check.  You deposit it.  Per the banking regulations, the bank makes the funds immediately available to you.  Knowing this, the scammer asks you to send a portion of the funds to somewhere or someone (which inevitably turns out to be the same scammer).  It's not until days or weeks later that the check is discovered to be counterfeit or fraudulent once it works its way through the system.  At that point, the bank reverses the transaction and withdraws the entire amount from your account.  This often leaves unsuspecting victims with a negative balance.

Do not forward the money.  Do not spend the money.  There is no money and it will disappear in a few days.Answer #3: I'm waiting for a version of a scam where an unsuspecting person is accused of receiving underage pornography and then blackmailed into accepting a fake cashiers check for far more than the amount of the blackmail.  Bonus points if the fake girl is a Nigerian princess.


Title: [Virginia] Can my neighbor build another house with the existing easement?

Question:
This is in Botetourt County, Virginia.

I've made a rough drawing of the property lines with made up names to make it more clear what is happening: [Rough drawing of property lines](https://imgur.com/a/B4iRX1V)

Frank's property doesn't have direct access to a public road. Bob and Bill gave Frank an easement a long time ago for his existing house.

Frank wants to build a house for his kid on Frank's existing property. Bob and Bill have both refused to give Frank an easement for the new house.

Frank got a building permit and has started moving dirt.

Is Frank allowed to do this? Can he use the existing easement for a new house without the land owner's permission?

Does it make any difference if the house is stick built, modular, manufactured, etc?

Thank you so much for your help!

Answer:
 IMO, and IME, and, not a lawyer but a long time working in real estate. A court is unlikely to side with Bob and Bill. As long as the house is legal per zoning (whatever type). There may be some legal reason they'd be able to argue but courts are loathe to cut people off from their homes, in general.

If Frank is trying to do a lot split, that might be a tougher call to make.

You can check the deeds of the folks involved. If the easement is called out on the deed then it isn't an easement for the people, it's an easement that runs with the property (if that makes sense). If Frank's son is going to live there I think it will be next to impossible to prevent him from using the easement.

If it's not in writing then I think it's a much grayer area, however, I still think the court will likely side with Frank.


Title: DHR took my wife and I's baby due to a call from her sister.

Question: My world just flipped upside down. I received a phone call from my hysterical wife this evening while I was driving home from work. She's telling me that DHR just took the baby. She said the social worker smelled pot in the house and we'll both have to take drug tests tomorrow which we'll both easily fail. Now before I get told "don't smoke pot with a baby." I'm gonna say hindsight is 20/20. Now I'm just sitting here in my living room pretty distraught hoping that r/legaladvice could help show me the easiest path through all of this.

Answer: Family attorney. First thing tomorrow morning. Before you go take the drug test.Answer #2: Are you saying that they physically took your baby out of your care just for smelling weed? That seems like an excessively over the top reaction. So if someone came over and smoked weed they are taking your kids because they smell it. While I can smoke weed while cps looks around my house with zero consequences. They couldn’t house all the kids of marijuana using parents. Seems like there might be more to the story.


Title: Can I move out at 16?

Question:
I'm currently 15 and focus on raising money to move in with a close friend of mine and finish HS. I'm Bi and atheist which makes living with my super religious mom and interacting with my soon-to-be step dad torturous.

 I don't wanna just scream and whine about how much I "HATE MY FUCKING LIFE AND PARENTS" like your stereotypical teen. I just wanna go and not look back. Is there a way I can do this, in California, specifically?

Answer: Not happening. I'm sorry.


Title: Laid off. Company says they are 'too small for COBRA'. Is that possible?

Question:
I live in the US, Arizona.

Is it possible for a company in the US that is still operating to lay off an employee and not provide access to COBRA? I was told in the exit interview they were 'too small' and to go the ACA ASAP.

thanks

Answer: Arizona does not have a minimum employee number for their mini COBRA. Your employer should send you a notice within 30 days of termination.


Title: CPS safety meeting in Cali in two days.

Question:
So i had a mental break down and had a relapse and my wife got scared and called my parents who called 911. When PD showed up they decided to take me to the ER for them decide if I needed a 72 psyche evaluation. The hospital discharges me a few hours later.

That Friday my probation officer comes to my house and does a search finding nothing.  I have tested clean since my release from prison 8 months ago. She asks what's going on. I tell her everything honestly and she says to go see mental health and get help because she's worried I can't handle what's going on in my life and thinks I need help.

When I went to the ER my parents took my kid for a week so my wife and I could try and relax.

That next Monday some ladies knock on the door saying they are from CPS and if they can come in. I wasn't aware at the time I could've said no so I invite them in. They start asking all these bogus questions about my drug use 2 years prior and ask for a hair test which I deny them. They take pictures of the fridge which was pretty empty because it was pay week and funds were low but there was plenty of food for our child but not stuff like for me to take a lunch to work.

They report to my probation officer I have been taking methadone to fake my drug tests the last 8 months which is not true and they recommend I left the house for my child's safety. So i check myself into a impatient drug program with the help of my provation officer. No violation just a referral to substance abuse which gets me in a 90 day program but said he will get me out in 30 -45 days and not to worry.

Now CPS has this meeting set up on Tuesday for a safety plan and the one lawyer my wife was able to talk to says that they can force her to get a restraining order on me and not allow me to see my kid. I have no idea what's going on and I feel like CPS is trying to strong arm my wife into signing this safety plan which I have read online are ways to set up the parents to fail so they can remove the child from the home .

I won't be at the meeting due to being in this program but our parents will be there. Does my wife have to sign this plan if it states in not allowed to come home even though I have been in compliance with probation for 8 months. My history of drugs and prison is pretty bad so I can see them using that against us.

We can't afford a lawyer. We barely get by check to check but my child doesn't go without his grand parents are always buying new clothes and helping with food and diapers. What happens if this plan ia trying to force me outta of my own house and she doesn't sign? What happens if she does sign because she scarred of our kid being taken and I'm not allowed to come home .

I keep reading online that CPS are a bunch of snakes and will do anything to get a child removed from the house

Please any advice would be great and I'm sorry I don't have more info on the current situation.

Answer:
 I have worked closely with CPS, though not in your state.

CPS aren't " a bunch of snakes and will do anything to get a child removed from the house " - in fact, they will do whatever they can to keep a family united. That's their goal. Even if you believe the worst, who wants to do more paperwork and spend time and energy looking for an alternate placement or a foster home if you don't have to?

Second, it sounds like CPS involvement might make sense here. You admit you had some serious mental health issues. That you needed time away from your child, which was a good choice on your part. But also that you are struggling with basic care (including having enough food in the house), your mental health, and drug issues. You're on probation and in treatment. Do you see how this could make it look like your child might need additional help and support? CPS wants to make sure your child is safe and cared for. One of the great things they do is connect you to additional resources.

A safety plan is just that - a safety plan that prioritizes the safety of *your child*. A lot is going on right now. Take a deep breath, and start making good decisions. Even if things aren't going your way right now, you can get back on the right track and consider this a bump in the road.

If there are things you should be doing now (like staying clean, and going to a food pantry instead of running low on food), you should start doing those things. If they have advised you to do anything specific, you should make a list of those things and start working on them.