Title: [Florida] I broke my ex husbands nose because he assaulted me. Do I have to pay for the damages?

Question:
This is one of the reasons why we ended up divorcing in the first place. He turned into an alcoholic piece of shit. He was coming to pick up the kids and I kindly let him come in so we can be civil in front of our kids.

They were getting ready and packed, I was making him coffee and he attempted to grope me from behind. I could tell he was intoxicated, told him to get off, he didn’t listen and ended up with a bloody nose.

I felt like I had no other choice. I don’t even know who he is anymore and he was legitamitely scaring me.

He is now going to use this to say I’m violent and that I need to pay for the damages. Am I going to have too?

Answer:
 You need to talk to your lawyer about this. A DV in proximity to your kids is a big deal and no one will be able to tell you if your actions fall into self defence or not
Answer #2: Irrelevant to the legal question, but I hope you didn't, and will not, let him drive away intoxicated with you kids. Answer #3: Call the police and report that he attacked you. Answer #4: "Will I have to pay damages?" Probably not (morally you shouldn't have to, but legally/historically things have not always gone well for DV victims that responded to their attackers with force).  Report the incident to the police asap.


Title: [CT] Our dog bit another dog on the leg after the owner intentionally let go of the leash. Are we at fault / would they be able to come after us in some way?

Question:
Our dog was on leash on our property when they came over with their dog, also on leash. The dogs were snarling and snapping at each other while being kept apart. The other person said “Maybe it would be better if they weren’t on leash” and let go of their leash.

At this point, knowing how our dog behaved around other dogs we immediately began pulling her back, but as the other dog wasn’t held back it would just come after our dog. Before we could get them apart our dog snapped at theirs and caught it’s leg. We couldn’t see any blood but the owner said there was a cut.

We exchanged contact info and later sent vaccination forms, is that the end of it or could they sue for something?

Answer: NAL, but it comes down to the fact that your dog was on leash, and their dog wasn’t. They were negligent, and so if they come to you asking to pay vet bills etc., they have no legal argument


Title: I'm 90% sure this is illegal, just looking for the extra 10%.

Question: A coworker (we'll call her Jane) was discussing her recent raise to her coworkers who then went to their boss saying "We want a raise too!" After they were denied, Jane was pulled into the office and had her raise AND an extra chunk taken from her hourly pay and split evenly to the other 2 coworkers asking for a raise. The boss told Jane it's because she was talking about her raise with other coworkers. I know talking about pay is protected, so this feels really fishy to me. Any help/advice would be wonderful.

Answer:
 Punishing workers for talking about their pay (unless they are HR and discussing confidential HR data that they were privy to) is prohibited for most employers:

http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/efte/salary_discussions.html

The worker can file a complaint:

https://www.nlrb.gov/resources/nlrb-process


Title: I was just arrested for "theft of a controlled substance", accused by a former employer.

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Retain a criminal defense attorney.  Follow her or his instructions.  Don't take controlled substances which are not prescribed to you.Answer #2: >  it wasn't actually stealing until she decided it was in her best interest to call it so.

Are you stupid?Answer #3: I hate to not be able to give positive reassurance but at this point, get an attorney and expect not great things to happen.

It is impossible to just share prescriptions. That's why you need them to be prescribed: so only people who need them can get them. Unless you can prove she shared them, she's not at fault here. No court will agree that she did something wrong, even if you can prove it you're still going to catch a charge. If you have texts or something showing her asking or giving you permission you can get her in trouble too but that's about it.

Also, you're around kids, why the hell are you taking shit? Do you not see anything wrong with that?

What you did is illegal, you can't play the victim here.


Title: How do Siamese twins get charged with a crime if only one of them committed it?

Question: My father and I were arguing over this topic because he gave a hypothetical situation: if pair of Siamese twins can't be separated because it will kill them, and one of the twins commits a fairly heinous crime (cp, murder, etc.) then how do they charge the twins? Do they let them walk because you can't legally put an innocent person in prison (Dad's argument) or do you charge both with the crime because technically the other twin is guilty by association (my argument). Do Siamese twins even count as separate people legally?

Answer: [TL:DR Nobody really knows.](http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2010/01/if_a_siamese_twin_commits_murder_does_his_brother_get_punished_too.html)There isn’t a set procedure, as the number of living Siamese twins is very low. There are a couple of stories of brothers arrested but, since all of them happened pre-1930’s, there’s little evidence that any of them happened. However, it seems unlikely that they would be sent to prison as you can’t convict a person that is known to be innocent. The twins would be considered as two separate individuals. Answer #2: I think the prosecution would argue that the “innocent” twin was still complicit in the crime. They could have sabatoged the evil twin or done something to prevent the crime. Even simply refusing to move their controlled limbs would put a huge burden on the other twin. They’re literally attached to each other so every situation is a joint decision. It’s not like they’re grabbing lunch then suddenly evil twin pulls a gun out of no where and starts shooting. Other twin would have known about the gun and would theoretically have some control of the situation.


Title: This Legal?

Question: I work construction with my buddy and our boss, we work our asses off for every minute we get paid but our boss doesn't pay us for the time we spend driving from one place to another. Spend 8 hours at work and he subtracts a good two hours everyday for the time we spend in the truck, but from my understanding shouldn't we be getting paid for our time that we could be doing something else? Just seems like complete bullshit to me.. any input? (NY)

Answer:
 Are you classified as an employee or an independent contractor as that is important. If you are an independent contractor than what the boss is doing may be unfair but is almost surely not illegal.

If you are an employee on the other hand and you are not getting paid for all of the time that you are working for the boss than that is illegal.  Check out this website that may be helpful. https://labor.ny.gov/workerprotection/laborstandards/labor_standards.shtm

If I were you and this has been going on for a long time I would contact an employee right's attorney in your area right away for an initial consultation.


Title: Two years ago, I signed a lease with a girl. All of my things got thrown out by her and another person, and the other person took over my spot (Read more in the post). Help please.

Question:
I have been dealing with this situation for two years now. I signed a lease with my friend, it was a 12 month lease for an apartment. Things were going good for the first two months, but then she got into a bad crowd of people and started hanging out with this one girl, named S.

One day, in April of 2017, I came home to my apartment to see all of my things thrown out in the hallway and I was told to get out pretty much. I was being bullied constantly and so I left. I contacted my landlord, let them know that I had been thrown out and S was living in the apartment but was not on the lease. They did nothing, and I kept paying my half of the rent. 4 months later, my roomate and S got evicted. After damages and all fees, we now owe 7,000 dollars. My roomate is refusing to pay her half and I am told that it is my responsibility to pay the whole 7,000.

I tried everyday until they were evicted to get off of the lease, but my landlord said that it was impossible and basically tough shit. What can I do?! I’m so so sick of this situation!!! Please help!

Answer: Your best option is to pay her and then sue for the $7000 plus whatever rent you paid after she kicked you out. Answer #2: Pay it and then sue her.


Title: Employers tell part-time parent she can't have her child around when working from home. Can they do that?

Question:
UK. A mother of two (3 & 8 y/o) worked at big company for 14 years. Went part-time seven years ago (Wed/Thur/Fri). When she had her second and returned to work (2015), the company verbally agreed that she could work from home on Fridays to look after her daughter.

Today she was told that the arrangement is no longer in play, and if she wishes to work from home on any of her three days, the is not allowed to have her child around.  She has been given two weeks to make arrangements.

She has an unblemished record, her line manager said she "didn't want to change anything but has to" because two other team members are seeking the same terms.

It's also worth noting that this company actively encourage WFH around the wider business (10k+ office-based employees).

Are they able to insist upon these terms, and what should she do next?

Answer: In the US, this would be perfectly legal. But /u/s-dubya is correct that you should ask this in the UK Legal Advice subreddit.


Title: Can I refuse workman’s comp?

Question:
I work in a daycare in PA.

I was on the playground with my kiddos when I fell off a concrete lip and rolled my ankle. I reported it within 24 hours to HR. HR got back to me 2 days later with the paperwork and told me to go to the doctors. It’s a rolled ankle, and it isn’t like I took a day off or anything. I wrapped it and came into work and continue to do my job.

I refused going to the doctors and was written up for insubordination. They told me I have 24 hours to see a doctor or I will be terminated.

Do I legally have to go to the doctors?
Topic:
Personal Injury

Answer:
 They can require a medical evaluation. This way in 4 months you can’t say hey my ankle hurts from oh so long agoAnswer #2: You are not legally required to go to the doctors.

PA is an at-will state however, so your employer can fire you for any not protected reason (race, gender, etc). This means that they can fire you for not going to the doctors.


Title: A guest at my Colorado hotel is refusing to answer the two permissable questions about her [likely fake] service dog. It is always off-leash, walks up to other guests, and wandered into an employees-only area. Do we have to go suck a lemon?

Question:
tl;dr at the end.
[ADA.gov:  Frequently asked questions about service animals](https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/service_animal_qa.html)
[Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended](https://www.ada.gov/pubs/adastatute08.htm)

The ADA allows us to ask two questions:
1) "Is the animal required because of a disability?"
2) "What work or tasks has the animal been trained to perform?"
A dog was off-leash in our buffet area, walking up to people so they could pet her.  She also wandered behind the front desk.  She wasn't hurting anything (and seemed really sweet), so I approached the guest, complimented her on the dog, and asked her politely to keep it out of the buffet area.  She hostile with me and told me it's a service dog.  I asked the two questions and she yelled in front of everyone at breakfast that she wasn't going to talk about it.  I asked again and she repeated herself--"I'm not going to talk to you about it."
The ADA says service dogs can only be off-leash if it's specifically required by the nature of the person's disability, but (obviously) I have no way of discerning the nature of her "disability".  It doesn't say anything about what happens if the person plants her feet refuses to answer those two questions.
tl;dr a person with a likely fake service dog is refusing to answer the two questions I'm allowed to ask; she also has it off-leash and while it's very tame, she doesn't appear to have much control over it. Can I ask her to leave?

Answer:
 > Can I ask her to leave?

Even if it's a legitimate service dog it's causing a disruption/nuisance and you can ask her to leave at any time because of that. Answer #2: > The service animal must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered while in public places unless these devices interfere with the service animal's work or the person's disability prevents use of these devices. In that case, the person must use voice, signal, or other effective means to maintain control of the animal. For example, a person who uses a wheelchair may use a long, retractable leash to allow her service animal to pick up or retrieve items. She may not allow the dog to wander away from her and must maintain control of the dog, even if it is retrieving an item at a distance from her.

Is the dog under control? It doesn’t sound like it.

> If a service animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control it, staff may request that the animal be removed from the premises.

Yes, you can ask her to remove the animal from the premises.


Title: [New York] As a tenant, can I refuse my Landlord's plan to remodel the bathroom?

Question: I am a tenant and sub-lease a Co-Op in Westchester, NY and my lease is up in 2 months. I just got a 60 day notice from my Landlord that the lease will not be renewed and I need to move out. They also said that they will be coming in with Plumbers/Contractors to get an estimate for remodeling the bathroom with plans to start construction next month, before I move out. [Here](http://imgur.com/a/I93Cb) is what I signed with the landlord in regards to entry to the unit. Can I tell the Landlord that I do not want any construction in the bathroom while I still live there? Can the Landlord say that they are just repairing a leaky bathtub faucet that I've previously complained about but then still remodel/change pipes/tiles/cabinet? Looks like they are planning to completely re-do the entire bathroom. What are my rights? Please help as I really don't want to have any construction/dust/fumes in my apartment, especially since I will not be benefiting from the new bathroom. Thank You!

Answer: Is there another bathroom in the unit? Will these repairs make it non functional? i.e. no sink, toilet, shower, etc?Answer #2: Your rights are that as per D, they need to wait until you've vacated the premises or basically have vacated the premises to remodel or change the bathroom. Tell them to pound sand or let you out early if they want to do this.


Title: [Serious][NSFW] how does bestiality where the animal is initiating and following through stand in court?

Question: l2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5du3buuCkD3OKxypd0irAEyyXnVAyuJ7skvLaXaproy9FlIxVyxDl2peuOEtBp5

Answer: Consent isn't an issue in the statute. This is one of those laws to stop behavior that normal people know instinctively is disgusting. That's probably as deep as the philosophical underpinnings of the law go. Now put the bong down son and take a nap. Your bud is taking you to the wrong places.Answer #2: Yes, they can.  No, animals can't consent.  Yes, bestiality is illegal in most states.  No, no one is likely to care enough to bring suit.


Title: Girlfriends mother keeps ordering expensive items in my girlfriends name, promises to pay it back but doesnt

Question:
So, i just found my gf's mother owes her around $10000, by ordering things in her name and never paying it back.

The mother already have financial problems and cant get a loan or buy anything, which is why she does this.

My gf wont press charges or do anything to her mother, and just hopes she will stop and start paying it back.

What can i/we do to stop this? I guess the paying back part can wait, but i need her to be safe and not keep getting random invoices which she feels like she has to pay.

Answer:
 There’s no middle ground. Your girlfriend has to grow a pair. She has to cut Mom off and close down all accounts Mom has access to. If it continues, she has to report the identity theft to the police.

Speaking from experience: this kind of financial abuse will continue as long as the financially abusive parent is alive, if the child allows it, so keep that in mind in your relationship going forward.


Title: Can a third party assert a common law marriage? [Texas]

Question:
My SO and I are trying to avoid entering into a common-law marriage. We are neither engaged nor married. We do not tell people we are married, and if someone asks one of us "where's your husband/wife" we do correct them, but I realize some people probably assume we are married and don't ask or say anything. I don't believe we have any community property (other than the dog), we don't have any joint accounts at this time but may in the future.

If one of us were to be personally sued, would the petitioner go so far as to try to prove that we were common-law married to try to claim/seize the other's assets or money? Is that even a thing?
Topic:
Other Civil Matters

Answer:
 No. One of the requirements of a common law marriage in Texas is that you and your SO agree to be married. I've never seen a third party assert common law marriage to collect from someone's SO.

>I don't believe we have any community property (other than the dog)

No. You have zero community property so long as you are not married. The dog is jointly owned. Answer #2: Poor puppy, his parents living in sin.  :-)


Title: Hospital won’t give my aunt any documents regarding her recently deceased husband, as she can’t prove she’s the woman he had married.

Question:
First of all, this all takes płace in Germany.

Tldr; My aunt was born in Poland as Elżbieta in the city Chorzów, but after she had married (to a native German man) and left Poland to live in Germany her first German ID said her name was Elisabeth and that she had been born in Königshütte. Now the state/hospital doesn’t acknowledge that Elisabeth is the same person as Elżbieta and refuses to give her any legal documents regarding her husband, as she apparently isn’t the person he had married.

Alright, so.
My aunt was born in Chorzów, Poland under the name Elżbieta. Her birth certificate confirms that. In her early adulthood she married a German man and decided to leave Poland to live with him in Germany. The marriage certificate also says that her name was Elżbieta at that time. When she moved to Germany, she only had her passport with her, so she went to the city hall to get her ID done, and the people who were responsible for that had changed her name and city of birth to their German equivalents (without giving any documents that would confirm that). And when she came to pick her ID it said that her name was Elisabeth and that she had been born in Königshütte (German name for Chorzów). She thought none of it as it essentially meant exactly the same thing. The situation had never been a problem anywhere, and it was never brought up again.

This was bout 50 years ago. A week ago my aunt’s husband died in hospital due to a rather sudden and quickly-progressing illness. And when my aunt wanted to get any documents regarding his death and illness from the hospital to organize the funeral and perhaps get some money support from the city, the hospital refused to do it as her ID says “Elisabeth” and the marriage certificate says “Elżbieta”, and she has to prove that she’s the same person first.

We’ve looked through all the documents she has stored through all the years, and there’s a visible gap between her life in Poland and her life in Germany after the marriage, regarding the name written in those documents. There isn’t a single legal document that would confirm or in any way acknowledge the name change from Polish to German.

Where can we go to fix this, or what sort of documents should we get that would confirm that she’s the same person?

Answer:
 You can ask Standesamt to provide you with the (accredited) marriage certificate and the accredited birth certficate of your aunt, your aunt will have to be with you for that. They will usually sort out the documentation and your aunt will have papers to provide to the hospital that way.

If that isn't enough, get a lawyer. RVG ([https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/rvg/](https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/rvg/)) has the lists of how much of a fee you have to expect. You can manage that, and it's usually to be paid then the situation is completed. She has a legal right to those documents. If the hospital gives in immediately, you can probably get a good discount in the fees, if you have to go to court, ask your lawyer for "Rechtskostenbeihilfe".

I wish you all the best, and I feel weird having to translate my throughts into English and you having to translate it all back..

\--KatAnswer #2: Has she asked the hospital what records they want to prove she is who she says she is?


Title: Landlord denies I left a deposit

Question: I just moved out from a house that I shared with many roommates after my lease was up and the landlord denies that I have ever left a security deposit. The issue is that my girlfriend who also lived with me there was the one who paid both of our rents and deposit in the form of money orders. I would reimburse her for the monthly expenses via Venmo. It has been over 30 days since I moved out and I have not gotten any direct communication from the landlord regarding my deposit. My girlfriend forwarded me an email chain with the landlord stating I have never left a deposit. This is wrong and I have an email of him requesting my deposit as soon as I move in. It is also stated in our lease that a security deposit is required. My question is that if I don’t have a bank record of a transaction that specifically says “security deposit” will I have a valid claim? Thanks for listening!

Answer: You should be able to get with the company that issued the money order and get a copy of the item clearing his bank. If you don’t have the check number, try to get the amount and day you bought it to make things easier


Title: Craigslist deal for gift card in CO

Question:
I was initially offered a quarter ounce of Marijuana for the $50 gift card I possess. I refused and said the only way I would accept that is if I gave him the card today as a gesture of good will and he decided at a later date he wanted to repay me.

He says he is not comfortable with taking free stuff and would give me the marijuana for free and pay $5 for the gift card.

In the very off chance this is a police officer, am I liable for anything in the scenario he offered?

Answer: Just don't do it. It's not worth the risk.


Title: [FL] Apartment Complex saying that the air quality in our Bathroom is bad and need to move out for a week. (More inside)

Question: We've complaied about the mold in our bathroom for over a year and each time all they did was say "We'll take care of it" but each time all they did was scrub the mold down and repaint the cieling and walls. After sometime the paint would peel and chip exposing and spreading the mold. About a month ago we demanded an air quality check to be done. A seperate company came in and did the test, just now the Apartment complex is saying that we won't get the results but that it is "really bad" and they are going to completly renovate it, remove the carpets in the apartment and check the A/C Unit. We've been living in these conditions for years and nothing? Now all of a sudden it's "really bad" and have to be moved out? What can we do/should we do? I wanted to get some advice, because I wanna know what our options are, thanks.

Answer:
 >What can we do/should we do?

Is your landlord supplying a temporary unit until the remediation is complete? If not, I would ask for that. This is what I got when my apartment had to undergo a major mold remediation. If your landlord won't do this or doesn't have spare units, ask them to reimburse you for a motel stay. If that is denied, you could try withholding the cost of temporary housing from your rent, but I highly recommend you speak to a lawyer before you do this.


Title: What does "you can't get blood from a rock" actually mean?

Question: I understand the phrase but all the time in /r/legaladvice people are advised not to pursue something for that reason. What actually ends up happening if you go after someone who can't afford it?

Answer: If that person has no money, and doesn't have the means to get enough money, they you don't get your money.


Title: Access to Courts

Question: I saw a person trying to park in Florida at the county courthouse who could not afford to pay at the meter. There is no free parking anywhere near the Courthouse. How is this not an access to court issue?

Answer: Because walking is available.


Title: Can Ex Husband get restraining order against Boyfriend of Ex Wife?

Question: My husband and I are divorcing.  I have found a new boyfriend and I had previously worked with for two years. So he is no stranger to me or my kids.  He had been around my kids before my husband and I wanted to divorce. Recently My husband has been petty and sort of jealous. My husband and my boyfriend had a few choice words to say to each other. While I  was staying at my boyfriends house, my husband came to his house and wanted to talk to him. He wouldn't leave and my husband tried to get me in his truck. So basically my husband trespassed. Now my husband wants to get a restraining order against my boyfriend to not be around my kids. Mind you, my boyfriend has NEVER threatened or abused my kids, and never harmed me or my kids. Can my husband be successful with a restraining order?

Answer: Sounds like what you need is a custody order.


Title: Writing Sample was Published Without My Knowledge

Question:
I applied for a blogger job a while back and didn't get it. Oh well, these things happen. BUT, as part of the interview process, I was asked to write a sample article to demonstrate my writing ability. Today I found that same article posted on the website verbatim. While most of the site's articles have bylines, this one just says staff. I have the time-stamped emails containing the exercise request and my attachments.

My question is: Am I entitled to any compensation for use of my work, and if so, what type of attorney do I need to visit? Thanks in advance.

EDIT: This is Illinois

Topic:
Intellectual Property

Answer:
 I would send them a certified letter stating along the lines of.

I'm glad you were so impressed with my work and decided to publish it under "staff", lets talk terms and sign a contract for the position X Is tomorrow a good day for you?
Answer #2: Start with a demand letter demanding that you be paid for the article, your name attached to it, or that it must be removed. Threaten legal action in the letter if they do not comply. That should scare them. If they don't respond to your letter, then I would seek the advice of an IP lawyer.Answer #3: http://ilf.isba.org/search.html

Intellectual property lawyer.Answer #4: I'd send them a bill.


Title: Got send bad link. Chan site. What do I do?

Question:
Someone on Reddit I was chatting with told me to check this site out, it was a 4chan type site, so I clicked it, not thinking anything of it, but it showed CP.

Where do I report it? Or do I ignore it? In my panic I deleted my account so I can't report the guy who send it to me.

I know it's selfish but i'm worried if I report it anyone who visited it gets a visit by the cops or something. It's so fucked up, never thought I'd see it myself.

Edit: location is in the US, online.

Answer: What in the hell is with the CP issues on this sub these days?? Ignore it, you're fine. One bad link does not get the FBI at your door.


Title: Is it possible for me to get emancipated?

Question: So, I'm a 15 y/o kid, and I've been wanting to get emancipated for a long time. From the looks of it my home life doesn't seem very bad. I go to school my family is financially stable, and alot of the time my family doesnt really bother each other or anything. But ever since this year started I've been having really bad depression and emotional and mental stress. Alot of it comes from my mom who always says I'm dumb and insults me, and overall she treats me very unfairly about alot of things i.e. If my brother does something and I do the same thing she starts screaming at me about how bad of a kid I am and how dumb and irresponsible I am. Basically, my mother causes me alot of horrible mental and emotional stress and I just feel I would be better off not being around her, my parents are divorced and my father is never around and not much better. I was wondering if it would be possible for me to get emancipated and the process of how it works.

Answer:
 Emancipation is impossible unless you can provide for yourself.

For situations where your home life is untenable, you'd have to call your state's equivalent (I don't see a state listed) of Department of Child and Family Services or Child Protective Services and make a complaint. It'll be investigated, after which an adjudication will be made.

Based on what you've said, namely:

> my family is financially stable

> family doesn't really bother each other

You don't have much to go on. Mental and emotional stress are part of the standard teenage package; at risk of sounding blunt, best to just stay out of trouble, do your best in school, and have an exit plan in place when you turn 18.Answer #2: You will not be emancipated unless you can show that you are able to maintain employment and support yourself without the help from an adult.  Have you talked with a trusted adult about your depression and mental stress?


Title: Boss won’t let me quit

Question:
English isn’t my first language, apologies in advance.
This happened in Sweden.

Tl;dr of what happened:
Me to boss: Hey, I’m getting bullied by coworkers and I would want to quit ASAP. I’ve been having panic attack’s and I don’t feel safe here.
Boss: We barely have enough people, you’re not leaving.

Too proud to just stop showing up or calling in sick.
Can my boss just refuse to let me go? And when my pride breaks, is it a crime to leave a message and just stop showing up to work?
Topic:
Non-US

Answer:
 The following is based on research anyone can do on Google, and is even less trustworthy than average for this sub. For a more complete answer, ask a local attorney.

However, it looks like unless you've signed a contract providing otherwise, you owe [a month's notice](https://www.oresunddirekt.dk/english/in-english/stop-working-in-sweden/termination-when-you-work-in-sweden) if you're resigning. Your boss doesn't have to "accept" it - it's not a request. You may be able to quit on shorter notice for good cause, such as workplace violence and harassment.

If your contract does provide a specific notice period, or if you plan on quitting without notice, talk to a lawyer to make sure you have your risks covered.


Title: [Wyoming] Disputing credit charge charge on moral reasons

Question:
Is it legal to dispute a credit card charge based on moral grounds?

I paid in advance for dog training services. I have attended 3 classes, and have now found that the owner of the company was involved in a relationship with an underage girl and I no longer feel comfortable using their services. Do I have a case for disputing the charge?

Answer: You can certainly not patronize the business anymore but it's not a valid reason to dispute a charge if the service is being provided. You won't win. As a thief, you are also in no position to claim the moral high ground if you do this.


Title: Are there laws out there for tenants when they move in and notice and hear their new neighbors are the party age drinking. I’m freaking out. Can I get out of my 9 month lease for that reason? They are loud!

Answer: How many times have you spoken to your landlord about rhis? How many noise complaints have you made to the police?


Title: Religious accommodations in the workplace, Michigan, USA

Question: I work at a restaurant in the state of Michigan, and was told by my manager that we aren't allowed to request Easter Sunday off. Is this not protected under some sort of religious discrimination law?

Answer:
 They are required to make reasonable accommodations in a fair and non-discriminatory manner.

If the business has more than 15 employees then the federal civil rights act applies and additionally michigans civil rights act applies to all companies with any employees.

But the requirement is that they make "reasonable accommodations" and don't discriminate.

This means that if they need to be open and need to be staffed on Easter, that could make it reasonable for them not to make the accommodation for you.

The "don't discriminate" bit means they can't allow for one group to get religious holidays but not allow them for another. Basically they're required to be consistent. But to clarify this, if kwanza is a normal day and therefore easy to give time off but Easter is super busy, then this would be a reasonable non-discriminatory justification.

There's an expectation that they should allow for (unpaid) religious holidays so far as it is reasonable. If Easter is a busy day then that would probably be enough to make denial reasonable.


Title: Stuck in a foreign country, with no means of travel.

Question:
Hi, I am a Turkish citizen that's living in Albania, my home country refuses to provide a passport, and they tell me that I need to go to Turkey to apply for it. There is a big political issue in Turkey, and I honestly do not feel safe going back due to the political stance of the leading party. I also do not feel safe seeking asylum here, since Albania is heavily influenced by the Turkish leader. Is there any way I can get to a safe country(any country really), where I can seek asylum?

Anything is appreciated since I feel like I'm actually stuck here.

Answer:
 >Is there any way I can get to a safe country

This here is going to be your problem, a lot of countries will consider Turkey a safe country. (There might be exceptions that apply to you but generally speaking you'll likely have trouble finding any country to accept your assylum request).


Title: [MN] HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION: I'm on probation for a small amount of weed and I'm on the highway driving, and a cop pulls me over. Does this cop have the authority to search THE TRUNK of my car without probable cause or reasonable suspicion just because he/she feels like it?

Question: While we're at it, do they even have the authority to just regularly search my car in this situation?

Answer:
 You have significantly reduced rights as someone on probation.  If you remember the paperwork you got for getting probation, it includes the right to random and suspicionless searches or your body, residence, or stuff.

In other words, yes they can search your trunk, and the basement of your house too.


Title: [ILLINOIS] Hospital assigned late wife's medical bills to me

Question:
My wife passed away in October. She had no estate and was on social security when she passed.  We never mingled finances. I paid for all living expenses (rent, bills, etc.). She had a small business and handled her own finances (two small credit cards less than $2k were her only debts). We filed taxes seperately.

She was on my medical insurance. When she passed I mailed out all of her creditors the death certificate.

One hospital took her remaining debt to them (about $8k in charges. She'd paid them about half a million over ten years via insurance payments and co-pays) and simply wrote my name on it and sent it to collections as overdue.

I spoke to their billing dept as Illinois is not a community property state and my understanding is that what they're doing is illegal.  They said it's their policy to assign patients' debts to anyone listed on the death certificate (parents, spouses, etc.).

My question is, is that legal? Can they simply assign my name to a bill and destroy my credit? Seems like fraud and extortion.

Does the fact that she was on my medical insurance (provided through my employer) make it my debt?

No other company has attempted to collect against me for her debts. I never signed anything with the hospital.

Any help appreciated.

Answer: The Illinois Family Expense Act makes spouses liable for each other’s medical bills. Google “Illinois Family Expense Act deceased spouse medical bills” and you will find the info you need.Answer #2: That is illegal, maybe speak with an attorney about her estate.Answer #3: Ask the collections company for validation of the debt first. They cannot provide it since you didn’t contract the hospital’s services and any bill should have been filed against her estate not you personally.


Title: Is this business model legal?

Question: Hello I'm a college student from Texas. Websites such as "Chegg" and "Course hero" give access to textbook solutions that students can then use to get answers to their homework problems ect. The subscription fee to these sites are generally high and very few students actually purchase them. From my understanding they offer a limited amount of "unlocks" per month for your account. I've recently found that there is a secondary market of students selling personal question unlocks at a micro-fee for students who need solutions to only these specific problems. My question is are they operating under legal ground? Sorry if this isn't the right subreddit for this question, I only place it here because I think it could apply to being a business.

Answer: Cheating on homework isn't illegal. Though it is a violation of any school's academic policy.


Title: [AL] Wife and I are getting a divorce and she threatening to take money that my parents gave me for a house.

Question:
Alright so to start off, I live in alabama. I was stupid and got married at the age of nineteen to my nineteen year old girlfriend. We are both now twenty two. To keep the story short we were on the verge of buying a house. my parents were giving me money for a down down payment, around thirty thousand.  As soon as we were on the last few days of siging papers and inspections she decides she wants to take a break from our marriage and go live in TN with her friends. After that she decided its over and wants a divorce.

Next I go to the bank and get a cashiers check for the amount my parents gave me as gift money for the house and gave it back to them. This account is in her name but I am also on the account and was able to take the money out once I showed my ID and answered security questions.

Her mom is a complete mess and is all about some drama so she has been telling her that she should go to court for the divorce an get half of the that money from my parents.  She is also saying she could sue me or something because I stole money out of her account.

She is now seeing another man, even though we are still legally married. There is evidence of it on facebook, my friends have seen them together, everything to show she is cheating on me.

Is there anything I can do to tell her that all of her threats are empty and she needs to leave me alone about the thirty thousand?

Thanks ahead of time for any information or help. It is all greatly appreciated. If i left off important information I'm sorry, I will be checking this all day and will provide what you need.

Answer:
 IANAL - don't know what she can do legally about the money but get a signed letter from your parents now that states the money was  for a down payment of a house and  *only* a down payment of a house. The money was not for you two to spend freely on whatever you wanted but specifically for this house. And since no house was purchased, regardless of your marital status, the money was returned to them.

Keep copies of any text or emails you had previously with your parents about using this money for a down payment.

And stop calling it a gift. Answer #2: If you gave back the money to your parents simply to avoid your wife getting half of it, that may not work out in your favor in divorce proceedingsAnswer #3: "The court does not have the right to distribute any separate property that was obtained before or during the marriage. The separate property is, but not limited to gifts and inheritances, unless these gifts and inheritances have been used to benefit both spouses as a married couple."

http://www.divorcesupport.com/divorce/Alabama-Property-Division-Factors-408.html

Maybe not an authoritative source, but if your parents gave a gift of money to YOU to buy a house, it would seem that it was separate property.

The above is not legal advice. I don't represent you and don't practice in your jurisdiction. Answer #4: Have you filed for divorce yet? Has she?

If not, I think you both have the right to clean out bank accounts, as it's money that belongs to you both.


Title: Truck backed into me. I got a picture of the license plate. Is there a way to find the company through it?

Question:
As the title suggest I driving down a narrow street and a truck backed into me. The driver did not attempt to swap info and drove away. I happened to grab a picture of the license plate.

Is there a way I or my insurance company can find the company through it? Also should I even alert my insurance or would it be less of a headache for me to go out of pocket?

Thank you for reading.

Answer:
 >Is there a way I or my insurance company can find the company through it?

Yes. That's one of the purposes of license plates.  In most states doing so is a matter of filling out a form to request the information and often an affidavit as to your allowable purpose.

>Also should I even alert my insurance or would it be less of a headache for me to go out of pocket?

That's your call.  And may depend on the cost of the damages compared to your deductible.  If the damages are more than your deductible, you might consider a claim against your own collision policy.  If the insurer recovers the amount from the other driver, they may recover your deductible for you.


Title: Can I get fired for publicly speaking against a service my employer provides?

Question:
I work for a large healthcare system in Portland Oregon. My son was diagnosed with something pretty severe and rare. The care I was receiving was horrible. They would have left my son mentally and physically disabled.

We transferred my son to Seattle Children's Hospital and they were shocked by the suggested treatments. Now that my son has overcome his largest hurdles, our physician in Seattle suggested doing routine care where I work so we don't have to drive up every two weeks.

They're refusing to see my family.

I feel betrayed and angry and I want to do something to lash out at them. My only thought is to tell our story on social media. I fear backlash though.

On a side note, I work in a different department and have a great relationship with my boss and team.

Answer: Barring a union agreement or a contract controlling termination, yes, you can be fired for that.


Title: Lent a friend my trumpet in high school, now he's made modifications and doesn't want to give it back.

Question:
My mother gifted me an $800 trumpet when I started high school. To this day this is the most valuable gift I have received, mostly because my mother died about 2 years afterwards from breast cancer. I went to a public high school with instruments in less than ideal condition. When I graduated, I lent my trumpet to the person I would believe to be the next lead trumpet. The implication was that he would give it back after he finished high school, as I had no real use for it having quit playing music.

I've asked for it back over social media but he's pretty adamant that he has some sort of claim on it for doing $500 or so of modifications and repairs to it. I don't have a receipt or any real proof of ownership except for pictures with me using it. Might be able to find original purchase receipt if I ask my dad (eBay maybe?). Can definitely find people that will both for the trumpet being mine if that's useful.

My question is if there are any legal steps I can take/threaten to take in this situation.
Topic:
Small Claims Procedure

Answer:
 > My question is if there are any legal steps I can take/threaten to take in this situation.

You can sue them for the value of the trumpet when you lent it to them. Witness testimony that the trumpet was yours and you lent it to this person can be used as evidence of ownership. Also, any messages where the person admits they don't want to give it back because they modified it may constitute acknowledgment that the trumpet is yours as well. Answer #2: You mentioned that returning the trumpet was somehow implied. Is it possible this person is under the mistaken impression that you gifted it to them instead?


Title: Nephew fell 6 ft through rusted grate into human waste

Question: [deleted]

Answer:
 Document what happened with photos as best you can. If you just want to have his medical bills covered, then you should probably speak to the municipality that is responsible for maintaining the cover. If you want something more, then speak to a personal injury attorney.Answer #2: Personal injury attorney, they'll eat this case up. You can use your state's referral service if you don't know any personally. Just type your state and "attorney referral" into Google. Answer #3: First off- Thank you for getting his medical needs covered before posting.

Second- Document everything. Get the reports from the on scene emergency services response, photograph the grate and use a flash light to show depth and a one use tape measurer to show the exact depth both of the fall and waste. Take this evidence to an attorney who can help proceed with how to deal with obtaining reimbursement for his injuries and do as instructed.

Not a lawyer, praying for the best of your kin and no complications.Answer #4: Since this may be/is likely to be a case against a governmental entity, you should not wait to speak to a personal injury attorney. Often, you have only 30 days to notify cities of potential PI claims.


Title: 17 yrs old got caught by LEO for pulling a BB gun on another kid. (IL)

Question: This is kinda beyond my experience. I wasn't on site and not sure what happened. I'm guessing a criminal lawyer is a must at this point. What are the implications and best case scenario?

Answer:
 A lawyer is absolutely a must.

No one can’t predict outcomes but in this instance there is probably a *huge* range.


Title: Court Question

Question: I was in municiple court today and pleades guilt to a charge. The converstation between the judge and me was that I had a vape and I pleaded guilty to having a vape. The only word mentioned in the courtroom regarding the vape was the word "vape". However, on to form I was charged with "Tobacco Possession Or Consumption, Under 18 Years - 1st Offense". The vape I had had juice with only Nicotine in it, which obviously isnt tobacco. What can I do? Does the word Tobacco include nicotine only juice legally or what?

Answer: Vape juice with nicotine IS a tobacco product. Just pay your fine and move on with your life.


Title: Can I break a Utah housing lease contract after child was diagnosed with autism

Question: I have been living in the same condo for 5 years now.  I am a perfect tenant, I pay my rent on time, no complaints.  We found out a couple of months ago that our little girl is on the autism spectrum and we are doing what we need to through different therapies to help her.  We have been told by different therapists that her having a small dog would help her in different areas and where we are now doesn't allow animals.  We also would like her to have more space to run around. We have found a single level home that is much bigger.  We have been required to sign a one year lease every year in our current townhouse but does this life changing event help us legally to break our lease?  We have contacted the landlord and even after being perfect tenants and saying we would give him 30 days he told us that by us signing the lease that legally we have to fulfill that lease.  Can I break the lease contract somehow?

Answer:
 You can't break the lease, but the FHA (Federal Housing Act) requires that your landlord "reasonably accommodate" your daughter's disability (autism).

Ask your doctor for a written recommendation for a dog to treat your daughter's disability.  Give a copy to your landlord informing him that you will be bringing an emotional support animal into the house.

The landlord cannot charge you an additional deposit or rent for having an emotional support animal, but you will be liable for any damage the animal does to the property.Answer #2: You can't break the lease without being held liable for the remainder due (although he is required to mitigate his damages.) My advice is to look for a replacement tenant. The landlord likely allow you to leave if you find him an adequate replacement tenant.


Title: Band member left and wants rights to the songs

Question:
We have been playing music for about a year now and recently we finally found a singer and one of the members got pissed off and left the band.

We have released the some songs on youtube under the copyright of the band name. He is saying that he wrote 3 of the 4 songs and wants profits from them and for us to not use them in any future advertisement purposes. (We have a gig coming up and we going to play them).
The first song we came up with in his house with him being the primary person with the riffs but everybody had input. I personally wrote all of the lyrics for the song and he had nothing to do with it.
The other song he is mentioning is an adaptation from a riff my friend came up with a year ago so it isn't necessarily

original from him and it has no lyrics currently.

The only copyright we have on these songs in under the name of the band on [ditto.com](https://ditto.com), neither us or him have copyrighted the song legally as solo artists.

I am just wondering what would be the best way to approach this situation as I can't say I have had much experience with this before.

Thanks for any help and if you need to know more information please don't hesitate to ask.

Answer:
 > under the copyright of the band name

This may not be effective. Copyrights can be held by corporate entities, but unless you've done the work to incorporate your band, and had the members sign agreements assigning their rights to the band's creative work over to that entity, the rights are likely held in joint and complicated ways by the members actually involved in creating the works in question, instead.

For practical purposes, you may need to either buy him out in return for a signed agreement handing his rights over to someone in the band, or re-record the songs he played and give up the songs he composed.

This is _depressingly_ common for small bands. Unfortunately, the best fix is to negotiate the rights before you start playing together - but that's work most bands aren't really equipped to do, and in any case it's a bit late for that now. These kinds of situations can be a nightmare to actually litigate, because there's a maze of implied licensing and rights ownership to navigate, so working out something amicable is _very much_ in your interest.


Title: Help needed: harassed by ex-gf

Question:
I was hoping to get some ideas or help on how to handle my current situation.

About 2 months ago I ended an on-again / off-again relationship with a somewhat emotionally unstable woman. Since then I get no less than 20-30 emails and voicemails a day. In the interest of my own sanity, I have mail / phone filters so the emails get marked as read and dumped to a separate folder and the vmails go the blocked messages etc.

It would be healthier if I didn't keep reading and listening to these messages but many of them contain various threats. I don't feel comfortable just ignoring them. These include threatening to send nude pictures of me to my coworkers and clients. Stating she will contact friends on facebook and send them nude pictures of me, and also falsely accusing them of any number of things. "Sara will lose their job once I contact her boss and tell them that she does drugs." etc

She also has some sort of yeast infection and is blaming me and says she will contact all my female friends on FB and tell them I gave her an STD.

Basically a whole lot crazy bullshit. To my knowledge she hasn't actually contacted any of them yet. ie- these seem to be hollow threats just to win me back (did I mention she is crazy). We're in NY. Does this constitute "harassment" in any way, even though she has not followed through on her threats?

I'm not sure if I should contact the police or a lawyer first...

Answer: You could call the police and report the harassment. Or you could just ignore her.


Title: Mailman hurt by tethered dogs actions (NYC)

Question:
So I was delivering two packages and going up a flight of stairs to a private home I've never been to before.
As I reach the landing (top step) I took a step towards the front door and somehow startles a small 15lb sleeping dog that was sleeping inside a box.
Unaware of what was coming at me I jumped backwards in effort to avoid what was coming for me I almost went backwards down the cement staircase.
I lunged forward with while planting my right foot sideways at the nose of the top step to avoid a  catastrophic injury.
I realized as I saved my self the dog was on a teather and just came a foot short from biting me. I left the two packages on the porch and walked down holding the railing.
That night my legs were sore but didn't think anything of it cause I walked 20,000 steps as usual.
The next day after a few hours my knee started to really bother me to the point I couldn't work further and went to urgent Care where I was diagnosed with a sprained knee and scheduled a MRI which shown
Small joint infusion
chondromalacia patella envoling the medial facet
Localized cancellous edema asking the articular surface of the medial femoral condyle. The underlying articular cartilage demonstrates fibrillation and irregularity.
I have been out injured for 3 months waiting for medical necessity authorization for an prp injection?
I've never had a knee injury in my life and I'm in daily pain with my knee crackling with every step I take.
I looked up the property tax is forwarded to a LLC, Do I have a case to sue for my injury?

Answer: That sounds like a workers comp claim. Did you file under workers comp?


Title: What is it called when a police officer suspects you of a crime, you prove innocence, and then he makes something up and gives you a ticket for a false claim?

Question: I got pulled over for suspected DUI for swerving. Once the cop realized I was dead sober, he gave me a red light ticket out of no where. I took the matter to court and fell victim of police perjury. Now I am going to file a complaint & have a meeting with the officer's supervisor to basically say that as a taxpayer, American citizen, and member of the city's community, I want justice. I do not want to fall victim to police perjury and (being accused of a crime, proving innocence, and being charged with something I did not do). There needs to be a name for what I just put in parenthesis.

Answer:
 okay honest question: did you in fact run a red light?  In court did they show video of you running a red light?  You may feel it is "perjury" - it's not - because you were cited for a violation, despite being pulled over for another violation.

What you are probably looking for is parallel construction, which doesn't apply here.  It would be pulling you over for a DUI because you ran a red light, when you didn't, and he pulled you over for swerving (improper lane usage) and gave you a DUI anyway.

edit: a petty traffic offense is not a crime btw.

edit2: did you not like the truthful answers from when you posted this yesterday?


Title: Speeding ticket has wrong location. Dismissible?

Question:
Evening /r/legaladvice, I am posting this on behalf of a more technologically illiterate friend of mine. I'll make it short and sweet.

We're located in **Arizona in Maricopa County**.

Speed: **90 in a 65**

Statute: **ARS 28-701A**

Violation: **Civil Traffic; Reasonable and Prudent Speed Violation**

Actual Location: **33°26'11.7"N 111°57'11.1"W** Per GPS from EXIF on 3 Seperate Pictures at the time of the incident.

Ticket Location: On-Highway, Highway: SR101, Milepost: 7, Location: WW LEFT HOV 330.7 FEET

Image of ticket truncated for privacy: http://i.imgur.com/eUYLbeh.jpg

My friend was pulled over for speeding, now being the poor college kid he is he wishes to fight to have the ticket dismissed on the grounds of the location on the ticket being drastically different than where he was actually pulled over. (The wrong location being a different city/highway entirely).

He took a picture of the cruiser behind him and you can see a exit sign behind him however the resolution is too low to see it or manipulate it to see it, using technical wizardry I have pulled the EXIF data from the picture he took with his iPhone which shows the Longitude and Latitude also placing him away from the reported location on the ticket and also flipping his image shows the overpass signs match.

His Image (Flipped): http://i.imgur.com/jHAKuW1.jpg

Streetview: http://i.imgur.com/bnKNxPv.jpg

Could he use this as viable grounds to have the judge dismiss the ticket? The ticket shows he was at Mile Marker 7 traveling west in the HOV lane on State Route 101 which is far away from he could have been, the nearest to SR101 he could have been would be Traveling North on it atleast 7-10 miles away. Plop that Long/Lat into google maps and you'll see he's quite far from SR101.

Thanks, i'd be more than happy to supply anymore information if it is needed. Yes I am telling him it'd be best to go and get a free consultation from a lawyer but thats upon him to do.

Answer:
 Clerical errors such as this will be corrected by the court before proceeding. They do not invalidate the ticket.

If he wasn't speeding however, then he should fight the ticket.


Title: How do I appoint a secretary in my corporation?

Question: I am the CEO of a Delaware corporation. How can I document the appointment of a secretary (who is an officer, not an employee)? Is there any template?

Answer:
 Alternatively, the new Secretary kneels while the President gently taps each of the new Secretary's shoulders with the President's sword, loudly declaring that he/she is the new corporate secretary.  This is done in front of a crowd to satisfy the traditional condition "many people seeing and hearing".  Afterwards, you should build a conspicuous memorial column or arch so that people will see the memorial and remember the event it commemorates.

 Answer #2: Google "board resolution appointing officers" -- however, officers are almost always employees (or deemed to be).


Title: [Minnesota] My brother test drove a crotch rocket of Craigslist, had a mishap, drove through the neighbors window and down to their basement, went to the hospital. What can happen?

Question:
True story....never actually paid for the bike, just busted a bunch of peoples stuff.

So, three people involved...Him, the seller, and the neighbor... what is my brother responsible for, and what is the seller responsible for? What could happen? Thank you.

Answer:
 It's all on your bro, man. All of it.Answer #2: Your brother is responsible for his actions.  So, in this case, is liable:

1.  To the seller, for the damage to the bike.
2.  To the neighbor, for the damage to their home.

The seller *might* have liability to the neighbor, if there's a negligence claim to be made.  I don't see anywhere where the seller has liability to your brother.Answer #3: Both parties can sue your brother for the damage he caused. I can't see where the seller could possibly be liable for anything your idiot brother did.


Title: [MO] I [25M] have a wife [27F] who has been abusive and threatens suicide. I'm afraid to contact authorities.

Question:
Throwaway for obvious reasons.

**Trigger warning for those affected by domestic violence.**

I have been married for about two years, and with my wife for about eight years total. I feel that our relationship reached it's breaking point last night, when the following happened after a long fight:

**Last night, about midnight**

 Wife attempts to take my phone by force, pulling me off my bed in the process, and tries to wrestle it out of my hands. She begins screaming at the top of her lungs, and starts throwing objects in the room at me. She breaks the standing fan, and overturns my nightstand. I keep a loaded gun in my nightstand for protection, since we don't live in the best part of town. She pins me down and wrestles me for a bit, before screaming she is going to kill herself, and attempts to upright the nightstand again. I get the gun out of the nightstand first, unload it, and she continues to scream loudly about killing herself.
At this point, my neighbors knock on the door and ask if everything is okay, and the situation dawns on me. My wife has threatened to kill herself with my gun, and if the police get called, there is a good chance I will be arrested as all she has to do is claim I was attacking her.

**Now**

 I have removed my gun from my home. I am scared of our next fight, and that she may try to kill me. I'm afraid of going to the authorities because I don't trust the justice system (sorry). I'm contacting my therapist for emotional help.

I'm not sure who to go to for help with this, or even where to start. I know I need to get out, but I don't know where to begin. Any links or resources would be greatly appreciated. Any advice on how to proceed should she do this again will also help me greatly.

Feel free to ask for any additional details if you need them.
Topic:
Custody Divorce and Family

Answer:
 You should contact a lawyer and file for divorce. Alert your lawyer to what's going on, he/she can advise you on how to protect yourself.
Answer #2: Look up the hotline for the Access Crisis Intervation (ACI). By calling them they can contact a mental health worker who can initiate the process of civil involuntary detention. If she has threatened to kill herself, and took steps to accomplish that, she should qualify for civil detention.Answer #3: It would be wise to leave the home and contact the police. Continuing to be in the home alone with her opens you up to false accusations from an unstable person.

You should report the attack and seek a restraining order ASAP. Go stay with your mom if you have to.Answer #4: You can call 211 for local resources. Or Google itAnswer #5: Contact a Domestic Violence non-profit in your area. They can help you with the resources you need.


Title: [MN] GM "doesn't believe" in 15 minute breaks

Question:
Hi there.

I work in a movie theater chain that is present in multiple states. Ours is new and opened in May.

Our GM has a habit of not giving breaks for shifts that are 5-7 hours long. There have been times where I didn't have coverage (because I was the only person with a cash drawer) and I had to wait 2 hours for the bathroom until a supervisor could cover me (and he couldn't do cash transactions since I was the only one with a drawer).

It's really frustrating because I already drive 45 or so minutes to work so I can be going 8+ hours without eating, especially if I eat a few hours before work.

Is my manager legally allowed to not grant us breaks? He has said he "doesn't believe" in them, but he has an office he can retreat to and sit down. I've also been there for 8 hours without a break at all. I was scheduled later, but I clocked out at 7.99 hours and just left because I was fed up.

Answer:
 Minnesota labor laws require employer to provide employees restroom time and sufficient time to eat a meal. The meal time requirement applies to employees who work eight (8) or more consecutive hours. If the break is less than twenty (20) minutes in duration, it must be paid. Time to use the nearest restroom must be provided within each four (4) consecutive hours of work. Minn. Statutes 177.253 and 177.254.

He's riding the line for the law, but still within it.


Title: [pa] caught with weed, $800, and tupperware

Question:
Me and my suite mate were smoking a blunt and enjoying some mixed drinks behind one of our campus buildings, when undercover campus cops busted us. They were friendly and said they get that it's college and this is what college kids do, but they had to search my bag. My bag contained 2 Tupperware containers, an empty headphone case, and $800. I tried to BS my way out of it for a bit but it wasn't working and it was kinda obvious I was going to pickup a large amount of weed. They told me they were after sellers and not buyers, and ultimately I gave them the name, phone number, and address of the guy I was going to buy a quarter pound off of. I regret doing this completely, as he's a good friend. They made it a me or him issue and kept bringing up my major (neuroscience) and how I'm not going to be able to get into any graduate program with charges on me.

The cops said they were going to take the Tupperware as evidence but they ultimately just took the blunt and actually gave me back the money. One of the undercover cops gave me his card and instructed me to email him all the text messages between me and my dealer and he also said he was going to give me a call today.

I'm not okay selling out my friend, as he's my homie and he doesn't even sell anymore - he was just hooking me up. I don't want to give up these texts and fuck up his life, but I also don't want to fuck up my life as well. What should I do?

If you need anymore details I'll provide it - thanks guys

Answer: Why would you willingly give the police information? This is never a good idea, next time be sure to stay quiet and do not say anything. Do not give up the texts. If they contact you again tell them you are not willing to talk to them without your lawyer present.


Title: Employer advanced me sick leave without my permission

Question:
I work for a federal government agency and am currently out indefinitely due to a serious medical issue.

My FMLA time has been exhausted, as well as my sick leave and vacation time. I am not sure if/when I will be able to return to work, but my manager is desperate to keep me on staff because I fill a specific role and the agency does not currently have the budget for hiring new people.

After months of living off savings without any pay coming in, I was surprised to see that I received a direct deposit from my employer last Friday. My manager used advanced leave for the entire pay period without my permission, and without explaining to me the terms of repayment if I am unable to return to work.

Advance sick leave is essentially like a loan, in my understanding, and this seems fraudulent to have taken out a loan on my behalf without my permission and without informing me of the terms of repayment.

I contacted her in a non-confrontational way over the phone and asked about the deposit. This is how I discovered that she had advanced sick leave without my consent. She openly admitted to it, and thought she was doing me a favor. I have asked her to provide me with exact language detailing what are repayment terms of this money if I am unable to repay through accruing more sick time by returning to work.

What else should I do? Should I speak to her again and record the conversation to prove that she did this without my consent? Should I be reporting this somewhere?

Thank you for any advice and guidance you can provide. This is an incredibly stressful time for me right now with my health situation, and having this to deal with on top of it is a challenge.

x-post to r/personalfinance

Answer: Call HR and return the money. You will likely be let go since you are unable to return to work and have exhausted all leave


Title: Where to report international wanted criminal?

Question:
Where do I go about reporting a criminal that is a runaway from another country and is residing the U.S.?

The person I am talking about is mentioned [in this article](http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Drug-worth-Rs-200-crore-recovered-from-non-resident-Indians/articleshow/13758721.cms), he has fled from India and resides in King County in Washington as an illegal immigrant.

How do I go about dealing with this? I know exactly where this person lives and I think they should be brought justice.

Answer: Call the local FBI office.  Alternatively, contact an embassy or consulate from the country where he's wanted(India?) and tell them.


Title: Got ticket after sliding on ice and hitting guard rail. What happens next?

Question: The other day, a truck merged onto the center lane (skipping the right lane) and it freaked me out so I tried to change lanes. I hit a patch of ice lost control and slide my car along the guide rail into the snow bank. The police office hit me with a ticket and I don't want to plead guilty but I am not sure how to combat this. Will I lose my license if I did plead guilty? I'm trying to keep calm and thinking rationally.

Answer:
 > Will I lose my license if I did plead guilty?

Definitely not.

What is the ticket for?


Title: is this a hit and run? i’m panickjng

Question: hi everyone, so i was in a parking lot for a walmart yesterday and i was reversing out of a parking space. the space that i could reverse in was tiny, and i was rolling backwards very very slowly and my proximity sensor was going off and didn’t say i was very close to the car behind me. but i very very VERY lightly barely tapped the car (the cars very barely just touched) and i just drove away because my friend in the passenger seat didn’t think i hit the person so i assumed i didn’t. but as we left the lot they turned to take photos of my plate and were actually in the parked car, but absolutely no damage was done, no scratch absolutely nothing. if it helps, they were parked in an electric vehicle only spot as a gasoline vehicle. i feel so bad and i really wish i had gotten out to just assess the situation and talk to the person but now I don’t know what to do.

Answer:
 You have no way to know if there was a scratch or not- you didn't stop and look.

If you caused damage, then yes, you left the scene of an accident.Answer #2: yep, that would be hit and run, how do you know there is no damage if you didnt look. gasoline vehicle in electric has nothing to do with this....Answer #3: You don’t know if there was damage or not. Whether you’re sure you hit them or not you should have gotten out to check and left your info if you did and no one was in the car. So yes, it’s a hit and run. The person will likely file w their insurance and file a police report.


Title: Tricky Green Card Situation

Question:
Hello all. Any immigration lawyers in the house?

I've put myself in a stupid situation. I'm a legal US alien, but only because I was born in Canada to Canadian parents. I have lived in the US for most of my life, since it was 5. I'm in my early 20s now. For the last 3 years, I've been mostly outside the US. I've been doing what a lot of young adults do and exploring the world after university.

However, I didn't know this when I started traveling, but if you live outside of the US as an alien for more than a year, technically you've forfeited your green card!!

I know getting a green card is very difficult. That's part of why i haven't been naturalized yet; it took my family over 10 years to get green cards. I would hate to think I would get kicked out of the country/have to start the green card process over/be unable to live and work in the states just because of my wanderlust. America is my home!

My brother was living in Canada for almost 5 years, but still came back to the states without his green card being revoked. I don't know if he flew under the radar, or it will be a problem for him when he renews it in a couple years, or what, but he has been able to work and travel in the states with it for a few years now.

I'm currently living in Europe, and I haven't been home since last Christmas. I maintain student loan payments, credit card bills and a mailing address in the US. I would love to just go back to the states and keep my head down, pay my taxes and get naturalized ASAP. I'm sure as long as I was really really sorry and never did it again, I won't have a problem living in the US, and skate by like my brother did. But he was coming from Canada, where the borders aren't so strict.

 I have this horrible vision if a TSA agent tearing my green card up in the airport, stomping on it and telling me to never come back, while the other travelers look on at my shame.

I know it probably doesn't happen like this, but tell me please, reddit lawyers, will I get hassled crossing the border? Or will my legitimacy come into question if I ever get arrested? Will my residency be revoked next time my green card is renewed, or try to pay my taxes, or simply show up on some govt computer?

Should I stay where I am and kiss America good bye, or if I go back to the states and pick up my life where it left off, is there a pretty good chance everything will be ok?

Please help!

Answer:
 Why don't you fly to Canada and cross a land border rather than fly directly to the US?

When you do enter if they are going to take action against you, they will probably offer you the opportunity to give up your green card, withdraw your application for admission and return on the first flight back to where you came from.   If you want to fight your case you may be held in custody pending exclusion proceedings or you might be paroled in pending a hearing, or possibly deferred inspection.

If you are asked how long you were out for, don't lie, as it will just make things worse.


Title: Will this sentence on a form clear me of all liability due to actions taken by clients of my new life coaching business? How should I change it?

Question: (California, San Luis Obispo)"By signing on the line below, I acknowledge that DankCoach is not a medical professional and is not responsible or liable for any complications relating to a mental health issue or other medical issue due to coaching my child will receive. I will consult a physician before making any changes to my child’s diet or significant changes to their exercise habits. I will consult a mental health professional if any complications arise due to mental health issues. I also understand that DankCoach is not liable for any actions taken by clients in any way due to, or not due to, advice given to the client during a coaching session."

Answer:
 1) You need a lawyer to draw this up for you.

2) There's no waiver in the world that can protect you from ALL liability.  It can limit some, maybe even most, but there is always a line you could overstep

3) Your username does not inspire confidence in your ability to give advice to others


Title: What can a young man do to protect himself from child support for an unborn child that might not be his in Virginia?

Question:
In Virginia (VA)  My coworker has a younger brother (we will call him Bob) that has gotten involved with a woman (we will call her Laura) who is separated but the divorce is not yet final.  She has another child with her ex that lives with them as well.  Laura still sees the ex twice a week.

Apparently Bob can't be put on the birth certificate (I think this is a good thing)  because she is still married to someone else.

Laura and Bob are living with Bob's parents,with the toddler, and she is now pregnant.  We don't 100% know that the child is his.

What should he be doing (and not do) between now and the birth, and after to ensure he is not on the hook for child support for another man's child, if it is not in fact his, until he can verify paternity?

We think this woman is a bad person due to other reasons and he should break up with her.  But she definitely wants her brother to protect himself.

Answer:
 Assuming that "someone else" who is married to Laura gets put on the birth certificate, the process would look something like the following:

Laura's husband would have to claim the child is not his, and attempt to disestablish paternity and refuse to take on paternal rights. Genetic testing would be done to determine the child is not the husband's. If the tests demonstrate it's not his kid, he will have disestablished paternity.

At that point, Laura could now potentially move to name Bob as the father, and genetic testing will be done to determine if Bob is the father, and if so, paternity would most likely be established (along with the legal obligations and rights, such as visitation and child support.)


Title: [Virginia] Daughter injured at riding stable. Do we have a PI case?

Question:
Daughter (10) took riding lessons at a nearby farm. Lessons start with grooming the horse. The horse she was grooming was tethered to a horizontal rail suspended between two vertical posts. While grooming the horse the horse sat back, pulling on the rail. The rail popped loose striking her in the head. She was knocked unconscious and flown via lifestar to the hospital. She had a fractured skull, broken orbital and cheek bones. She spent a day and a half in the PICU and another day in a step down unit. She is currently on pretty tight restrictions. Essentially no activity where her feet leave the ground. No horse riding, bicycling, scooter, piggyback rides, rough housing,... Nothing.
Some points of interest:
Her instructor, an adult, was present at the time of the injury.
She was not wearing a helmet at the time of the injury.
Virginia has something called the "Equine Liability Statute" that seems to say if you're injured or killed while doing any horse related activity, too bad, you knew the risks. This does not seem to account for a faulty stable or structure, or negligence for not making my child wear a helmet around the horses.

Do we have a PI case?

Answer:
 Fair warning: I am not a lawyer, I am a horse person.

A lot will depend on state laws and/or anything you signed.  Most state laws relieve barn owners of a lot of risk, and if you signed a waiver, there's another layer.  While what happened sucked, it quite frankly sounds like a freak accident and not negligence.  The percent of horse professionals who consider it necessary or recommended practice to wear a helmet while working with a horse on the ground is in the single digits.  Unless the rail was visibly rotted out, it's quite likely it came loose because horses are powerful animals, and not because of any particular flaw--I've seen horses pop rails, take out wire fences, and even crush components of metal trailers when they spook.  Answer #2: I would imagine that any farm selling those lessons would have some type of insurance regardless of state statutes. Or at least they should. Go consult with some attorneys and see what they say.


Title: City destroyed my yard and won't fix it

Question:
Short version:
City's work destroyed the pond in my backyard.  The city of Holland, MI said they'd fix, but haven't heard back in several months. What are my options?

Longer version:
The city put in a drain (looks like a large creek) through our backyard. It is next to our pond. The pond washed out into the creek leaving a seven foot wide, five foot deep crater.  It looks like an earthquake hit just there.  The city admitted it was their fault and would fix it because I have property rights (I have no idea what they are or where to find them).  The city has been incommunicado since the event, which happened last June. Right now the land is a huge hazard, still slowly eroding. I'm scared someone is going to fall in and get hurt (which I could be sued for).  Does the city have any kind of time frame in which they have to fix the crevasse or pond? Or do they just do it whenever (if-ever) they please?  What are my options?

Answer:
 Real estate attorney.

Yesterday.

This is going to get worse before it gets better, and if it's anywhere close to your house, you could be looking at structural problems with the foundation as the ground continues to settle.Answer #2: Escalate the issue.  The squeaky wheel gets the grease.  If you call the director of public works every day... if you physically go down to the public works building and demand a time frame... if you go to the City Administrator's office or City Hall and complain... if you show up at every town hall meeting and bitch about it... you will get resolution.

Governments tend to move slowly.  If they've already agreed to fix it (and you have that in writing) then it's just a matter of timing.  Maybe they can't do it in the winter because of the frost line (e.g. frozen ground)?  Or some other reason that must wait until spring?

You should consult a lawyer all the same.


Title: What power do police officers have in enforcing state statutes? [CT]

Question: So I was in a dispute today with a towing company as they were violating state statutes regarding the storage fees. I got the police involved and basically said they would not do anything and I would have to take it up with the DMV? Did the police officer not have the power or did he just not want to help? Thanks

Answer: Police enforce criminal statutes; not civil ones. Your proper recourse would have been to pay the storage fees, the. Sue the company in small claims court and use the statutes to argue why you're due your money back.


Title: Los Angeles video editor not getting paid anymore, told I cannot use videos in reel.

Question:
I edited a wedding video for a client, and additionally told him that we could use my laser for another project he was working on. Due to legal issues I can no longer do lasers for him, which has him so upset that he will not pay me for the video I spent a month editing. Aditionally, he says he wants everything of his wiped from my hard drives. What are my options here?

a) can he legally not pay me?
b) can he legally make me remove the videos?
c) can he legally not allow me to use the videos for a reel?

I never created or signed a contract.
Topic:
Intellectual Property

Answer: He can sue him for non-payment. But without a contract how do you intend to prove what he agreed to pay you?  Unless he wants to buy the rights from you, it's your video.


Title: (MD) Girlfriend is being blackmailed. What do we do?

Question:
My girlfriend's ex started messaging her on Facebook Messenger last night. It was just simple things going back and forth until tonight when he starts demanding that she gives him nude photos and a nude video of her posing for him. If she doesn't do what he asked for, he said he would release nude photos of her he already had possession of. Mind you, my girlfriend was underaged when the photos were taken. Her ex is still a minor.  I told her she would be making a mistake if she does go along with his request. Fast forward an hour and he is now sharing the pictures he already had among his friends on Facebook. We have screenshots of him blackmailing her and a separate person saying that they saw the photos. My girlfriend and her ex are both seniors in high school.

She claims she's been the target for this a few years prior and the school faculty and the local police didn't do anything about it.
So, here I am, wondering what should/could we do in this situation.

Answer:
 >If she doesn't do what he asked for, he said he would release nude photos of her he already had possession of

You are gonna love MD's [revenge porn statue](https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2014/criminal-law/title-3/subtitle-8/section-3-809). He is basically threathening to comit a crime and asking for more material to blackmail her with.

> Mind you, my girlfriend was underaged when the photos were taken.

Ooh boy, she should get a lawyer right now because that is child porn and she might have illegaly produced child porn.

> Fast forward an hour and he is now sharing the pictures he already had among his friends on Facebook.

That's distribution of child porn, I get why she broke up with him. This dumbfuck is really begging for a jail sentence.

Seriously she should get a lawyer right now to help her deal with this because that guy is in for a world of hurt but a lawyer is advised due to the fact that she might have produced child porn herself.Answer #2: Call police, let them know he is distributing Child porn.

Or one step up contact your local FBI field office and let them know.

IANAL


Title: [KS] Hostile work envoromment?

Question:
I interviewed for a position at work that a coworker (my shift lead now) also applied for and got because she's been here 2 years longer. Seniority always wins here, no biggie. Not too long after she got the position we had an "event" happen and she had no clue what to do or how to fix it which left me to act and fix the problem. I got some recognition and pats on the back for it from the high ups.
That was the beginning of the problem. Ever since then I have dealt with a snake in the grass. I hate to use the word sabotage, but it totally fits. I have kept documentation of things that she has done even with a few occasions of our department supervisor noting that it seemed like she was "setting me up" or "throwing me under the bus" (his words, not mine...with 3 witnesses around at the time).
The problem has grown to a point where it's a running joke on my shift. "How's she gonna try to fuck with you today?..." is a pretty common question. My mantra has been cooler heads prevail and just take my talking to and go home, brush it off.
So with a supervisor admitting she is messing with me and still not acting on her poor behavior, does that constitute a hostile work environment?...and without a union who do I even call? HR knows, I know they dont care.

Answer: No, hostile work environment is a legal term that refers to workplace discrimination based on sex, race, or some other protected class. "My boss is a jerk" is not the basis of a legal claim.


Title: Renting a student house for the year, construction is going on in the summer and it's 'uninhabitable' but they expect us to pay summer rent. Can we legally not pay?

Question:
So I'm a student in Liverpool, England. We looked at this place through a letting agency, we were told no work was going to be performed on the house over summer (so we could move). We signed for the guarantor forms and contracts and payed our £100 deposit.

Fastforward 2 months we see that there's work going on in the house that we weren't informed about, we go in and ask and they tell us that they're building flats around ours but we should still be able to live in it over the summer.
During this time we'd asked for the amount for the summer rent on at least 6 occasions, they said they would email it and they still hadnt.

Then this week, we've been told that the house is uninhabitable (we were meant to move in on the 1st July), but they're expecting us to pay the summer 'retainer/rent' of £433 (8 weeks of half rent @ 35 + rent of £15).
My question is, do we have to pay this? Surely if they aren't providing adequate housing we shouldnt have to pay. But the landlord is being arsey saying we are overdue on paying our retainer even though we weren't told by the letting agent the amount/when to pay.

(on another note do we have to pay the bills for the house in the time it's uninhabitable?)

Thanks in advance!
Topic:
Landlord Tenant Housing

Answer:
 I'm not from the UK but this makes absolutely no sense to me.  This isn't an issue of not providing "adequate" housing, but one in which they are providing you *no* housing whatsoever.  Has anyone explained to you why exactly the landlord believes he/she is entitled to retainer payments while the house is uninhabitable?

You also mentioned that you asked for the amount of summer rent.  Does this mean you didn't know for sure what your monthly rent was going to be once you moved in?

Finally, were you expected to pay any kind of retainer *before* this issue came up?  You mentioned that the landlord is saying you are already overdue--was there a negotiated retainer prior to the house becoming uninhabitable?

I feel like there has to be something missing unless the landlord really is just delusional.Answer #2: Try /r/legaladviceukAnswer #3: Speak to Shelter, the department at the local authority who deal with private rented housing, and housing advisers at your university/students union.


Title: CT: My job is asking me to rewrite my letter of resignation to give more details about what I am doing next so they don't get audited by the Board of Labor--is this BS?

Question:
Hello,

I quit my job Monday. Over the last six months I was in an uncomfortable situation of trying to move into a new position and then being denied on the basis that the accommodations for my medical condition available in current position could not be afforded in the other position. Frankly, this seemed to have more to do with an understaffing issue but I accepted and stayed in the current position while working to make it possible to leave.

In the mean time, though I had ASKED FOR IT BEFORE AND ALREADY PROVIDED PROPER DOCUMENTATION, my job wanted me to file for FMLA leave even though I had not exceeded my PTO (and in fact had rolled some over) to cover my unexpected absences. Fine. I did so and turned it in in March. Though the paperwork said they needed to notify with me in five days, it was weeks before I got it verbally approved. I still have not received anything in writing. They have flat out given me stupid reasons why they can't send it yet. The whole thing was poorly handled, professionally and interpersonally and is 100% the main reason I am leaving the job. But I did not want to burn bridges and have remained extremely polite this whole time.

It was not my dream job and I spent a lot of time over the last few months lining up opportunities to leave. I got accepted into grad school for August and am waiting to hear about funding (so not a definite). I've lined up some great contract work and it seems like the freelance lifestyle may be better for me all around than the 9-5. Overall, I'm taking the summer to just relax and wait to find out about school, etc.

I gave my notice on Monday with two weeks available to work full time and flexibility to remain part-time until they can hire a replacement (see understaffed above). They came back to me the day after turning in my letter saying they need to know more about what I'm doing and why I'm leaving. They want it in writing in case they are "audited by the Board of Labor." My reason given in the letter is for "exciting, upcoming personal changes that no longer make a 9-5 schedule practical."

I explained very sincerely to HR that I don't feel comfortable sharing more and that I really don't have many other concrete details to give. I offered to say I would be self-employed and not collecting unemployment. They are insistent on more details.

I'm guessing this has to do with their concern over mishandling the accommodation/FMLA leave situation, but I'm not sure how.

TL:DR My company wants me to give more details about future plans in my letter or resignation--how should I handle this?

Answer:
 You don't need to give any details.

They want the letter to shove in your face if you sue them because you are likely to make a mistake in the drafting of the document.Answer #2: "No." is a complete sentence.Answer #3: You are under no obligation to rewrite the letter if you so choose.Answer #4: You are under no obligation to give them anything more.Answer #5: They don’t want you to sue them for violating FMLA or ADA non-compliance, or file for unemployment for same.

Filing suit is a lot of work/stress may be worth it. Filing for unemployment is not so hard.Answer #6: No. If you didn't sign a Noncompete agreement or sign a contract.Answer #7: You should tell them, "No". They're trying to get something from you in case you have to sue. I would not close that door if I were you.


Title: Mom took tags off car I cosigned and did all payments on, claiming it's hers now

Question:
I cosigned a car with my mom 4 1/2 years ago because I had no credit, and the car I previously owned was totaled by a drunk driver. I paid all the fees and taxes, the insurance, and have made every payment on time, and have done all the maintenance on the car. This morning when I was going to drive to my girlfriend's house, the tags were off the car. I asked her where they went, she said that the car is hers now and that I should have moved out of the house when she told me to. She won't give me the tags back. The cops were called and they said that she can do whatever she wants with the car, just as I can as it's considered joint property. They said I would have to go to small claims court, and that if I did it would be thrown out/ruled in her favor. We live in Maryland

I have paid online through my bank proving I have made all the payments the past 5 months, but before that I gave her cash for our rental agreement + the car loans and she mailed in the payments herself. I don't have any receipts of the payment I gave her outside of withdrawals from my bank account around 5~ or so days the monthly payment was due for the monthly loan amount.

What are my options here? I have no way of getting to work now, and an uber both ways would cost more than I would make in a day of work. I plan on talking to her, asking her kindly for the tags back and that I'll comply with moving out of the house ASAP and see if that works. But she is a spiteful person, I am worried she will keep them just because she can. Am I able to pay for new tags and just take them off every time I have to leave the car anywhere? It was going to be paid off in 6 months and I'm very furious about this.

*update* I asked if she would return the tags if I moved out tomorrow. She said she would not. I took off work and went to the MVA first thing in the morning and paid for replacement plates that came with updated registration (she took the old one.) I got an extra copy of the registration, took a picture and kept one in my wallet. I drove back to my car and there was a note on it that said "tow truck on the way." This must have been from my mom as it was not tickted by the police and not located on a 311 call. I put the new plates on and drove the car to my grandmother's. So even with locked studs so my plates can't be taken off and a steering wheel lock, she is still able to have the car towed at her expense to wherever since she is the owner along with me. I did find out by the bank that both our names are on the title. If she is ever able to locate the car, she can have it towed if it's not on private property (I believe.) So even though I have the car back and new tags, if she is ever able to locate it on public property she will have it towed at her expense. Her and her boyfriend literally will drive around looking for it, and they know where I work. No idea what to do. She will not sign over the car to me, or listen to any reason.

Answer:
 If she cosigned, how did she end up on the title? I'm in NJ, and I had a friend of my dad's nice enough to cosign my first car loan. Car was in my name only, but we were both on the loan documents. So if I stopped paying, he would be on the hook for the loan.

You should get it straight as to who's name is really on the Title. And it's possible that the bank has the original.


Title: Purchased quarter acre of vacant land, previous owner still using it. [AZ]

Question:
I purchased a quarter acre of vacant residential land in a suburban neighborhood outside Phoenix.  Appraised value is well over 20k, but it's tucked away without roadside access.  After contacting a real estate attorney I found that I do have easement.  No such thing as landlocked property in Arizona, apparently.  So now I am trying to put it on the market and getting low balled by real estate agents because the property is being used as a junkyard.  STILL.  The state seized this particular property over a decade ago over an unpaid tax lien, redemption period came and went, 7 more years went by and then I purchased it at a tax deed sale free and clear.  The previous owners have been made aware the land no longer belongs to them.  I've made contact and tried to resolve things amicably.  They know the property is mine and have at least 12 cars parked on the property.  I called a few "cash for cars" type businesses in the area and of course they are eager to get in there and haul everything out.  Are any of these cars mine now that the property is mine?  What would you all recommend I do with the lot?

Side note, I'm also concerned about the previous owners trespassing on my property and hurting themselves.  As of now I don't have any type of property insurance.  Suggestions?

Thanks.

Answer:
 > Are any of these cars mine now that the property is mine?

No, you don't get automatic ownership of everything located on the property.  They may constitute abaondoned vehicles, though. [Here](https://www.azdot.gov/motor-vehicles/VehicleServices/abandoned-vehicles/overview) is some info from the AZ Department of Transportation regarding what constitutes an abandoned vehicle and what your rights are with respect to them.

> I'm also concerned about the previous owners trespassing on my property and hurting themselves. As of now I don't have any type of property insurance. Suggestions?

Get property insurance.  Also, if the previous owners are still using the property, you should consider an FED action against them, or at the very least, call the police and report them as trespassing.  Answer #2: Put up a sign that states all unauthorized vehicles will be towed at owners expense, then let it sit there for a few days, if the cars are still there have them towed away just like a business would.