Latest Articles
What is Commercial Real Estate?
Every year, the real estate sector becomes more competitive. It is getting more difficult to find a decent deal when acquiring real estate, both residential and commercial.
What is a Health Savings Account and How Does it Work?
Health insurance can be difficult to understand. Deductibles, copays, drug coverage, and types of plans get complicated. Health savings accounts are part of the mix: they're ways to put money aside for medical expenses.
How to Get a Business License
It takes a specific type of person to run a small business. It takes a courageous person who is both a problem-solver and a potential instigator.
What is Inheritance Tax?
The death of a family member is difficult. Apart from grief, a person may feel suffocated by impending obligations. While some obligations are easily completed ("Yes, Aunt Deborah, you can have the set of pans"), other commissions require assistance.
What is Reverse Mortgage and How Does it Work?
When you buy a home, you agree to a mortgage; a reverse mortgage allows homeowners to receive fast-access money, placing a lien on a portion of a home's equity.
Is It Possible to Get Married Without a Marriage License?
You'll need a marriage license if you're heading to Vegas or Hawaii for your nuptial. Marriage licenses are more than optional forms; they're necessary for legitimate marriages.
How To Change Your Name After Marriage
A key life milestone is getting married. Discovering how to change your name after marriage is often seen as a way to symbolize a couple's union because it is the beginning of a new adventure with their spouse.
Home Appraisal vs Assessment
In recent years, the practice of investors purchasing houses, renovating them, and then reselling them for a profit, commonly known as "flipping houses," has grown in popularity.
Credit Score: Definition, Score Ranges, and Checking It
It's important to know about and understand your credit score, but it's not something you need to check every day. Credit reporting agencies Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax calculate your credit score and provide access to it for qualified businesses.
Complete Guide to Social Security Tax, Calculation, and Reporting
In 2022 over 66 million Americans received social security benefits each month; of those Americans, 46. 7 million were retirees, while the remaining 19.
Getting a Business Loan with Bad Credit
Every entrepreneur will face a day when they need financial auxiliary; a lucky few will end up making deals on television shows like the UK's Dragon's Den or Shark Tank.
Transforming Healthcare Through Data Transparency
I am Thomas Joseph Njee, a senior attending the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST) who is 17 years old.
Full Guide on Skip Tracing
No situation is what it seems on the outside; contractors, freelancers, and service providers know this adage too well. In the best circumstances, you provide a service and are compensated through one or multiple payments.
Why Does the Supreme Court Have Nine Justices?
The United States government is designed as a three-legged stool, with the chief executive (President), legislative, and judicial branches providing checks and balances on each other.
What Is the Hearsay Rule, and What Are the Exceptions to It?
Courtroom dramas typically separate lawyers into two groups — the lawyers that object to everything and the lawyers with fewer lines than the bailiff.
7 Things That Could Happen If You Don't Pay Parking Tickets
Parking tickets are more than mere annoyances that stack up when you overstay brunch with your friends or sneak into a resident-only zone to volunteer at the library.
How to Find Out if a Property Has a Lien on It
A lien is an obligation to pay a debt. Liens may be voluntary or involuntary. Typical types of liens are bank loans for autos and mortgages for homes.
How Often Can You File for Bankruptcy?
For those uninitiated in bankruptcy, debt, and legal terms, bankruptcy refers to "a clean restart. " Bankruptcy records are a simple and highly effective way for people to combat their expansive debts.
How to Get a Business License in 5 Steps
Business licenses are a requirement in most cities and states when you start a new enterprise. These legal documents ensure that your company meets the minimum standards established by the city, state, and federal governments for the transactions you plan to do.
How Long Do Points Stay on Your Driving Record?
A person's driving record is a summary of their activities behind the wheel. A driving record shows how long they've been driving, whether they've had any speeding tickets or other legal issues, and includes records of accidents.
How to Transfer Property After Death Without Will
Unless a family has gone through a member's death before, there's very little chance anyone will anticipate the process. Not only are there seemingly endless barriers, but there is also little guidance unless deliberately searched out.
How to Trademark Your Business Name
A trademark can be one of the most valuable tools a business has. The right trademark strengthens brand recognition while preventing competitors from profiting off your intellectual properties (IP).
How to Adopt a Child in the US?
How to Adopt a Child Adoption is the legal process that gives legal guardianship over another to a legal adult; usually, adoption occurs between a child and their adoptive parents.
What to do When Pulled Over by Police
There are More Drivers Today than Ever Before As of 2020, there were more than 228 million drivers on the roads of the US. At the same time, a reported 32 million drivers are pulled over annually on the streets.
How to Check a Car's History
Finding your car's history is essential to buying or selling a vehicle for several reasons. Certain aspects of your vehicle history can determine your car's actual value, how much insurance you will pay each month, and whether or not a seller is attempting to scam you.
The Different Types of Prisoners in the US
From state-run penitentiaries to hidden detainment camps, numerous facilities hold various types of prisoners worldwide. While all prisoners are being held against their will, each type comes with its own level of security, length of incarceration, and cause for detainment.
What is a Ban the Box Law?
"Have you ever been convicted of a crime? Check yes or no." Thirty-seven states across the US comply with Ban the Box (BTB) law policies.
Personal Assets vs Business Assets
It's essential to keep business from becoming too personal when protecting your assets. Being "relaxed" with handling assets can lead to audits, investigations, missed opportunities for tax deductions, and other headaches.
What Happens in a Juvenile Detention Center?
With over 250,000 young offenders tried, sentenced, or incarcerated every year in the United States, juvenile detention centers serve as a way station detainees are held within before being moved to a more permanent facility.
Bankruptcy Effect on Credit Reports
No one wants to file for bankruptcy, but if large amounts of debt are threatening your future, it may be your only choice. Unfortunately, bankruptcy can have a massive negative effect on your credit.
What are Traffic Violations?
Whenever a driver violates any law related to vehicle operation, they've committed a traffic violation. There are a number of different types and classifications for traffic violations, each with their own penalties.
When Can a Misdemeanor Be Expunged?
Having a misdemeanor on your record can hinder your search for gainful employment, but it doesn't have to. Misdemeanors can be expunged, as long as a set number of years has passed since your sentencing, deferred adjudication, probation, or parole.
What States Still Have the Three Strikes Law
The Three Strikes Law is a name for a widely adopted zero-tolerance law applied against repeat offenders. At least 24 states enacted some version of this law in hopes of reducing violent crime that spiked in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
How Bankruptcy Affects Credit Reports
There are many reasons people acquire debts. Some people fall into debt through irresponsible spending, others through life emergencies, and others through unexpected life changes, such as loss of employment, illness, or natural disaster.
Famous Celebrities In Jail: Four Famous Cases
While some celebrities may think they are above the law, the fact is many of Hollywood's finest have ended up in handcuffs. There are numerous celebrities in jail with significant criminal records; in some cases, they'll be there for quite a long time.
List of Jobs That Require a License
One universal concept that people generally acknowledge is the desire to receive good quality work for their money. You want to get the quality that you pay for.
Types of Real Estate and Property
Property is a general word to use since there are multiple classifications of real estate: houses, apartments, land, offices, factories, warehouses, and others.
Am I Going Bankrupt? 5 Common Warning Signs You Should Look For
Despite the common belief that corporations file most bankruptcies, 97% of all bankruptcies are filed by individuals. Bankruptcy is a very real threat to your financial well-being and can destroy your credit rating for years.
How to Find Out About A Person's Death
In our busy lives, it is easy to lose touch with friends and even family members. You might find yourself curious to learn what they have been up to or even if anyone in the family has passed away.
Does a Speeding Ticket Affect My Insurance & Driving Record?
No one likes getting a speeding ticket, but did you know even a simple speeding ticket can impact your driving record and other things like insurance?
Court Records Reveal the Real Story
It's no surprise that the news is filled with bias, opinion, and often speculation based entirely on fiction rather than facts.
What Is The Difference Between Robbery vs Burglary?
Many people confuse the two words robbery and burglary and assume they are the same thing. However, it's essential to understand that there are some key differences between robbery and burglary from a legal standpoint.
Clean Driving Record: Definition, Explanation, & Details
Chances are you have heard the phrase "clean driving record," but perhaps you aren't exactly sure what it means. Continue reading to learn all about driving records, what they are, how they can affect you, and what is a clean driving record.
8 Things You Need to Know About Prenuptial Agreements
If you possess any type of wealth and are considering marriage, you need to know all you can about prenuptial agreements and how they can save you a fortune down the road if your marriage doesn't last.
Understanding The Difference Between Annulment And Divorce
Marriages or civil unions typically end in one of two ways, divorce or annulment. Many people don't understand the difference between annulment vs.
Getting a Copy of Your Birth Certificate
What is a Birth Certificate? A birth certificate is an official government-issued record of a person's birth. A birth record is one of various vital records that are documents certified by the local government (city/town/county) and printed on special paper with a raised seal for authenticity.
What Happens When You File for Bankruptcy?
No one plans to get into financial trouble. However, things happen in life, and sometimes you end up with more debt than you can handle, and you have to make tough choices.
Are Death Certificates Public Record?
A death record is the official recording of a person's demise. It usually includes the date of death, time, location of their death, and the cause of death.
How Do Misdemeanors Affect a Background Report?
Any infraction of the law, regardless of how minor, can have far-reaching consequences in your life. If you do something that earns you a misdemeanor, you need to understand how that may affect you going forward.
Compliance and Privacy Laws in the U.S.
Although the United States does not have a federal law like the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), there are plenty of state laws and compliance regulations that guide businesses and individuals to handle data and personal privacy.
What Is a Complete Background Report & What Can It Reveal?
If you wanted to find out about a total stranger or someone you knew, you used to have to either visit dozens of government agencies and offices for public records or hire a private investigator to dig deep into someone's past for you.
Does Medical Marijuana Card Show Up on Background Check?
Legalized marijuana is a controversial subject for many. States vary widely in their position on legalized marijuana, even for medicinal purposes.
All About Non-Disclosure Agreements
If you have a job or business, you have probably heard about a non-disclosure agreement, but not everyone knows what they are and what they do.
What are CCTV Cameras and How Do They Work?
These days our world is overrun with video devices, and you can't go anywhere without electronic eyes following your every move.
Do Warrants Show Up On Background Checks?
Everyone has heard the word warrant, and most of us understand what an arrest warrant is, but did you know that there are other types too, and some can show up in a background check?
Using Public Records in My Future Career as an Attorney
My name is Elizabeth A. Braatz. I am currently a junior at Western Oregon University where I am majoring in Criminal Justice (CJ) with a minor in Legal Studies.
Public Records: Laws, Exceptions, and Sources
Public records laws are in place to ensure that the public has access to all forms of government and how they operate. However, these laws vary quite a bit and can be confusing, especially if you are trying to locate public records.
What is Expungement and How to Get It?
Many states allow your criminal record to show up in public records. Total strangers, family, and friends could have immediate access to it at any time.
What is Included in an FBI Background Check?
Many law-abiding citizens have FBI background checks done all the time for various reasons. But have you ever wondered what is included in an FBI background check?
How to Find Out If Someone is in Jail?
There are dozens of reasons you might want to find out if someone is in jail. In addition, there are a few different ways you can do it.
Can I Video or Audiotape Someone Without Their Consent?
We have become a video-happy country with just about every event being videotaped and posted online for the world to see. The question is, in this video-centric world, is it even legal to video or audiotape someone without their consent?
Over 10,000 Arrested in US during BLM Protests 2020
At least 10,000 people have been arrested across the United States amid the ongoing demonstrations demanding justice for George Floyd, the unarmed black man who died on May 25th in police custody in Minneapolis, Minnesota while being restrained and pleading "please, I cannot breathe.
Cop Cam: How Do Police Dash Cams work?
We live in the age of video with security cameras on every corner, and law enforcement has not escaped this trap. In the wake of speculation surrounding police behavior during some notorious criminal arrests, many state and local law enforcement agents now wear videotaping devices on their body armor and use dash cams or body cams to record the events of their entire workday.
What Does A Gun Background Check Consist Of?
When someone purchases a gun through a licensed firearms dealer, a background check is required to maintain public safety. Only qualified individuals can buy firearms.
The 10 Best Cities With the Lowest Tax Rates
There are plenty of reasons why relocating to a new city makes a whole lot of sense. A new job, retirement, a housing opportunity, or the simple fact of needing a change in scenery are some of the reasons to move.
What is the Difference Between Jail and Prison?
Do you know the difference between jail vs. prison? For most people, these terms are interchangeable and define places of confinement.
U.S. Gun Policy
Gun Control in the United States: an Overview The United States has two types of gun laws. Some are federal laws that dictate the sale, purchase, possession, and transfer of firearms, and others are governed by each state individually.
In-Depth Look at Top Reasons for Arrests in the U.S.
Due to the diverse cultures that exist in the different regions of the United States, it can often be challenging to predict which crimes are the most common.
Who Gets the Dog? Pet Custody and Divorce
It's inevitable. You're getting a divorce. As you brace yourself for all the stress and tumult that comes with a divorce, there's one nagging detail you can't get over: who gets the pet?
Gender X Option Recognition by US States
Sexual Preference and Resulted Confusion It can be confusing, trying to make sense of the alphabet soup of acronyms swirling around these days.
Jury Dodgers: Are You In Trouble If You Missed Your Jury Duty?
Have you ever been called for jury duty and missed it? Juries are selected from registered voter lists in your local district, and anyone who's selected is notified via mail or when they are expected to show for final selection.
Ancestry DNA Privacy Concerns: Is Your DNA Test Result Shared with The Police?
You may have heard in the news lately how at least a few serial killer and cold cases have been solved using familial DNA recovered from testing services across the country.
How to Find Out if Someone is in Jail?
Incarceration means that someone is currently in a local county jail, city jail, state prison, or federal prison. It may come to pass that at some point, you're trying to determine whether someone you know is currently incarcerated.
20 Historical Federal and Local Courthouses in the U.S.
1. Montgomery, AlabamaThe old federal courthouse in Montgomery was built in 1885 and used as the U.S. Circuit Court for the Middle District of Alabama from 1885-1911, The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama from 1885-1933 and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit from 1903-1933.
Can Convicted Felons Vote?
In today's age, you'll be hard-pressed to find someone who has never had a run-in with the law before, and you may even know someone who is a convicted felon.
Texting and Driving? Watch out for a Textalyzer
Is it a bird, is it a plane, no, it's a textalyzer! You've heard of a breathalyzer but have you heard about the new textalyzer?
States with "No Candy" Halloween Laws
Your initial thought might be "oh no! those poor children living in those states. " However "no candy" laws don't mean what you think they do.
5 Kick-Ass Tips to Beat a Speeding Ticket Like a Pro!
You know you do it, we all do it from time to time. Whether you are racing to that meeting, you're already late for or just daydreaming while your foot turns to lead on the gas pedal.
10 Crazy Laws in Different States in the U.S.
There sure are some crazy laws out there, and it begs the question "what happened to prompt lawmakers to enact such nonsense?
5 Questions To Ask When Buying a Car
Car dealerships manipulate you with emotion. They park that cherry red convertible right out on the road so you see it every day and then you just have to have it.
DWI vs. DUI: Both Are Bad News!
These two acronyms are often confused because they are very similar but what does each mean and what are the differences?
