Lawsuits have become a fact of life these days. And there’s a reasonable chance you may be involved in one yourself at some point. Whether it’s the result of an auto accident, business dispute, or even criminal charges, you’re most likely going to need a trial lawyer to represent you.


Attorneys who are paid on contingency don't receive any fees unless you either win your case at trial or accept a settlement offer. This fee arrangement can be beneficial for you, as a plaintiff, in that you won't have to worry about paying attorney's fees and court costs up front.


Divorce can be complicated and emotionally fraught enough -- hiring a divorce lawyer doesn’t need to add to that complication. If you do your research and interview prospective lawyers thoroughly, you can choose a lawyer who best suits your needs and can shepherd you through the process as smoothly as possible.


Communications law deals with the regulations and transactions surrounding radio, television, and internet broadcasting. Lawyers are often called upon to ensure satisfactory service is being offered while complying with federal law.


When a loved one dies, the situation is stressful and emotionally fraught enough without having to navigate the probate system on your own. Regardless of whether your loved one left a will, most estates must go through a rather complicated process in probate court before that person's assets can be distributed.


Stressed out about looming court proceedings or other legal issues? Aren’t sure how you’ll be able to pay for the legal representation that you deserve?


You may be facing a contentious issue with a breach of contract, or have a customer or client who has threatened to sue you. As a small business owner, you probably don't need a business litigation lawyer on retainer all the time – but when you do need one, time is of the essence.


Get an Itemized List of Costs from Your Attorney

Generally, your lawyer will charge you an hourly fee for work performed and also charge for certain costs associated with your case. For example, a lawyer will typically charge for photocopying, mailing, and court reporters.


Information technology (IT) law is a growing field due to the modern computer age you live in today. Entrepreneurs, business executives, small business owners, and service providers all need help navigating the confusing and complex world of electronic information.


In the U.S., if you are charged with a crime and cannot afford to pay for a private defense lawyer, the court will appoint a public defender (or, depending on the jurisdiction’s practice, a panel attorney) to represent you.


In the United States, if you have been charged with a crime and cannot afford to hire a private defense attorney, a court-appointed attorney will be provided to you.


A legal worry can be every bit as stressful as a health worry. Sometimes you only have a question or need information. Other times you have received legal papers and do not know what to do next.


Get Your Money's Worth When Hiring a Lawyer

Hiring a lawyer is almost always expensive. Most lawyers charge an hourly rate between $100 and $450. If you are careful in how you select an attorney and how you manage the case, you can make the most out of your money and still get good legal representation.


In order to work in the United States, everyone must have a valid social security number (SSN). Employers are required by federal law to verify the SSNs of their employees and prospective employees.


Since 1936, the United States Social Security Administration ("SSA") has issued U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents a nine-digit social security number to track that individual in the social security system.


You should report the use of a stolen Social Security Number to many different government agencies. Start with local law enforcement, which can investigate identity theft and other illegal uses of stolen Social Security Numbers.


There are circumstances under which you may wish to find a person. The person could a long lost friend, family member or former business colleague. If you have no information on the person's whereabouts, you will need to track them to obtain current contact information.


The term “power of attorney” refers to a broad category of legal documents that assign power to a trusted individual. A power of attorney will empower that individual to make financial, health care, estate and other personal decisions on behalf of another person.


The Texas Power of Attorney Act, which is contained in Chapter 7 of the Texas Probate Code, allows a resident to transfer financial and health care decision-making powers to another individual.


Report Identity Theft to Social Security

If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to establish a new identity, steal money or goods, or defraud the government, you may be the victim of identity theft.


A Power of Attorney is a legal document whereby a person gives another person or people written authority to make decisions on their behalf with regard to their financial affairs, their health and personal welfare, or some other legal matter.


A medical power of attorney is a legal document that appoints someone else to make decisions about your health and medical care when you become unable to do so due to your medical condition.


A power of attorney form is a legal document where a person gives his decision-making rights to another person if he is not able to make those decisions.


Revoking a power of attorney document is a relatively simple process, but it requires precise steps in order to revoke the document in a way that cannot be ambiguous to banks, health care authorities, etc.


A Power of Attorney is a legal document whereby a person gives another person or people written authority to make decisions on their behalf. with regard to their financial affairs, their health and personal welfare or some other legal matter.


If your relationship with your attorney goes south, you may be thinking about just replacing him or her with a new attorney who could better represent your interests.


Resolve Conflicts Between Dual Powers of Attorney

When someone becomes unable to handle their own finances and other legal obligations, they may appoint someone as their agent or attorney-in-fact. Just as an attorney-at-law acts as your agent in a legal case, an attorney-in-fact acts as your agent in everyday matters.


A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you to appoint a person or entity to make decisions for you or to act on your behalf.  [1]   A power of attorney may be for medical purposes, such as end-of-life care or decision-making, or it may be for more mundane purposes, like authorizing someone to communicate with the Department of Revenue on your behalf regarding your taxes.


Rescind a Power of Attorney in Massachusetts

If you previously established a power of attorney in Massachusetts, you have the right to rescind it at any point as long as you are legally competent.


Power of attorney (POA) is a useful legal device that allows family or other caregivers to make decisions and conduct business in your name. Sometimes it is for convenience, such as when you need to authorize someone to sell your house.


A power of attorney is an important estate planning document. It authorizes a person to make decisions on your behalf, and can be drafted so that your agent can continue to make decisions about your finances and healthcare if you are no longer able to make those decisions yourself.


Adults who want their medical treatment preferences honored if they become incapacitated need to create legal documents that direct medical professionals on how they are to be treated.


The laws regarding power of attorney differ from state to state. Those for Florida are as unique as any in the country. If done correctly, your power of attorney document will protect your interests and withstand challenges in court.


If you are an attorney, this means you have the power to act on someone else's behalf. You’ll often hear lawyers referred to as attorneys-at-law, or simply as attorneys, because they have the power to act on behalf of their clients in particular legal situations.


Find an Ohio Nursing Board Defense Attorney

Receiving a complaint through the Ohio Nursing Board can be a stressful experience. However, getting expert legal assistance can relieve some of the stress.


A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document created to give one party (the agent) the authority to act on behalf of another party (the principal).


Get Legal Help for Power of Attorney Abuse

Financial abuse is unfortunately a fact of life for many elderly people. They may be scammed out of money by strangers, but many will be ripped off by family members, including those they named as their agent in a power of attorney.


Activate a Power of Attorney for Someone with Alzheimer's

With a power of attorney, a person (called the “principal”) names another person to act as their “attorney-in-fact” (or agent). When the power of attorney is activated, the attorney-in-fact can make decisions for the principal.


Power of attorney enables a person to legally make medical, financial, and certain personal decisions (such as recommending a guardian) for another person.


Prepare for a Social Security Disability Hearing

If your initial application to receive Social Security Disability benefits was denied, you may appeal the decision. After you appeal, the Social Security Administration will schedule a hearing to decide upon your appeal.


Nothing is more critical to the attorney-client relationship than clear and open communication. Before even starting your relationship, you and your attorney should settle on the best method of communication for both of you.


Social Security numbers are required on nearly every official form you will fill out, from employment applications to cell phone contracts. If your card or number have been lost or stolen, you may become the victim of identity theft.


Social security is without a doubt one of the most popular government programs in history. It’s a benefit conferred on those who’ve worked to earn it during their lives, paying into the program all along the way.


When you grant a person power of attorney, they have the legal right to make decisions for you. There are two primary forms of power of attorney: medical and financial.


Your Social Security number (SSN) is the absolute truth of your identity. It is a nine-digit identification number that is used to verify your identity and your right to work, and it serves as a record of your earned wages.


Plan when to Apply for Social Security when You Are Married

Social Security offers 3 distinct benefits for married people. Retired Worker Benefit, Spousal Benefit and Survivor Benefits. If you elect early, you will get a smaller benefit for a longer period of time.


Securely Convert Official Paper Savings Bonds to Official eBonds (Official Internet Savings Bonds)

Recently, when the US Treasury Department decided not to use paper bonds any longer, they asked all holders to securely convert their paper bonds to electronic bonds (which they call eBonds).


Get Help for Your Social Security Disability Claim or Appeal

Are you among the estimated 75 per cent of Americans who have been denied Social Security Disability benefits upon initial filing of a claim? If so, you need to know why this may have happened and what you can do from this point onward.


Motivated by the Great Depression, the United States established the Social Security system in 1935. Approximately two-thirds of U.S. retirees count on the mandated supplemental retirement program for most of their retirement income, which sustains them for the remainder of their lives and keeps them out of poverty.


The US Department of Treasury can help you retrieve savings bonds if they are stolen, lost or damaged. You can check the department's online database or fill out a bond-recovery form to request a replacement bond or redemption of the old one.


A surety bond is essentially an insurance policy guaranteeing that a party to an agreement will live up to the terms of the agreement. Here are six easy steps toward saving money if you need a surety bond.


The term  health inspector  is a generic title that could refer to a number of different types of inspectors, such as: public health inspectors, environmental health inspectors, occupational health and safety inspectors, agricultural and food safety inspectors, animal and plant health inspectors, and mine health and safety inspector.


Firefighters are true heroes who go above and beyond to ensure the safety of their country's citizens. The job is not only noble, but it is highly coveted, with an average salary of over 47,000 dollars a year and a job growth rate of 19% predicted between the years of 2008-2018.


Twenty-one states in the United States use the title of "district attorney" to refer to the chief prosecutor of a jurisdiction.  [1]   The district attorney supervises a staff of assistant or deputy district attorneys in the prosecution of criminal offenses.


DEA agents work for the Drug Enforcement Administration, a branch of the United States federal government. DEA agents are responsible for enforcing laws to curtail the trafficking of illegal drugs and controlled substances within the United States.


Are you interested in a career that includes an excellent salary, extensive travel, meeting high-ranking dignitaries from around the world, and enjoying unique perks that other professionals would never imagine?


If you're a Canadian considering a career in policing, you have the opportunity to join the national police force called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or join a provincial police force.


Forensic nursing is one of the newest and fastest growing specialties in nursing; the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts it will have a 26% growth rate in the next ten years  [1]  .


City managers develop city budgets, manage workers and act as a go between for elected city officials and citizens. The city manager's office prepares policy reports to explain public policy to the citizenry, including budget information.


Become a California Highway Patrol Officer

If you are ready for a challenging and rewarding career in law enforcement you might consider joining the California Highway Patrol. The California Highway Patrol or CHP helps keep California's highways safe by protecting citizens and enforcing laws.


Criminologists study physical aspects of crime scenes and seek to understand the sociological causes and implications of crime. In some cases, they also study the psychology of criminals and may develop criminal profiles (think of TV shows like “Criminal Minds” and “The Profiler,” only more realistic).


Public Safety Dispatchers are the front line of help for the general public. This rewarding career is suitable to anyone interested in helping people.


Secret agents may be all around us, working for government agencies, corporate entities, and private organizations to collect information and report back.


Are you called to the life of a park ranger? Park rangers act as stewards of state and national parks, working to keep these natural areas safe for wildlife and plant species and accessible to the millions of people who visit them each year.


Choose Your Political Party in the United States

Joining a political party can be a big decision. In the United States there are two major parties, the Republican and Democratic, as well as a number of smaller parties that field candidates for national, state, and local elections.


Check the Credibility of Political Commentators

In this age of 24 hour news, a great deal of the time and space in news media are dedicated to political commentary. News networks and websites are constantly in need of new content, and one way to generate this content quickly and easily is by hiring commentators or "pundits" to offer their views on current events.


Security guard service is the most prevalent one in the present market. Due to increase in the rate of crime, the need for security guard has also increased at a tremendous pace.


Being a  delegate at the UN  is a very prestigious job, which can be achieved after many years of experience. A delegate represents his or her country at UN meetings and debates, and plays a vital role in international relations and diplomacy.


The most effective way to be heard is calling your Congressperson's office. If you do your homework on the issue first and approach the call with a friendly and polite tone, it'll really help your message get through in a way that helps.


Whether you're running for student body president or want to secure a position in a local election, deciding to run a campaign is a big undertaking.


Whether you work in, run for an office, or manage a grassroots election campaign for public office -- you must get enthusiastic help from the local people, volunteers, with "Campaign Captains" as a base.


Hitler. Stalin. Castro. Mao. These and many others throughout history rose to power over their people, subjugating the populace. If you have the burning desire in your heart to put others under your thumb and keep them there as slaves, there are some paths that are more likely to becoming all powerful.


In democratic political systems, political candidates typically are affiliated with a particular political party. However, voters typically aren't required to join a political party.


The goal of socialism is collective ownership over the production of wealth and goods, although socialists often disagree over whether to bring this about through revolution, reform, or the creation of small-scale socialist living and working arrangements.


Calling your congressional representative is a great way to have a voice in politics. This allows you to express your opinion on a number of issues that affect you and others.


What does it mean to be an anarchist? In general, anarchy means to have no/not much government or large corporations. The concepts of society are extreme libertarianism which could be possible with everyone cooperating, no dictators and no despotic groups exploiting the weak, if that were possible.


Politics, like religion, can be influential, and often controversial -- impacting many areas of life, yet people say that discussing politics is  private  like some abnormality, or taboo topic.


Republicans tend to have strong beliefs that conflict with Democrats. Most Republicans seek right-leaning and conservative/traditional goals, a contrast to the left-leaning, liberal/nontraditional proposals of Democrats.


While it is unlikely that you live in one of the few remaining countries with a communist government, you can still embrace the ideology of communism in your everyday life and participate in political and activist organizations that support communist principles.


Being president of the United States is a large, but rewarding, opportunity. If you wish to run for president and get a shot at being elected, read this wikiHow.


Running for mayor of your city or town is often seen as the first step on your path to political fame. It is also an incredible opportunity to help your community and promote change.


So you want to run for elected office - "get into   the world of politics  ?" Many qualified candidates fail to reach their goals because they make the same mistakes.


Be Activist for Individual Rights and Limited Government

The "New York Times, Business Day, Economic Scene" says:      The numbers on our federal debt are becoming frighteningly familiar. The debt is projected to equal 140 percent of gross domestic product within two decades.


Have you worked with a large organization or party with someone for each specialty or odd job? Well, in a small political action committee, the group may or may not meet and divide the jobs around the room/patio table.


Capital gains (the money made from selling a non-inventory asset like stocks, bonds, property, and precious metals at a profit) are often taxed at fairly high rates — especially if you already have a high income.


The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows anyone to make an adjustment or change to an already filed tax return. You can change a tax return if you have had a change in dependents, income, credits, filing status, or deductions since you filed.


Access the 179d Tax Credit for Energy Efficient Construction

The issue of energy efficiency is taking the world by storm. A lot of incentives have been floated to induce people and businesses to seriously and affordably consider and embark on energy efficient constructions and improvements to existing buildings.


US tax filing doesn't have to feel like root canal. The pain can be dulled once you realize that tax withholding, filing status, and allowable deductions are much more simple when you have a plan.


No one likes paying taxes, but most law-abiding taxpayers expect everyone and every business to pay their fair share. Therefore, you may feel compelled to report tax fraud of which you have personal knowledge.


Volunteers are what make any political campaign possible. If you're trying to win an election or build support for a cause you believe in, you're going to need more people than just yourself.


If you owe back taxes, penalties or interest to the IRS, which you cannot afford to pay, you may be eligible for various tax relief options. The IRS has developed a Fresh Start Initiative, which includes programs that will help qualified taxpayers meet some outstanding income tax obligations.


Most US citizens, and resident aliens, are required to file an individual tax return to the federal government every year. The basic form used for this is IRS Form 1040.


Many people assume that anything they find on the internet is fair game. However, people who create any work have full copyright protection in that work from the moment they create it.


Report International Intellectual Property Violations

Intellectual property encompasses trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets. In a global economy, international violations of your intellectual property rights will occur.


Protect Yourself After Unknowingly Selling Stolen Property

It is illegal to sell stolen property. However, you'll run afoul of the law by selling such property only if you do so "knowingly." If you sell property without knowing that it was previously stolen, you can protect yourself by hiring an attorney who will represent you.


Intellectual property refers to certain creations of the mind, including artistic and literary works, names, symbols, designs, and inventions. It can also refer to trade secrets.


U.S. tax identification numbers (TINs) are assigned by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). There are many kinds of TINs given to various individual and group entities for the purpose of official identification on any number of public and private documents.


Resolve International Intellectual Property Disputes

Resolving international intellectual property disputes is difficult. Foremost, intellectual property rights are “territorial,” meaning that they are granted by national governments.


When you name your business or your brand, you might not be thinking about overseas expansion. However, it is worth considering what happens if your brand takes off and becomes an overseas success because you will need a unique brand name or it can be challenged by a company in another jurisdiction with a same or similar name.


Plagiarism is unfortunately a fact of life in today’s age of electronic communication. The Internet in particular has made it easy to share our written work.


Whether your business creates products or ideas, you need to consider the security of not only your physical property, but also your intellectual property.


Protect Your Photographs from Content Theft

Most content theft occurs on the Internet. If you want to post your pictures online, then you will need to take steps to protect them, beginning with formally registering your copyright.


Protect the Copyright of a TV Show or Movie

If you've made a movie or a television show independently, you acquired a copyright in your original creative work the moment you produced it in a tangible form.


Whether you are starting a small local business or founding a national company, naming your business is one of the most important steps you'll take before your first sale.


Protect the Rights to Your Writing During Publication

Getting an offer to have your writing published – whether a whole book or a single short story or article – is an exciting time. However, it's important not to get carried away in the excitement and end up signing away more than you thought you bargained for.


If you own tangible property, then you will want to protect your rights in it. Ownership typically gives you the right to sell, lease, transform, or divide your property.


Investing in market securities can be daunting as a beginner, but with a bit of instruction anyone can trade on the market. Once you begin, trading on the market can be an exciting way to earn income on your savings or prepare for the future by investing for retirement.


Investment companies provide their clients with regular updates regarding their return on investment (ROI). If you have investments, you probably have received a quarterly return report that shows how well each of your investments has fared over the preceding three months.


Day trading for beginners is like taming a lion, except more expensive. It's a risky and challenging pursuit: buying stocks and selling them again in the same day, making money off tiny fluctuations in the price of a stock over a six-hour period.


Looking for a risk-free return? Arbitrage is the way to go. It's the process of simultaneously buying an asset at a low price and selling essentially the same asset at a higher price, locking up the difference as profit.


Royalties are payments made to artists, musicians and other creators who own intellectual property by the distributor, publisher, or manufacturer that sells the creator's property.


A trailing stop loss is a type of stock order. Using this order will trigger a sale of your investment in the event its price drops below a certain level.


Prosecute Unauthorized Uses of Your Photographs

Copyright prosecution is generally “civil” in nature. This means that you, as a private citizen, file a lawsuit for copyright infringement. The federal government only brings prosecutions if the copyright violations are criminal in nature.


If you're interested in investing but don't want to go at it alone, you can join an investment club or even start one of your own. An investment club consists of members who study  stocks ,  bonds  and other investments.


Becoming the manager of your own hedge fund will give you the opportunity to invest other people's money for them, which can be profitable for you and your investors.


Securities trading can be a financially and mentally rewarding experience, but only if you have the time and tools to properly research each trade. To make these trades, you'll have to work with a licensed stockbroker, either online or in person.


Emeralds have been one of the most sought after gemstones for well over 4,000 years.  [1]   Many historians associate emeralds with Queen Cleopatra, the last Egyptian pharaoh.


When most people buy an investment, such as a stock, they're hoping for the stock price to go up. If they purchase a stock at a lower price and sell it at a higher price, they've earned a profit.


Contrary to popular belief, the stock market is not just for rich people. Investing is one of the best ways for anyone to create wealth and become financially independent.


Earn Regular Income from Stock Investing Via Dividends

Investing for dividend income is a time-honored strategy that can prove lucrative for the individual investor. The investor must commit to monitoring his or her investments carefully to avoid big losses.


Creating a viable investment plan requires a little more than simply establishing a savings account and buying a few random shares of stocks. In order to structure a plan that is right, it's important to understand where you're at and what you want to accomplish with the investments.


If you have  scrap gold , you can sell it. Gold prices tend to increase when the economy is flat or there are worries about war or inflation.  [1]   However, before you bring gold jewelry, dental fillings, teeth, nuggets, or bars to a scrap gold dealer's counter (or send it off by mail), you should know exactly what it's worth to be sure you are getting a fair price in exchange.


Corporations issue shares of stock to raise money for their business. The shares that are issued represent the amount of money invested by the shareholders in the company.


Penny stocks are a low-priced way to get into investing, but they can be very risky. Most penny-stock companies are firms you may never have heard of, and it's difficult to know which companies may pay off as investments .


High-yield stocks are  stocks  that pay high  dividends , typically above 5% per year. They are a good option for investment, as they provide a steady income and also have the potential for growth.


Knowing how to invest allows your money to grow. If you invest effectively enough, you could potentially live off the earnings from your investments.


Success in financial markets often starts with choosing the right broker. Most brokers today are based online, which can make it very easy for you to craft your investment strategy and portfolio the way you want.


Stock volatility is just a numerical indication of how variable the price of a specific stock is. However, stock volatility is often misunderstood. Some think it refers to risk involved in owning a particular company's stock.


If you're a beginning investor and want to focus on long-term investing, you also want to choose safe stocks that have a relatively low risk and pay out healthy dividends.


In deciding when to invest your cash in a higher-yielding investment through your brokerage account, you must calculate what cash balance is required to make this transaction profitable.


China’s emerging market can be attractive to foreign investors. However, the Chinese market is regulated in specific ways that restrict how foreign investors can purchase stock in Chinese companies.


If the global financial crisis has taught us anything, it’s that stockbrokers aren’t quite the demigods they’d like to think they are. The good news is that if you’re willing to put in extra work, you can foregoing the investment advice of a broker and build a portfolio of your own, using a broker only to execute trades.


With global financial markets experiencing elevated volatility and multiple crises in recent years, gold has seen a considerable increase in popularity.


A penny stock, also known as a "micro-cap stock”   [1]  , is a publicly-traded stock with a very low price per share, usually under five dollars, sometimes less than a dollar (hence the name "penny" stock).


As the stock price of a company rises, it becomes less affordable for retail investors to purchase. To wit, the price of a share of Berkshire Hathaway Class A stock, which has never undergone a stock split, is recently priced at over $200,000 per share.


Stock compensation is a way for companies to pay employees in shares of stock or stock options. Stock options are the most common type of stock compensation and allow an employee to purchase the company's stock at a set price during a set vesting period.


If you're an investor, you always want to beat the market. For some, this can mean late nights and  anxiety . This is not a healthy way of life, so it's time to find a better way to evaluate the market.


When a property owner dies, removing her name from the deed can be a complicated and confusing procedure. However, it is necessary to keep a clear title to the property.


When you execute a will, you have no way of predicting how your life might change before you die and the will takes effect. In the meantime, you may divorce and get remarried, have a new child, become estranged from a family member, or lose someone close to you.


A share buyback, also called a share repurchase, occurs when a company buys outstanding shares of its own stock from investors. This stock can either be retired or held on the books as "treasury stock."


The ownership shares of a public company are called “stock.” You can buy stock from other investors and then hold onto it or sell it later when the stock price rises.


Writing a will is an important accomplishment. However, you will probably need to update it at least once in your life, possibly more. Check whether circumstances warrant updating the will.


In your estate plan, you might have left your home, vehicle, and jewelry to your friends or family. However, you might not have left your digital assets to anyone.


A will is a legal document that outlines the final decisions or instructions of an individual upon death. An individual’s will primarily deals with his or her assets and how they will be distributed upon his or her death.


A will signed under duress is invalid because wills must be signed voluntarily.  [1]   Generally, duress includes physical attacks or threats of physical violence.


Providing for a disabled heir poses challenges. However, with a properly drafted estate plan, you can provide support for your loved one without compromising their ability to receive government benefits.


Prove a Will Was Not Signed Under Duress

When a person wants to invalidate a will, they might allege that the will was signed under “duress.” Duress typically involves physical attacks or threats of physical attacks.


Prevent an Estate from Passing to Distant Relatives

It is fairly easy to prevent an estate from passing to distant relatives. For example, you can write a will and decide who to leave your property to.


Whether meticulously planned, haphazardly unplanned, or somewhere in between, an estate will always have final expenses, bills, and taxes which must be paid.


Open a Checking Account for a Decedent's Estate

As the executor or personal representative of an estate, one of your duties is to collect and safeguard all of the deceased’s property. This includes things like stocks and bonds, as well as money in checking or bank accounts.


Navigate Your Responsibilities As Estate Administrator

If you were named an estate administrator, you may consider it an honor – but it's a role that can be incredibly time-consuming and comes with significant responsibilities.


When someone passes away, their assets and liabilities are squared away in a court process called probate. During probate, the decedent's estate is administered by an executor or representative whose duty it is to pay off creditors and distribute the remaining assets to heirs and beneficiaries.


Obtain a UK Grant of Probate for a US Probate Case

If you are the executor or personal representative of an estate, and the deceased person owned real property or other assets in the United Kingdom, you must obtain a UK grant of probate for the U.S. probate case.


A nondisclosure agreement is a contract between two parties, where one, or both, agree to keep some specific information confidential. Employers often use nondisclosure agreements to protect confidential information such as marketing strategies, client information, and secret processes, recipes, and formulas, from disclosure by employees and contractors.


People enter into legally binding contracts every day. Simply put, a contract is an agreement between two parties that can be enforced by a court of law.


The United States federal government obtains most of its goods and services from private businesses through the United States General Services Administration or GSA.


The ownership of real property can only be changed through a written document. Using a deed is the most accepted legal way to convey or correct ownership of real estate.


When you were hired, you may have been asked to sign a non-compete agreement. This agreement prohibits you from working with competing firms in the same business or industry after you leave the current employer, for a specified period of time and in a certain geographic area.


Generally, an enforceable contract can either exist in writing or through words and actions. However, state statutes of fraud require some contracts (e.g., contracts involving real estate and contracts that necessarily take longer than one year to complete) to be evidenced by some writing in order to be enforceable.


A confidentiality agreement, also referred to as a non-disclosure agreement, is a contract in which two or more parties agree to keep specific types of conveyed information secret.


Sponsorship agreements exist in a variety of fields—sports, science, the arts, etc. For example, a company might sign an endorsement deal with an athlete to wear their brand of clothing.


A contract occurs when you make a deal with someone else to do things for each other. Contracts don’t have to be written. Rather, a contract exists whenever both sides give something up to get something of value.


An implied contract is one created when the circumstances of their behavior create the understanding of an obligation, even though no written contract existed.


Your merchandising agreement typically has a specified duration, and ends at that time. However, if you want to end a merchandising agreement prior to the date when it ends by its own terms, you are more limited in what you can do.


An employment contract legally defines the relationship between the employers and the employees. Both parties have to sign and agree to the contract before the employee can start working.


Making the decision to terminate an employee should never be taken lightly. If you do determine that an employee is not a good fit, or that you cannot afford to keep an employee, you will have to carefully plan how you will handle each termination.


If you own a small business such as a café or restaurant and want to bring in musical acts to perform, you need to draft performance agreements for those artists to sign.


Write a Grievance Letter for Wrongful Termination

If you believe you have been terminated in violation of the law or your employment contract, you may need to write a letter to your employer. This letter would inform your employer that you do not agree with the decision to terminate your employment.


Workers' compensation insurance is provided through your employer, and covers your medical bills and living expenses if you are injured on the job. While the concept of workers’ compensation is straightforward, winning a workers' compensation case is not always so easy.


A broadcast contract grants the right to broadcast an event. Broadcasting contracts are often used by sports teams. The team grants the broadcaster the right to show the sporting event and, in return, the team is paid a fee.


Take Action Against the Breach of an Employee Noncompete Agreement

Noncompete agreements are designed to protect you and your company from employees who train under you, learn all your trade secrets an methods of doing business, and then take that knowledge to a competitor who proceeds to profit off of all your hard work.


Every employee you hire must be eligible to work in the United States. If you hire an ineligible employee, you can be fined. Once you hire a new employee, you must verify their eligibility to work quickly (within three days).


Squatting, the practice of living in abandoned or unoccupied spaces that a squatter does not legally own, is a great way to avoid paying rent, annex parts of your neighbors' yards, or even take a whole house from someone if you’re willing to take the risk.


Terminating an "at will" employee can be tricky. Although the law says you can terminate at-will employees for any reason, or for no reason at all, simply bellowing "you're fired!"


Squat in Abandoned Property in Louisiana

You can squat in abandoned property if you need temporary shelter or if you want a permanent place to stay. You can also get legal title to the abandoned property, depending on the circumstances.


Take Legal Action if an Employer Forces You to Get a Flu Shot

In general, companies in the United States can require that employees get a flu shot. Depending on the industry you work in, a flu shot may actually be required by law.


Maybe your neighbor wants to build a fence between your properties, or maybe you want to cut down a tree that your neighbor claims is on his side of the property line – regardless of the issue, property line disputes between neighbors can be fairly common.


For many families, a timeshare provides a cost-effective way to maximize their vacation time and experience each year. With many different types of timeshare agreements available, you shouldn't have any problem finding one that will meet your needs and fit in your budget.


Landlord-tenant laws vary from state to state. But no matter where you live, you’re going to have to serve (deliver) an eviction notice on a tenant in order to begin formal legal proceedings with the court to have the tenant vacate the property.


An easement gives another party the right to use specific parts of your land for a designated purpose. Sometimes easements are detailed in property deeds, but often they may be contained in a separate document.


Every city and county has rules that building owners must follow to keep their buildings safe and sanitary. These rules can be found in the applicable building code and housing code.


Seek Specific Performance Action from a Seller

When you sue for breach of contract, you can generally sue for money compensation. However, in some circumstances you can sue for “specific performance,” which means the judge orders the seller to actually go through with the contract and transfer the property to you.


Select a Real Estate Attorney for a Closing

A real estate closing is often a nerve-wracking experience for both the buyer and seller. Typically, a large amount of money changes hands during closing and both parties to the transaction have done a lot of work leading up to the closing date.


Construction projects are often complex and require multiple parties working together in order to utilize the right materials, tools, equipment, and personnel.


Writing persuasively in a legal setting is one of the most important skills an advocate can learn. Whether you are an attorney or you are representing yourself, your ability to convey your arguments in a convincing way is often the difference between winning and losing a case.


A legal transcript is the written record of all court, trial, deposition or hearing proceedings. A transcript may play an important role during the appeals process and other legal hearings.


Written warnings can be distributed for several reasons. You can get a written warning from a police officer in lieu of a ticket. You can also get a written warning from an employer or school supervisor about a disciplinary issue.


Find an Experienced Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been charged with a crime, you will undoubtedly want to find the most experienced criminal defense attorney that you can. You need to understand that there are different types and levels of experience.


An employment lawyer specializes in representing employers or employees in a wide array of employment related matters. There are a variety of state and federal laws governing the treatment of employees.


Safeguard Confidential Legal Information

If you deal with confidential information in your workplace, you understand that you must take precautions to keep it from getting into the wrong hands.


Many writers choose to use a pen name for many reasons, including to protect their identity when writing a memoir or to write in different genres. There's no real legal process to using a pen name – typically you can just pick one and use it.


Courts in the state of Texas have awarded millions of dollars to victims of asbestos cancer (Mesothelioma.) If you developed asbestos cancer due to your employer’s negligence, you may have the legal right to recover monetary damages.


React if a Guy Starts Playing With Himself in Public

Harassment comes in many forms. Street harassment or harassment on public transportation may include sexually inappropriate comments, catcalling or even groping.


If you or a loved one wants to immigrate to the United States, you will need to find a lawyer to help you navigate the legalities of process. However, you don't just want any lawyer — you want a lawyer you can trust to fight for your needs.


If you are searching for a will attorney, then you should first draw up a list of potential candidates. Ask friends and family, as well as other attorneys, for a referral.


Taxpayers sometimes find they need the assistance of an affordable tax attorney to help them answer questions or concerns from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).


If you have a problem with the IRS or with your state taxes, you may want to find a good tax lawyer. These lawyers specialize in tax law, which is complex and ever changing.


Admiralty law, which is also called maritime law, is related to actions, injuries or offenses that take place on navigable waters, which are bodies of water used for transportation or commerce.


If you're at risk of harm in your home country because of who you are or what you believe in – whether you are being persecuted because of your religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other reason – you can seek asylum in the United States.


Advertising law attorneys help clients in several ways. They can help you bring a lawsuit if you have been defrauded by a misleading or false advertisement.


Personal injury occurs when you are hurt through someone else's actions. The injury can be physical (like a car accident) or emotional (like slander or death of a loved one).


Find a Lawyer in a Mistaken Identity Case

“Mistaken identity” is a defense to a criminal charge and to some debt collection lawsuits. In the criminal context, you essentially argue that a crime might have been committed but you were wrongly identified as the suspect.


Family-law attorneys deal with cases involving marriage, divorce, child support, adoption, and guardianship. Family-law is a branch of civil law completely separate from the criminal justice system.


Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal information, such as your social security number, to open credit card accounts, purchase things, drain your bank account, or even file income taxes.


You may need to provide your Social Security number (SSN) to government agencies, or business during a transaction subject to the control of the IRS or the federal Customer Identification Program, such an insurance company, investment advisor, car dealer, or real estate agent.


Watch for Identity Theft Using Google Alerts

Google Alerts is a great way to set up a virtual personal watchdog that will constantly look for attempts at identity theft. This is much better than checking these values by hand periodically, since Google Alerts lets you set it and forget it.


If you're starting or running a small business and looking to incorporate, one of your first thoughts may have been whether you needed an attorney. While technically you can incorporate your business on your own, an attorney can provide invaluable assistance and save you considerable time and effort.


If you are applying for Social Security disability benefits, then you should get an attorney to assist you. Some people attempt to apply for benefits on their own but then get a lawyer to handle the appeal.


If collection agencies are calling you, you probably are feeling a lot of stress. A qualified debt relief lawyer can do many things to help relieve that stress.


You just discovered a charge on your card that you are certain you did not authorize. You may well be—or are about to be—the victim of fraud. If you suspect this is the case, you would be wise to place a fraud alert on your credit report.


Identity theft can have devastating effects on your life. Your credit score might tank and you could be falsely accused of crimes. To recover from identity theft, you need to quickly put fraud alerts in place and report the theft to the authorities.


Equifax is one of three nationwide credit reporting companies in the United States, and provides consumers the ability to post a fraud alert on their credit reports if they believe they have been the victim of identity theft.


An estimated seven to nine million people will suffer identity theft this year. Thieves steal identities to make purchases on someone’s existing credit card accounts, to open new lines of credit, or to gain access to prescription drugs.


Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft

Your name and personal information are an asset that belongs to you.


Identity theft occurs when someone steals your identity and poses as you to make purchases with your money, receive medical treatment, claim your tax refunds, or to avoid giving their own personal information to the police.


Protect Your Online Customers from Identity Theft

If you operate an e-commerce site, safeguarding your customers' private data probably is one of your top concerns. Data breaches and hacks can be devastating, particularly for small businesses.


The Department of Justice defines identity theft as the unauthorized use or attempted use of credit cards, bank accounts and other existing accounts as well as the unauthorized attempt to open new accounts using personal information belonging to someone else.


Recover from Identity Theft Without Reporting It

This article is for unfortunate people who've had their identity stolen by someone who they don't want to pursue legal action against. It may have been your parent, your child, a sibling, a significant other....someone who you trusted and who has committed a crime against you, and for whatever reason, you've already decided that you don't want them to suffer the consequences of that crime (police investigation, trial, and potentially a prison sentence).


Minimize the Risks of Identity Theft when You Lose Your Purse or Wallet

Losing your purse or wallet can be a scary experience. You probably have most of your financial information in there. You may also have identification documents, such as your Social Security card and your driver’s license.


If your financial or personal information was stolen or used without your permission, you may be a victim of identity theft. At the first sign of identity theft, such as a suspicious transaction on your credit card, it's important to act as quickly as possible to dispute identity theft before more damage is done.


The prospect of a vacation can be exciting, but often you are more vulnerable to crime, including identity theft, while traveling. Identity thieves often target people who are obviously tourists, knowing that it probably will be awhile before their crimes are discovered.


Identity theft strikes more than 10 million people in a year.  [1]   Unlike with other kinds of theft, victims of identity theft are rarely aware that they have been victimized.


Each year, approximately 13 million people become victims of identity (ID) theft.  [1]   Unfortunately, a crime such as this leaves victims with huge financial stress and a big mess to clean up.


More than 13 million people were victims of identity theft in 2015 in the United States alone.  [1]   While people are getting better at recognizing potential identity theft and minimizing the damage, it's better if you can prevent it from happening in the first place.


Identity theft affects millions of people every year. In the United States, someone is victimized by identity theft every two seconds.  [1]   Thieves target the personal information of consumers in order to gain access to the consumer's money or to incur debts in the consumer's name.


If you suspect theft or have lost an item of personal identification, such as driver's license, Social Security card, or credit card, you are at risk of having your  identity stolen .


You may qualify for a new Social Security Number (SSN) if your life is in danger, you're the victim of identity theft, you have a duplicate number, or you have another valid reason for wanting a new SSN.


Find the Status of a Social Security Claim

After you submit the appropriate paperwork and supporting documentation for a social security claim (whether for disability or SSI), the Social Security Administration determines whether you're eligible for Social Security and how much money you may receive each month.


A Social Security card can be critical for everything from applying to jobs to paying taxes. If your card was lost or stolen, follow these steps and you'll be on your way to getting a new one.


Determine When It is Safe to Release Your Social Security Number

The social security account number was created in 1936 to keep track of retirement and other benefits regulated by the government. The social security number (SSN) was not created to be used as a personal identification number in the private sector.


The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) allows eligible individuals to collect Social Security retirement benefits at any point between 62 and 70 years of age.


Apply for Social Security Survivor Benefits for a Child

Most people think of Social Security solely as a retirement program. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, however, close to 2 million children who have had a parent die receive 1.5 billion in survivor benefits each month.


If your social security card has been lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, or if your legal name has changed, you are eligible to apply for a new card free of cost.


Change Your Name on a Social Security Card

When you change your name legally after getting married, divorced, or for any other reason, you must apply for an updated Social Security card with your new name.


Apply for Disability Benefits with Depression

If you can no longer work due to depression, you may be able to get disability benefits from the federal government through Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance.


One of fastest growing crimes in the United States is identity theft. Over 13.1 million Americans were victims of identity fraud in 2013 alone.  [1]   Thieves target social security cards and then charge up credit cards under your name.


Have you just recently transferred all your bonds into eBonds through the TreasuryDirect website, and now, at this later date want to re-login to the TreasuryDirect website?


All investments carry the risk of losing a portion of the principal investment money. Bond investments, also called fixed-income securities, are those where an investor loans money to a corporate or governmental entity.


Redeem eBonds via Your TreasuryDirect Account

After converting your paper bonds to eBonds, you may want to know how to redeem one. The process seems daunting and complicated, but it really isn't that bad.


You must purchase municipal bonds through a third party, such as a brokerage firm, which will contact on your behalf the state or local government that issues the bond.


There is a wide variety of financial products available to investors. Bond funds are a good option for those interested in investing in debt. A bond is a simple instrument by which investors lend money to a party called the bond issuer and collect money over time in the form of interest.


The ability to price a  bond  is essential for anyone interested in investing in, or understanding, bonds. Although the terminology can be a bit intimidating, the actual process of pricing bonds requires some math and a basic understanding of what bonds are and how they work.


In the United States, federal and state law require that general contractors provide bonds that guarantee the completion of a public construction project.


If you own a savings bond, you are allowed to designate either a co-owner or a beneficiary for the bond. A beneficiary is the named individual who will eventually receive the payoff from the bond.


Savings bonds are sold by the U.S. Treasury to people who want a low-risk investment that will dependably grow in value over time. The bonds earn interest for 30 years, at which point they mature and cease earning any additional interest.


Many young people get Series EE savings bonds as gifts to help them save for college, weddings, and other future expenses. This is very attractive to gift givers, because they cost only half of their face value in paper form.


Savings bonds are issued by the U.S. Treasury and reliably build value over time. As a bond purchaser or bondholder, you are compensated for your investment in the form of interest, which is added to the value of the bond according to various schedules (e.g. annually, semi-annually, etc.).


Companies issue bonds in order to raise capital. However, market interest rates and other factors influence whether the bond is sold for more (at a premium) or less (at a discount) than its face value.


If you are a trader, investor or anyone involved in the bond market, you may want to know how to calculate bond spread. Bond spread refers to the difference between the interest rates of two bonds.


Bond equivalent yield (or BEY) is a tool for determining the annual yield on a discount bond or note. For bonds that do not have an annual yield clearly stated, investors can convert the stated yield into an annual yield by using the bond equivalent yield calculation.


A bond yield and value calculator, created using spreadsheet software, can be used effectively to calculate the expected rate of return on an investment.


A corporation issues a bond to raise money to run a business. Government entities issue bonds to fund capital projects, such as a new highway. The bond issuer is the debtor and a bond investor is the creditor.


Bond duration is a measure of how bond prices are affected by changes in interest rates. This can help an investor understand a bond's potential interest rate risk.


A bond discount is the difference between the face value of a bond and the price for which it sells.  The face value, or par value, of a bond is the principal due when the bond matures.


Bonds can be purchased from a government agency or a private company. When you buy a bond, you are loaning money to the issuer of the bond. This money, known as the "principal" of the bond, will be paid back after a certain number of months or years, when the bond is said to mature.


Investing in a bond is all about how much you can expect to earn in interest. Most bonds carry a fixed interest rate and pay out a fixed amount of interest at specific intervals.


A company or a governmental body issues a bond in order to finance a project. An investor buys the bond, in effect making a loan to the bond's issuer.


Social workers work in government agencies, hospitals, schools, and private practices to help people in need. They provide a variety of services, from helping people deal with abuse or overcome substance abuse, to aiding them to obtain housing, medical care, or education, to providing counseling or psychotherapy.


The skills of detection are desirable traits for careers at all levels of government service. If you feel you have a natural skill set that includes deductive reasoning, analytic thinking, and enjoy the thrill of the unknown, a career as a detective might be right for you.


The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the second largest employer in the United States and provides a variety of career paths for its employees, including office-based jobs such as finance, marketing, and administration and delivery and operations staff who handle and deliver the mail.


A security clearance is required to access confidential information. If you’re a government employee or work for certain government contractors, then you may need a clearance.


Whether you want to prevent environmental degradation, help impoverished areas develop their economies, or advance progressive causes, the United Nations may have the ideal job for you.


Sick of working in the office 9 to 5? Do you want to get paid to work outdoors? Getting a job at the federal, state, or local level as a wildland firefighter provides you with many opportunities to travel, make great money, lead an active lifestyle, and serve your community through fighting wilderness fires.


If you're smart, have a college degree, are ready to serve your country, and are ambitious, becoming a part of the CIA is a future career option for you.


Apply Politics in Personal Relationships

Bringing politics into personal relationships is risky. Some people love discussing politics and wearing their political ideologies on their sleeves, whereas other people feel threatened by it.


Argue Free Market Morality (Pro Capitalism)

Do you believe that capitalism is selfish, even immoral? Some say profit is about greed and hunger for money and power. They say that it helps the rich and hurts the poor.


Reduce Political Polarization in Your Own Life

Political polarization is at an all-time high in the United States. It seems like just about everyone is picking a side, and rejecting anyone else who isn’t on the same page.


Have you seen or felt anger in politics turning into "hatred?" Here are some suggestions of how to avoid that.


If you feel that it's hard distinguishing yourself from the crowd, you may find yourself running a lackluster campaign. But by being consistent, catchy, having an exciting edge, and finding that "wow" factor, you'll leave your competition in the dust.


Only one out of every 600,000 people will ever actually win a Congressional race.  [1]   It takes a specific type of person to even want to run, and of that number, the people who can actually win a race is minuscule.


City councils are the local legislators at the city level. Common tasks include deciding which services the city will provide and how to pay for them.


Working in politics can be an appealing career option if you have passionate opinions and are enthusiastic about enacting positive change. There are a variety of ways to start a career in politics.


Politics can be a challenging and rewarding field for people who want to create a life in service to others. Whether you want to run for office, manage campaigns, or work in a policy environment, politics is stressful, competitive and high energy.


So you've finally decided to enter the world of politics. It's not easy, but with the right attitude, right mindset, and the right amount of wisdom, everything is possible.


Becoming a U.S. Ambassador is a tricky, time-consuming process. With enough persistence and some smart strategizing, however, you just may land your dream ambassadorial appointment someday.


The path to presidency of the United States is a long and difficult one. It takes a lot of effort, commitment, and dedication, but the results, if you win, are well worth it.


Politics can be a challenging and rewarding profession, where you potentially have the power as an elected official to make a difference in your community.


Most senates are responsible for debating and voting in new laws for their country, and usually represent a specific region and its citizens. The position of senator is especially valued in the United States, but these instructions include general instructions for entering any law-making senate, especially one formed by popular election.


There are several ways to become a lobbyist, as well as several kinds of lobbyists. Candidates must be gifted in the art of persuasion and have an amiable personality.


If you feel strongly about a particular issue, or just want to make a general difference, you may want to become a congressperson. The road to running for congress is long and difficult.


If you're looking to truly make a difference in the world, becoming a politician may be your calling. In office, you could instigate change! How amazing would that feeling be?


The political process is central to modern, democratic society and to shift the status quo. Elections, legislation, and political decision-making are all important functions that require the engagement of ordinary citizens.


A national delegate is someone who represents his or her state at that party’s national convention. The delegates get to cast a vote for the presidential candidate that they support and the vote will determine the party’s official candidate for President of the United States of America.


When tax time comes around there are many decisions to make. One of them is which return form to file. In an effort to simplify filling out the form, a guide on filling out the return will come in handy.


Every April, that dreaded day comes along when American wage earners have to file their federal income taxes. The simplest federal return form to file is known as the 1040EZ.


Many people have little trouble with the first page of the IRS 1040 return, but when it comes to the deductions and credits, they have many more questions.


Failing to file and pay taxes is a federal offense, punishable by a hefty fine and even time in prison. If you have skipped filing in the past, or owe money on taxes from previous years, you will want to get up-to-date as soon as possible.


US tax filing doesn't have to feel like root canal. The pain can be dulled once you realize that tax withholding, filing status, and allowable deductions can be adjusted each tax year, all of which can yield a greatly reduced tax burden.


A 1099-Div form is what banks, brokerage houses and other financial institutions will use to notify you each year of dividend income that you receive.


Protect Intellectual Property Internationally

Intellectual property will usually take the form of patents, trademarks, and copyrights. These forms of intellectual property, if recognized by law, will provide you with certain rights in inventions, processes, names, marks, and creative works.


Software is patentable in the United States, provided it is unique and tied to a machine.  [1]   Strictly speaking, you aren't patenting the software itself.


Patent an Invention in the US As a Non‐Citizen

United States patents may be awarded to anyone who qualifies, regardless of nationality. A non-citizen will apply for a U.S. patent in much the same way as a citizen will.


Each patent, whether issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office or another country’s patent office, has a unique number that distinguishes it from any other patent.


You've created an invention that will revolutionize the way the world works, but how do you make your idea a reality? The United States Patent and Trademark Office issues patents for original, useful inventions that change the way people do things.


If you're a musician, U.S. copyright law provides you the exclusive right to play, reproduce, distribute, and otherwise use the music you create. Any use to which you don't consent constitutes copyright infringement, and infringers may be liable to you for significant damages.


Intellectual property rights are guaranteed by the Constitution, which provides for Congress to promote science and art by making laws that grant creators exclusive rights in their creations for a limited period of time.


Legally Combat Private Photo Publication

If someone has acquired and threatened to publish private photos of you, there are things you can do to legally combat the publication – but you must act quickly if you want to prevent the publication.


A patent gives the owner the ability to restrict others from making, using, selling, or importing your invention without your consent. Patents are awarded by the U.S. government to inventors, but may be owned by individual inventors, groups, or corporations.


Copyright protects original works of authorship, such as books, movies and songs. In general, works that have been copyrighted cannot be used without the permission of the author.


If you are an inventor, part of the task of getting a new invention to market involves making sure that the patent to your invention, or something similar, hasn't already been taken.


The Associated Press is a non-profit news cooperative established in 1846.  [1]   The AP publishes articles, videos, and photographs daily. It also maintains an extensive content archive.


If someone has a claim against you and the two of you arrive at a settlement, you may want to draft a covenant not to sue to protect you from future lawsuits.


Typically, you want to get digital rights to a book so you can publish it yourself in e-book format or distribute it over the internet. However, assuming the book is still subject to copyright, the author or existing print publisher of the book controls the rights to reproduce and distribute the book in any form.


If you have a good idea, document your invention from the beginning as you complete your planning, building, and testing. In many ways, a patent is only as good as your documentation, and if it's challenged or infringed, good documentation can go a long way to protecting your interests.


The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) protects patent rights for a maximum duration of 20 years. The duration will vary depending on the type of patent and what adjustments are applied.


Patents are government issued property rights over an invention for a certain period of time. If you have a patent on something, you can exclude others from making, using, or selling the product you invented.


"Fair use" is often used as a defense to copyright infringement claims under US Copyright Law. It allows for use of portions of copyrighted work without permission from the owner.


Defend Yourself in a Patent Infringement Lawsuit

If you've created a product, system, or process without taking the time to ensure that any patented technology is appropriately licensed, you run the risk of getting sued for patent infringement.


Yield to Maturity (YTM) for a bond is the total return, interest plus capital gain, obtained from a bond held to maturity.  It is expressed as a percentage and tells investors what their return on investment will be if they purchase the bond and hold on to it until the bond issuer pays them back.


In the business world, Net present value (or NPV) is one of the most helpful tools available for financial decision making.  [1]   Usually, NPV is used to estimate whether a certain purchase or investment is worth more in the long run than simply investing an equivalent amount of money in a savings account at the bank.


A bond is a debt security that pays a fixed amount of interest until maturity. When a bond matures, the principal amount of the bond is returned to the bondholder.


Stockpiling gold has been a favorite investment of the wealthy through much of history, and gold remains the most popular investment of all the precious metals.


As companies earn profits, they can choose to either reinvest those profits in the company or distribute them to shareholders in the form of dividends.


Researching a stock is an essential step before making an investment. If your investments are not informed by a solid research process, you could subject yourself to risks that would have otherwise been avoidable.


Starting to think about retirement? Wondering how you'll be able to afford to spend your golden years in comfort? Investing in the stock market is one way to increase your wealth and security, but it is not without some serious risks.


If you have a long-term investment horizon of at least ten years, your best investment is probably not mutual funds, ETFs, growth stocks, bonds, or gold.


It is no coincidence that most wealthy people invest in the stock market. While fortunes can be both made and lost, investing in stocks is one of the best ways to create financial security, independence, and generational wealth.


When you buy stocks, you are buying a small part of company. Twenty years ago, stocks were primarily bought with the advice of a stockbroker. Nowadays, anyone with a computer can buy or sell stocks with brokerage firm.


Decide Whether to Buy Stocks or Mutual Funds

The statistics are clear — over the past 20 years equities (that is to say, stocks and mutual funds)  [1]   have been the best performing type of investment, outperforming both bonds and real estate.


So you've decided you want to invest in stocks. Where do you begin? More importantly, how do you choose the stocks to invest in? Choosing stocks can be frightening but as long as you have information and tools, you can confidently pick stocks.


"Value" investing is buying stocks that are perceived as being worth more than what you pay for them.  [1]   Stocks are valued most commonly by the net tangible assets of the companies they represent, earnings per share, and dividends they pay.


The stock market and its potential for risk intimidates many people. Nonetheless, a well-built stock portfolio is likely to outperform other investments over time.


Value investing is a proven style to earn great returns in the stock market, as demonstrated by the stellar records of value investors like Benjamin Graham, Warren Buffett, John Templeton, Seth Klarman, and Joel Greenblatt.


If in your taxable account, you hold stock in a company acquired by another company in a merger, you need to adjust your cost basis to compute capital gains or losses.


When you buy stock, you are purchasing ownership in the company that issues the security. As an owner, you have certain rights. For example, a stock investor has the right to receive a dividend if the company generates sufficient earnings.


A will is an important estate planning document for you and your family. It has several functions: to distribute your assets, nominate an executor, and plan for minor children.


Many people consider their dogs part of the family, so they naturally want to include them in the will. However, you can’t leave money or assets to your dog, so don’t try to give your dog your house.


Few of us will ever have to worry about estate tax- a post mortem tax that is held against the wealthiest US citizens whose property is valued in excess of $5 million dollars.


Creating a will is an important first step to ensuring that your hard-earned money and assets transfer to the people you want to get them when you die.


Get a Living Will and Last Will & Testament Forms

While it may be difficult to think about the end of our lives, most people should consider creating documents that specify their health care wishes and that create health care and financial decision-making proxies to carry out whose wishes if the person becomes incapacitated.


Wills and other probate documents are public records, so you should be able to find them with a little detective work. Typically, you’ll need the deceased person’s name, date of death, and last residence.


Probate refers to the legal process that takes place after someone dies and his or her estate is examined and distributed. This process can include proving the validity of a will, identifying and appraising the deceased person’s (decedent’s) assets, paying the decedent’s debts and taxes, and distributing the decedent’s property.


Probate is the legal process of transferring title of property from a decedent to his or her heirs. When probate is involved, an heir or family member must file the appropriate probate pleadings with the proper court.


After writing your will, you will need to “execute” it. In this context, "executing" your will means signing it in accordance with the law, which makes it valid.


A pour-over will typically accompanies a revocable living trust. While most assets normally are transferred into the trust before the person's death, a pour-over will acts as a failsafe by directing that any assets not already transferred into the trust should be "poured over" into the trust after the person's death.


No one wants to think about old age and death, but proper estate planning is necessary now. You should begin by deciding who you want to leave your property to, and who will act as guardians to your children.


In today's world, many first marriages end in divorce. Of those divorced from their first spouse, over half will remarry. This trend has resulted in a large number of blended families with special estate planning needs.


There are several different methods of dividing up personal property after a death depending on the circumstances that exist at the time of the death.


A pour-over will is used in conjunction with a revocable living trust, and states that at your death, all assets not already held in your trust will fall into the trust and be distributed under the conditions of that instrument.


In the United States, your “next of kin” are the people who will inherit your estate if you die without a will. If you die without a will, you are considered to have died "intestate."


Most wills submitted to probate are accepted as a true representation of the deceased’s intent. However, someone could contest the will. In particular, they could claim that the will was obtained using fraud.


When a person dies, a probate court distributes his assets and debts according to the terms of his will. If a deceased person does not have a will, state inheritance laws dictate how his assets and debts are transferred.


Distribute a Decedent's Assets to Beneficiaries

When a person dies, their belongings (i.e., assets) are distributed to others (i.e., beneficiaries). If the decedent passes property to beneficiaries through contract, the assets will be passed along outside of the formal probate process.


As a business owner, deciding to sell your company can be difficult. However, doing so can free up assets and relieve you from liability. If you are looking to sell your business, start by negotiating the sale with one or more potential buyers.


Determine Inheritance if the Intended Beneficiary Is Deceased

When a person dies, their estate is distributed to the beneficiaries named in their will. But what happens if a beneficiary is dead? First, you need to find out when the beneficiary died.


A contract is an agreement between at least two parties—A and B. However, one party might want to transfer the contract to someone else. For example, B might want to assign its rights and obligations to C. Sometimes, a contract prohibits assignment, in which case B can’t assign the contract to anyone.


A stock purchase agreement (sometimes called a “share purchase agreement”) is a contract between two parties for the sale of stock in a company. Often, the company issues shares and then sells them to a purchaser.


When someone takes out a loan, they sometimes have to put up property as “collateral.” Collateral is property that secures the loan. Should the borrower default, then the lender can take the property and apply the proceeds to the debt.


Draft a Reciprocal Nondisclosure Agreement

A reciprocal, or mutual, nondisclosure agreement protects both parties who are entering into a business relationship through which confidential information will be exchanged.


Whenever you get a new client, you should draft an advertising agency agreement. This agreement will explain the duties you will perform as well as how your fees are calculated.


Draft an Agreement for the Sale of Goods

You should use a sales agreement whenever you sell goods. The agreement will explain what goods are being sold and when payment and delivery should be made.


A joint venture is a formal relationship where two or more companies join together in order to take part in a specific activity. There are two main ways to set up a joint venture.


A ghostwriting agreement outlines the contractual terms between an author (the ghostwriter) and the client for whom he or she is writing. A ghostwriter can work on a variety of projects, from writing essays to entire books.


Draft a Compromise Agreement Quickly and Cheaply

In the United Kingdom (UK), a compromise agreement (a.k.a., settlement agreement) is used by employers who wish to terminate an employee and avoid possible future legal action.


If you own a successful business and want to license others to use your brand to create additional locations for your business, you can do so through a franchise agreement.


When making estate plans, it is important to think about how to protect and provide for your pets if you die or become incapacitated. A pet protection plan is a legal way for you provide for your pet, if you are no longer able.


A breach of contract is a failure to do what one has agreed to do in a contract. A failure to perform duties in a contract is the triggering force behind many lawsuits.


Defend Yourself in a Contract Fraud Lawsuit

If you are sued for contract fraud, then you should quickly identify what statements were allegedly fraudulent. Generally, you can defend yourself by arguing that the statements were true or that you didn’t intend to defraud the other person.


A contract is an agreement made between two or more parties that is enforceable by law. The enforcement aspect of a contract is important, because without the ability to enforce an agreement, neither party is required to honor the contract.


Defend Yourself in a Breach of Contract Lawsuit

Effectively defending yourself from a breach of contract lawsuit requires that you understand the contract you formed with the plaintiff. You also need to review your communications to see if you subsequently revised the contract by making different promises.


Many countries keep a list of registered voters. In the United States, those lists are generally maintained by the state; similarly, in the United Kingdom, you'll find the lists in your local area.


Researching public records used to require a lot of time and effort, if not money to make hard copies of the documents you needed. However, thanks to the internet, many public records can be found online for free if you know where to look.


There are a variety of reasons you may want to change your name. You may have recently been married or divorced, or you may just want a new name. Follow the directions below and you will have your new name in no time.


Unlike marriage and divorce records, records of an annulment are usually not kept with state vital records offices. Technically, after an annulment, the marriage never took place, making it especially hard to trace its records.


Workplace harassment is a type of employment discrimination. If you are harassed on the basis of a protected characteristic, such as race or disability, then you can sue for compensation.


In most states, adoptions are closed. This means that you cannot access information about your birth parents, biological siblings, or children once the adoption has taken place.


Obtain a Death Certificate in Puerto Rico

If you need a death certificate for someone who died in Puerto Rico, then you can order it in one of several ways. You can submit a paper application, order online, or order by phone.


In the United States there is a variety of state and federal labor laws which govern the relationship between employers and employees. For example, occupational health-and-safety laws protect employees from workplace hazards.


If you want to hire a worker who is not a United States citizen, then you will need to sponsor that person. You can sponsor workers for permanent residence (a “green card”) or for a temporary period of time.


Workers' compensation is a form of insurance that provides short- or long-term wage replacement for workers who are injured on the job. Each state administers its own workers' compensation program that covers employees who work for either the state government or private companies.


If you have not been paid for all of the hours that you have worked, or were not paid the appropriate minimum wage or overtime rate, then you may sue for unpaid wages.


Federal and state laws require employers to follow certain rules in the treatment of their employees and managers. There are many different types of labor laws and some include wage & hour laws, workplace safety laws, employee benefit laws, union laws, family and medical leave laws, and seasonal worker laws.


Federal and state labor laws provide employees with certain rights such as the right to join a union and to engage in collective bargaining. Employees also have the right to abstain from participating in labor activities.


Set Up Fair Disciplinary Procedures As a Small Business

It is never enjoyable having to discipline employees. Nevertheless, every small business owner will eventually confront a situation where discipline is required.


In the United States, if your employer has failed to pay you the minimum wage or has withheld overtime pay, then you can report the violation to either the federal government or to your state agency.


When you divorce or separate, you need to divide your property and debts with your ex-spouse. Accordingly, you should draft a property settlement agreement.


Obtain a Copy of Your Birth Certificate in Colorado

Whether you lost your birth certificate or would simply prefer to have two copies, it is possible to retrieve an additional copy. This can be accomplished by mail, fax, online, or in person.


Obtain a Copy of Your Birth Certificate in Arkansas

Birth certificates are often necessary for verifying a person’s identity. You may have lost your original birth certificate, or you might want an extra copy.


Protect Your Rights As an Employer During an ICE Raid

Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the law enforcement arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Officers conduct audits of immigration forms, or I-9s, and also conduct raids of workplaces.


When you’re getting married, you can’t believe anything could go wrong. Unfortunately, it often does. A prenuptial agreement can help avoid much of the argument and litigation that often comes with divorce.


In most states, it is a crime to possess a fake birth certificate. Fake birth certificates are also used to commit a variety of crimes, such as illegally immigrating to the United States.


If you are a resident of the state of Oklahoma or simply planning on having a long-distance or destination wedding at a Oklahoma location such as the Will Rogers Theater in Oklahoma City, figuring out how to get married can be an exhaustive process.


The age of majority is 18 in most states. This is the age that a person is considered old enough to enter into a contract, such as marriage. Once you reach the age of consent (often 16), then you can marry with parental consent.


You may need a birth certificate in order to get a government-issued form of identification, such as a driver’s license or a passport. You may also need the birth certificate to get married.


Hyphenating your last name is one way people choose to change their names after getting married. Once you change your name to a hyphenation, though, that's just the beginning.


A marriage certificate is issued by a governing body to its citizens, which permits them to marry and establishes a legal bond between the wedded couple.


There are many reasons why you may want a nickname. Your given name may be very long, boring, or difficult to say. There may be multiple people in your social circle with the same name, and you need an easy way to differentiate between them.


You've decided to change your name, but you aren't sure what to change it to. Pick a name that you love, and pick a name that feels right. Think about how you want to represent yourself, and try to find a name that speaks to those qualities.


When choosing a name for a baby or a character, consider mixing two meaningful names into a new possibility. This can be done by scrambling the letters of the two original names, combining different syllables from each of the two original names, or hyphenating the two names into one.


Title 1 Chapter 25 of Wyoming law allows a resident to change their name after marriage, after divorce, or for personal reasons. The process begins with the filing of a name change petition to the state through one of its county court clerk offices.


Whether you’ve recently married or divorced, are tired of people misspelling your name, or just feel like you’ve gone as far as you can in life as “John Smith,” you may be interested in changing your name.


Collect Child Support when Everything Else Fails

Both parents have a legal and moral obligation to financially support their children. While cash child support payments have been part of divorces since 1950, the current enforcement system was put in place in 1975 and continues to evolve.


As a parent, you have an obligation to pay child support. Getting out of this obligation can be very difficult, and parents are relieved of their responsibility only in limited situations.


When a court orders child support payments, you can be declared in contempt of court for failure to make those payments. If you're found in contempt, the court may impose a host of sanctions under federal and state law, including the suspension of your driver's license or any professional licenses and the interception of your tax refund.


Defend Against Appropriation of Name or Likeness Claims

Appropriation of someone's name or likeness is an invasion of privacy for which you can be sued. The lawsuit will allege you've used the plaintiff's name or image without his or her permission for commercial gain or some other exploitative purpose.


Child support payments can be changed only by a court’s modification order. The modification process can increase or decrease payments. The ways you can lower child support payments will vary by circumstance.


Modify Child Support Payments Due to Loss of Work

Losing a job makes it difficult to support yourself. It becomes even harder to make court-ordered child support payments. If you have recently lost your job, then act quickly to modify your child support.


Changing your name in the state of Wisconsin requires a few very specific guidelines—as in any state, really. Under the State code 786.37, a resident may change their name after marriage, after divorce, or for personal reasons by filing a name change petition to the county court clerk's office.


Online payment is a convenient method for making your child support payments. Generally, you can pay with a credit/debit card or with your bank account, and you can track your payment history.


In some cases, despite the fact that your child is over the age of 18 or is no longer financially dependent on his parents, your child support will not automatically terminate – especially if the child support payments are being deducted from your paycheck.


There are many circumstances such as job loss that may make it difficult for you to make child support payments the court previously ordered. If you want to lower your child support payments in Florida, you may file a motion asking the court to do so.


The law in all U.S. states and territories requires fathers to support their children, even if they were never married to the mother. As an unmarried mother, you must first establish paternity if you want to get child support.


Although a divorce decree is the final order of a judge, its terms can be changed in two situations. If you think the judge came to the wrong decision regarding any aspect of your divorce, you have the ability to appeal that decision to a higher court, provided you do so within a narrow window of time following the issuance of your divorce decree.


A divorce petition is a document that is filed to start the dissolution of a marriage. Occasionally, the petition will need to be modified (a.k.a. amended) in order to change the original.


Divorce is both an ending and a new beginning. Unfortunately, too many marriages end because of financial and debt issues. A study by the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts cited money issues as the third leading cause of divorce.


Once you and your spouse make the decision to divorce, you need to start thinking about how to divide the property you accumulated during your marriage.


Even though civil union is not marriage in the strictest sense, it can be complicated to extricate yourself from if the relationship sours or ends. Here are some tips than can speed up the "divorce" procedure.


A divorce in Kansas will result in the termination of your marriage with your spouse. It is a serious legal matter that will have long-lasting effects on your finances, property, and family relationships.


When you and your spouse wish to separate in Ohio, you can do so by submitting an agreement to the Ohio Court of Common Pleas or you can go through a court hearing.


When petitioning the Court to dissolve a marriage, one must specify the grounds for the divorce. There are both fault and no-fault grounds for divorce.


Legal separation is a viable alternative to divorce in situations where a couple cannot afford to file for divorce due to tax reasons or personal religious beliefs.


Divorce doesn't have to be expensive and complicated. There are online companies that can give you a reliable and affordable alternative to high priced lawyer fees and mind-numbing do-it-yourself divorce kits.


A legal separation allows parties to legally divide their assets and debts without ending their marriage or registered domestic partnership. A legal separation may be the solution for parties who are not sure if they are ready to get divorced, who are prohibited from divorcing for religious reasons, or who wish to retain other benefits of marriage or domestic partnership, such as tax benefits and insurance coverage.


Couples who are unsure if they wish to remain married might consider a legal separation. A legal separation allows the parties to live apart, divide their debts and assets, and establish custody and support while remaining married.


Divorce can be one of the most unpleasant experiences a person goes through. What's more, the financial and emotional consequences of a divorce can last a lifetime.


Uncontested separation and no-fault divorce in the Commonwealth of Virginia can be completed in as little as six months with or without the assistance of an attorney.


Getting a divorce in Texas is a serious process and results in ending a valid marriage between yourself and your spouse. After making the decision to get a divorce in Texas, you will have to go through a process that involves meeting residency requirements and having a valid ground for divorce, finding an attorney (unless you decide to proceed without one), preparing and filing your divorce petition, and finalizing the divorce.


Justify Adultery As Ground for Divorce in Court

In most U.S. states, if you want to get a divorce you can choose between fault-based divorce or divorce due to "irreconcilable differences," which does not require either party to prove the other is at fault.


After you divorce, you might think that you own your car outright because the divorce decree states that you are the sole owner. However, your ex is still responsible for the debt if their name remains on the car loan.


Prepare a Divorce Settlement Agreement in California

In California, a divorce settlement agreement is called a marriage settlement agreement. In this document, you and your spouse decide how you will divide your property and child custody.


Identify Grounds for Annulment of a Civil Union

An annulment is a legal declaration that a union or marriage was invalid from the beginning. In other words, if your civil union or marriage is annulled, you will legally be in the position of never having entered into the union or marriage at all.


In the U.S., assets in a divorce are divided according to state law in a method that has been deemed fair by the state. This means that any attempt to hide or protect your assets such that your spouse does not get their fair share will likely not be effective and may be illegal.


If you live in Virginia and are ready to get a divorce, but wish to do it without an attorney, simply follow the steps below.


Get Money Inappropriately Spent During Divorce Returned

Division of assets can be one of the most difficult parts of any divorce, and the situation is worse when your spouse starts spending money or selling marital assets after you've separated but before the divorce is finalized.


Although many pet owners view pets as members of their family, nearly all states in the United States view pets as property. During divorce proceedings, the fate of a pet is determined in accordance with marital property laws governing that state.


Divorce in New York can be accomplished quickly if the two spouses can agree on distribution of property, custody of children, and support and visitation.


Divorce is never easy. Even in the best situations, divorce can be emotionally draining and complicated. No matter how tired or angry you feel, however, you need to begin protecting your interests immediately.


An uncontested divorce is a one where both parties agree to all of the terms of the divorce, including property divisions, distribution of the marital debt, child custody and support, and spousal maintenance, or alimony.


North Carolina does not recognize the idea of filing for a legal separation.  [1]   Instead of having to file for a legal separation, in North Carolina you can either get separated on your own or file for what is called a divorce from bed and board.


How quickly a party can get divorced will first depend upon his or her state’s waiting period, or the amount of time the state requires a person filing for divorce to wait until the Court will grant the divorce.


If you want to get a divorce and either you or your spouse lives in Michigan, you will be able to file without an attorney. However, due to the stressful and complex nature of some divorce cases, having an attorney will increase your chances of being successful and getting what you want.


If you live in Nevada and are ready to get a divorce, but are not sure where to begin, you have come to the right place! To get a divorce in Nevada, just follow the steps below.


Get a Civil Annulment After the Death of Your Spouse

A marriage is "till death do us part," meaning that the marriage ends when one spouse dies. However, in some situations that's not enough. If the marriage was illegal to begin with, and you want it annulled, it is still possible to do this after the death of your spouse.


Get a Civil Annulment when Your Spouse Is Out of Country

Unlike a divorce, a civil annulment is granted only for specific reasons, such as if a spouse was under age or married to someone else at the time of the marriage.


Under Florida law, the quickest that anyone can get divorced is 20 days.  [1]   Divorce in Florida is technically called “dissolution of marriage.” There are two forms: simplified divorce and regular divorce.


An annulment differs from divorce. Whereas a divorce dissolves a valid marriage, an annulment erases the marriage completely. It is as if the marriage never existed.