Blog
Eviction Rights and Rules
The conditions and steps involved in a landlord forcing a tenant to leave a rented property - 'eviction' - are defined by state and local laws. As both landlord and tenants have legal rights, eviction requires methodical and documented steps. Unpaid rent would seem ...
Rental Application Rights
A landlord renting a property has rights in selecting a tenant. Tenants also have rights about the factors that can be considered in selection. While most landlord-tenant issues are governed by states and localities, Federal fair housing laws apply to tenant selecti...
What is Litigation?
In US law, one party can bring a lawsuit against another party in court. In civil cases, the party bringing the suit -- called the plaintiff -- generally claims to have incurred loss through actions of the other party - the defendant. In criminal cases, the state --...
How Can I Determine My Housing Needs Before I Begin The Search?
Like the video shows, your home should fit the way you live, with spaces and features that appeal to the whole family.
Before you begin looking at homes make a list of your priorities - things like location and size.
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Probate Basics
The legal distribution of assets and property left by someone who has died is called 'probate.' It is a process of law, involving government and courts, that ensures proper and legal distribution of their assets. Even if the deceased person had a legal will, pr...
Understanding Wills and Trusts
A will is a written document that defines how your assets will be distributed after you die. Trusts are legal arrangements that involve a separate legal entity to hold and distribute assets -- during your life, after your life, or both. As an alternative to wills, t...
Bankruptcy Basics
Bankruptcy is a set of legally-defined ways for individuals or businesses to settle debts without full payment, by following rules that govern their assets and financial actions for a period of time. There are two broad types, liquidation and reorganization. Under l...
Bankruptcy Protection
When a person or business concludes that meeting their debts is not realistic, they may file for bankruptcy in Federal Bankruptcy court. A bankruptcy filing places an automatic stay on debt-related actions and judgements, including wage garnishment -- court-orde...
Landlord Rights & Responsibilities
A landlord owns property that is rented or leased to someone else - the 'tenant' or 'lessee.' Both responsibilities and rights for landlords are defined by law - usually state and local codes in the US. Responsibilities for landlords may cover property, contract, an...
Rent-To-Own Agreements
Picture this agreement between two players in a board game: 'If you land on my property 10 times, pay $5 more each time, and then you can buy it for $200.' The first player still owns the property for those 10 turns, but the second player has secured a set pri...