The Probate Process
Probate is a court-supervised legal proceeding in which a deceased person's property is collected, his debts settled, and the assets of the estate transferred to his beneficiaries or heirs.
View ArticleForms of Property Ownership
The manner in which a person may hold title to assets or real estate varies. Property may be held individually, jointly, or in a trust. Sole OwnershipA person may hold property by himself. Sole...
View ArticleSame-Sex Marriage and Same-Sex Unions
Various types of formal same-sex unions have long been customary in certain cultures. Whether governments should provide legal recognition to such relationships has become a contentious issue in some...
View ArticleCases and Codes
U.S. Federal Constitution U.S. Code Code of Federal RegulationsStates Alabama Idaho Montana Puerto Rico Alaska Illinois Nebraska Rhode Island American Samoa Indiana Nevada South Carolina...
View ArticleNorway Recognizes Same-Sex Marriage
In June, Norway became the latest country to legalize same-sex marriage.
View ArticleCivil Rights Lawsuit Against Illinois on School Funding
On August 20th, the Chicago Urban League and the Quad County Urban League filed a lawsuit in the Cook County Circuit Court, Chancery Division, against the State and the Illinois Board of Education,...
View ArticleKentucky Court Rejects Lesbian Adoption
On September 12, 2008, the Kentucky Court of Appeals ruled lesbians cannot be allowed to adopt children as though they are stepparents. In a 3-0 ruling, the Court held that the trial judge ignored the...
View ArticleFlorida Judge Declares Anti-Gay Adoption Law Unconstitutional
A trial court judge's decision this week in the case of The Adoption of John Doe determined the current Florida statute preventing gays and lesbians from adopting children to be a violation of...
View ArticleEurope Moves Toward Increasing Protection of Consumer Rights
The European Commission released a proposal this week that increases consumer rights and protection when shopping online and across national borders, reports The New York Times. Retailers will be...
View ArticleMontana Court Recognizes Same-Sex De Facto Parent
A Montana trial court recognized a same-sex partner as de facto parent in its decision of Kulstad v. Maniaci last week, reports Law Professor Blogs, LLC. The children were adopted by Barbara Maniaci...
View ArticleNew Law Helps Foster Children Find Loving, Permanent Homes
The Senate and House passed the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008 to the President's desk to be signed into law, writes Lawyers.com. The new measures included in the...
View ArticleConnecticut Supreme Court Allows Same-Sex Marriage
Connecticut's Supreme Court has ruled that the state must allow same-sex couples to marry, reports AP. The decision follows a suit filed by eight same-sex couples against the state in 2004 for denying...
View ArticleArizona Ban on Same-Sex Marriage on November Ballot
In Arizona, the legislature has referred a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage to the November ballot.
View ArticleDwelling Assurance Accused of Violating Ohio Consumer Protection Laws
Dwelling Assurance, Inc. and owner Nancy Schmidt have been charged with practicing deceptive mortgage rescue services, writes the Ohio Attorney General Office. Complaints from residents have alleged...
View Article"Pro IP Act" Hopes To Enforce Protections of Intellectual Property
President George W. Bush signed the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act (PRO IP Act) into law on October 13, 2008, writes Foley & Larner LLP. The U.S. Congress...
View ArticleJury Awards $400,000 to Deaf Patient in New Jersey Discrimination Case
The New Jersey Law Journal reports that deaf patient Irma Gerena has been awarded $400,000 because her doctor failed to provide an interpreter during her visits. Gerena filed suit under state...
View ArticleVoter Group Pays $100,000 for Political Robo Calls
Women's Voices Women Vote has agreed to pay the state of North Carolina $100,000 in civil penalties for placing non-compliant political robo calls, reports the North Carolina Attorney General's Office....
View ArticleTweeter Gift Card Holders Urged to Redeem by November 15th
The Connecticut AG Office released an announcement urging consumers who hold Tweeter gift cards to redeem them by Saturday, November 15th. The electronics store chain filed for bankruptcy on November...
View ArticleFederal Court Rules for Bay City Rollers in Suit for Unpaid Royalties
Two years ago, the Bay City Rollers filed a lawsuit against Arista Records, Inc., claiming that Arista had failed to pay them millions of dollars in royalties over an almost thirty-year period. The...
View ArticleAvoiding Home Repair Scams
Whether you're planning an addition for a growing family or simply getting new storm windows, finding a competent and reliable contractor is the first step to a successful and satisfying home...
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