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Q: Can I sue my landlord for not providing hot water in California?
I have been without hot water in my rental unit in California for over 8 months. Despite notifying my landlord about this issue via email and text messages over 29 times, no action has been taken. Other tenants may also be experiencing similar issues, as this seems to be a building-wide problem.... View More 
Dan Rowan Cortright
answered on Jun 10, 2026
answered on Jun 10, 2026
Yes, hot water is statutorily required to be provided by a landlord under both the Civil and Health and Safety Codes. If your landlord is not providing hot water after notification and an opportunity to repair (usually 30 days), then the unit may be considered uninhabitable, and you will have no... View More
Q: What can I do if a tenant in AZ doesn't pay rent or leave after a notice?
I am a landlord in Arizona with a tenant who is renting on a month-to-month basis. The tenant is two months behind on rent, and I issued a 30-day termination notice on May 27, 2026. I have communicated with the tenant regarding the unpaid rent, but there hasn't been a resolution. What are the... View More
Peter H. Westby
answered on Jun 10, 2026
answered on Jun 10, 2026
Your 30-day notice was an appropriate first step to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. If your tenant has not vacated or paid all the back rent by the end of June, you can evict. See the Arizona Residential Landlord Tenant Act at ARS 33-1301 to ARS 33-1381 and, specifically, the Remedies section... View More
Q: Should we keep our I-130 case open at the NVC or withdraw, and what are the steps if we refile in the future?
As a U.S. citizen, I filed an I-130 petition on behalf of my husband, which was approved on October 2, 2025, and is currently on hold at the NVC at our request. My husband is not ready to immigrate, and we are both legally residing abroad. During this time, we had a child who is a U.S. citizen by... View More
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Patricia C. Wall-Santiago
answered on Jun 10, 2026
answered on Jun 10, 2026
1. Should we keep the case open at the NVC (understanding it can remain active with annual contact), or would it be better to formally withdraw and refile when we are ready? That is up to you. If when the time comes to finally immigrate you can always refile the petition anew; the only potential... View More
Q: Should we keep our I-130 case open at the NVC or withdraw, and what are the steps if we refile in the future?
As a U.S. citizen, I filed an I-130 petition on behalf of my husband, which was approved on October 2, 2025, and is currently on hold at the NVC at our request. My husband is not ready to immigrate, and we are both legally residing abroad. During this time, we had a child who is a U.S. citizen by... View More
Karol Dezwager Brown
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answered on Jun 10, 2026
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answered on Jun 10, 2026
Hi! Based on what you've described, many people in your situation choose to keep the approved I-130 case active at the NVC rather than withdraw it, especially when future immigration remains a possibility, but the timing is uncertain.
A few general considerations:
- An approved... View More
Q: How can I retrieve my mother's belongings and ashes without a will in Ohio?
My mother passed away on December 17, 2025, in Ohio, without leaving a will. Her husband, who raised me for 53 years, refuses to give me any of her personal belongings, such as clothes, shoes, blankets, family photos, a sewing machine, and a bicycle. He is also unwilling to give me any of her ashes... View More
C. Lawrence Huddleston III
answered on Jun 12, 2026
answered on Jun 12, 2026
You have legal rights, but you must act to enforce them. In a situation like this, that means hiring an attorney at your expense to seek appointment as Administrator of her estate or, if your stepfather has already opened the estate, to require an accounting and to alert the court of your... View More
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