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I am an international student in Romania dealing with a defamation issue associated with a cease and desist letter. The letter contains false accusations suggesting that I intentionally changed my domain to evade copyright laws, which isn't true as the decision was economically motivated due... View More
answered on Nov 3, 2025
When you receive a cease and desist letter with false or exaggerated claims, the first step is to stay calm and avoid responding impulsively. A cease and desist is not a lawsuit—it is a demand letter meant to intimidate or warn you before legal action. Review the claims carefully and save copies... View More
I have an undergraduate diploma from Sevastopol State University in Crimea. I am looking to continue my education in the USA. Will my diploma be recognized or transferrable to US educational institutions?
answered on Oct 14, 2025
You can use your diploma in California, but recognition is not automatic; each U.S. university decides whether your prior education meets its entrance or transfer standards.
Most schools will ask for a course‑by‑course evaluation from an independent member organization (such as NACES or... View More
I know an American citizen from California who entered Brazil by falsifying documents to obtain a visa. She told me she submitted a document on colored paper to make it appear original. She plans to stay for a year and potentially extend it for another year. I have no physical evidence but am... View More
answered on Oct 11, 2025
It’s understandable that you’d be concerned about someone falsifying visa documents, especially since this can have serious legal and immigration consequences for both countries involved. In Brazil, falsifying or using fraudulent documents to obtain a visa violates immigration and criminal... View More
I am a Russian citizen with a valid Russian passport and a Refugee Travel Document (RTD) in the USA, and I have applied for a green card. Previously, I have traveled to Turkey with my RTD, requiring a visa, since I did not present my Russian passport upon departure. I plan to travel to Turkey... View More
answered on Sep 28, 2025
You can technically enter Turkey with your Russian passport if you want to take advantage of visa-free entry, but you need to be careful about how this choice affects your U.S. immigration situation. As a refugee or asylee, using your home country passport can sometimes raise concerns with U.S.... View More
I'm seeking legal assistance to locate an American woman named Ashley who traveled from the San Francisco Bay Area to Pune, India, from October 28 - November 14, 2017, to attend a funeral and visit a cancer patient. I've reached out to the Indian government for help, but they are not... View More
answered on Sep 26, 2025
Begin two parallel tracks—one in India to compel action, and one in the United States to activate consular and law‑enforcement channels.
Engage an Indian advocate in Maharashtra by notarized and apostilled power of attorney to file (i) a Missing Person Report in Pune and Mumbai and (ii)... View More
I am a US citizen residing in Baja California, Mexico, and serve on a homeowners association (HOA) board for a Mexican subdivision here. My fellow board members and I are being falsely attacked on social media by US citizens living here part- and full-time regarding our management of the... View More
answered on Sep 10, 2025
You can pursue defamation-type relief, but where you file and which law applies will control your path. Mexico recognizes civil moral-damages actions (daño moral) for injury to honor and reputation, so a civil action in Baja California remains possible even where criminal defamation has been... View More
How viable is it for a Korean company to sue a US-based YouTuber for copyright infringement, given that the allegedly infringed content is also available in other public domains? There have only been a couple of email exchanges between the parties, but no legal documents or agreements. The Korean... View More
answered on Aug 20, 2025
One question a copyright attorney might ask is whether the Korean company has a valid copyright registration for the work in the United States as that is a prerequisite for litigation.
If a public figure is hit by U.S. sanctions and cannot use social media like Instagram owned by U.S. companies, can someone else, who does not live in the U.S., open and manage a social media account dedicated to that public figure, or will that account likely face restrictions too?
answered on Aug 11, 2025
You're asking a smart and important question, especially in a world where digital presence and sanctions overlap more and more. If a public figure is sanctioned by the U.S. government, they are often prohibited from accessing services offered by U.S. companies—including platforms like... View More
I live in California and recently inherited property in France from my grandmother through a trust, of which I am the sole beneficiary. I have resolved tax issues with the IRS, but I am having difficulty receiving responses from notaries in France. Are there lawyers in California who can assist me... View More
answered on Jul 14, 2025
Surprise!
French lawyers are notorious for procrastination. You have several questions that need to be answered: Were you the beneficiary of a California trust? If that is the case the trustee should instruct the advocat to proceed with the transfer. Transfers on the continent are... View More
I own patents related to IP in chip design, data provenance, and verification. I'm interested in licensing these patents on a non-exclusive basis to the semiconductor industry but don't know how to start or whom to contact. Although there has been some interest, I haven't identified... View More
answered on Jul 6, 2025
Start by creating a clear licensing strategy that defines the scope of use, field of application, royalty model, and geographic reach. Since you're pursuing non-exclusive licenses, you retain flexibility to engage with multiple companies without restricting yourself to a single entity.... View More
I am a Vietnamese citizen who initially signed for voluntary departure many years ago but is now facing deportation. I am a Vietnamese refugee and have lived in the United States since 1978. I have never lived in Mexico or had any legal problems there, and I haven't sought legal counsel yet.... View More
answered on Jul 4, 2025
You may leave the United States on your own initiative before Immigration and Customs Enforcement arranges removal. Doing so still executes the deportation order and starts the ten-year bar on lawful re-entry unless you later secure a waiver. The United States does not restrict the destination, but... View More
I am an international contractor working remotely for a company registered in the USA. I am owed about $1000, which includes my two months' basic salary and performance commissions. Despite having a signed contract, the company has failed to pay me. Initially, they cited technical issues and... View More
answered on Jul 1, 2025
You need to take clear, assertive steps to protect your rights and recover the amount owed. Begin by sending a formal written demand to the company, stating the amount due, the dates worked, and referencing the signed contract. Request immediate payment and provide a specific deadline—typically... View More
I need help managing our joint assets and ensuring my children's inheritance from a previous marriage. My husband has always handled our finances. We have verbal arrangements regarding asset distribution, but he is unwilling to discuss many aspects. I fear that if I die first, he may... View More
answered on Jul 1, 2025
To protect your children’s inheritance, you must create a legally binding estate plan without delay. A revocable living trust can ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes, including setting aside specific portions for your children from a prior marriage. You must name a... View More
I have cryptocurrency stuck in a Swiss exchange. I signed up with my Brazilian passport due to my dual citizenship, and I've used their service for years. They recently requested proof of residence. I travel to Brasil for work and stay with family, so I provided them with a phone bill in my... View More
answered on Jun 24, 2025
You’ve taken the right preliminary steps by complying with all of the exchange’s identification and transfer requirements. At this point, the continued delay and lack of communication from the exchange are unacceptable and raise red flags regarding your consumer rights under Swiss financial... View More
I consumed content related to CSAM approximately six months ago. I have not had any interaction with the authorities, but I have reached out to child abuse prevention programs like Stop It Now. I currently live in a country with unclear laws regarding this issue. My concern is whether I might be... View More
answered on Jun 11, 2025
You're asking a very serious and personal question, and it’s clear that you’re feeling the weight of past actions. When it comes to CSAM offenses, international enforcement efforts are strong and coordinated, especially between countries with strict laws and intelligence-sharing... View More
I am a U.S. citizen residing in California, planning to marry my French-born fiancé, who is a resident of France, in France in 6 to 12 months. I understand that I must hire a California family law attorney to review my prenup, but I am concerned about my fiancé's limited English... View More
answered on May 15, 2025
You're being thoughtful in planning ahead and making sure your fiancé fully understands the prenup, especially across languages and legal systems. In California, a prenuptial agreement is legally enforceable if it meets specific requirements under state law. One of those key requirements is... View More
I want to get a marriage certificate with my partner but I’m undocumented and my passport from my home country (Mexico) has been expired for years. Is there any type of valid id I could get?
answered on May 12, 2025
In California, you can legally marry regardless of your immigration status. The main challenge you face is providing acceptable identification for the marriage license application.
For marriage licenses in California, counties typically require government-issued photo identification such as... View More
In a divorce in the United States, how is foreign property divided when both spouses purchased it together and are listed on the deeds? There are no prenuptial or postnuptial agreements that could affect the division, and no children or other assets influencing the property division.
answered on Apr 27, 2025
Foreign property owned jointly by divorcing spouses in California is generally subject to California's community property laws. In California, all property acquired during marriage is considered community property regardless of its location. The property's physical location doesn't... View More
I was issued an Apostille by the California Secretary of State for a Certification of Vital Record intended for use in Taiwan, a non-Hague country. This action seems to contradict Sections 3-A and 3-B of the NASS's Notary Public Administrators’ Handbook on Apostilles and Authentications, as... View More
answered on Apr 11, 2025
You're absolutely right to raise concerns here. Apostilles are only meant for use in countries that are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. Taiwan, while it accepts Apostilles for some purposes, is not officially a party to the treaty, and this creates a gray area that confuses many.... View More
I have a Certificate of Vital Record issued in San Diego County, California, which I need to get legalized with a Certificate of Authentication for use in a country that is not a party to the 1961 Hague Convention. However, the California Secretary of State insists on only providing an Apostille,... View More
answered on Mar 16, 2025
You're facing a common challenge, as California's Secretary of State primarily issues Apostilles for international use under the Hague Convention. Since the destination country doesn't recognize Apostilles, you need an alternative called a "Certificate of Authentication,"... View More
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