Get free answers to your legal questions from lawyers in your area.
I live in Vermont, where my property borders a town right of way, and my neighbor has blocked my only access to bring in firewood. The town manager agrees that my neighbor can't do this but refuses to remove the barrier. My financial situation prevents me from switching to heating oil, as it... View More 
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on May 16, 2025
Since the town manager agrees that your neighbor shouldn’t be blocking the right of way, but the town has refused to take action, your next step could be to look into enforcing your legal rights. You have the right to access your property through the established right of way, and Vermont state... View More
I recently discovered that a path on my property, thought to be a class four road, is actually private land. I want to stop an individual who has been driving over it with verbal permission for the past 30 years. I've confirmed property ownership with a legal survey. No formal easement or... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on May 1, 2025
The driver may have an easement by prescription or other methods creating easements. If you lock the gate he may destroy it or sue you. Then you have to defend yourself. If he is an adjoining landowner, his easement must be in your chain of title, not his. Search both titles, Litigation... View More
I want to know if I can sue my mortgage lender due to unlawful practices undertaken to foreclose on my home. After a COVID forbearance, I was instructed to file paperwork to reinstate my loan. Despite submitting the required documents, bank representatives provided conflicting and deceitful... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Apr 16, 2025
Yes, you may have legal grounds to sue your mortgage lender if they engaged in deceptive, unfair, or unlawful foreclosure practices. Misrepresenting the status of your loan reinstatement, losing submitted documents, and sending notices to wrong addresses can be strong indicators of bad faith and... View More
I was involved in a car accident where the other driver was at fault, resulting in a head injury for which I'm receiving an insurance settlement. However, I haven't agreed to the settlement yet because it releases the other driver from liability for future medical bills. My neurologist... View More
answered on Apr 16, 2025
Hi - Unfortunately, it is extremely unlikely that any insurance company would agree to a settlement keeping future medical treatment open. I strongly suspect that will not be an option.
It is always important in situations like this to be able to show the insurance company what types of... View More
My friend is involved in an ongoing legal case from 2023, where he is accused by his ex-girlfriend of domestic assault, unlawful restraint, aggravated domestic assault, and burglary. These charges arose after he visited her at 4 a.m. to retrieve his dog following their breakup due to her mental... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Apr 16, 2025
Given the complexity of these charges and the context surrounding the incident, your friend’s legal strategy should focus on establishing the absence of criminal intent and highlighting his actions as driven by concern for someone in crisis. The fact that he was responding to suicidal threats and... View More
I inherited a house along with my siblings, and we're all listed on the deed. My oldest brother, the executor, obtained a signed POA for the sale because two of us live out of state. He claims we need to pay for expenses like a dumpster rental, but initially, there were no debts mentioned.... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Apr 8, 2025
Yes, of course your brother can deduct expenses of fix up and repair and sale before distributing sale proceeds. It would be highly inequitable for you to reap the benefit of those things without bearing any of the burden.
I am currently separated from my spouse, and our separation agreement does not address tax responsibilities. We have been filing taxes jointly for the last three years. Recently, my spouse withdrew a substantial amount from an inherited retirement account and did not withhold enough for taxes. They... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Apr 11, 2025
You're absolutely right to be cautious about this. When you file jointly, the IRS and the Vermont Department of Taxes consider both spouses equally responsible for the entire tax liability, no matter what private agreement you make between yourselves. Even if your spouse signs something saying... View More
I attend a private college in Vermont that requires purchasing parking passes to park on campus. I have a disabled parking placard issued by the state of Vermont, which allows me to park in disabled spots without time restrictions. Does my disabled placard exempt me from having to purchase a... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Apr 7, 2025
Your Vermont-issued disabled parking placard allows you to park in designated disabled spots without time restrictions, but it does not automatically exempt you from purchasing a parking pass at your private college. Private institutions often have their own parking policies, which can include the... View More
I need a legal separation from my wife of 30 years, but we continue to reside in the same home in Vermont. The reason for this action is over 25 years of her infidelity, which I have medical proof of. I suffer from serious health issues including lung transplant rejection with a life expectancy of... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Apr 13, 2025
In Vermont, legal separation is similar to divorce in terms of property division and other legal aspects, but it allows you and your spouse to remain married while living apart. You can file a petition for legal separation with the court, outlining the reasons for your request and the terms... View More
I recently found out that the motel where I'm staying uses cameras with audio recording just outside the room doors. There were no signs or notifications about audio recordings, and I did not consent to this when I checked in. My concern is whether they can hear conversations inside the rooms... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Mar 24, 2025
The legality of audio recording outside hotel room doors varies by location, but generally, areas directly outside your room are considered semi-public spaces where privacy expectations are lower than inside the room itself. However, audio recording typically faces stricter regulations than video... View More
In St. Albans Town, Vermont, a proposed ordinance restricting nudity on public property has been passed. My concern is that Vermont state law generally allows public nudity with minor restrictions, so it seems questionable whether a lower-level government can enforce stricter exclusions. There are... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Apr 1, 2025
Vermont stands as one of the few states without a specific state law prohibiting public nudity. Unlike most states, Vermont does not have a law against public nudity, though local ordinances can ban indecent exposure and state laws prohibit lewd and lascivious conduct in public places. This creates... View More
"As a U.S. citizen residing in the States with children living in Montreal, I travel across the U.S.-Canada border every weekend to see them. Given the recent tensions between the two countries, I’m concerned about how these developments might impact cross-border travel. I have a court order... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jan 24, 2025
Your concern about maintaining regular visits with your children is completely understandable, especially given your court-mandated obligations. Cross-border travel between the U.S. and Canada remains open, and both countries continue to honor legitimate travel purposes, particularly those... View More
Hello, My mother passed in 2023. I did her taxes in which she does owe a balance (around $3k I believe). There was no estate, no probate process, etc. We found out much later that she had a small 401(k) balance that didn't list a beneficiary-- and they wouldn't let me move forward without... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Dec 10, 2024
Hello, I can say that sometimes it is necessary to probate an estate even though it is insolvent, usually when there are creditors. You should hire a probate attorney in the area where your mother lived. The attorney will need to determine whether the asset falls outside of probate or not. I am... View More
After a cardiac cath, I was told that I had heart disease in my attire and recommended quad bypass surgery over multiple stents. I did go with the recommendation of bypass surgery. The upper sternum didn't heal correctly, so 14 months after the bypass, I had another operation to plate the... View More
answered on Dec 30, 2024
A Vermont attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. I'm sorry for your ordeal. It could be actionable, but it will depend on the strength of medical experts for both sides. It's possible that defense attorneys might not automatically accept that that... View More
I would like to consult on how to process work visa, Employment Authorization Document if I have a B2 visa? I am currently here in the US. I also need to ensure my son who’s 15 yrs old will be able to get his SSN and what’s the process for obtaining green card for both of us? He’s also with... View More
answered on Dec 5, 2024
While it is technically possible to apply for a change of status to employment-based status while you are legally on a B-2 visa, there are significant challenges to consider. One important limitation is that your I-94 was likely issued for a specific period, typically six months. Given the... View More
After numerous requests, they knew of no and misspoke when asks which expenses were excessive. They claim under reporting of income, when asked to be specific never spelled it out. I used GoDaddy acct which went out of business, dont have cash receipts, statements, documentation stored in barn... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Oct 14, 2024
You should start by organizing any available records, such as bank statements or digital receipts, to demonstrate your income and expenses. Explain to the tax authorities that recent sales were from your personal collection, not part of your business inventory. Make it clear that since you’ve... View More
"I have a court order from the state of Georgia requiring me to visit my 2- and 4-year-old children in Montreal twice a month. However, every time I cross the border, I'm faced with numerous questions, and the authorities tell me they don’t recognize the court order because it’s from... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Oct 8, 2024
It sounds like you're facing a tough situation with the cross-border complications. The challenge you're running into is that a U.S. court order isn’t automatically recognized in Canada. To have your court order enforced in Montreal, you would likely need to take it to a Canadian court... View More
"I'm a U.S. citizen living in Vermont, and my two children, ages 2 and 4, live in Montreal, Canada. I cross the border every weekend using my driver's license to spend time with them, and I've had no issues so far. My question is, would it be possible for me to stay in Canada... View More
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Sep 23, 2024
When crossing into Canada as a U.S. citizen, you can typically stay for up to six months without a visa. However, extending your stay to four months could raise concerns with border officers if they believe you are not just visiting, but living in Canada without proper documentation. It’s... View More
Quit Claim Deed
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Sep 3, 2024
Not sure of your question... But any tenant in common can convey their individual titled interest. However a buyer will want the entire title, so he wants all owners to convey. Otherwise he becomes a TIC with the other owners.
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
answered on Jul 28, 2024
When you receive an inheritance, whether you need to pay taxes depends on several factors. Generally, inheritances are not considered taxable income for federal income tax purposes. However, if the estate itself was large enough, estate taxes might have been owed before the money was distributed to... View More
Justia Ask A Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get free answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask A Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between Justia and you, or between any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions and you, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask A Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
