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I lived with a friend for 18 years and was his sole caregiver for 13 of those years. Before he passed away, we verbally agreed that I could stay in his house until it was sold, after which I would receive money to help me get on my own. I have witnesses to this agreement. How should I proceed with... View More

answered on Apr 11, 2025
This is a complex question. First, Colorado has what's called a "Dead Man's Statute" that limits testimony regarding a deceased's verbal agreements. However, if you have independent witnesses, you may be able to get around that.
Second, Colorado has a "Statute... View More
I have a contract issue related to Roblox development. We made a contract where it was clearly stated that any work put into Bloxstar Corporation would be owned by us. However, a former collaborator, who signed the contract, has left and is now claiming that the UI work they did is theirs. The... View More

answered on Apr 10, 2025
First, review the contract itself. You mentioned it clearly states that any work put into Bloxstar Corporation is owned by the company. Check for specific clauses like an “assignment of rights” or “work-for-hire” provision. These typically mean that any contributions (like UI designs) made... View More
I've been informed that my sister and I allegedly cosigned for an agreement stating my father would give a cow to a lady. Neither my sister nor I recall this agreement, and it supposedly happened when I was between 12 and 16 years old. The lady claims my father should sell the cow and give her... View More

answered on Apr 10, 2025
The experienced contract law and business law attorneys here would know these types of settings best, but your question remains open for almost a week, and you probably don't want this to escalate into a headache. You could reach out to one of them to ask about your best immediate actions. A... View More
I am approaching the statute of limitations deadline of May 7, 2025, for filing a claim related to a failed retaining wall due to faulty engineering plans. The Professional Engineer Commission recently found the engineer's plans faulty, and he settled with them directly. I received this report... View More

answered on Apr 10, 2025
You toll the statute of limitations by filing the lawsuit providing adequate notice of the claim. This late, the defendants' best move is to pretend they have no problem with your delay in making the claim. Once you miss the deadline, they will move -- successfully -- to dismiss your case.... View More
In North Carolina, is it legal for an independent car salesman to avoid obtaining a dealer's license by purchasing and selling cars under multiple LLCs to stay under the five-cars-per-year limit? In this scenario, there are active complaints as the salesman sells cars under a "rent to... View More

answered on Apr 10, 2025
Please refer to North Carolina General Statutes Section 20-286(11)(a)(2) which states that a Motor vehicle dealer or dealer is defined as "[a] person who... [o]n behalf of another and for commission, money, or other thing of value, arranges, offers, attempts to solicit, or attempts to... View More
I am working as a 1099 contractor in the photobooth industry and have signed a two-year non-compete agreement with a 100-mile radius restriction. There was no compensation or benefits added for agreeing to this non-compete clause. Is this contract legally enforceable?

answered on Apr 10, 2025
Every situation is different and a full analysis of your particular matter would be necessary. However, generally, South Carolina allows non-compete agreements to be enforceable as long as they are "reasonable" and "necessary" to protect a legitimate business interest which is... View More
I received a payment of $3,000 from someone and forwarded it to my cousin for his business. Later, the sender informed me that they had deposited a fake $8,000 check and used those funds to pay me. Although I had no knowledge of the check, they accuse me of being responsible for the fake... View More

answered on Apr 9, 2025
Dear Los Angeles Resident,
Based on the details you’ve shared, it appears unlikely that you would face criminal liability for the $3,000 payment you received and sent to your cousin. California Penal Code Section 476 and Section 475 establish that liability for forgery or handling forged... View More
I, as a parent, gave property to my child but retained a lifetime right to the property. Currently, the deed specifies that the child gains the property after my death. However, I would like to dissolve this agreement and take the property back, but the child does not want to return it. Given these... View More

answered on Apr 9, 2025
If you executed a deed which gave a remainder after your life estate, which was delivered and recorded, then no, you cannot revoke the conveyance of a vested remainder. Your lawyer should have told you about the finality of such a future interest deed. The remainderman can convey back his... View More
I'm looking to find an attorney who works on a contingency basis to help with a breach of contract and deceptive trade practices case concerning a leased premises. For about a year, I've been living with mold and bad water. Despite my written complaints over the past 11 months, the... View More

answered on Apr 9, 2025
In the absence of significant damages, it will likely not be possible for you to locate an attorney willing to work on such a case on a contingency fee basis. You would need to show some sort of "value" to the leased premises. If it is a commercial property in a prime location with a... View More
My ex-wife was responsible for filing a QDRO with the Florida Retirement System for her share of my pension, as specified in our divorce finalized on April 29, 2004. Despite reminding her in October 2024, she has yet to file it. I'm unsure if there was a deadline for this task. There have been... View More

answered on Apr 9, 2025
If the court order is clear that it is her obligation to prepare the QDRO then you do not have to do anything. Your only obligation is to cooperate if and when she contacts you. Speak with a local family lawyer for more specific advice.
I entered into an unrecorded contract for deed 10 months ago with my neighbor, who has since passed away. I've made payments according to the contract terms and have had contact with the estate's representatives. There is a written agreement, and I've requested documentation from the... View More

answered on Apr 9, 2025
The contract may be valid and enforceable. There are, however, an infinite number of things that may prevent the contract from running its course. Without reading the specific language and knowing the circumstances it is impossible to determine what may happen. If a family member were to post a... View More
I entered into an unrecorded contract for deed 10 months ago with my neighbor, who has since passed away. I've made payments according to the contract terms and have had contact with the estate's representatives. There is a written agreement, and I've requested documentation from the... View More

answered on Apr 9, 2025
Probably yes but the contracts status as unrecorded puts you in a precarious spot. You should consult with an attorney first, but there are a couple of things I would consider doing: It is crucial that, even though your neighbor has passed, you continue paying, or at least attempting to pay, your... View More
I am the buyer of a property purchased from an auction site in Lowell, MA. It's raw land, and I want to ensure the realty sales contract is authentic and legal, confirming that I will own the land after payment is completed. I have concerns about some unclear payment terms in the contract, and... View More

answered on Apr 8, 2025
Hire a MA attorney to search the title and draft a deed, note and security instrument (deed of trust or mortgage). Do not execute a lease with option to purchase where you get sued for possession and lose all monies paid in. Only getting a deed means you own property, not a contract.
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

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 moved in with my mother and her husband about 3-4 years ago and had a verbal agreement to pay $200 rent directly to them. After some changes, I was told to pay the landlord directly, but there seemed to be confusion about the payment plan and outstanding balances. I eventually moved out, but my... View More

answered on Apr 8, 2025
If I understand correctly, you verbally 'sublet' part of your mother's rental for $200 a month, but somehow your name is on the lease? How did that work exactly? What does the WRITTEN lease say about your obligations?
Without seeing that document I can't even hazard a... View More
I am the beneficiary of my ex-husband's life insurance policy, which he activated during our separation and continued to pay for 7 years. There was no update to the beneficiary status after our divorce. Now that he has passed away, I'm facing opposition from his son, who is contesting the... View More

answered on Apr 8, 2025
A Wyoming attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for two weeks. I'm sorry for the loss of your ex-husband. Each state could have its own laws for such scenarios. But the short general answer (subject to state law) is that divorce should not automatically remove a person as... View More
Can credit card companies place a lien on my house in Florida because of my wife's credit card debt, given that the house loan was solely in my name but her name is on the title?

answered on Apr 8, 2025
The Florida Constitution protects your Homestead and therefore they cannot force sell your Homestead for credit card and or other types of judgments that do not directly relate to the Homestead property (Mortgage, taxes, home improvements, etc.) .What they will do is get a blanket judgment on all... View More
I discovered after the death of my ex-romantic and art partner that much of his artwork was based on my photography and social media posts. I want to publish his art alongside the references he used, but I am concerned about the legality of including certain images.
Some of the photographs... View More

answered on Apr 7, 2025
1. Using Referenced Images for Commentary or Analysis
Including the original reference images alongside your ex-partner’s artwork for the purpose of commentary, critique, or scholarship can potentially fall under Fair Use, especially if:
The inclusion transforms the original... View More
I discovered after the death of my ex-romantic and art partner that much of his artwork was based on my photography and social media posts. I want to publish his art alongside the references he used, but I am concerned about the legality of including certain images.
Some of the photographs... View More

answered on Apr 7, 2025
That's a great question, and I think that you should be on pretty safe ground because your use is transformative: it is designed to shine a light into your partner's creative process, which is quite different from the original purposes for which the reference images were created. I would... View More
I lived in a property for six months under a one-year lease agreement. After I requested to be removed from the lease agreement, the property management refused, stating it was a court matter outside their jurisdiction. In the meantime, I discovered that both tenants took over my room without my... View More

answered on Apr 7, 2025
The answer to your question depends on whether the "two tenants" are people you were sharing the premises with you under the lease (cotenants) or new people who rented the premises after you stopped living there.
When you sign a lease for one year, you commit yourself to paying... View More
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