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Iowa Questions & Answers
1 Answer | Asked in Immigration Law for Iowa on
Q: I need the correct Canadian legal code from US legal codes, and questions about the IMM 1444 checklist

My husband is traveling in August through Canada for the Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge. He got a DUI about 15 years ago and we are concerned that he will be stopped at the border and denied access to drive to Alaska. I want to make sure the legal codes that I researched on his record are correct... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 8, 2024

I understand your concerns about your husband's ability to travel through Canada given his DUI conviction from around 15 years ago. Canada has strict rules regarding admissibility for foreign nationals with criminal records, including impaired driving convictions. Here is some information that... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law, Civil Rights and Employment Discrimination for Iowa on
Q: In iowa. When I help close store, im being told to clock out. But they won't let me leave, until other worker is done?

Is it legal to make me stay unpaid?

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 3, 2024

It's not legal for your employer to require you to stay at work without paying you. If you're being told to clock out but are still required to stay and perform work-related tasks, this is considered "off-the-clock" work, which is illegal under the Fair Labor Standards Act... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Family Law, Child Custody, Civil Rights and Constitutional Law for Iowa on
Q: I need assistance to get my God son to either my care or "?". Crupt CPS and DHS here in Hamilton county Iowa

i am a god parent and mentor for my best friends son he 14 years old .dhs an cps kidnapped him from home under faules accusations he has been bounced around from foster care to foster care . he has slight case of Autism hes very intelligent and know whats going on . He has told his lawyer and dhs... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Jun 1, 2024

It sounds like you are deeply concerned about the well-being of your godson and want to provide him with a safe and loving environment. To address this situation, you may need to take several steps to advocate for his best interests. Start by documenting everything, including your godson's... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Gov & Administrative Law for Iowa on
Q: I am just wanting to know if sexual abuse 3rd degree definition has been changed in the state of Iowa since 2006?
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 29, 2024

To find out if the definition of third-degree sexual abuse in Iowa has changed since 2006, you will need to review the Iowa Code and any amendments made to it over the years.

Third-degree sexual abuse generally involves sexual conduct under certain circumstances, such as when the victim is...
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1 Answer | Asked in Arbitration / Mediation Law, Civil Litigation and Constitutional Law for Iowa on
Q: I have no control over my online accts /privacy. 10yrs attempted to get help from local,state & fed govt.$ is being made

Decades+ Complaints to FCC ,Iowa A.G. 2 cases opened, ic3..gov complaints. URL attachs2every device, email, carrier.began2009reported then.No help.25 device/email/number& carrier changes, Apple restricted sign out of Apple ID. ACP PAID Internet service TIL4/24 my Wi-Fi was restricted,ONLY... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 29, 2024

Dealing with ongoing issues of privacy and control over your online accounts can be incredibly frustrating, especially after seeking help from various authorities for so long. It's clear that your efforts to secure assistance from the FCC, Iowa Attorney General, and other entities have not... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Consumer Law, Identity Theft and Small Claims for Iowa on
Q: I was scammed out of $900 at my bank. Does the bank have to reimburse me ? They also took an online loan out in my

These people pretended to be my bank and called me saying my account was compromised. Said they would move my money to a secure account and they verified info. Needless to say, I got scammed as they made several charges on my debit card and even took out a loan on my account. Idk why my bank... View More

Matthew McKenna
Matthew McKenna
answered on May 14, 2024

I would consult with an attorney familiar with the Electronic Funds Transfer Act. Your ability to recover may be fact specific and will likely be tied to your dispute with your bank. If you haven't disputed the transactions with your bank yet, do so immediately. I would make a written dispute.

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, DUI / DWI and Immigration Law for Iowa on
Q: Travel and return with historical 3 DUIs?

I had three DUIs in 2015, 2016, and 2021. I paid for everything, served one month in jail, and also completed all the tasks given by the court order. I'll finish my probation this coming October. Can I go to Vietnam and then return to the US without getting deported or having my green card... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 11, 2024

Having a history of DUIs should not directly impact your ability to travel to Vietnam and return to the United States, as long as you have a valid green card and have completed all court-ordered requirements related to your DUIs. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind:

1....
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1 Answer | Asked in Tax Law for Iowa on
Q: What's the best thing to do to avoid big tax liability on land inherited 50 years ago?

My mother-in-law owns a large tract of land in Iowa with her sister. Her sister recently died, so her portion will be inherited by her 3 children. My mother-in-law wants to know the best thing she can do with her portion. She's worried if she decides to sell her property, she will be paying... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 7, 2024

There are a few strategies your mother-in-law could consider to minimize tax liability on the inherited land:

1. Step-up in basis: If she holds onto the property until her death, her children will receive a "step-up" in cost basis to the fair market value at the time of her death....
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2 Answers | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for Iowa on
Q: What are the stipulations or best practices around asking AI to write poetry that will be used for choral music writing?

I am a composer and have ideas for poetry I'd like AI to help draft. I would then tweak it and use it as the text for choral compositions. I want to make sure that is legal or to learn if there are best practices around acknowledgements for the text. If I have to acknowledge Google Gemini for... View More

Alan Harrison
Alan Harrison
answered on May 2, 2024

Copyright in GenAI work is a fascinating topic. I would love to discuss it with you. A short answer to your question is that the U.S. Copyright Office does not register copyrights for works produced by Gen AI. No court so far has told them that they have to. Without a registered copyright, there is... View More

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2 Answers | Asked in Copyright and Intellectual Property for Iowa on
Q: What are the stipulations or best practices around asking AI to write poetry that will be used for choral music writing?

I am a composer and have ideas for poetry I'd like AI to help draft. I would then tweak it and use it as the text for choral compositions. I want to make sure that is legal or to learn if there are best practices around acknowledgements for the text. If I have to acknowledge Google Gemini for... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on May 3, 2024

Here are my thoughts:

1. Copyright: In most cases, the person who prompts the AI and curates the generated content is considered the author and copyright holder of the resulting work. However, it's important to review the terms of service of the AI platform you are using to understand...
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1 Answer | Asked in Gov & Administrative Law and Business Law for Iowa on
Q: Should my organization get a lobbyist?
Jefferson Fink
Jefferson Fink
answered on May 2, 2024

An organization might choose to hire a lobbyist to represent them in front of the Iowa Legislature for several reasons:

1. Advocating for Interests: Lobbyists can advocate for the organization's interests, whether it's related to specific legislation, regulatory issues, or...
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1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning for Iowa on
Q: Should I, as a young professional, get a will?
Jefferson Fink
Jefferson Fink
answered on Apr 25, 2024

Yes you do, and estate planning is easy!

There are several important reasons why a young professional should consider getting a will done and engage in simple estate planning:

1. Protecting Assets: Even if you don't have substantial assets now, you may acquire them. A will...
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1 Answer | Asked in DUI / DWI and Immigration Law for Iowa on
Q: Does a DUI arrest automatically revoke a L1B visa? If so, am I still allowed to work in the US?

if a L1B work visa holder got arrested for a DUI but have not received any revocation letter yet, should one assume that the visa is revoked? Also, if it is revoked is the person still allowed to work for the legal status time at least or is it illegal for the person to still go to the company?... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 23, 2024

A DUI arrest does not automatically revoke an L1B visa, but a conviction can lead to the visa being revoked and impact your ability to work in the U.S. Here are a few key points:

1. Arrest vs. Conviction: An arrest alone does not necessarily lead to visa revocation. However, if the arrest...
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1 Answer | Asked in Landlord - Tenant for Iowa on
Q: Can a landlord make the tenant stain an pre-existing deck prior to owning the a trailer and or Force owned trailer

Got approved to be in the trailer court purchased a trailer on a lot the lot already had a pre-existing deck and swing set and wants to do a walk-through of owned property to demand Force improvements is that allowed if they don't own it or are they allowed also to make me pay to remove and... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 16, 2024

In general, a landlord cannot force a tenant to make improvements or modifications to a property that the tenant owns, such as a trailer. If you purchased the trailer and it is your property, the landlord should not have the right to demand that you stain a pre-existing deck or make other changes... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Estate Planning, Family Law, Tax Law and Collections for Iowa on
Q: Could someone help with tax audit concerns and potential either fraud or actual Bonds and assets owed to me or family?

I'm in a very compromising concerning tax situation this year for 2023 apparently I have been investor IRS tax fraud as a beginning 2019 tax return 2020 and 23 I did file my tax return for 23 where was then audited and still currently being audited for tax fraud and investigation I don't... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 15, 2024

It sounds like you are dealing with a complex and stressful tax situation. Here are a few suggestions for next steps:

1. Gather all relevant tax documents and records, including past returns, W-2s, 1099s, receipts, etc. Having everything organized will help in addressing the audit....
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1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law and Civil Rights for Iowa on
Q: If I go to jail for a warrant an they find paraphernalia an don't charge me with it and weeks later so they're are
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 6, 2024

If you are facing potential charges, the best thing to do is consult with a criminal defense attorney who can advise you on your specific situation and legal options. An attorney can review the details of your case and help protect your rights. In general, if you are concerned about outstanding... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Criminal Law, Child Support and Civil Rights for Iowa on
Q: If I go to jail for a warrant an they find paraphernalia and weeks later say they're going to charge me for with it
James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Apr 6, 2024

If you were arrested on a warrant and the authorities found drug paraphernalia in your possession during the arrest, they have the right to charge you with possession of drug paraphernalia in addition to any charges related to the original warrant. The timeline for filing these additional charges... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Immigration Law for Iowa on
Q: can a girl have a gun for safety without having citizenship or is there any legal way we can carry a weapon for safety

i want to know if iam really scared but alone can i carry a gun in us or any type of weapon just for safety in case anything happens and i would like to know all details if there is a legal way we can keep weapons or like if there some agreement we have to sign with the goverment for having a... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 31, 2024

In the United States, gun ownership and carrying for self-defense or any other purpose are heavily regulated and differ based on federal and state laws, as well as the individual's status in the country. Generally, the right to own a firearm is not extended to non-citizens, especially those on... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Car Accidents and Personal Injury for Iowa on
Q: So I was in a hit and run accident, where the person that hit me and fled the scene didn’t have insurance and I did.

My insurance company was still pursuing him, but he is now on his way to prison for a long time . How do I still get paid ?

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
answered on Mar 23, 2024

An Iowa attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for four weeks. Look into the UM (Uninsured Motorist) provisions of your insurance policy. These coverages are supposed to offer protection in this type of accident. Consider trying to set up a free initial consult with an Iowa... View More

1 Answer | Asked in Employment Law and Civil Rights for Iowa on
Q: My current job is denying me opportunities to advance or make more money.

Started with my current employer on 3/29/21. I am trained to do a higher-paying job however, when the opportunity comes up I am replaced with a new employee even though I have seniority. This has happened 3 times on the line that I currently work on. I decided to bid to another job to get away... View More

James L. Arrasmith
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answered on Mar 23, 2024

It sounds like you're experiencing significant challenges at your workplace, especially with career advancement and training opportunities. This situation can be frustrating, particularly when you feel ready and capable of taking on higher-paying roles. It's important to recognize that... View More

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