Nolos Encyclopedia of Everyday Law

“Practical examples, explanations of legal

principles, and useful tips...”

LIBRARY JOURNAL

45 YEARS OF

LEGAL KNOW-HOW

AT YOUR

Nolo’s FINGERTIPS

Encyclopedia

ofEveryday Law

Shae Irving, J.D. & the editors of Nolo

Answers to Your

Most Frequently Asked

Legal Questions

10th Edition

Clear answers to more than 1,000 common legal questions

10th Edition

Nolo’s Encyclopedia

of Everyday Law

Answers to Your

Most Frequently Asked

Legal Questions

Shae Irving, J.D. & the editors of Nolo

L A W f or ALL

TENTH EDITION JANUARY 2017

Editor MARCIA STEWART

Cover design SUSAN PUTNEY

Book design TERRI HEARSH

Proofreader ROBERT WELLS

Index SONGBIRD INDEXING SERVICE

Printer BANG PRINTING

Names: Irving, Shae, editor. | Nolo (Firm)

Title: Nolo’s Encyclopedia of everyday law : answers to your most frequently

asked legal questions / Shae Irving, J.D. & the editors of Nolo.

Other titles: Encyclopedia of everyday law

Description: 10th ed. | Berkeley, CA : Nolo, 2017. | Includes index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016026441 (print) | LCCN 2016026493 (ebook) | ISBN

9781413323436 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781413323443 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Law--United States--Popular works. | Law--United

States--Miscellanea.

Classification: LCC KF387 .N65 2017 (print) | LCC KF387 (ebook) | DDC

349.73--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016026441

This book covers only United States law, unless it specifically states otherwise.

Copyright © 1996, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, and 2017 by Nolo.

All rights reserved. The NOLO trademark is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Printed in the U.S.A.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or

by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without prior written per￾mission. Reproduction prohibitions do not apply to the forms contained in this product when reproduced

for personal use. For information on bulk purchases or corporate premium sales, please contact the Special

Sales Department. Call 800-955-4775 or write to Nolo, 950 Parker Street, Berkeley, California 94710.

Please note

We believe accurate, plain-English legal information should help you solve many of

your own legal problems. But this text is not a substitute for personalized advice from a

knowledgeable lawyer. If you want the help of a trained professional—and we’ll always

point out situations in which we think that’s a good idea—consult an attorney licensed

to practice in your state.

Dedication

For Edward F. Dolan

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Jake Warner for inspiring and

supporting this project. And thanks to all the

Nolo editors and hardworking production

folks who keep the book on track.

We’re also grateful to every Nolo author

whose fine work has shaped these pages.

We want to give special thanks to:

Paul Bergman and Sara Berman, authors

of Represent Yourself in Court and The

Criminal Law Handbook

David W. Brown, author of Beat Your Ticket

and The California Landlord’s Law Book

Denis Clifford, author of many Nolo titles,

including Quick & Legal Will Book, Make

Your Own Living Trust, and Plan Your

Estate and coauthor of A Legal Guide for

Lesbian & Gay Couples

Frederick W. Daily, author of Stand Up to the

IRS and Tax Savvy for Small Business

Emily Doskow, author of many Nolo books,

including Nolo’s Essential Guide to Divorce,

Nolo’s Essential Guide to Child Custody &

Support, A Legal Guide for Lesbian & Gay

Couples, The Legal Answer Book for Families,

The Sharing Solution, and Neighbor Law

Stephen R. Elias, author of numerous Nolo

books, including The New Bankruptcy, How

to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, Chapter 13

Bankruptcy, and Legal Research: How to Find

& Understand the Law

Lisa Guerin, author of many Nolo books,

including The Manager’s Legal Handbook,

Create Your Own Employee Handbook,

Dealing With Problem Employees, The

Essential Guide to Federal Employment

Laws, The Essential Guide to Workplace

Investigations, The Essential Guide to Family

and Medical Leave, and Smart Policies for

Workplace Technologies

Mimi Lyster Zemmelman, author of Building

a Parenting Agreement That Works: Child

Custody Agreements Step by Step

Anthony Mancuso, author of Incorporate

Your Business, How to Form a Nonprofit

Corporation (national and California

editions), Form Your Own Limited Liability

Company, The Corporate Records Handbook,

and LLC or Corporation?

Joseph Matthews, author of How to Win

Your Personal Injury Claim, Long-Term

Care: How to Plan & Pay for It, and Social

Security, Medicare & Government Pensions

Peri Pakroo, author of The Small Business

Start-Up Kit (national and California

editions), The Women’s Small Business Start￾Up Kit, and Starting & Building a Nonprofit

Mary Randolph, author of several Nolo

books, including The Executor’s Guide:

Settling a Loved One’s Estate or Trust, 8 Ways

to Avoid Probate, and Every Dog’s Legal

Guide: A Must-Have Book for Your Owner

Fred S. Steingold, author of Legal Guide for

Starting & Running a Small Business and

The Employer’s Legal Handbook

Richard Stim, author of many Nolo books,

including Music Law: How to Run Your

Band’s Business; Patent, Copyright &

Trademark: An Intellectual Property Desk

Reference; and Profit From Your Idea

Ralph (Jake) Warner Ralph, a cofounder

of Nolo, is a lawyer who became fed up

with the legal system and dedicated his

professional life to making law more

accessible and affordable to all Americans.

He is the author of many Nolo books,

including Every Landlord’s Legal Guide,

Everybody’s Guide to Small Claims Court,

Form a Partnership, and Get a Life: You

Don’t Need a Million to Retire Well.

Contributors

Sachi Barreiro Sachi is a legal editor at

Nolo, specializing in employment law

and workers’ compensation law. After

graduating from the University of San

Francisco School of Law, Sachi practiced

law for several years in San Francisco.

She has litigated a variety of employment

matters and advised businesses on their

obligations to their employees. Sachi is

coauthor of The Manager’s Legal Handbook

and The Essential Guide to Federal

Employment Laws.

Ilona Bray Ilona’s legal background includes

solo practice as well as experience in the

nonprofit and corporate worlds. She has

written or coauthored over a dozen Nolo

titles, including Effective Fundraising for

Nonprofits, Becoming a U.S. Citizen, Nolo’s

Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home,

Selling Your House, and First-Time Landlord.

Ilona is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and

the University of Washington Law School.

Stephen Fishman Stephen has dedicated his

career as an attorney and author to writing

useful, authoritative, and recognized guides

on business, taxation, and intellectual

property matters for small businesses,

entrepreneurs, independent contractors,

and freelancers. He is the author of many

Nolo books, including Every Landlord’s Tax

Deduction Guide, Deduct It! Lower Your

Small Business Taxes, Working for Yourself:

Law and Taxes for Independent Contractors,

Freelancers & Consultants, and Consultant

and Independent Contractor Agreements.

Diana Fitzpatrick Diana worked at the San

Francisco City Attorney’s office before

joining Nolo. She also worked at a law firm

in New York for several years before moving

to the Bay Area. Diana is a graduate of New

York University School of Law and Barnard

College.

David Goguen  David is a legal editor at

Nolo, focusing on claimants’ rights in

personal injury cases. He is a member

of the California State Bar with over 15

years of experience in litigation and legal

publishing. David is a graduate of the

University of San Francisco School of Law.

Lina Guillen  Lina joined Nolo as a legal

editor in 2012. Specializing in family law,

Lina writes and edits articles on a variety

of topics including custody, visitation,

support, and the financial aspects of

divorce. She is the coauthor of Neighbor

Law: Fences, Trees, Boundaries & Noise and

Divorce & Money: How to Make the Best

Financial Decisions During Divorce. Before

arriving at Nolo, Lina practiced family law

and civil litigation at several law firms in

the San Francisco Bay Area. Lina received

her J.D. from the University of California,

Hastings College of the Law and is an

active member of the California State Bar.

Shae Irving Shae graduated from Berkeley

Law (Boalt Hall School of Law) at the

University of California at Berkeley in 1993

and began editing and writing for Nolo

soon after. She has written extensively on

durable powers of attorney, health care

directives, and other estate planning issues.

Bethany K. Laurence  Beth is a longtime

Nolo editor and author. She holds a law

degree from University of California,

Hastings College of the Law, a B.A. degree

from Boston University (Phi Beta Kappa,

magna cum laude), and is a member of the

California State Bar. Beth is editor of Nolo’s

Guide to Social Security Disability and Social

Security, Medicare & Government Pensions,

and the popular website Disability Secrets.

She has also coauthored several Nolo books,

including Business Buyout Agreements: Plan

Now for All Types of Business Transactions.

John McCurley John is a legal editor at Nolo,

focusing on DUI and driving law. He has

a degree in engineering physics from U.C.

San Diego and completed law school at

the University of San Francisco School of

Law. Before joining Nolo, John practiced

criminal defense and juvenile dependency

law, primarily doing writs and appeals. John

maintains a small private practice in San

Diego, California.

Cara O’Neill Prior to joining Nolo, Cara

served as an Administrative Law Judge;

taught undergraduate and graduate courses

in the areas of employment law, business

law, and criminal law; and served as house

counsel for a large insurance company. She

earned her law degree in 1994 from the

University of the Pacific, McGeorge School

of Law, where she graduated Order of the

Barristers, an honor society recognizing

excellence in courtroom advocacy. Cara

maintains a bankruptcy practice in

Rosesville, California.

Janet Portman Janet received undergraduate

and graduate degrees from Stanford Univer￾sity and a law degree from the University

of Santa Clara. She was a public defender

before coming to Nolo. Janet is the author

of Every Landlord’s Guide to Finding Great

Tenants, and the coauthor of many Nolo

titles, including Every Landlord’s Legal

Guide, Every Tenant’s Legal Guide, Renters’

Rights, and Negotiate the Best Lease for

Your Business.

Micah Schwartzbach Micah joined Nolo’s

editorial staff in 2013. Beforehand he

practiced criminal defense law, specializing

in research and writing. He writes and

edits content across a range of practice

areas. Micah earned his B.A. from the

University of California, Davis, where he

graduated with highest honors, and his

J.D. from the University of California,

Hastings College of the Law, where he

graduated cum laude.

Betsy Simmons Hannibal Betsy is a Nolo

editor specializing in estate planning books

and software. She graduated with The

Honors Lawyering Program from Golden

Gate University School of Law where she

was research editor of the law review. Prior

to joining Nolo, she trained at two private

law firms as well as the San Francisco

Superior Court and the Federal District

Court of Northern California.

Marcia Stewart Marcia is a long-time Nolo

editor and author of several books, including

Every Landlord’s Legal Guide, Every Tenant’s

Legal Guide, Renters’ Rights, Leases & Rental

Agreements, Nolo’s Essential Guide to Buying

Your First Home, and First-Time Landlord.

Stephen Stine As a research specialist and

editor at Nolo, Stephen conducts legal

research and writes and edits content for

Nolo’s books and websites. Previously,

Stephen worked at the American Bar

Association’s Legal Technology Resource

Center, where he assisted attorneys with

technology, performed research, and wrote

and edited articles, blog posts, and the

annual ABA Legal Technology Survey

Report. Stephen earned an undergraduate

degree in Psychology from the University

of California, Berkeley, and J.D. and

Master of Science in Information degrees

from the University of Michigan.

●

Table of Contents

About Nolo’s Encyclopedia of Everyday Law...............................................1

1 Houses...........................................................................................................................................3

Buying a House ..............................................................................................................................4

Selling Your House .....................................................................................................................11

Deeds...............................................................................................................................................17

2 Neighbors.................................................................................................................................21

Boundaries.................................................................................................................................... 22

Fences............................................................................................................................................. 23

Trees................................................................................................................................................ 25

Views............................................................................................................................................... 26

Noise............................................................................................................................................... 29

3 Landlords and Tenants.................................................................................................33

Leases and Rental Agreements............................................................................................. 34

Tenant (and Rental) Selection .............................................................................................. 36

Housing Discrimination ...........................................................................................................37

Rent and Security Deposits ................................................................................................... 39

Tenants’ Privacy Rights.............................................................................................................41

Roommates, Sublets, and Airbnb.........................................................................................42

Repairs and Maintenance........................................................................................................43

Landlord Liability for Criminal Acts and Activities.......................................................45

Landlord Liability for Lead Poisoning ................................................................................ 48

Landlord Liability for Exposure to Asbestos, Mold, and Bedbugs.......................... 49

Insurance....................................................................................................................................... 50

Resolving Disputes.....................................................................................................................52

Tenancy Terminations and Evictions..................................................................................53

4 Workplace Rights..............................................................................................................57

Fair Pay and Time Off............................................................................................................... 58

Workplace Health and Safety ............................................................................................... 69

Workers’ Compensation......................................................................................................... 72

Discrimination ............................................................................................................................ 77

Harassment.................................................................................................................................. 90

Workplace Privacy......................................................................................................................93

Losing Your Job........................................................................................................................... 97

5 Small Businesses..............................................................................................................103

Before You Start a Small Business.....................................................................................104

Legal Structures for Small Businesses.............................................................................. 110

Nonprofit Corporations........................................................................................................ 118

Small Business Taxes............................................................................................................... 121

Home-Based Businesses........................................................................................................127

Employers’ Rights & Responsibilities................................................................................ 131

6 Patents.....................................................................................................................................149

Qualifying for a Patent...........................................................................................................150

Obtaining a Patent..................................................................................................................156

Enforcing a Patent...................................................................................................................157

Putting a Patent to Work .....................................................................................................161

How Patents Differ From Copyrights and Trademarks............................................162

7 Copyrights............................................................................................................................165

Copyright Basics.......................................................................................................................166

Copyright Ownership ............................................................................................................168

Copyright Protection.............................................................................................................171

Copyright Registration and Enforcement...................................................................... 174

8 Trademarks..........................................................................................................................177

Types of Trademarks...............................................................................................................178

Trademark Protection............................................................................................................181

Using and Enforcing a Trademark .....................................................................................184

Conducting a Trademark Search.......................................................................................187

Registering a Trademark .......................................................................................................189

How Trademarks Differ From Patents and Copyrights............................................193

9 Your Money.........................................................................................................................197

Purchasing Goods and Services.........................................................................................198

Using Credit and Charge Cards..........................................................................................203

Using an ATM or Debit Card...............................................................................................206

Strategies for Repaying Debts, House Payments, and Student Loans ................207

Dealing With the IRS ..............................................................................................................214

Debt Collections...................................................................................................................... 217

Bankruptcy.................................................................................................................................220

Rebuilding Credit.....................................................................................................................223

10 Cars and Driving..............................................................................................................229

Buying a New Car.....................................................................................................................230

Leasing a Car..............................................................................................................................235

Buying a Used Car....................................................................................................................237

Financing a Vehicle Purchase ..............................................................................................240

Insuring Your Car..................................................................................................................... 241

Your Driver’s License ..............................................................................................................244

Driving for Uber or Lyft.........................................................................................................247

If You’re Stopped by the Police...........................................................................................248

Drunk Driving............................................................................................................................250

Traffic Accidents......................................................................................................................252

11 Wills and Estate Planning........................................................................................255

Wills...............................................................................................................................................256

Probate.........................................................................................................................................262

Executors.....................................................................................................................................263

Avoiding Probate .....................................................................................................................267

Living Trusts...............................................................................................................................268

Estate and Gift Taxes..............................................................................................................271

Funeral Planning and Other Final Arrangements.......................................................274

Body and Organ Donations.................................................................................................278

12 Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney .................................281

Health Care Directives...........................................................................................................282

Durable Powers of Attorney for Finances......................................................................289

Conservatorships.....................................................................................................................293

13 Older Americans.............................................................................................................297

Retirement Plans......................................................................................................................298

Social Security...........................................................................................................................302

Medicare .....................................................................................................................................308

Finding a Caregiver or Residential Care Facility...........................................................314

14 Spouses and Partners..................................................................................................321

Living Together—Gay or Straight .....................................................................................322

Domestic Partnership and Civil Unions .........................................................................326

Premarital Agreements.........................................................................................................328

Marriage ......................................................................................................................................331

Divorce.........................................................................................................................................335

Domestic Violence..................................................................................................................341

Changing Your Name.............................................................................................................344

15 Parents and Children................................................................................................... 351

Adopting a Child......................................................................................................................352

Stepparent Adoptions...........................................................................................................363

Adoption Rights: Birth Parents, Grandparents, and Children...............................365

Child Custody and Visitation..............................................................................................368

Child Support............................................................................................................................375

Guardianship of Children .....................................................................................................381

16 Courts and Mediation................................................................................................385

Representing Yourself in Court..........................................................................................386

Small Claims Court..................................................................................................................396

Mediation ...................................................................................................................................403

Finding and Working With a Lawyer...............................................................................409

17 Criminal Law and Procedure................................................................................421

Criminal Law and Procedure: An Overview..................................................................422

If You Are Questioned by the Police................................................................................428

Searches and Seizures.............................................................................................................430

Arrests and Interrogations...................................................................................................433

Bail .................................................................................................................................................437

Getting a Lawyer......................................................................................................................439

Glossary...................................................................................................................................447

Appendix

Legal Research...................................................................................................................469

Learning About a Particular Area of the Law...............................................................470

Finding a Specific Law............................................................................................................472

Finding Answers to Specific Legal Questions...............................................................478

Finding Legal Forms................................................................................................................480

Index ..........................................................................................................................................483