Finding Housing with a Criminal Record

A past criminal case can make it hard to find housing. Many landlords will not rent to someone with a criminal record. Public housing agencies have policies that screen out people with certain criminal records too. Federal law has rules for companies that screen...

Criminal No Contact Orders and Civil Protection Orders

A lot of what we know about the law we learn from television.  We know that the police arrest people and charge them with crimes.  Domestic abuse is a crime where the defendant is accused of “assaulting” someone where there is a “domestic relationship”...

Mechanic’s Lien

What is a mechanic’s lien? If you make an agreement with someone to do work on your property, that person is a “general contractor.” If that general contractor hires others to do work or provide materials then that person is a “subcontractor”.  A general...

The Family and Medical Leave Act

The federal Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) entitles eligible employees of covered employers to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons.  Which employers are covered?  The FMLA only applies to certain employers. A covered...