Illinois Domestic Partnerships – Legal Recognition and Impact on the Participants

Illinois Domestic Partnership Legal Status The Illinois Domestic Partners Act ("IDPA"), enacted in 2003, codified the legal status of domestic partnerships within the state. Illinois was the first state to pass a law recognizing domestic partners, which was updated in 2011 with the passage of the State of Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Fairness in Marriage Act and later codified […]

Understanding the Legal Blood Alcohol Level in Wisconsin

What is the Legal Limit for Alcohol in Wisconsin? Driving under the influence of alcohol is not unique to Wisconsin and most states have implemented legal blood alcohol levels that determine which drivers will be arrested for operating vehicles while intoxicated. In Wisconsin, BAC is measured in volumetric (weight/volume) alcohol units per one hundred (100) milliliters of blood. In simpler […]

Understanding Buyer-Tenant Representation Agreements in Texas

What’s a Buyer-Tenant Representation Agreement? Buyer-Tenant Representation Agreements are legal contracts that are intended to govern the relationship between a commercial real estate broker and the buyer-tenant that the broker is representing. The agreement designates the broker as the buyer-tenant’s exclusive agent. In other words, if you are buying one or more investment properties with a particular Texas commercial real […]

Basics of Sole Legal Custody in Virginia

Defining Sole Legal Custody Sole legal custody means that one parent has the exclusive right to make all decisions for the child, and that requirement exists between the parents regardless of any provisions for the contacting of the other parent. A parent who has sole legal custody possesses full authority over the health, education, visitation, extracurricular activities, religious teaching, and […]

Understanding ESA Laws for Renters in Washington State

What Are Support Animals? Emotional support animals (or "ESAs") are companion animals that have been prescribed for their owners’ emotional benefit. The characteristics of an ESA are that they are deemed to improve the wellbeing of the person with a mental or emotional condition, their mere presence affords comfort to the person who needs assistance, and an ESA’s usefulness is […]

The Basics Of Texas Runaway Laws: What Parents and Teens Need to Know

Texas Runaway Laws: A Quick Overview The intricacies of Texas runaway laws are essential for parents and teenagers alike to understand. Broadly speaking, "runaway" in a legal context is understood as the act of a child leaving his or her home (or otherwise living away from the parent or legal guardian) without the permission of that person. Most runaway laws […]

How to Bring Suit Against a Car Insurance Company: A Guide

When Can You Sue Insurance Companies? There are some valid reasons a car insurance company can end up being sued, and it’s important to understand them so that you don’t waste your time or money pursuing a lower-value claim. Aside from an auto accident claim, there are other agreements a claimant can have with their car insurance company that could […]

Florida Laws on Knives You Should Know About

The Basics of Knife Laws in Florida Florida does not have a specific legal term for what a knife actually is. Florida courts will describe any bladed instrument, no matter the length, as a "knife." So essentially, a knife can be any bladed instrument regardless of length, design, or weight.The laws regarding knives in Florida differ based on where you […]

An Overview of Legal Aid in Galveston, Texas

What is Legal Aid? Legal aid is a type of legal assistance offered to low-income individuals by the government and private organizations. Legal aid is offered by private nonprofit organizations in every state and is funded partly by the federal government. In certain cases, such as where a case is brought against the government, legal aid will be funded completely […]

Demystifying No Bid Contracts: An Overview

What Is a No Bid Contract? A no bid contract is a non-competitively negotiated contract that a federal contractor enters into without competing with potential bidders. This means the contractor proposes a contract to be negotiated between the contractor and the government without any advertised opening for other contractors to enter into a competitive bid process. By contrast, competitive bidding […]