Category: Legal

Stay informed with legal news including court rulings, new laws, high-profile cases, and justice system updates and analysis.

Map graphic titled Stand Your Ground States showing the 30 states with a stand your ground statute and the five that extend castle doctrine to a vehicle or workplace

Stand Your Ground States: All 30 and the 5 In Between

Thirty states have removed the duty to retreat by statute. Here is each one with its code section, the five that went partway, and how the doctrine differs from castle doctrine.

Map graphic titled Constitutional Carry States showing the 29 states with permitless carry shaded and a timeline from Vermont and Alaska to Louisiana and South Carolina in 2024

Constitutional Carry States: All 29 and the Limits

Twenty-nine states let a qualifying adult carry a concealed handgun without a permit. Here is when each law took effect, what it does not change, and why permits still matter.

Grid of the 12 no-fault states with each state's minimum personal injury protection amount, choice states tagged

No-Fault States: All 12, With PIP Minimums and Lawsuit Rules

Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Utah use no-fault car insurance. What each requires and when you can still sue.

Phone call screen with a recording badge beside counts of one-party, all-party and split consent states

One-Party Consent States: Recording Laws in All 50 States

Thirty-six states and DC let you record a conversation you are part of. Nine require everyone's consent, three split the rule between calls and in-person talks, and two are unsettled.

US tile map highlighting the nine community property states in orange and the five opt-in trust states outlined

Community Property States: All 9, Plus the 5 Opt-In States

Nine US states are community property states: Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. Five more let married couples opt in through a trust.

Employment at Will Explained by State: Which Exceptions Apply Where graphic with the headline and key figures

Employment at Will Explained by State: Which Exceptions Apply Where

Every state but Montana presumes employment at will, yet most limit it through public policy, implied contract and good faith exceptions. A state-by-state table and what each exception means.

Italy Moves Toward Paid Leave for Workers With Sick Pets

Italy Moves Toward Paid Leave for Workers With Sick Pets

Italy is set to approve paid leave for workers caring for sick pets, marking a rare step in European labor law. The government plans to introduce a minimum of three days of paid sick-pet leave, with t

Map graphic titled Right to Work States showing the 26 states with right to work laws shaded and Michigan marked as having repealed its law in 2024

Right to Work States: All 26 and What the Law Does

Twenty-six states bar union security agreements. Here is the full list with adoption years, the federal provision that allows them, and the two states that moved the other way.

Map graphic titled Common Law Marriage States showing the ten jurisdictions that still allow new common law marriages and the eleven states that recognize only older ones

Common Law Marriage States: The 10 Where It Still Exists

Ten jurisdictions still allow a marriage without a license or ceremony. Here is what each requires, which states grandfather older ones, and how such a marriage ends.

House keys resting on paperwork representing an estate and inheritance

Dying Without a Will: Who Inherits Under State Law

If you die without a will, you do not decide who inherits your property.

Person signing a legal document with a pen at a desk

Types of Power of Attorney: All 5 Explained

A power of attorney lets someone else act on your behalf, and the type you choose determines whether that authority survives the exact moment you are most likely to need it.

Legal documents and paperwork on a desk representing intellectual property filings

Copyright vs Trademark vs Patent: What Each One Protects

Copyright, trademark, and patent protect three completely different things, and choosing the wrong one is an expensive mistake. A logo cannot be patented, an invention cannot be copyrighted, and a novel cannot be trademarked.

Signing a document during an online notarization video call

Best Online Notary Services in 2026: Top 7 Compared

Compare the 7 best online notary services in 2026, from Proof to NotaryLive, plus why nearly every platform charges about $25 per notarization.

Brand logo and trademark design for a business

Best Trademark Registration Services in 2026: Top 6

Compare the 6 best ways to register a trademark in 2026, from $49 filing services to attorney-led options, plus the $350 USPTO fee nobody mentions upfront.

Business legal documents on a desk for choosing a business structure

LLC vs S-Corp vs Sole Proprietorship: Structures Compared

Compare LLC, S-Corp, C-Corp, sole proprietorship, and partnership for 2026, with liability, tax treatment, self-employment tax, and the QBI deduction explained.