Melvin M. Belli Sr. - Everybodys guide to the law- fully revised & updated

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. Federal and state laws and regulations are changing constantly, and no single book can address all the legal situations the reader may encounter. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. This product is not a substitute for legal advice.

Getting Married Premarital Agreements Annulments Separation Divorce Dividing the Property Alimony Child Custody, Visitation, and Support Legitimacy and Paternity Abortion Artificial Insemination, Egg Donors, and Surrogate Mothers Adoptions Lawsuits Involving Family Members Living Together Changing Your Name

Buying a New Car Ordering a New Car New Car Warranties If Your Dream Car Turns Out To Be a Lemon Leasing a Vehicle Buying and Selling Used Cars Title to the Car Automobile Repairs Automobile Insurance How Your Insurance Rates Are Determined Automobile Accidents Driving Under the Influence Fighting Traffic Tickets Responsibilities of Pay Parking Lot Operators

Determining the Size of Your Estate What Happens If You Dont Plan Avoiding Probate Life Insurance Retirement Plans Revocable Living Trusts Death and Taxes The Unlimited Marital Deduction Planning for Incapacity Organ Donations and Funeral Instructions The Dangers of Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning Mercy KillingsEuthanasia

Why You Need a Will Types of Wills Nuncupative (Oral) Wills What You Should Know About Wills Restrictions on Gifts Providing for Your Minor Children Disinheriting Someone Appointing an Executor or Executrix How to Write Your Own Will The Signing and Witnessing of Your Will Safekeeping, Reviewing, and Changing Your Will Why and How Wills Are Challenged

Making Your Property Work for You Housing Alternatives for the Elderly Elder Abuse

Buying and Selling a House Condos, Townhomes, and Coops Estates, Marketable Titles, and Deeds Forms of Ownership Ownership of Airspace and Subspace Water Rights Condemnation Lateral and Subjacent Support If Someone Is Injured on Your Land Mechanics Liens

Types of Leases Security Deposits Rights and Obligations of the Landlord and the Tenant Business Leases

Sodomy as Criminal Conduct Homosexual and Bisexual Relationships and Marriages Californias Domestic Partner Registration Law Same-Sex Couples as Parents Housing Discrimination Discrimination in the Workplace GLBTs at School: As Students and Teachers Same-Sex Partners and Immigration Anti-GLBT Legislation Homosexuals and the Military GLBTs and Private Associations GLBTs and Parades Hate Crimes Against GLBTs For Further Information

If You Discover the Pet You Bought Is Diseased or Sick Restrictions on Keeping a Pet Dog Licenses Injuries by or to Animals Veterinarians Destruction of Dangerous Pets Cruelty to Animals

What Is Tort Law? Should You See a Lawyer Negligence Intentional Torts Invasion of Privacy Slander and Libel Infliction of Emotional Distress Strict Liability Tort Reform

The Physician-Patient Relationship Diagnosis and Treatment Ending the Physician-Patient Relationship Getting Copies of Your Medical Records How Malpractice Affects You and Your Doctor Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs)

Liability of a Product Manufacturer or Seller Suing for Your Injuries If Youve Been Hurt by a Defective Product

Job Discrimination and Harassment Workers Compensation Laws If You Are Fired or Laid Off COBRA Benefits Who Owns Inventions or Copyrights Developed at Work Misuse of an Employers Confidential Information Agreements Not to Compete

The Americans with Disabilities Act The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Discrimination in Housing The Disabled and Flying

The Complexity of Computer Law What Is the Internet?

How Social Security Is Financed Qualifying for Benefits Retirement Benefits Disability Benefits Some Things You Need to Know about Social Security Medicare Benefits Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Medicaid and MediCal

Making a Contract When a Contract Must Be in Writing Three-Day Right to Cancel Modifying a Contract after It Is Made When a Party Breaches the Contract Things That May Go Wrong Special Types of Contracts

Consumer Credit and Your Rights Harassment, Repossession, and Other Debt Collection Practices Identity Theft When Youre In Over Your Head: Repayment Plans and Bankruptcy

What to Consider Before Filing a Lawsuit How Much Can You and Should You Sue For? Making a Demand for the Money Filling Out, Filing, and Serving the Complaint How to Get the Winning Edge Examples of Small Claims Court Trials Turning Your Judgment into Cash

Your Right to Freedom of Religion Your Right to Freedom of Speech Your Right to Peaceably Assemble Your Right to Bear Arms Your Right to Be Free from Discrimination Your Right to Travel Freely Your Right to Copyright Protection Your Right to Patent Your Inventions Your Right to Know What the Government Knows Your Right to Sue the Government for Personal Injuries

Visas Getting a Green Card The Annual Green Card Diversity Lottery Aliens Seeking Asylum Aliens Seeking Refugee Status Temporary Protected Status Persons Not Allowed to Immigrate to the United States Getting Your Citizenship: The Holy Grail

Starting a Lawsuit What Happens Before the Trial The Trial Arbitration as an Alternative to the Courtroom

Crimes Preliminary Crimes Accomplices and Accessories Crimes of Theft Crimes Involving Property Crimes Against a Person Other Crimes Defenses to Criminal Charges The Criminal Justice System Your Right to Be Free from Unreasonable Searches Your Rights When You Are Arrested What Happens After Your Arrest Plea Bargaining Your Rights at the Trial Juvenile Court After the Verdict Cruel and Unusual Punishment

When Do You Need a Lawyer? What Type of Lawyer Is Best for You? Where to Look for a Lawyer Your Initial Consultation with the Lawyer Lawyers Fees Problems with Your Lawyer

Laws Sources of American Law The Role of Precedents in the Law Are There Too Many Laws? Where to Find the Law How the Courts Are Structured The Military Justice System State Court Systems When Its Your Turn to Be a Juror

W HEN MELVIN BELLI and I were having lunch one afternoon in 1985 talking about projects we could do together, I came up with the idea for doing a consumers guide to the law, much like a home medical reference guide; something the average layperson with a legal problem could consult to determine how serious it might be and whether he or she should try to take care of it himself or herself or whether a lawyers assistance was necessary. Mel immediately liked the idea.

I did some research to see whether there were any similar books on the market and found several, but none of them did what I considered a good job; some werent very comprehensive, while others were written in legalese rather than plain English. I reported back to Mel with about four or five books in hand and explained the deficiencies of each. Mel said, Do you honestly think we can come up with a better book that will help people? Without hesitating, I said, Without a doubt, and went into a half-hour-long argument of why we could put together a book that would outshine everything on the market and be an invaluable legal resource to the average layperson. By the end of my presentation, Mel was leaning back in his chair, saying, Okay, okay, youve convinced me. Now, do you think you can convince a publisher? Im positive of it, I replied.