Explore our legal content, spanning diverse legal topics, court decisions, legislative changes, and expert analysis, as we bring you the pulse of the legal world in a succinct and informative format.
Understanding Parenting Petitions in New Hampshire: Child Support & Asset Division for Unmarried Couples
If a couple is not married and has children together, they can file a Parenting Petition to resolve parenting time and child support issues. However, the Court does not have the authority to make orders regarding the division of assets and debts, personal property or the residence itself. If the parties are married, the Court can make such orders if a Divorce Petition is filed. The issue of the residence of the parties is simply who gets to stay. The...Read More
What is the Double Jeopardy Clause (Fifth Amendment)?
The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb…” In other words, the government can’t prosecute or punish someone more than once for the same crime. Sounds simple enough, but there are some caveats to be aware of. Legally speaking, “jeopardy” refers to the risk brought by criminal prosecution. The government must place a person “in jeopardy” for the Fifth Amendment...Read More
Not Just Any Old Cemetery
The 639 scenic, tranquil acres that comprise Arlington National Cemetery were once owned by George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted grandson of our nation’s first president and the father-in-law of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The Union army seized the property at the outset of the Civil War to defend the capital. Custis’s grandson, George Washington Custis Lee, pursued legal avenues to reclaim the land in 1870, which he argued were confiscated illegally. In 1882, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed...Read More
EV Batteries: A Heavy Topic
Electric vehicles (EVs) are beginning to make a dent in the new-vehicle marketplace, having reached nearly 6% of purchases in 2022 (a 65% increase over 2021). The current administration has set a goal of 50% by 2030 in order to aid the environment. (But it’s not all unicorns and rainbows. Read about the environmental impact of lithium mining to supply the batteries.) But one major, often overlooked EV issue concerns the weight of EV batteries. Depending on the type of...Read More
Christmas is a Decorated Holiday
Decorations create holiday ambience. Unfortunately, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates they prompt 18,000 ER visits each holiday season. Falls account for about half of them. Ladders are often used for indoor and outdoor decorating. A ladder’s stability should be tested before using it. Inspect for loose screws, bolts, and hinges; damaged rungs, steps, and siderails; and grease, dirt, and paint. A ladder needs to be anchored on a flat, firm surface. Furniture is not a safe ladder substitute!...Read More
Three Things to Know if You are Considering a Divorce After 50
One of the most significant issues in a divorce later in life is the squeezed time frame to recover financially. A divorce means dividing assets with your spouse. Current market value is not the exclusive consideration of an asset. Some assets will become more valuable farther down the road. Deciding who gets the house is a primary example. Age triggers eligibility for tax exemptions and waivers for real estate tax. A reverse mortgage, which can offer a potential stream of...Read More
DWI Investigations
If you get pulled over and an officer wishes to conduct an investigation regarding a possible DWI (DUI) you are not required to do field sobriety tests prior to arrest. Any pre-arrest tests you may be asked to take are not mandatory. You will not lose your license for refusing any such tests. The requirement to take a field sobriety or blood alcohol test only applies after you are arrested. If you refuse at that time, the State will seek...Read More
What To Do If You Are Pulled Over For A DWI
If you are pulled over and an officer suspects that you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs you are likely to be asked a series of questions. The manner in which you respond to those questions may determine what steps the officer takes. Typically the first thing you will be asked is if you know why the officer pulled you over. The officer asks the question in part to see if you will admit to certain behavior. Be...Read More
Coming to an Agreement in a Parenting Plan
In order to formalize parenting time involving minor children, the parents must have a Parenting Plan signed by a judge. Contrary to what many people may think, parents sometimes come to an agreement on parenting time and then submit the Parenting Plan to the judge for approval without having to go to court. The parties often engage in these negotiations through their attorneys, a mediator, or both. Parenting Plans are arrived at more smoothly in circumstances in which the parents...Read More
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a national Holiday, celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Liberia. It began as a day of giving thanks and sacrifice for the blessing of the harvest and of the preceding year. Thanksgiving is celebrated on the on the 4th Thursday of November each year in the United States and around the same part of the year in other places. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions. It is...Read More