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Identity theft in the rental market is nothing to be casual
about. If she has a car, record her license plate number to
run a motor vehicle bureau check.
Freebie Two:
Tenants: If you are asked to pay a rent deposit, either pay
it with a check or get a receipt and always get a statement
in writing that if the apartment or unit is not ready by X
agreed upon date, that you are free to cancel the agreement
and get your entire deposit returned to you on the
spot....not 30 days later.
Freebie Three:
If and when you are asked to attend a deposition as a
witness, make sure that you ask for your witness/travel fees
at the beginning of the deposition to make sure that such a
required payment was not, "forgotten."
Freebie Four:
Yes, you can have minor misdemeanor charges expunged if you
qualify for the process of expungement. Such a "minor"
charge can still follow you around and hurt your chances for
certain jobs and benefits. Being a "minor" charge is not a
trifle.
Take care of business and have it expunged, if you qualify
for expungement. The same goes for criminal charges that
were filed against you but were later dismissed. Expunge
them!
Freebie Five:
Certain misdemeanor charges allow for you to delay entering
a plea but rather you can be asked to be referred to the
alternative/diversion program and if successful, your plea
can be something other than guilty.
Freebie Six:
Never, ever buy a house without getting a property
inspection of it. If the report is derogatory, you can use
those remarks to either get a price break to cover the
expenses to repair or you can back out of the deal and get
any paid deposit monies if such a clause is placed into the
offer to purchase agreement.
Freebie Seven:
If you have the unfortunate event to enter into a store and
for no fault of your own, you slip and fall...do not remove
yourself from that spot. Stay there and call out for help.
If people are around you, ask them to call the manager.
Always stay around an fill out an incident report and get a
copy of it from the store.
If they ask you, "Are you OK," simply say, "I do not know
yet." Whatever you say, can be used against you if the store
tries to contest your claim for injuries. If injured, always
go to the ER or a hospital by ambulance. Why? You need a
paper trail to support your injuries.
Freebie Eight:
If you are driving a car and the police pull you over, do
NOT lean into your car glove compartment box in order to get
any papers. That can be seen as a "furtive move" and the
officer will say that he felt threatened by that sudden move
and that is why he shot you nine times. Freeze and obey the
commands and keep a clear mind so that you can get the name
and badge number of the officer (without jeopardizing your
life and health) in the event that you need to file a suit
for police harassment.
Freebie Nine:
Yes, the police can ask the identity of all members in a car
and can ask them to step out of the car for his or her
safety. So, please do not jawbone with the officer, it only
makes him mad and he will say that you were obstructing
official business.
Freebie Ten:
If the police ask to search your car trunk or car, state for
the record that you refused any search. Note: If someone is
with you and they have a cell phone camera, they can record
the events in spite of the officers saying not to. As long
as the person recording does not interfere, he or she has a
right to be present and to record.
Freebie Eleven:
If a relative dies and there is a will and the person who
has the will refuses to cooperate by placing the will in the
probate court for legal proceedings, you can ask the court
via a written motion that such a person be required to come
to court with the will and start the process. You do not
have to be a victim.
Freebie Twelve:
In your search for assets of a deceased party, check each
state's lost or unclaimed funds department in which that
person lived including the websites for locating missing
insurance policies and US savings bonds.
Freebie Thirteen:
If you believe that you have been a victim of discriminatory
treatment at a worksite, you can always start the process of
an investigation by filing a charge with the Ohio Civil
Rights Commission located at One Government Center. File
right away. Don't wait weeks or months. There is no charge
to file.
Freebie Fourteen:
Some of the ways to bypass probate court when someone dies
is to make sure that during their lifetime they know that
they can place your name on their savings or checking
account (called either a P.O.D or a T.O.D account) so that
in the event of their death, you are the sole heir to any
remaining balances in those accounts.
The same goes for insurance policies or death benefits at
work. These type of "contracts" are not part of a person's
estate when they die. They are separate and are governed by
contract law...not Ohio probate law.
Freebie Fifteen:
You have a house and you want someone to be able to live
there for the remainder of their life and before the
property is transferred to someone else? Simple. On the deed
you can have a clause that allows a person or persons of
your choice to live there during their natural life and when
they die, the property is only then transferred out to the
other named person. It goes something like this: "A life
estate to my cousin, Lakeeshia Jones and then upon her
demise, the property is to be deeded to Demarkus Jones in
fee simple absolute."
Freebie Sixteen:
If you buy a used car, always make sure to get the VIN
number and
check that number to make sure that the car is not stolen
and also has not been
engaged in any recorded car accident(s) or has suffered
other damages. If the seller of the car says no to your
request for a VIN (vehicle identification number), run...not
walk from that car lot because you are about to be duped. I
mean, what is there to hide...right?
Well, there you have it dear readers, enough Legal
Freebies to almost qualify you to get a law license...but
not quite!
Contact Lafe Tolliver at
tolliver@juno.com
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