Contract guides
Short, fact-checked explanations of the clauses that cause the most trouble — with the questions to ask and links to the primary sources. Each guide shows the date it was last reviewed.
Renters
Renters' rights by state
Deposit limits, return deadlines, notice periods and entry rules for all 50 states and DC, in one table with primary sources.
Illegal lease clauses
Clauses landlords add that courts will not enforce: deposit waivers, repair waivers, self-help eviction, blanket fees and more.
California lease rules
What a California lease can and cannot say: the deposit cap, entry notice, late fees and the clauses the Civil Code voids.
How to break a lease legally
Early-termination clauses, legal grounds to leave without penalty, the duty to re-let and how to limit what you owe.
Lease agreement red flags
Automatic renewals, deposit terms, repair clauses, entry rights and waivers: what's normal, what isn't, and what to ask for.
Before you sign
What to check before signing
The parties, the money, the dates, the exits and the fine print: a plain walk-through of any agreement.
How to read a contract
Where the terms that matter usually sit, how definitions change meaning, and how to read a contract in an hour.
The 20-point contract red-flags checklist
Money, time, exits, liability, rights and changes: twenty things to check in any agreement before you sign.
Plain English legal dictionary
Indemnify, severability, force majeure, liquidated damages and the other words contracts use, explained in a sentence each.
Free & low-cost contract review
Where to get a contract reviewed for free or cheaply, what each option covers, and when you still need a lawyer.
Work
Contractor vs employee (1099 vs W-2)
How the IRS and Department of Labor tell the two apart, what misclassification costs you, and what to check in the agreement.
Freelance contract clauses
Scope, payment terms, kill fees, IP, non-competes, indemnity and termination — with fair wording you can propose.
Cars
Free tools
Small calculators that answer one question each. They run in your browser and send nothing anywhere. See all calculators.
Security deposit calculator
Is your deposit over your state's legal limit, and when must the landlord return it? All 50 states and DC, with the statute.
Prorated rent calculator
What you owe for a partial move-in or move-out month, with the days-in-month, 365-day and 30-day methods compared.
These guides are general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by country and state and change over time. For your specific situation, consult a licensed lawyer where you live.
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