Keys to your everyday contracts

You are a party to contracts you know nothing about. Sure, you probably have a handle on the terms of your mortgage and, if need be, more than an inkling about getting divorced. But do you know what you owe your health club and your video store, or Comcast and Stop & Shop? We didn't think so. By disguising their contracts as "applications" or "offers" and making them nearly impossible to understand, or by simply refusing to put anything in writing at all, practically every... More

When marriage is unraveling, divorce not the only option

There are several reasons why someone whose marriage is on the rocks might consider legal separation instead of divorce. For instance, one's religious convictions might conflict with the notion of divorce. It also could be that you're not sure you want a divorce, but you need a judge to order your spouse to pay money to support you and/or your child during a period of separation. In order to officially file for legal separation, a legally married couple must live apart from each other. No... More

The Law of Bankruptcy

Q. I would like to file for bankruptcy but don't want anyone to know. Is that possible? A. Federal law requires the court to notify your landlord and anyone to whom you owe money. If you are paying alimony or child support, the person to whom you make those payments will know about your bankruptcy even if you're current on your payments. Although your neighbors could find out if they searched hard enough, chances are they'll never know unless you owe them money. Your family probably already... More

The Law of Wills

Q. My uncle said he's going to leave me his Corvette in his will. Will I get the car if he owes other people money? A. Typically, the debts of the person who died are paid before any assets are distributed. If there are no assets left in the estate after the payment of the administrative expenses and other debts, you would not be entitled to the car.   Q. I'm single, in my 20s with no kids, and I don't own very much.  Do I really need a will? A. Probably not. However, it's... More

‘Anatomy of a Murder’ not quite as wonderful today

scott.katz@exhibitAnews.com Many people nowadays know Jimmy Stewart only from Frank Capra's holiday classic "It's a Wonderful Life." But the fact is Stewart was one of the most versatile and likable stars of his time. To put his popularity into context, Tom Hanks has been called the "Jimmy Stewart of this generation." In 1959, Stewart capped off his busiest decade as a leading man with the release of the legal thriller, "Anatomy of a Murder." Directed by the... More

Will the Herald survive its own ‘media frenzy’?

The news became final in recent months: The state's highest court upheld a $2.01 million judgment for Superior Court Judge Ernest B. Murphy in a libel suit against the Boston Herald and one of its reporters. The Herald's efforts to reverse the ruling fell on deaf ears. In a way, the case became the ultimate irony. The Boston Herald knew that it would create a "media frenzy" with its critical coverage of Judge Murphy. It just didn't expect one over its own libelous news coverage. The... More

What’s up, docs?

If I said there's a problem with clergymen molesting kids, you would probably just yawn. "Old news," you'd say, "and boring." But what's going on with our medical profession? Sexual abuse of patients is reaching epidemic proportions. A California psychiatrist, Dr. William Ayres, recently was charged with 14 counts of "lewd and lascivious acts" (translation: genital fondling) against his child patients. Proving once again that perpetrators don't understand... More

'Move over, John Grisham': Exhibit A in print and video

Read reports and view video on the launch of Exhibit A. The Boston Globe: "Move over, John Grisham" Fox 25 News on Exhibit A's list of Notorious Criminals The Patriot Ledger: "Magazine minus legalese a big hit"  Boston's Weekly Dig: "This is zesty stuff" The Boston Herald: "'Intriguing' premise" The Boston Business Journal: "About the law - aimed at the general public" New England Cable News: "The first edition... More

Going to the French Riviera? Make sure to book a burial plot

“The law is a ass, a idiot!” That’s a Charles Dickens quote you may have heard before. The line, from Dickens’ “Oliver Twist,” is uttered by Mr. Bumble when he is informed: “The law assumes that your wife acts under your direction.” “Justice is blind” is another well-known expression, one that the ancient Egyptians took literally. Their courts of law met in darkened chambers so that judges would be unable to see and recognize the accusers,... More

Aging of relatives poses legal, as well as medical, concerns

It happens. You get a call from the emergency room informing you that your mother has had a stroke. At 2 a.m., legal issues are probably the last thing on your mind as you reach for your clothes and the car keys. But if your mother does not already have two critical legal documents in her possession, you may find yourself calling a lawyer in a few days. So, there are a couple of things you should ask Mom while she is well. The first question to ask: Is there a health-care proxy? A health-care proxy... More

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