Which ruling order takes precedence in a legal dispute: the final order from the bench or the subsequent Statement of Decision (SOD) that differs from the final order?

August 20th, 2023

My elderly mother lives in her manufactured home on my property. She doesn't pay any rent, but she has promised the home to me when she can no longer live alone. How long does the home need to be in my name before she goes into a nursing home to prevent the state from taking it?

June 18th, 2023

What exactly is considered adultery in South Carolina, and does it include actions like getting in a car with someone or holding hands with someone? Should I avoid spending time with a male friend to prevent any claims of adultery?

February 7th, 2024

A 37-year old man who was convicted of 3 armed robberies has just been released from jail in Florida and has moved to my street in Brooklyn. He served just under 7 years. His crimes were committed in NYC. Is he now automatically on probation? What, if anything, can I do to get him out of the neighborhood? Is it legal for me to send a copy of his record (obtained on the internet) to all the neighbors on the block?

June 2nd, 2023

My son-in-law was instructed by his employer to turn in a certain number of hours each week that would be paid to him to keep him on the employer's payroll even though there was no work. Now the employer wants this money to be repaid and has had him sign a Promissory Note repaying these monies at the rate of one day of pay per paycheck. This has in effect tied him to this employer until the note is paid. The employer has also decreased his rate of pay making a very difficult family income situation. The employer claims he will have my son-in-law arrested for fraud if he quits...even if he continues to pay on the Promissory note! Can he do these things legally to my son-in-law?

October 11th, 2024