About TinyLegal

Everyday legal questions are rarely complicated in principle, but they are almost always written in a language nobody speaks at home. How long do I have to bring a claim? What does this clause actually commit me to? How much will it really cost to take a dispute to small claims? When is my landlord supposed to return the deposit? TinyLegal exists to answer that kind of question in plain English, and to give you small, practical tools that do the arithmetic and date-counting for you.

TinyLegal is not a law firm, and nothing here is legal advice. It is general information to help you understand the basics and ask better questions. Laws, deadlines, fees, and procedures vary enormously by country, state, and even county, and they change over time. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

The site is built around a set of single-purpose calculators, each aimed at one recurring task. The Statute of Limitations Deadline Calculator counts forward from an incident or discovery date by a limitation period you supply, so you can see a working deadline. The Small Claims Cost & Recovery Estimator adds up filing and service fees against the amount you hope to recover. The Contract Notice Period Date Calculator turns a notice period into a calendar date. The Security Deposit Return Deadline Tracker counts the return window and nets out any deductions. The Business Registration Cost Estimator totals one-time and recurring formation costs. And the Plain-Language Scorerreads a document and reports its reading level and the legalese worth simplifying. In every case you enter the numbers, rates, and time limits that apply where you are — the tools never assume one place’s law is the law everywhere.

Beyond the calculators, the blog and learn section explain common documents and rights in accessible terms, and the museum is a browsable gallery of legal history, courts, famous documents, and the law of contract and property, with every entry, image, and fact drawn from Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons.

TinyLegal is an independent site, not affiliated with any court, bar association, government agency, or law firm. It is supported by advertising, which is how the tools stay free with no account required. If a tool looks wrong, or there is an explainer you wish existed, the contact page is the place to say so.