TinyLegal
The Journal
How to Read a Contract Before You Sign It
A plain-English walkthrough of what to look for in a contract before you sign, from the parties and obligations to the fine-print clauses people most often overlook.
What Is a Statute of Limitations?
A statute of limitations is the deadline for bringing a legal claim. This guide explains how these time limits work, when the clock starts and pauses, and why they exist.
Small Claims Court Basics: Suing Without a Lawyer
Small claims court lets ordinary people resolve modest disputes without a lawyer. Here is how it generally works, from deciding whether to sue through preparing for your hearing.
NDA Basics: What a Non-Disclosure Agreement Really Does
A non-disclosure agreement is a contract to keep certain information secret. This guide explains how NDAs work, the key terms to watch, and what they can and cannot do.
Tenant Security Deposit Rights, Explained
Your security deposit is your money, held in trust. This guide explains how deposits generally work, what landlords can and cannot deduct, and how to get yours back.
DIY Will Basics: Writing a Simple Will
A will lets you decide who gets what and who cares for your children. This guide explains what a simple will does, the formalities that make it valid, and when to get help.
Cease-and-Desist Letters: What They Are and How They Work
A cease-and-desist letter formally demands that someone stop a specific activity. This guide explains what these letters are, what they can and cannot do, and how to respond to one.
The Five Dates Every Dispute Has
Most disputes come down to a small number of dates, and the people who handle them well are the ones who wrote those dates down early. Here is the set worth…
Why Contracts Are Hard to Read, Measured
Contracts are hard to read, and the difficulty is measurable. Running a clause through a readability score puts a number on something most people only…
What Registering a Business Actually Costs
Registering a business looks like a single fee and rarely is. The filing fee is usually the smallest part of the first year, and the costs that surprise…
One Month's Notice Is Not Thirty Days' Notice
Notice clauses are among the shortest provisions in a contract and among the most litigated, because getting the date wrong can invalidate the notice entirely.
Is a Small Claim Worth Filing? Do the Arithmetic First
Small claims court exists to make modest disputes worth pursuing, and the arithmetic of whether a particular claim is worth pursuing is straightforward…