In this edition of our Newsletter, we’re highlighting our newly improved search functionality and the remodeling of our LawStore.com storefront. Read on for details.

At USLegal, customer satisfaction is our greatest asset and goal. If we’ve made your legal life easier, please tell your friends and family about us. If you have a routine legal need, make us your first stop. And now, our news:

Easier Searching Means Better Service

At USLegalForms, we have a form for every purpose you can imagine - and for plenty that you can’t. Given this rather extensive collection, getting our customers’ hands on the exact forms they need has always been our top priority. We work constantly to make our automated search features more intuitive and user-friendly, so that what you type in the search box leads you to what you need. We leave no stone unturned, looking at weekly lists of zero-hit (no result found) searches in order to better teach our system to understand what our customers are thinking of, making sure that even if ten people ask for the same product in ten different ways, they’ll all get what they need.

We’ve done a pretty good job perfecting this over the years, but we’re still improving. This month we introduced a automatic drop-down menu to our search box that lists product suggestions based on what you’ve typed, even if you’ve only typed one word or a few letters. So if you don’t know the exact way to ask for a product, chances are you’ll spot what you want in our list. And if you still can’t find what you need, we have an industry-leading customer service department to chat with you on-screen, or talk with you at 1-877-389-0141.

LawStore.com Enhancements Are Under Way

LawStore.com is the wing of USLegal specializing in providing easy access to legal products and law-related materials, including books, guides, office supplies and furnishings, and computer hardware and software. Numerous national vendors sell through LawStore.com, centralizing all these materials at your fingertips.

We’re revamping the LawStore.com site to streamline interaction for both vendors and users. The website will be getting a user-friendly facelift, and vendors will be given more comprehensive administration tools to monitor and interact with their accounts. We hope you’ll make LawStore.com your first stop for your legal materials and legal office needs.

The BP Oil Spill: Monitoring Developments

The “static kill” at the top of the well seems to be holding. Progress is stalled on the “bottom kill” while testing is conducted related to pressure in the wellshaft. Hopefully, this phase will come to a happy end soon. Unfortunately, the cleanup of the oil and the assessment of impacts - known and as yet unknown - will continue for a long time. Oil dispersed under the surface is a chief ongoing concern. Check the USLegal Blog for updates.

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Featured Product of the Month

* Home Sale Package for Residential Real Estate*

The convenience and value of the USLF state-specific Residential Home Sale Package is unmatched. This $39.95 value package for both buyers and sellers contains an Offer to Purchase, Contract of Sale, Disclosure Statements and more for a Residential Home. Definitions, form explanations, and general information about the real estate transaction are also included. Buying or selling a home is the most important transaction most people will ever encounter. This package makes the process much easier to understand and provides the forms and information you need to do it yourself.

Legal News In Brief

Our staff attorney Dana Altman logs breaking legal news at the USLegal Reporter. Check in regularly to stay updated on top national legal stories. The following are snippets from some of the items of interest Dana has spotted in the last month. Check the above link for full reports:

Same-Sex Marriages in California Put on Hold Again
After a federal judge overturned California’s ban on same-sex marriages, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has issued an emergency stay pending an appeal. The stay will prevent California from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples while the appellate court is deciding the issues. California was to begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses this week after District Judge Vaughn Walker refused to issue a stay. Proposition 8 was passed in November 2008. The measure amended the California Constitution to overrule a state Supreme Court ruling that legalized same-sex unions earlier that year. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Fingerprint Records Lead to 47,000 Being Deported
The Homeland Security Department examined records of 3 million inmates at local jails, leading to the removal or deportation of about 47,000 immigrants over 18 months. The efforts were part of a fingerprint-sharing program known as Secure Communities, which the government claims is aimed at getting rid of the “worst of the worst” criminal immigrants from the U.S. As of Aug. 3, 494 counties and local and state agencies in 27 states were sharing fingerprints from jail bookings through the program. An immigration advocacy group claims that about one-quarter of the people kicked out of the country did not have criminal records, and that the government should be spending more time pursuing those with a more serious criminal background. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Companies Crack Down on Employees’ Social Networking Policy Violations
YouTube videos, like the one of the Dominos employee shoving cheese up his nose before supposedly delivering it to a customer on pizza, have motivated companies to monitor employee online gossip about the workplace on social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. According to a survey by Proofpoint Inc., an e-mail security company in Sunnyvale, California, 21 percent of companies with 1,000 or more workers have disciplined employees for violating social networking policies, compared with 13 percent in 2008. About 9 percent have fired an employee for these violations, more than double from 4 percent two years ago. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Check out controversial legal issues of all stripes with us at the USLegal Blog. As noted above, we have been following the BP Oil Spill, a disaster hitting close to home for us here at USLegal. A post about my vacation to Mexico Beach, Florida, with pictures you may find interesting, is now up. The newest post discusses whether the Executive Branch (ie, the Obama Administration) can Constitutionally order the execution of American Citizens without a trial or other due process. Everyone should have an opinion on this one! Feel free to comment on any of our posts in the comment section (your comment will be posted the following morning if made at night, or later in the day if posted during the day.)

Have a Legal Question? Ask a Lawyer

If you want to find out more information about a certain area of law, consider USLegal’s Ask a Lawyer service. The service enables you to submit your question to a lawyer who will provide you with legal information.

The charge for this service is $15.95 per question.

Legal advice is not provided. If your question cannot be answered without providing legal advice, you will not be charged. In the event you desire to retain an attorney, you will be provided with sources for choosing an attorney for you to consider.

Request a Legal Definition

We’ve been building a database of legal definitions that has reached thousands of entries - all from your requests. Browse the database or ask for a legal definition (a free service) at USLegal’s free online legal dictionary.

In this edition of our Newsletter, we’ll remind you about our outstanding Group Discount plan, touch on our continuous updating operations, and report on the BP Oil Spill and my observations during a trip to the Florida panhandle.

At USLegal, customer satisfaction is our greatest asset and goal. If we’ve made your legal life easier, please tell your friends and family about us. If you have a routine legal need, make us your first stop. And now, our news:

Group Discounts for Your Organization

Group Registration for U.S. Legal Forms’ Group Discounts have been brisk. An association, company, government agency, church group, or other organization can sign up for a group discount for all group members. Would your group benefit from access to our low cost, high quality, state-specific legal forms? For additional information, or to apply for your organization or company, contact us toll-free at 1-877-389-0141 ext 107 and ask for Group Discount services.

Deed Forms: One of Many Continuous Updates

Deed forms present a special challenge regarding margin size and blank spaces required by the various recording offices. State law often contains detailed specifications, which sometimes change with the adoption of new recording machinery, scanners, etc. We tirelessly update our deeds to reflect these changes, so that you can be confident of compliance when you need a quitclaim or warranty deed.

Without constant review, on line forms quickly lapse into inaccuracy. Our success is built on our commitment to providing our customers the most current, state-specific forms available - a key distinction between U.S. Legal Forms and many other on line forms providers. Our proprietary sources and methods, developed and refined for over a decade, enable us to review and update a vast amount of material in a manageable amount of time. Quality, updated, lawyer-reviewed forms complying with your state’s unique laws: our formula for success.

The BP Oil Spill: An Unexpected Development

After abandoning “top kill” attempts weeks ago, out of the blue comes a cap that actually appears to have worked. Slate has a good article. Pressure levels are being monitored closely, the fear being that potentially damaged casing may rupture further down-hole allowing oil to carve its way through the seafloor creating a new exit. Some evidence of this seep phenomenon may have been detected, though there is argument over whether the submersibles are just kicking up silt. Check the video in the previous link at about 4:40 and beyond for what looks like gushing oil (the vid seems to be temporarily down).

Now the question becomes: what next? Will they proceed with the bottom kill via the relief wells, or try for another top kill, or both? The latest technique under consideration is what I take to be a flavor of top kill known as a “static kill.”

I was in Mexico Beach on the Florida panhandle last week, about 30 miles east of Panama City. The oil hasn’t yet appeared that far east (hence the relocation of my family vacation to there), and we had a fantastic time on the beach and in the warm, emerald green Gulf water - I hope not for the last time. We saw no sign of oil, but plenty of preparation for it. I intend to make a blog post - with pictures - about my trip later this week. On the last day, I had a hands-on encounter with a runaway boom, so I can now say I helped in the cleanup effort. Check the USLegal Blog later on for details.

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Featured Product of the Month

* Landlord Tenant Residential Lease Forms Package *

The convenience and value of the USLF state-specific Residential Lease Forms Package is unmatched. Our professionally drafted residential lease complies with the unique landlord tenant law of your state, as does each form contained in the package. You will use these forms again and again as long as you rent property. If purchased individually, these forms would total $129.80. For just $49.95, get tremendous savings - so do your pocketbook a favor. Including state specific Lease, Lease Application, Reference Check Consent, Pre and Post Inventory Checklist, Lead Paint Disclosure, Welcome Letter, Rent Warning Letter, Rent Termination Notice, Closing Statement and more.

Click here to order a Residential Lease Forms Package for your state.

Legal News In Brief

Our staff attorney Dana Altman logs breaking legal news at the USLegal Reporter. Check in regularly to stay updated on top national legal stories. The following are snippets from some of the items of interest Dana has spotted in the last month. Check the above link for full reports:

Man Who Claims 84% Stake in Facebook Gets TRO
Paul Ceglia claims he had a website development contract with Facebook in 2003, giving him a 84% stake in the company. He filed a breach of contract lawsuit in New York and has been granted a temporary restraining order preventing the company from transferring assets. Facebook is seeking to move the case to federal court, and calls the claim frivolous.

Mark Zuckerberg did not procure the domain name for Facebook’s first site, thefacebook.com, until January 2004. Ceglia claims he and Mark Zuckerberg entered into a contract on April 28, 2003 in which Ceglia agreed to provide some website work in exchange for 50% of the resulting entity, plus an additional 1% every day until the work was completed. According to Ceglia, this amounts to 84%. Ceglia was accused by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo last year of defrauding customers in an unrelated wood-pellet fuel business. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Justice Dept. Files Lawsuit to Block Arizona Immigration Law
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed suit in a federal court in Phoenix, claiming the state’s immigration law impedes law enforcement efforts against terrorists, gang members and other criminal immigrants. In a decision based on much legal strategizing, the DOJ’s arguments focus on how Arizona’s law pre-empts federal authority, rather than on civil rights grounds like racial profiling.

The Justice Department has requested an injunction to prevent the Arizona law from taking effect as scheduled on July 29. Hearings in the other cases, such as the main case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and other civil rights group, are scheduled for July 15 and 22. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Supreme Court Extends Gun Rights to States and Cities
The U.S. Supreme Court extended the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment to states and cities. The ruling came in a case involving Chicago’s 28-year-old handgun ban. The decision was the result of a 5-4 vote, which was split along conservative/liberal lines. A previous gun ruling had applied to federal laws and federal enclaves, like Washington D.C., where a similar handgun ban was struck down in 2008.

According to U.S. government statistics, there are 80 deaths per day as a result of gunshots, with 34 of those being homicides. The ruling found that handgun ownership is a fundamental right that state and local governments cannot ban guns from the home. Most parts of the Bill of Rights, such as freedom of speech or the right against unreasonable searches and seizures, have been extended to states in the past century. This ruling similarly extends the Second Amendment to states. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Check out controversial legal issues of all stripes with us at the USLegal Blog. As noted above, we have been following the BP Oil Spill, a disaster hitting close to home for us here at USLegal. A post about my vacation to Mexico Beach, Florida, will be up later in the week. Feel free to comment on any of our posts in the comment section (your comment will be posted the following morning if made at night, or later in the day if posted during the day.)

Have a Legal Question? Ask a Lawyer

If you want to find out more information about a certain area of law, consider USLegal’s Ask a Lawyer service. The service enables you to submit your question to a lawyer who will provide you with legal information.

The charge for this service is $15.95 per question.

Legal advice is not provided. If your question cannot be answered without providing legal advice, you will not be charged. In the event you desire to retain an attorney, you will be provided with sources for choosing an attorney for you to consider.

Request a Legal Definition

We’ve been building a database of legal definitions that has reached thousands of entries - all from your requests. Browse the database or ask for a legal definition (a free service) at USLegal’s free online legal dictionary.

In this edition of our Newsletter, we’ll highlight two new handbooks, update you on our customer service upgrades, and continue to inform you on the BP Oil Spill still unfolding on our gulf coast.

At USLegal, customer satisfaction is our greatest asset and goal. If we’ve made your legal life easier, please tell your friends and family about us. If you have a routine legal need, make us your first stop. And now, our news:

Law & Legal Services and Preparing for Divorce/Dissolution: New USLF Handbooks

USLF is will soon offer a free guidebook discussing law and legal services in the United States, with a special focus on self-help services, a section detailing each service offered by USLegal, a section on preparing for court, and our decade’s worth of links to the best self-help/legal sites on-line. We’ll announce the publication of this new Guide in the coming months.

Our just-published Preparing for Divorce/Dissolution Guide provides helpful insights on how to prepare for a divorce, allowing a spouse to protect his or her position and minimize liabilities during this transition period. Being prepared can increase the odds of obtaining what you want in a divorce settlement, as well as reducing litigation expenses.

Our Customer Service Upgrades: A Follow-Up

In April we told you about our efforts to improve our already world-class customer service, and here’s an update. We’ve increased the technical capacity of our on-line chat, including the ability to include clickable links (which they tell me is not basic to on-line chat), and added flexibility with direct access to your shopping cart from chat. Our customer service phone lines and chat are now staffed weekdays 8am-7pm central time, and on Saturdays 8am-5pm. You can of course complete your order on-line at any time.

The BP Oil Spill: Our Continuing Thoughts

As the oil continues to creep east along the Florida panhandle’s “Emerald Coast,” BP has agreed to a government-administered $20 billion escrow fund to pay cleanup costs and economic damages. That’s a big number, and it can only be considered a good thing. In addition, $20 billion is not a cap. It remains to be seen when BP will turn to litigation to fight pay-outs. We’ve been using the USLegal Blog to post our thoughts and useful links regarding the BP Oil Spill. If you have a business in the Gulf Coast region suffering or about to suffer a substantial economic loss attributable to the oil spill, we suggest you contact a local attorney to discuss your options.

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Featured Product of the Month

Dave Ramsey Recommends a Last Will & Testament from USLegalForms

Protect your Heirs with a valid Will. A Last Will and Testament is essential for everyone. A state-specific Last Will and Testament form from USLegalForms, with instructions for people with children, without children, divorced individuals, married couples, singles, widows, widowers and others - is just a click away. Mutual Wills and Wills with trusts for minor children are also available. Go to our Last Will and Testament page to hear radio host Dave Ramsey’s recommendation.

Legal News In Brief

We track breaking legal news at the USLegal Reporter. Check in regularly to stay updated on top national legal stories. The following are snippets from some of the items of interest we’ve spotted in the last month. Check the above link for our full reports:

BP Was Warned of Problems Before Deepwater Horizon Disaster
Government investigators, lawsuits and a law firm’s internal investigation have revealed a history of problems with maintenance and noncompliance with regulatory requirements at BP facilities at multiple United States locations. Allegations of safety issues include lack of maintenance, falsifying records of compliance with regulatory standards and pressure on workers not to report problems. A lengthy Pro Publica article report published by the Washington Post details the allegations, based in part on internal company documents from 2001, 2004 and 2007 that were provided by an unidentified source. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Oil Rig Owner Tries to Use 1851 Law to Cap Damages at $27 Million
Transocean Ltd., which owned the Deepwater Horizon rig that sank in the Gulf of Mexico, has requested a cap limiting their liability to $27 million in damages and to consolidate all lawsuits against it in federal court under the 1851 Shipowner’s Limitation of Liability Act. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer has called for a repeal of the law, which limits liability to the value of the ship and its cargo. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

9th Circuit to Decide First Amendment Right to Run Tattoo Business
Hermosa Beach, California has a ban on tattoo businesses. Johnny Anderson owns the Yer Cheat’n Heart tattoo parlor in Gardena, California and wants to relocate to Hermosa Beach so much he’s taking his fight to the federal appeals court. Anderson argues that the ban on tattoo businesses violates constitutional free speech rights. A federal judge ruled in 2008 that Anderson’s tattooing was “not sufficiently imbued with elements of communication” to qualify as constitutionally protected speech. At issue in the case is whether tattoos are classified as art. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Check out controversial legal issues of all stripes with us at the USLegal Blog. As noted above, we have been following the BP Oil Spill, a disaster hitting close to home for us here at USLegal. Please share your views in the comment section (your comment will be posted the following morning if made at night, or later in the day if posted during the day.)

Have a Legal Question? Ask a Lawyer

If you want to find out more information about a certain area of law, consider USLegal’s Ask a Lawyer service. The service enables you to submit your question to a lawyer who will provide you with legal information.

The charge for this service is $15.95 per question.

Legal advice is not provided. If your question cannot be answered without providing legal advice, you will not be charged. In the event you desire to retain an attorney, you will be provided with sources for choosing an attorney for you to consider.

Request a Legal Definition

We’ve been building a database of legal definitions that has reached thousands of entries - all from your requests. Browse the database or ask for a legal definition (a free service) at USLegal’s free online legal dictionary.

This month, we’re thinking a lot about the BP Oil Spill. USLegal is headquartered in Flowood, Mississippi, just a few hours north of our again-thriving gulf coast. With the rebuilding effort begun in the wake of Hurricane Katrina only lately concluding, the entire gulf region is now menaced by the growing economic and ecological disaster of this unprecedented oil spill. We don’t have a form to fix this, but we have some thoughts and info below, and on the USLegal Blog.

Is your small business selling on credit, looking at credit reports prior to making loan decisions? If so, we have a new package you’ll be interested in. We have the forms and information to help you comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA). Failure to systematically obey these regulations will lead to undesirable consequences. Read on for details.

Our multifaceted approach to legal services now features USLegal Law Support for your firm or company, including legal research, briefs, memos, state surveys, document preparation and more. See below for details.

Have a small business, or thinking of starting one? Dave Ramsey is praising our Small Business Forms Packages. Read on.

At USLegal, customer satisfaction is our greatest asset and goal. If we’ve made your legal life easier, please tell your friends and family about us. If you have a routine legal need, make us your first stop. And now, our news:

The BP Oil Spill: Our Continuing Thoughts

We’ve been using the USLegal Blog to post our thoughts and useful links regarding the BP Oil Spill. On May 16, BP successfully inserted a siphon pipe into one of the main leaks, but late reports indicate that only one-fifth - 1,000 barrels per day - of their estimated total oil outflow at the incident area has been contained. Combine that with the recent revelation that some scientists are asserting BP has understated the volume of leaking oil by a factor of 10 or more, and the picture remains grim.

If you have a business in the Gulf Coast region suffering or about to suffer a substantial economic loss attributable to the oil spill, we suggest you contact a local attorney to discuss your options.

Small Businesses: Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) / Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) Compliance

Our latest forms package contains essential forms to assist covered entities in complying with the requirements of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, which is part of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. The forms included are designed to allow covered entities to meet their legal obligations and protect the rights of the parties involved. Purchase of this package is a savings of over 50% compared to purchase of the forms individually.

Click the link above for a detailed description of the package’s contents.

USLegal Law Support: Legal Research, Briefs, Memos, State Surveys, Document Preparation and More - For Your Firm or Company

Not only does USLegal provide forms individually and by subscription, we also provide legal research and other outsourcing services to large and small law firms, as well as corporate clients large or small.

Obtain high quality legal support services enabling your law firm or legal department to become more cost effective and efficient. Our services are available 24-7 and provide cost savings of over 50%. USLegal Law Support - click for more details.

Dave Ramsey Recommends: USLF Small Business Forms Packages

Dave Ramsey is a nationally recognized expert and advocate in the fields of personal finance and business management. We are proud that Dave recommends our products. This spring, he’s highlighted our Small Business Forms Packages. Click to view.

“I’ve been endorsing US Legal Forms for several years now. The fact is I don’t put my name behind anything if I don’t believe in it. U.S. Legal Forms is the only company I recommend for your low cost, state specific legal forms. If you want to save time and money, there’s no better choice than US Legal Forms.com.”
- Dave Ramsey, on The Dave Ramsey Show

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Affiliates: Have a legal website? Link to our products to make $$$.
Follow @uslegalforms for affiliate information and specials.

Featured Product of the Month

* Bill of Sale *

Right now, we’re offering our Bills of Sale for the special price of $7.50. Whether you’re selling a boat or a button, a bill of sale makes the transaction official. U.S. Legal Forms offers a bill of sale for any situation. Sell an auto, trailer, horse, watercraft, animal or any other item of personal property using our inexpensive forms. Don’t trust a free substitute template. Ensure your transfer is legal.

Click here to order a specific type of bill of sale for your state.

Legal News In Brief

We track breaking legal news at the USLegal Reporter. Check in regularly to stay updated on top national legal stories. The following are snippets from some of the items of interest we’ve spotted in the last month. Check the above link for our full reports:

UN Group Says Arizona Immigration Law May Violate International Guidelines
United Nation (UN) human rights experts stated that Arizona’s new law on illegal immigration could violate international standards that are binding on the United States. The six UN experts stated that, “A disturbing pattern of legislative activity hostile to ethnic minorities and immigrants has been established with the adoption of an immigration law that may allow for police action targeting individuals on the basis of their perceived ethnic origin.” … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Federal Law May Cap BP Oil Spill Damages at $75 million
BP faces liability for one of the worst environmental disasters due to the April 20 accident at an oil rig which is releasing an estimated 200,000 gallons a day into the waters across the Gulf of Mexico. BP is spending $6 million a day to contain the oil spill, as the federal Oil Pollution Act requires BP to reimburse the cleanup costs of government agencies such as the Coast Guard and Homeland Security. BP’s costs will mount considerably due to wrongful-death and personal injury cases and damage to wildlife, coastal businesses, and tourism. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Door Left Open for Congress to Pass Law Banning Animal Fighting Videos
Robert Stevens was convicted under 18 U.S.C. Section 48 in a Pennsylvania federal district court for “knowingly selling depictions of animal cruelty with the intention of placing those depictions in interstate commerce for commercial gain.” His conviction stems from an investigation into the selling of videos related to illegal dog fighting. Mr. Stevens appealed his conviction arguing that 18 U.S.C. Section 48, on its face, was unconstitutional because it violated the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Check out controversial legal issues of all stripes with us at the USLegal Blog. As noted above, we have been following the BP Oil Spill, a disaster hitting close to home for us here at USLegal. Please share your views in the comment section (your comment will be posted the following morning if made at night, or later in the day if posted during the day.)

Have a Legal Question? Ask a Lawyer

If you want to find out more information about a certain area of law, consider USLegal’s Ask a Lawyer service. The service enables you to submit your question to a lawyer who will provide you with legal information.

The charge for this service is $15.95 per question.

Legal advice is not provided. If your question cannot be answered without providing legal advice, you will not be charged. In the event you desire to retain an attorney, you will be provided with sources for choosing an attorney for you to consider.

Request a Legal Definition

We’ve been building a database of legal definitions that has reached thousands of entries - all from your requests. Browse the database or ask for a legal definition (a free service) at USLegal’s free online legal dictionary.

Our headliner this month is an article in the prestigious Harvard Journal of Law and Technology prominently featuring USLegal. The article compares the business models of several leading online legal services companies and concludes that USLegal’s approach represents the future of the industry. Find out how to join us! We also have new offerings from our best selling Guides and Pamphlets on topics including stopping garnishment, DUI, contempt of court, conducting a raffle and medical marijuana. Read on.

At USLegal, customer satisfaction is our greatest asset and goal. If we’ve made your legal life easier, please tell your friends and family about us. If you have a routine legal need, make us your first stop. And now, our news:

Article Taps ‘Build USLegal’ Platform as Future of Industry, Finds USLegal Uniquely Positioned.

The Harvard Journal of Law & Technology prominently features USLegal in a January 26, 2010 article by Chris Johnson, Leveraging Technology to Deliver Legal Services. Johnson, a graduate of Harvard Law School, also holds a degree in economics from Yale University.

The article examines the evolution of online legal services technology, studies the different business models employed by several participants in the field including USLegal, considers the obstacles and changing environment hampering successful operations (consistently overcome by USLegal), and discusses the industry’s future, arguing that both consumers and legal professionals will benefit by embracing expanding online legal services.

Johnson concludes that the industry’s terrain is shifting to favor an “online pure-play, multi-sided, quasi-open platform” able to adapt to a wider range of consumer needs - and observes that USLegal, incorporating these three elements in its Build USLegal platform, is uniquely positioned among its competitors to successfully serve the public and the legal profession going forward.

Read our nationwide press release.

Read the Havard article.

Read about our Build USLegal platform.

Build USLegal: Host and Manage Your Legal Content with Us

Our Build USLegal program is experiencing an uptick in inquiries due to the Harvard article. As a content manager, you could help us continue to make USLegal the premier destination for legal information, products and services - and make money! To contact us about Build USLegal, and for more information on the program, click here. We’re searching for legal Authors, Subject Matter Specialists, Publishers, CLE Providers, and Legal Forms Databases. If you have written legal subject matter or form books, articles or seminar materials, learn how to leverage the power of USLegal to turn the works into continuing revenue. Manage your content with us and earn income on a continuing basis.

New Legal Guides and Pamphlets: Valuable Information at Your Fingertips

Guide: How to Stop Garnishment
This guide provides an overview on garnishment law and how a person can try to stop some or all of a garnishment. Topics covered include general information and restrictions on garnishments of wages and bank accounts, as well as alternatives for stopping enforcement of a garnishment order.

DUI Law Overview Pamphlet
This pamphlet is an overview of the issues involved in a driving under the influence offense. Issues covered include elements of the offense, field sobriety tests and sobriety checkpoints, defenses, sentences, and more.

Understanding ‘Contempt of Court’
This pamphlet provides an overview on the contempt process, both in civil and criminal matters. Specific detail is provided on how contempt motions are filed and dealt with in a divorce case.

How to Conduct a Raffle
This pamphlet provides an overview of the general requirements for conducting a raffle. A link is included for finding specific information on the legal requirements for conducting a raffle in your state.

Medical Marijuana Overview
This pamphlet provides an overview on the use of medical marijuana in the United States. Issues covered include how states deal with medical marijuana, the interplay between state and federal laws, and the history of medical marijuana use.

Follow USLegal on Facebook and Twitter

USLegal Facebook Group

USLegal “Legal Life” Facebook Page

USLegal Twitters!

Affiliates: Have a legal website? Link to our products to make $$$.
Follow @uslegalforms for affiliate information and specials.

Featured Product of the Month

* Home Sale Package for Residential Real Estate*

The convenience and value of the USLF state-specific Residential Home Sale Package is unmatched. This $39.95 value package for both buyers and sellers contains an Offer to Purchase, Contract of Sale, Disclosure Statements and more for a Residential Home. Definitions, form explanations, and general information about the real estate transaction are also included. Buying or selling a home is the most important transaction most people will ever encounter. This package makes the process much easier to understand and provides the forms and information you need to do it yourself.

Legal News In Brief

We track breaking legal news at the USLegal Reporter. Check in regularly to stay updated on top national legal stories. The following are snippets from some of the items of interest we’ve spotted in the last month. Check the above link for our full reports:

Michael Jackson’s Doctor Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter
Dr. Conrad Murray, 56, who was Michael Jackson’s personal physician, was charged today with involuntary manslaughter in the singer’s death last year. Acute propofol intoxication was listed as the cause of Jackson’s death. If convicted, he could get as much as four years in prison. Dr, Murray pled not guilty and was released on $75,000 bond. The doctor denies prescribing or administering anything to Jackson that should have caused his death. Court documents say Murray told police he gave Jackson an injection of propofol at around 11 a.m., then left to go to the bathroom, the AP reports. When he returned … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Address Posted on Facebook
A new Facebook group created to remove Sheriff Joe Arpaio from power has created controversy after one of the page’s members posted the location of the Sheriff’s home. The group, which has grown to over 8,000 members in a single week, includes commentary about Arpaio, pictures taken from protests and information about future demonstrations. A recent post included a map to the Sheriff’s home in Fountain Hills and a satellite picture of the property. The sheriff is known for overseeing the Tent City Jail, where inmates are housed under surplus military tents. Broiling summer heat or chilly desert winter, all 2,000 inmates live outside, sleeping on cots in old canvas tents. Pink undergarments are only one of Arpaio’s many innovative jail policies. For food, the sheriff serves inmates green - as in fetid - baloney sandwiches … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Supremes Rule New York City Can’t Sue for Online Cigarette Sales
The Supreme Court ruled 5-3 that New York City government lacks standing under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (”RICO”) to sue a cigarette vendor for tax-free sales online. Chief Justice John Roberts described the case as follows … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Check out controversial legal issues of all stripes with us at the USLegal Blog. Voice your opinion in the comments section. Recently we’re discussing the Supreme Court’s controversial verdict in Citizens United vs. FEC which has opened the floodgates for corporate money in politics. Let us know what you think.

Have a Legal Question? Ask a Lawyer

If you want to find out more information about a certain area of law, consider USLegal’s Ask a Lawyer service. The service enables you to submit your question to a lawyer who will provide you with legal information.

The charge for this service is $15.95 per question.

Legal advice is not provided. If your question cannot be answered without providing legal advice, you will not be charged. In the event you desire to retain an attorney, you will be provided with sources for choosing an attorney for you to consider.

Request a Legal Definition

We’ve been building a database of legal definitions that has reached thousands of entries - all from your requests. Browse the database or ask for a legal definition (a free service) at USLegal’s free online legal dictionary.

The article examines the evolution of online legal service technology, studies the different business models employed by several participants in the field including USLegal, considers the obstacles and changing environment hampering successful operations (consistently overcome by USLegal), and discusses the industry’s future, arguing that both consumers and legal professionals will benefit by embracing expanding online legal services.

Johnson concludes that the field’s terrain is shifting to favor an “online pure-play, multi-sided, quasi-open platform” able to adapt to a wider range of consumer needs - and observes that USLegal, incorporating these three elements in its Build USLegal platform, is uniquely positioned among its competitors to successfully serve the public and the legal profession going forward.

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The article begins with a review of the origins of the online legal service industry in the mid-to-late 1990’s, the surge of revenue growth and entry of competitors, and the consequential drop in forms prices and the explosion in variety of types of forms offered. “As a result, it became possible for low- and moderate-income households to avoid costly attorney consultations for everything from bills of sale to landlord-tenant agreements to living wills.” (p.261)

Three distinct business models were adopted by competitors in the field. The article discusses the choices of three leading companies: LegalDocs.com, We The People (”WTP”), and USLegal.

LegalDocs.com provides basic document preparation services at low costs. Alternatively, USLegal offers a comprehensive set of services to its customers with prices varying according to the complexity of the service: basic legal information is provided for free, basic forms and document assistance are provided at low costs, and more complex consultation and advising services are available at correspondingly greater costs. WTP uses a hybrid system for document preparation - it operates not only an interactive website, but also a number of brick-and-mortar retail stores. The website allows users to find the nearest retail location, schedule an appointment, and provide basic information about their legal needs in advance to facilitate the in-person visit. (p.262)

As part of its pyramid of escalating services, USLegal has diligently developed an attorney directory/referral system. The author discusses the incorporation of this feature in detail:

Perhaps the most innovative service offered by USLegal is its attorney referral system. USLegal refers its customers to full-service lawyers; however, it allows these customers to control their interactions with the lawyers in a number of ways. At the lowest level of interaction, customers have the option of simply submitting a question to USLegal’s network of lawyers for $15.95. … The notion is that simpler and less expensive legal issues can be handled without the assistance of the lawyer. The lawyer’s services will only be required for more complex and sophisticated issues. This is a distinct form of unbundling, whereby a given legal matter is broken into discrete tasks that are handled by different people at different stages: USLegal provides forms and basic information, the customer handles factual matters, and the lawyer is only employed for matters requiring particular expertise or advocacy. Simple or highly replicable tasks are handled by commoditized or highly systematized procedures; attorneys handle more complex tasks in a bespoke manner. (p.265)

In considering the obstacles encountered by the leading online legal services companies, the article documents how the hybrid business model of We The People has resulted in numerous “unauthorized practice of law” prosecutions (an issue neutralized by USLegal’s online-only model), and concludes:

It is therefore unsurprising that WTP operates fewer retail locations each year. The number of locations dropped from 175 in 2005 to 110 in 2007. By September 2009, only 49 retail locations existed. This contraction during both strong and weak economic times signals that the hybrid model is losing ground. (p.273)

In wrapping up the business model comparisons the author compares LegalDocs.com’s basic “vendor” model with the “multi-sided platform” (”MSP”) approach represented by USLegal’s Build USLegal program, concluding that “the vendor-only model is unlikely to endure” (p.275) and highlighting the benefits of MSPs:

MSPs are incredibly attractive because they benefit from indirect network effects and increasing returns to scale. Indirect network effects occur when an increase in the size of one user base makes the system more valuable to users in a different category. In the case of legal service MSPs, as more attorneys join the referral network, the platform becomes more valuable to consumers because of the greater range of legal expertise and broader geographic coverage available. Similarly, when more developers join the system, consumers benefit from the new legal service technologies they introduce. As these effects draw in more consumers, the platform becomes more attractive to attorneys and software developers who benefit from their business. The implication is that the three user bases are self-perpetuating. … Because the additional cost per user is negligible, there will be strong increasing returns to scale as the original fixed costs are distributed over a larger user base. The result of self-perpetuating user bases and increasing returns to scale is that such markets tend to “tip,” resulting in a winner-takes-all scenario. The first player to gain momentum experiences the greatest returns. (p.274)

The article concludes with a look at the impact of the current recession on the online legal services industry (more demand for affordable legal services) and observing that the impact on consumers and attorneys will increase significantly and for the better as online legal service providers continue to evolve.

As a new year rolls in, we’re busy updating to bring you the most accurate legal forms and packages available. Our new Build USLegal program will make big strides into an untapped market brimming with millions of potential page-views. You can join in our success, sharing revenue as a content manager on the new open platform we’ve created. And of course we have a suggestion for your new year’s legal resolution. Read on.

At USLegal, customer satisfaction is our greatest asset and goal. If we’ve made your legal life easier, please tell your friends and family about us. If you have a routine legal need, make us your first stop. And now, our news:

Always Updating: Our Key Commitment

Without constant review, on line forms quickly lapse into inaccuracy. Our success is built on our commitment to providing our customers the most current, state-specific forms available - a key distinction between U.S. Legal Forms and many other on line forms providers. Our proprietary sources and methods, developed and refined for over a decade, enable us to review and update a vast amount of material in a manageable amount of time. Quality, updated, lawyer-reviewed forms complying with your state’s unique laws: our formula for success.

Build USLegal: Host and Manage Your Legal Content with Us

Our Build USLegal program is roaring into the new year. As a content manager, you could help us continue to make USLegal the premier destination for legal information, products and services - and make money! To contact us about Build USLegal, and for more information on the program, click here. We’re searching for legal Authors, Subject Matter Specialists, Publishers, CLE Providers, and Legal Forms Databases. If you have written legal subject matter or form books, articles or seminar materials, learn how to leverage the power of USLegal to turn the works into continuing revenue. Manage your content with us and earn income on a continuing basis.

New Year’s Legal Resolution: Organize Your Legal Life!

Get organized, feel better. USLegalForms.com has a unique offering for individuals who want to get their “legal lives” squared away. Take a load off your mind, and reassure your loved ones.

The Life Documents Planning Package is designed to efficiently and affordably enable individuals to get their legal affairs in order. It contains essential legal forms including Will, Power of Attorney, Living Will, and Estate Planning documents. A large organizer is also included to maintain important papers in grab-and-go convenience.

Purchase a Life Documents Planning Package with Organizer for $75.95. This download price represents a substantial savings of more than 40% over purchasing items separately. Forms can also be mailed to you for $85.95.

Order now.

Follow USLegal on Facebook and Twitter

USLegal Facebook Group

USLegal “Legal Life” Facebook Page

USLegal Twitters!

Affiliates: Have a legal website? Link to our products to make $$$.
Follow @uslegalforms for affiliate information and specials.

Featured Product of the Month

* Landlord Tenant Residential Lease Forms Package *

The convenience and value of the USLF state-specific Residential Lease Forms Package is unmatched. Our professionally drafted residential lease complies with the unique landlord tenant law of your state, as does each form contained in the package. You will use these forms again and again as long as you rent property. If purchased individually, these forms would total $129.80. For just $49.95, get tremendous savings - so do your pocketbook a favor. Including state specific Lease, Lease Application, Reference Check Consent, Pre and Post Inventory Checklist, Lead Paint Disclosure, Welcome Letter, Rent Warning Letter, Rent Termination Notice, Closing Statement and more.

Click here to order a Residential Lease Forms Package for your state.

Legal News In Brief

We track breaking legal news at the USLegal Reporter. Check in regularly to stay updated on top national legal stories. The following are snippets from some of the items of interest we’ve spotted in the last month. Check the above link for our full reports:

U.S. Lifts HIV Travel Ban
Since 1987, there have been restrictions on allowing HIV-positive non-citizens to travel or immigrate to the United States. Under the ban, in order to enter the U.S., an HIV-positive non-citizen was required to meet strict waiver requirements. All applicants for lawful permanent residence were required to take an HIV test, and if the result was positive, needed to get a waiver to continue the application process. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Nonbiological Surrogate Mom Ruled Legal Mother of Twins
A New Jersey court has declared a gestational surrogate who bore twins for her brother and his male partner to be the childrens’ legal mother, despite not being their biological mother. The twins were conceived with donated eggs and sperm from her brother’s partner. The two men are legally married in California and registered as civil union partners in New Jersey. … (continue reading at the Reporter)

Lawyers and Judges Must ‘De-Friend’ Eachother
A Florida Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee has decided that judges and lawyers should not add eachother as friends on Facebook. The committee reasoned that such connections could create an impression of a lawyer’s ability to influence a friended judge’s decisions. …(continue reading at the Reporter)

Check out controversial legal issues of all stripes with us at the USLegal Blog. Voice your opinion in the comments section. Recently we’ve tried to shed some light on the constitutionality (or lack thereof) of the national healthcare reform bill percolating in Congress. Let us know what you think.

Have a Legal Question? Ask a Lawyer

If you want to find out more information about a certain area of law, consider USLegal’s Ask a Lawyer service. The service enables you to submit your question to a lawyer who will provide you with legal information.

The charge for this service is $15.95 per question.

Legal advice is not provided. If your question cannot be answered without providing legal advice, you will not be charged. In the event you desire to retain an attorney, you will be provided with sources for choosing an attorney for you to consider.

Request a Legal Definition

We’ve been building a database of legal definitions that has reached thousands of entries - all from your requests. Browse the database or ask for a legal definition (a free service) at USLegal’s free online legal dictionary.

At USLegal, customer satisfaction is our greatest asset and goal. If we’ve made your legal life easier, please tell your friends and family about us. If you have a routine legal need, make us your first stop. And now, our news:

Build USLegal: Host and Manage Your Legal Content with Us

Our newsletter recipients have been some of the first responders to our Build USLegal program, and we’ve now gone nation wide with a press release. Join USLegal and help us continue to make USLegal the premier destination for legal information, products and services - and make money! To contact us about Build USLegal, and for more information on the program, click here. We’re searching for legal Authors, Subject Matter Specialists, Publishers, CLE Providers, and Legal Forms Databases. If you have written legal subject matter or form books, articles or seminar materials, learn how to leverage the power of USLegal to turn the works into continuing revenue. Manage your content with us and earn income on a continuing basis.

New Forms Packages - Relative Caretaker, Standby Guardian, and Personal Loan Purchase of these packages is a savings of more than 50% over purchase of the forms individually!

Relative Caretaker Legal Documents Package
This package contains summaries of your state’s laws along with forms and information to assist with placing a child with a relative.

Standby Temporary Guardian Legal Documents Package
This package contains summaries of state laws and links to resources to assist with creating a standby guardianship. A standby guardian is a person appointed by a parent or court to represent the person or estate, or both, of the disabled person or minor child. A standby guardian may be someone who has been appointed by the court as the person who will act as guardian of the child when the child’s parents die or are no longer willing or able to make and carry out day-to-day child care decisions concerning the child.

Persnal Loan Package
This package includes the essential forms needed for making and collecting a personal loan. These forms are an important tool for defining and protecting the rights of the debtor and creditor involved and avoiding future misunderstandings and disputes.

Follow USLegal on Facebook and Twitter

USLegal Facebook Group

USLegal “Legal Life” Facebook Page

USLegal Twitters!

Affiliates: Have a legal website? Link to our products to make $$$.
Follow @uslegalforms for affiliate information and specials.

Featured Product of the Month

* New Year’s Resolution: Your Last Will and Testament *
Dave Ramsey Recommends a Will from USLegalForms

Protect your Heirs with a valid Will. Last Will and Testaments are essential for everyone. A state-specific Last Will and Testament form from USLegalForms, with instructions for people with children, without children, divorced individuals, married couples, singles, widows, widowers and others - is just a click away. Mutual Wills and Wills with trusts for minor children are also available. Go to our Last Will and Testament page to hear radio host Dave Ramsey’s recommendation.

Legal News In Brief

We track breaking legal news at the USLegal Reporter. Check in regularly to stay updated on top national legal stories. The following are snippets from some of the items of interest we’ve spotted in the last month. Check the above link for our full reports:

Supreme Court Privacy Ruling: Texting on Company Equipment
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether employees have a constitutional right to privacy in their personal text messages sent on employer-owned pagers. The case involves text messages of a police officer in Ontario, California, Sgt. Jeff Quon, who sent and received hundreds of text messages on his city-owned pager, some of which were sexually explicit. Quon and three fellow officers claim their Fourth Amendment rights were violated by the city of Ontario. According to the officers, they were told they could send personal messages on the pagers, but they would have to reimburse the city for messages over a 25,000 word limit. The officers had signed an acknowledgment that they had no expectation of privacy when using computers or other devices issued by the city of Ontario.

Supreme Court Rules in Emergency Aid Exception to Fourth Amendment
Police officers responded to a complaint of a disturbance and a report of a man “going crazy.” Through a window, the officers observed a man who was screaming, bleeding, and throwing objects. A smashed pickup truck, damaged fence posts, and three broken windows on the home were visible from the outside. After knocking, the man inside told officers to get a warrant. The suspect was charged with assault with a deadly weapon after Officer Christopher Goolsby pushed open the door and observed the suspect with a gun.

Ban on Ohio Executions Lifted
The 6th U.S. Circuit Courtof Appeals in Cincinnati has declared moot an inmate’s challenge to the state’s lethal injection method, due to a policy change by the state. Kenneth Biros, Ohio death row inmate convicted of aggravated murder, challenged the state’s three drug vein injection method as being unconstitutional cruel and unusual punishment. The Ohio Revised Code mandates lethal injection as the manner of execution.

Check out controversial legal issues of all stripes with us at the USLegal Blog. Voice your opinion in the comments section. Recently - in one of our occassional asides on alternative energy - we’re looking at Oyster Power off the coast of Scotland. Complete with a really neat video explaining how this wave-powererd energy generator works. Let us know what you think.

Have a Legal Question? Ask a Lawyer

If you want to find out more information about a certain area of law, consider USLegal’s Ask a Lawyer service. The service enables you to submit your question to a lawyer who will provide you with legal information.

The charge for this service is $15.95 per question.

Legal advice is not provided. If your question cannot be answered without providing legal advice, you will not be charged. In the event you desire to retain an attorney, you will be provided with sources for choosing an attorney for you to consider.

Law and Legal Definitions

Medicaid

Medicaid is a medical assistance program jointly funded by state and federal governments for low income individuals. It was originally enacted as part of the Social Security Act of 1935. Today, Medicaid is a major social welfare program and is administered by the Health Care Financing Administration.

Medicaid covers in-patient hospital services, out-patient hospital services, laboratory and x-ray services, skilled nursing home services, physicians’ services, physical therapy, hospice care, and rehabilitative services, and other services. Patients must select from pre-approved physicians and other providers of medical care. Medicaid eligibility is not restricted by age or employment.

Federal law prevents states from reducing other welfare benefits people receive when they become eligible for Medicaid. Also, states may not impose citizenship or residency requirements other than requiring that an applicant be a resident of the state. Within broad national guidelines established by Federal statutes, regulations, and policies, each State (1) establishes its own eligibility standards; (2) determines the type, amount, duration, and scope of services; (3) sets the rate of payment for services; and (4) administers its own program. Medicaid policies for eligibility, services, and payment are complex and vary considerably, even among States of similar size or geographic proximity. Thus, a person who is eligible for Medicaid in one State may not be eligible in another.

For the rest of our information on Medicaid, read the full entry.

For more legal definitions, please visit USLegal’s free online legal dictionary.