Customer Reviews

Nolo's Everyday Law Book: Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Legal Questions (Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law: Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Legal Questions)

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If there is only one legal book that you wish to buy, let it be this one. Or if you are looking to buy your first legal book, this is the best choice. The reason is that this book contains information on the law in a great many areas of everyday life - houses, neighbors, landlords and tenants, workplace rights, small businesses, patents, wills and estate planning, parents and children, etc. There are also two valuable chapters on courts and criminal law. These two chapters have information on how to represent yourself in court, how to deal with your lawyer, and what to do in case of an arrest or search.

Every single topic I researched on my own from 'What does renter's insurance cover?' to 'Do I need a lawyer to make my will?', I found that this book has the most comprehensive information on the topic than anywhere else I looked. I have now formed a system where I always consult this book first and then go to the specific Nolo book on the topic for very detailed information if needed. I have over 30 Nolo guides and I feel so much more confident about my understanding of the law as a result of reading these books. I think my lawyer also appreciates it as she finds it easy to work with me on the various legal issues in my business.

The Nolo guides typically look pricey (compared to other books) but really aren't when you consider the wealth of information provided and the depth of topics covered along with the plain English explanations. My two favorite chapters in this book are the last two chapters - Courts and Mediation AND Criminal Law and Procedure. I had always been interested in HOW the law is actually implemented and these two chapters gave me a good start in gaining this understanding. I also thoroughly enjoyed the three chapters on Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks. I especially like the explanation on how to enforce a patent and how to enforce a trademark.

Each chapter has many reference links at the end of the chapter where you can check those out for more detailed information or verify the information presented from the original sources. There is a glossary at the end of the book that is short but helpful in explaining hundreds of legal terms and there is an appendix on how to do legal research. This 10 page section on legal research is PACKED with information. This alone saved me hours of research on HOW to do legal research!

This book is great for both individuals and small businesses. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much I did! Good luck!

No, this won't substitute for professional advice from a real live attorney, but it does provide a great deal of informaion, allowing the reader to get a better undestanding of the law and to be better prepared for legal discussions with attorneys. The Encyclopedia of Everyday Law is written in clear, easy-to-understand language and, without going into too many details, should provide the layman with an excellent overview of a varity of different topics, each of which merits its own chapter. Legal topics include the following:

1. Houses
2. Neighbors
3. Landlords and Tenants
4. Workplace Rights
5. Small Business
6. Patents
7. Copyrights
8. Trademarks
9. Your Money
10. Cars and Driving
11. Wills and Estate Planning
12. Health Care Directives and Powers of Attorney
13. Older Americans
14. Spouses and Partners
15. Parents and Children
16. Courts and Mediation
17. Criminal Law and Procedure

There's also a glossary of legal terms provided, as well as an appendix on conducting legal research. All in all, this is an excellent reference book that should be in the library of anyone who has an interest in law or needs some basic legal guidance.

I'm a huge fan of the Nolo series and this one ranks high among their offerings. First, a warning: All the topics in this book are discussed briefly and and in broad strokes. If you want more detail they have whole books dedicated entirely to these topics, and of course, it is always wise to consult an attorney. That said, this is a handy guide if you just want to know the basics.

For example, now that my husband and I have a child, we're seriously thinking about wills. The chapter on wills and estate planning was more than adequate to answer our questions. The section about money was eye-opening.

There are several chapters I know I'm not going to need: Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights. I kind of just breeze through those and might find some things fascinating but I'm sure I'll never use it. Other chapters are a must: there's one about neighbors that talks about noise ordinances (my neighbor's dogs are ALWAYS barking at night) and tree disputes. The chapter on Spouses and Partners was interesting as well, addressing same-sex partner issues as well as touching on divorce and domestic violence. The appendix guides you on how to do legal research and find answers to your specific situation.

The only drawback is there are no forms with this guide, which makes sense since this is an overview book, but it's still a handy book nonetheless.

As a fervent JUDGE JUDY viewer I have come to learn the importance of knowing the law. The book covers just about everything a layman like myself would need to know in the most common situations. It talks about Wills and Inheritance laws, driving infractions, neighborhood laws, basic contracts, Banking/Money situations, etc. It is written in a straightforward style which is easy to understand. This book is organized into succinct chapters with bold headings so it is easy to find exactly what you are looking for. I'm sure this book will come in very handy through the years, especially since my father is nearing 90-years-old, and there will be lots of legal issues to consider once he passes. Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law answers all the questions that one might have for almost every legal situation.

As a publisher, NOLO does a great job at publishing books that allow everyone access to legal information. Most are written by attorneys, but in language that everyone can understand and benefit from. And while I still believe that there are issues where a person needs to hire an attorney, the books by NOLO allow people to do many things themselves, or to have a better understanding of things when they do hire an attorney. The 8th Edition of "Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law: Answers to Your Most Frequently Asked Legal Questions" by Shae Irving, J.D. & the editors of Nolo is a book that will help you do things yourself, and provide a general working knowledge of topics that you might want assistance with from an attorney.

The back of the books says, "Everything you ever wanted to know about the law, but couldn't afford to ask." While maybe not everything, this book does contain a lot of information. Obviously, in an encyclopedia type format, it does not go into depth on the topics, but for a general understanding, it does quite well, and for most people, that's what they will need to know to make informed decisions regarding what to do next when dealing with certain circumstances, or when they just need to know what something means.

The chapters in this book cover many different topics and areas of law, including houses, neighbors, landlords & tenants, workplace rights, small businesses, patents, copyrights, trademarks, your money, cars & driving, wills & estate planning, health care directives & powers of attorney, older Americans, spouses & partners, parents & children, courts & mediation, criminal law & procedure, and the book concludes with a glossary and and appendix on legal research. As I mentioned, this book does not go into any depth on the topics. In fact, you can find entire books, and sometimes volumes of books, on the topics covered in the chapters here. (Nolo has many books on the topics in these chapters)

However, for a concise, single volume, that covers the basics, this is a handy reference. The book is organized well, and the entries are often in the form of question and answer. For instance, in the workplace rights chapter, there is a heading, "Am I entitled to severance pay if I am fired or laid off?" There is then a short answer explaining procedures and rights. The chapters also include references to websites that will provide online help, as well as other book titles that go more in depth on topics.

Overall, this is a very good book if you want a reference that contains a little bit about many areas of law. For quick, general legal questions, this book does a great job of answering them in plain English without legalese. Because the law effects all areas of our lives, this is a handy book to have to assist you with your legal questions.

Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer.

This review refers to the 8th edition of the book, published in January 2011.

I got this book more out of curiosity than for a specific need for legal advice, but as I started browsing I kept finding many topics that directly or indirectly affect me or my family. Other topics in the book are simply good to have for a "just in case" situation you may want to refer to if necessary.

Legal topics included are too many to list, but to give you an idea, the book includes information related to credit cards, bankruptcy, starting your own business, residential law, neighbors, insurance, purchasing goods, warranties, divorce, and many other common topics that affect the majority of US citizens. If you don't find a specific answer to your question, at least you have a starting point for research.

While the information terminology has been simplified for those of us without a law background, the book still includes a glossary of the terms for a more detailed definition.

While it can be said that most of the individual information in the book can also be found on the Internet, the book's organization makes it much easier to find what you need. The book by itself is good enough as a general guide of legal information, but the authors understand that laws change, and many of the laws change often, so they took it a step further and added references to specific web sites to expand many of the covered topics. The book also makes reference, when applicable, to specific statutes for different states of the country.

I find this book to be an indispensable reference not only to understand how to protect your rights, but also to avoid violating the rights of others.

Nolo (formerly Nolo Press) is a publishing company out of Berkeley, California, that specializes in do-it-yourself law books. That is books that give you a grounding in understanding legal issues that you are likely to be confronted with. (Though they are quick to point out that their books are not intended to replace lawyers in complex or contended legal matters.)

Anyway, this book is actually quite excellent, dealing as it does with everyday legal matters, including land rights, tenants' rights, workers' rights, copyrights, wills, and so much more! It's probably not the kind of book you will sit down to read cover to cover. But, if you are undertaking something new, or you have a dispute of some sort come up, you will want the book handy. It's easy to understand, and covers a lot of situations that you will probably need to know something about.

Really and truly, this is a book you should keep in your house as a reference.

(Review of Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law)

This book was a great read. I was hoping more chapters would apply to me as a non-business owner, but in all honesty, I really can't complain.

I have always found Nolo books to be excellent and this one is no exception. Major areas of interest like wills, bankruptcy etc. are all covered. The book is written in an easy to understand and follow way. I think this book will provide one with most of the answers to questions they may have on legal issues. Highly recommended.

Well written, succinct, and pertinent. List of topics is all the common every day stuff you would think would be in there. Not exhaustive. But a great starting point. Will help you decide whather you wish to consult legal counsel regarding your legal issue.