Mary Randolph earned her law degree from the UC Berkeley School of Law. She is the author of The Executor's Guide: Settling a Loved One's Estate or Trust, 8 Ways to Avoid Probate, and other books about law for nonlawyers. She has been a guest on The Today Show and has been interviewed by many publications, including the Wall Street Journal, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and more.
Articles by Mary Randolph
Most states in the U.S. make dog owners financially responsible when their animals bite someone, even if the owner wasn’t negligent or didn’t know the dog could be dangerous. But there may be exceptions and conditions.
Understand what to do after a dog bite, from the minutes after the incident to a possible case in small claims court.
In many states, the law makes owners liable for bites and other injuries only if they knew--or should have known--that their pet was dangerous.
An outline of the general principles governing the civil and criminal liability of dog owners when their pets hurt someone—and links to find more details.
State animal cruelty laws punish a wide range of behavior, from torturing animals to not providing proper shelter or veterinary care.
Learn the rules for how much you can deduct in charitable contributions.
Want to know if you're liable for a tenant's dog bite? Get the legal facts on when a landlord can be held responsible for injuries caused by a tenant's dog.
Is your legal domicile where you live right now? Probably, but not necessarily.
If your state allows it, consider naming a transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary for your vehicles.
For the greatest benefit, hold your most valuable property items in your living trust.