Recent California Expert Legal Chats
Landlord is refusing to fix our stove. How can we resolve this?
Real Estate
Lease Agreement
California
Customer:
Landlord is refusing to fix our stove. How can we resolve this? We're pretty upset but not sure what our options are and if we even have a legal option?
Dolan W.
Hi there! My name is Dolan, and I’d be happy to help with this. I carefully review each question and provide responses based on my years of hands-on experience as a lawyer. Can you tell me about your situation? How long has the stoven been broken and unaddressed? When did you report this to the landlord?
View Full Conversation >I have a client that is refusing to pay invoices for the past three months.
Business
Demand Letter
California
Customer:
Hello, I have a client that is refusing to pay invoices for the past three months. This recently came up and I am not sure how to resolve it or what options I have. I'm a consultant that works independently and I think this client may be running into financial issues but am not sure. They have paid my invoices for the past 12 months previously but are now saying they won't pay the last three.
Dolan W.
Hello ******!
My name is Dolan and thank you so much for contacting me!
I just had a few quick questions for you:
1. Have they provided any reason for not paying or any justification at all?
2. How much do they owe you?
My landlord keeps coming into my apartment without telling me. What can I do about it?
Real Estate
Lease Agreement
California
Customer:
My landlord keeps coming into my apartment without telling me. What can I do about it?
Dolan W.
Hi*****, my name is Dolan, and I’d be happy to help with this. I carefully review each question and provide responses based on my years of hands-on experience as a lawyer. It sounds like your landlord might not be following the rules regarding tenant privacy. Could you tell me a bit more? For example, how often this is happening and if your lease mentions anything about when they can enter your apartment?
View Full Conversation >Landlord wont fix the heating system in my apartment
Real Estate
Rental Agreement
California
Customer:
hi. my landlord hasnt fixed the heating in my apartment, and its been like two weeks now. wut can i do to make him fix it?
Dolan W.
Hi *****! I’m Dolan W., a lawyer with experience in landlord-tenant issues, and I’m here to help. Heating is considered an essential service, and landlords are typically required by law to fix these kinds of problems promptly. Let’s work through what you can do to get this resolved. To start, could you tell me if you’ve notified your landlord about the issue in writing or if you’ve just spoken to them? Also, where are you located? Different states have slightly different rules about this.
View Full Conversation >Hi. My landlord is not living up to the terms in our lease agreement. He keeps coming into our apartment unannounced and also hasn't taken care of some pretty routine things we've requested months ago.
Real Estate
Lease Agreement
California
Customer:
Hi. My landlord is not living up to the terms in our lease agreement. He keeps coming into our apartment unannounced and also hasn't taken care of some pretty routine things we've requested months ago. Our lease agreement says he needs to give us a heads up when he wants to enter the premise. It also says he is responsible for certain maintenance of the apartment- which he hasn't been helping with. I am not a lawyer so not sure if I am interpreting the language of the lease correctly.
Dolan W.
Hello! Thank you so much for asking this question. I'm happy to help. I just had a few questions: 1. Can you clarify what specific notice period your lease agreement requires before the landlord enters the apartment? 2. Have you made any formal, written maintenance requests to your landlord, and if so, what was the response?
View Full Conversation >Hi - a client of ours has breached contract of a service agreement
Business
Service Agreement
California
Customer:
Hi - a client of ours has breached contract of a service agreement We are trying to understand what our options are here. They have cancelled their contract with us, but we have a clause in there that says they need to pay us a certain amount of money if they break contract early. We're an SEO agency and the client pays us a monthly retainer and for additional services. Can you let us know what our options are? It is for a pretty substantial amount of money.
Dolan W.
Hello and thank you so much for coming to contractscounsel.com I just had a few questions for you: 1. Do you have in writing the payment terms for the additional services you perform for the client? 2. Are you running into any issues regarding collecting payment from your client for these services?
View Full Conversation >What terms can I negotiate in my employment contract?
Employment
Employment Contract
California
Customer:
What terms can I negotiate in my employment contract? My name is ****** and I have received an offer and am not sure what types of terms I am able to negotiate outside of the salary. I am fairly happy with the salary (I may ask for a slight increase), but I don't know what the other terms mean and wanted to see if someone could help me think about what employment terms are typically negotiated and what is considered "fair" If helpful, I am located in California. The industry I am in is technology (I am a front-end developer). The company is a SaaS startup that's growing quickly. Stock options are also part of the comp package.
Dolan W.
Hello ******! Thank you for coming to contractscounsel.com! My name is Dolan and I am happy to help! In an employment contract, several terms beyond salary are often negotiable. Since you’re reasonably satisfied with the salary, consider negotiating stock options, bonuses, benefits, flexible work arrangements, and terms around professional development. Stock options are a SIGNIFICANT component of tech startup compensation packages, so it’s worth understanding the vesting schedule, acceleration clauses (e.g., how options vest if the company is acquired), and any buyback provisions if you leave. You may ask for a larger grant of options or a more favorable vesting schedule if you plan to be with the company long-term.
View Full Conversation >I am getting married next year in CA and we are considering a prenup.
Family
Prenuptial Agreement
California
Customer:
I am getting married next year in CA and we are considering a prenup. I have read a bit about California prenup laws and I wanted to see what we need to do to make this legal? Some of my questions are: 1) Do we need to use a lawyer? 2) Can we use the same lawyer? 3) Are there any laws re prenups we need to be aware of? My boyfriend and I want to move pretty quickly on this. If possible to get us some information, that would be great. Let me know if you have any further questions for us!
Dolan W.
Hello ****! Thank you for using contractscounsel.com. I'm more than happy to help. Congratulations on the pending nuptials! I know that it can be a very exciting time, but also filled with a ton of questions. Let me answer your specific questions: Generally, California law requires that prenuptial agreements be in writing. There is often confusion as to whether there must be a notary. A notary is not required, but is recommended. Moreover, California law generally requires that each party have independent counsel review the agreement if alimony is waived or included as a part of the agreement. At least 7 calendar days must pass between the date the 2nd party receives a draft of the agreement and the date that it is signed. In other words, once it is done, then a week must pass before the parties (and their lawyers) sign the agreement.
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