California Recent Legal Answers from Lawyers

I will assume that you were not in the US at the time of your father’s death and have not been residing here in the US. If not, you and your family would have to go through a long and uncertain process of humanitarian reinstatement under which USCIS will decide whether there are sufficient favorable factors of a humanitarian nature to allow the case to continue. Factors that USCIS will take into account are such as: Impact on family living in the United States (especially U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, or others lawfully present); Advanced age or health concerns of the beneficiary or any following-to-join family members of the beneficiary; Lawful residence in the United States for a lengthy period; Ties (or lack thereof) to your home country; Other factors, such as unusually lengthy government processing delays; Any and all other factors you believe weigh in favor of reinstatement, with supporting documentation. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.... Read More

An ESTA application asks, “Have you ever stayed in the United States longer than the admission period granted to you by the U.S. government?” There is a good chance that you will not be approved for ESTA admission. If not, your alternative is to apply for a visiting visa at the American consulate or embassy, explain the situation with documents, and also why you still have nonimmigrant intent for visiting since you are married to a US citizen. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.... Read More

Most states have homestead protection for the surviving spouse that allows said spouse to have a life estate possessory interest in the deceased spouse home. This would be despite any contractual agreement with a third party to the contrary. Confirm with a probate attorney for specific advice to your situation. ... Read More

There is a good chance that the cases will not meet – at the age of 18, you can marry and sponsor your undocumented boyfriend, but you cannot begin the sponsorship process for your mother until you are aged 21. By that time, there is a good possibility that your boyfriend’s case will be resolved. In the event that it is not, you would have to have enough in terms of income and assets to provide affidavits of support for your boyfriend and your mother unless either one has sufficient assets to ease the burden of support, or you have a joint sponsor who is a US citizen or permanent resident to take up the support obligation. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.... Read More

While you can start an LLC while on an F-1 student status, you are not authorized to work in it unless you have some type of work authorization. Unauthorized employment would jeopardize your ability to maintain lawful nonimmigrant status or adjust status in the US to permanent residence through form I-485. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.... Read More

If you change status to H-1B, your wife should be able to obtain a work permit since you already have an approved I-140 petition. If your H-1B work is along the same lines with the same I-140 petitioner, there should be no impact on your permanent residence. If the H-1B work is with another organization, USCIS may be curious to know whether you actually intend to work for the sponsoring employer upon obtaining your permanent residence. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.... Read More

So do you have a question? If you had counsel, and he recovered the policy limits, then it's unlikely that you will be able to pursue further relief if you already signed the settlement agreement. You should have another attorney review the settlement agreement to see if you actually released the at fault driver.... Read More

OK, a US citizen over 21 can petition his mother and father for their green cards, and they can adjust status here if they entered the United States with permission. If the mother and father are in a foreign country, the child can still petition for them but they will process their cases at the US Consulate overseas. A United States citizen can sponsor his sibling brother, but normally that takes about 12 to 15 years. There is no visa available for a sibling petition until at least 12-15 years passes. As far as your question regarding attorneys fees, some of us charge a very affordable flat rate fee to process the case from start to finish. We cannot solicit your case, pursuant to strict website rules, but you can research our backgrounds and reach out to one of us.... Read More

You need to make a motion in the child support case to terminate the support order because the DNA evidence proves that the child is not yours. File the motion with the clerk of court and serve it on your ex girlfriend. Once the Judge reviews the DNA results, the order will be terminated. ... Read More

Since your former roommate didn't have a will, her estate will be distributed according to California's intestate succession laws. These laws dictate who inherits property when there's no will. As a roommate, you wouldn't be considered an heir under California intestate succession laws unless you were listed as a beneficiary in an undocumented will (not recommended) or had a formal agreement with your roommate regarding inheritance. We can help you understand your rights and options in this situation. * Advise on navigating the probate process if there are no immediate family members. * Guide you through potential legal claims if you believe you have a rightful interest in the property (based on any agreements with your roommate). Reach out for a premium consultation so that we can go over the specifics details of the matter to steer you in the right direction. It's advisable not to take long to take action.... Read More

From what you describe it sounds as though you and your spouse separated when you each walked away and started living separately.  Assuming your injury occurred after the physical separation, your ex would not be entitled to part of your bodily injury claim unless community property was used to pay your expenses related to the injury.  Since you separated so long ago, that seems unlikely.   You may want to consult with a family law attorney.  And you may want to take steps to formalize the divorce at some point so you don't have these lingering questions.... Read More

The award filed with the court is enforceable like a civil money judgment.  The law gives you many tools to use to enforce the judgment. The question then becomes what to do with respect to this particular debtor. You mention employment.  The debtor's wages can be garnished.  You mention a property. That can be subjected to a judgment lien.  Depending on the equity and the specifics it could be levied and even sold. In addition to those possibilities, bank or brokerage accounts can be levied. The debtor can be ordered to appear in court to answer questions about their financial situation. When it comes to judgment enforcement, the creditor has many options and is not limited to one strategy.  ... Read More

I am not sure that I understand what you have done. The N-400 asks for all names that you have used including nicknames on page 2, part 2, item 3. If you did not disclose a nickname or other name, you can do so at the time of interview as the officer will go over the form with you. I do not know what you mean by “added details under previous name”, but honesty is generally the best policy in immigration interviews. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.... Read More

That you received the I-797A with the additional 10 days means that USCIS is correcting the first I-797A to give you the 10 day grace period. Kindly note that you are allowed to stay but not work during a grace period. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.... Read More

We have always advised that in a situation of I-485 adjustment with an expired I-94, individuals are taking a risk in traveling overseas or near the borders of the United States. While the risk is minimized during the Biden administration as opposed to that of Trump, the risk is still there. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.... Read More

If title to the property is in your husbands name, you need to open up a probate in the county where he died. In California, when a person dies without a will and has title to property in his individual name, that property will pass by intestate succession. You as his wife would be able to inherit 50% of the community property and 50% of his separate property. You need to consult with a California probate attorney for more specific advice. ... Read More

The US citizen spouse would have to prove that she would suffer "extreme hardship" If USCIS denies her foreign national husband a green card. "Being in love" is not a valid reason to obtain a waiver. The US Citizen spouse should seek the opinion of a medical doctor to establish whether any mental or physical condition would render her reliant on her husband to the point that she would suffer the "extreme hardship" if the waiver was not granted. The waiver application should include opinions from several physicians to establish "extreme hardship", as well as affidavits from friends, family members and/or coworkers, to support the opinion of the physicians in layman terms.... Read More

In a personal injury case on someone else's property, liability hinges on premises liability principles. Factors include the owner's duty of care, knowledge of hazards, foreseeability of harm, causation, warnings, and compliance with regulations. The specifics vary by jurisdiction, and legal advice based on the case details is recommended.... Read More

After a slip and fall in a California grocery store, promptly seek medical attention, document the scene, and report the incident to store management. Preserve evidence and consult with a personal injury attorney. To pursue a claim, establish the duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages. California law considers comparative negligence. Seek legal advice tailored to your case for guidance.... Read More

Immigration is a Federal practice, but answering these questions can prove frustrating to some.  If you are married to a U.S. citizen and intend to immigrate, then it will be difficult to overcome the presumption of immigrant intent that is imposed when anyone applies for a non-immigrant F-1 student visa.  As a result, a consular official has a responsibility to deny the visa. If you misrepresent your intentions, and get caught, the bar on lawful immigration can be indefinite. If the consular official has subjective reason to believe that a person is inadmissible, then a non-immigrant F1 visa may be denied as a matter of discretion. As a result, I strongly recommend an appointment with a competent and experienced immigration attorney before there are any more complications. Good luck. The above is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney client relationship... Read More

For a child to be registered as a citizen at a US consulate or embassy, the US citizen parent must be able to prove that he or she was physically in the US for five years, of which at least two had to be after attaining the age of 14 prior to the birth of the child. If you did not meet that requirement, you cannot make up for it at this time. You can alternatively file a petition for your child to enter the US as a permanent resident and if your child is then under 18 and a permanent resident and living in your legal and physical custody, he or she will automatically qualify to become a US citizen. At that point, you or the child can apply for his or her US passport or send an application to USCIS (Form N-600) to obtain a certificate of citizenship. Due to the limitations of the Lawyers.com Forums, Alan Lee & Arthur Lee, Esqs.’ (the "Firm") participation in responding to questions posted herein does not constitute legal advice, nor legal representation of the person or entity posting a question. No Attorney/Client relationship is or shall be construed to be created hereby. The information provided herein by the Firm is general, and requires that the poster obtain specific legal advice from an attorney. The poster shall not rely upon the information provided herein as legal advice nor as the basis for making any decisions of legal consequence.... Read More