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Business Law |
Consumer Law |
Copyright Patent Trademark Law |
Environmental Law |
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Motor Vehicle Law
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Estate Planning
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Family Law |
Immigration Law |
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Privacy
Law |
Real Estate Law |
Senior Law
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Tax Law |
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Business Law |
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Santa Monica
Business Regulations |
Los Angeles City Business Regulations |
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Los Angeles County
Business Regulations |
California Business
Regulations |
Business
Law.gov
This Small Business Administration site provides information
on law and legislation, "plain English" guides to starting a business,
regulatory alerts, hiring a lawyer and going to court, and other business
law. |
The Law About . . .
Cornell University Website with legal information on employment,
taxation, enterprise, commercial transactions. Includes a section on
environment and intellectual property. |
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Use the Library online database
Business & Company Resource Center
to locate general articles on "Commercial Law" or for more specific subjects
such as "Limited Liability," "Maritime Contracts," "Securities Law,"
"Antitrust Law," etc. The Library also has a number of books that may
be especially helpful to small business persons or entrepreneurs. Many
of these books may be located in
iBistro, the Library online catalog, using the subject search "
Business Law." Librarians will be happy to assist you in locating information. |
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Consumer Law |
Santa
Monica City Attorney Consumer Protection Unit
Free services to all
Santa Monica residents, and to individuals whose rights were violated by
Santa Monica businesses, Including tenant harassment and housing
discrimination. Offers assistance in filing Small Claims suits. |
Los Angeles City Attorney
and Los Angeles County
District Attorney offices also offer consumer protection assistance and
information. Includes identity theft, immigration fraud, loan scams,
auto repair fraud, credit repair scams, and much more. |
California
Consumer Affairs Department
Full service site offering assistance
with professional license checking and complaints, product recalls, consumer
pamphlets, Bureau of Automotive Repair, privacy protection, etc. File
complaints online. Excellent resource! |
National
Consumer Law Organization
Helping for consumers, consumer advocates,
and public policy makers in using consumer laws and remedies. Topics
include credit counseling and debt collection, ecommerce, immigration, home
ownership, student loans, and more. Shows consumers how to get legal
assistance and provides free consumer information and guidebooks. |
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Use the Library online database
InfoTrac OneFile to locate more
information on consumer law. Search the broad topic "Consumers" and
use Narrow By Subdivision to find the topic "Consumers Law, Regulations &
Rules." In the Reference Collection the
Consumer Sourcebook provides consumer information and contacts for government
organizations, associations, centers and institutes; media services; company
and trademark information. Don't forget more general reference books
like
Nolo's Guide to California Law, which has a chapter titles "Consumer
Rights," and
Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law, which has several listings
in its index under "consumer." |
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Copyright, Patent, Trademark Law |
U.S. Copyright Office
Everything
you need to know about copyright straight from the government. Provides
information, laws, and forms. Forms require Adobe Acrobat Reader. |
Public Domain
This helpful chart created at the University of North Carolina helps explain
when copyright passes into public domain. |
WATCH
Writers, Artists, and
Their Copyright Holders is a "database containing primarily, but not
exclusively, the names and addresses of copyright holders or contact persons
for authors and artists whose archives are housed, in whole or in part, in
libraries and archives in North America and the United Kingdom. |
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Like the Copyright Office, the Patent
and Trademark provides everything you need to know about patents and
trademarks. The Office provides a patent and trademark search with
specific directions for searching. In addition there are links to
patent and trademark law and links for searching other types of databases
like copyright or land patents. |
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You will find books on copyright, patent, and trademark law in the Library's
circulating and reference collections. In
iBistro, the Library online catalog, try Subject searches like "
Patent Laws and Legislation," or "
Trademarks Law and Legislation" to locate books on your subject.
The Library also has the
United States Code Annotated with Title 15, Chapter
3 on Trademarks; Title 17 on Copyright; and Title 35 on Patents. The
print version of United States Code Annotated is unavailable until the Main
Library reopens but you will find an easy-to-use
online version at Cornell
University Law School. |
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Environmental
Law |
U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency
Information and education resources.
Quick finder to regulations on the most often discussed topics such as the
clean air, acid rain, hazardous waste, ozone, radon, etc. |
California Environmental Protection
Agency
Provides laws, regulations, legislation. Links to
various regulatory agencies such as the Air Resources Board and the
Department of Pesticide Regulation. Policy documents and fact sheets
available online. |
Legal
Information Institute
Cornell University's Legal Information
Institute environmental law overview page covers federal, state, and
international law and gives links to other agencies with environmental legal
information. |
Center for International Environmental Law
Provides a full range of
environmental legal information including: policy research and publication,
advice and advocacy, education and training, and institution building.
This is be a great resource for student reports.
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Library online databases are a good resource for researching
environmental law issues.
InfoTrac OneFile offers full text articles under the Subject search
"Environmental Law." Facts on
File database provides brief articles on the subject "Environmental Law"
from 1940 to the present, a good way to track environmental legislation, and
also provides information on specific pieces of legislation using Subject
searches like "Clean Air Act." |
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Motor Vehicle
Law |
California Department of Motor Vehicles
Learn about California
driving laws and regulations. Read the California Drivers Handbook and
other license preparation materials online. |
California Vehicle Code
Full text of the California Codes, including the Vehicle Code. From
the list of Codes, select "Vehicle Code" and click on "Search" to see the
entire table of contents and select the appropriate article. |
City of Santa Monica Motor
Vehicle Regulations
Most of the regulations are in the online
Municipal Code, Article 3, "Public Safety." |
City of Los Angeles
Traffic Regulations
From the Main Page, click on the link to
"Municipal Code" and then select "Chapter VIII, Traffic" for the Los Angeles
regulations. |
Los Angeles County
Traffic Regulations
From the Main Page, click on the link to "Article
3, Public Safety." Traffic regulations are Chapter 3.12. |
Insurance
Institute for Highway Safety
The site lists various state and federal
driving laws and regulations. Includes current speed limits, seat belt laws,
child safety regulations, and highway safety facts. Easy to use. |
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The Library Reference Collection provides current print versions of
the
Santa Monica Municipal Code and the
California Vehicle Code. The Library also keeps copies of the current California
Driver Handbook for clients who are taking the driving test. The
California Driver Handbook
is also available online from the State of California Website. Another useful
book in the Library collection is
Fight Your Ticket in California. |
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Estate Planning |
Federal Citizen Information Center
From the Government Printing Office, online brochures on
Planning Your Estate,
Establishing a Trust Fund,
Evaluating Living Trust Offers and
Making
a Will. These brochures can also be ordered and all are free. |
Nolo Press Wills & Estate Planning
This site contains answers to
your questions from writing a basic will to living trusts and estate taxes.
Among the issues covered are probate and the many ways to avoid it, methods
for eliminating or reducing death taxes, funeral planning and choosing
someone to handle your affairs if you can't, and articles that address
general concerns about planning an estate. |
Smart Money Magazine Estate
Planning
Articles on how to get started with estate planning, how to
calculate your worth, what to do about taxes, and more. |
Senior Law Estate Planning
Resources on the Web
A good list of links to credible Websites that
offer assistance on a variety of estate planning topics. |
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Use iBistro,
the Library online catalog, to search for the Subject "
Estate Planning" and "
Trusts and Trustees." |
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Family Law |
DivorceSource
Although highly
commercial, this Website provides lots of good, free information such as
divorce laws by state, collecting child support, money and divorce,
etc. Lots of ads but the free information is excellent and the site is
recommended. |
SchoolMatch Education Experts
Research companymaintains databases on all public school districts, all
public high schools, and all accredited private schools in the U.S.
SchoolMatch consultants have been qualified as Education Experts in a
majority of states and assist lawyers in school accountability, accidents,
and evaluation to determine child custody.
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Internet Law Library
Domestic Relations
Arranged alphabetically by state or country.
Covers family law topics like marriage, family violence, and guardianship. |
Kids & the Law
California Bar Association online brochure that
addresses drugs, dress codes, curfew, emancipation, truancy, driving, and
juvenile court |
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In iBistro, the Library online catalog, try these Subject searches to
locate books on family law: "
Divorce Law and Legislation,"
"
Divorce Law and Legislation California," "
Domestic Relations," "
Child Support Law and Legislation," "
Antenuptial Contracts," "
Guardian and Ward,"
"
Adoption Law and Legislation," etc. Ask the librarian for assistance
in locating the Subject heading and/or books that answer your questions on
family law. |
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Immigration Law |
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration
Service
How to to apply for Naturalization, highlights new
regulations applying to specific immigrant groups, employment verification
provisions and downloadable forms, and comprehensive database of documents
pertaining to immigration and naturalization law. |
A Guide to Immigrating to the U.S.
An amazing amount of information is provided free online by the Law Offices
of Carl Shusterman. View getting a green card, seeking asylum, obtaining
citizenship, fees and fingerprinting, applying for the immigration visa
lottery, and the text of legislation, regulations, and pending legislation.
Attorney Shusterman also offers a variety of immigration related forms that
may be downloaded free of charge. |
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Locate books on immigration law like
How To Get a Green Card,
U.S. Immigration Made Easy, or
USA inmigración y orientación
in iBistro, the Library online catalog, using the Subject search "
Emigration and Immigration Law." Use the same Subject search
"Emigration and Immigration Law" in the Library online database InfoTrac
OneFile to locate current articles on the law. |
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Privacy Law |
Privacy Rights Clearinghouse
Nonprofit consumer education, research, and advocacy program. Provides
information on various privacy issues from medical records to identity
theft. Excellent set of links to other privacy- related Websites. |
Federal Trade Commission Privacy
Initiatives
The FTC enforces privacy promises made by companies,
financial privacy, credit reporting, and children's privacy.
Information and consumer education plus citations to relevant laws and
regulations. |
California Office of Privacy
Protection
This office is charged with promoting and protecting the
privacy rights of California consumers. Discusses a wide range of
privacy issues and provides relevant laws.
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Santa Monica Public Library Privacy
Policy
The Library is committed to protecting the privacy of its
cardholders and other Library users. Read the full policy online. |
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You will find many articles on privacy law using
InfoTrac OneFile, a
Library online database. Try the Subject search "Privacy" and "Narrow
by Subdivision" to "Laws, Regulations, etc." Check the other Subjects
under "Privacy" such as "Privacy Act" or "Privacy Rights." For quick
access to articles on specific privacy topics use a Keyword search such as
"medical records privacy" or "personal information and privacy." In
the circulating collection, the
Freedom of Information Act Guide and Privacy Act Overview may be useful. |
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Real Estate Law |
California Department of Real Estate
Real estate laws and regulation,
realtor license check, online complaint filing, and consumer guides to
mortgage loans, home buying, time shares, reverse mortgages, etc.
Great place to begin one's real estate education. |
Nolo Press Landlord Tenant Information
This self-help legal publisher
provides general information on leases, housing discrimination, security
deposits, repairs, roommates, evictions, and more. Very reliable
resource. |
Santa Monica Rent Control
Everything you need to know about rent control in Santa Monica.
Includes Rent Control Charter Amendment and Regulations, selected forms,
reports and newsletters, frequently asked questions, and
California
Landlord/Tenants Brochure. |
FindLaw Real
Estate Reference
Articles on topics from Adverse Possession to
Zoning. |
City of Los Angeles Rent Stabilization Ordinance
Describes reasons for eviction, allowable rent increases, how to file a
complaint. Provides an online copy of the Landlord/Tenant Handbook. |
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The Library online catalog, iBistro
lists a number of books under the Subject search
"Real Estate Law." In the
California Codes, the
Business and Professions Code contains a majority of the real estate laws.
(The print version of the California Codes is unavailable until the
Main Library reopens. View the
California Codes
online on the State of California Website.)
For general articles on real estate law, try InfoTrac
OneFile, a Library online database. For more professional or
technical articles, use the Business
& Company Resource Center database where you will find periodicals like
Real Estate Law Journal and Realtor Magazine indexed. In
both databases try these Subject searches like these: "Real Estate
Agents and Brokers," "Real Estate Appraisers," "Real Estate
Developers," "Real Estate Managers," "Real Estate Investment." Under
the Subject Heading, use "Narrow By Subdivision" to get to the subtopic
"Laws, regulations and rules." |
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Senior Law
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Elder Law Answers
The site
is created by attorneys but does not promote a law firm. Advice and
information on long-term insurance, disability, estate planning, social
security, Medicare, etc. You can select state specific information,
locate an attorney, or check out elder law publications. Extremely
useful and well organized site. |
FirstGov for Seniors
Information on consumer protection, federal
and state agencies, laws and regulations, taxes and more.
Excellent
section on Elder Rights & Resources.
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California
Elder Law
Citations to federal and state law on age discrimination,
health care decisions, social security. Provides a list of California
offices that provide additional elder law information. |
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When searching for information on senior law, be aware that the
Library online catalog, iBistro, online magazine databases like InfoTrac
OneFile, and even the California Codes often use as their Subject Heading
"Aged" or "Elder" instead of the more current "Seniors," "Older Adults," or
"Older Americans. Search
InfoTrac OneFile under the Subject Heading "Elder Law." Search the
online catalog, iBistro, using the
Subject Heading "Aged Legal Status, Laws, etc." Search the index to
the
California Codes under the index heading "Aged Persons."
In the Library Reference Collection general legal information is available
in
Nolo's Encyclopedia of Everyday Law in the chapter "Older Americans" and
in
Nolo's Guide to California Law under the index heading "Seniors." |
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Tax Law |
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Tax Regulations from the IRS
Tax regulations and proposed regulations, IRS Bulletins, Title 26 of the
Code of Federal Regulations, and the United States Code Annotated.
Materials may be downloaded. For general tax law questions, try
HelpWith Tax Law Questions |
California Franchise Tax Board
Law and Legislation
LInks to the Revenue Code and Code of
Regulations, legislative information, and FTB legal information and
documents.
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The Tax Prophet The Tax Prophet deciphers the Internal
Revenue Code for U.S. and foreign taxpayers, and professionals alike by
putting law, rulings, bulletins, and regulations in plain language and
giving an explanation. The Prophet is attorney Robert L. Sommers of San Francisco, a
Certified Specialist in Taxation Law. Lots of good, free information. |
State Tax Laws
Links to tax laws in almost states. Some links lead directly to the
tax codes but some go to tax department Websites and leave you to find the
codes yourself. State Tax
Central starts with tax categories, such as corporate or individual
taxes. On the topic page, scroll down past subcategories of the topic
until you reach the alphabetical list of states. |
| The Library Reference
Collection provides the comprehensive Commerce Clearing House (CCH)
Federal Tax Guide and the Research Institute of America (RIA)
Tax Guide and RIA
Federal Taxes Weekly Alert for an in-depth look at
tax law and regulations. Copies of J.K. Lasser's
Your Income Tax and the
H&R Block Income Tax Guide are available in the Reference
Collection and for circulation for those who need more general income tax
assistance. Books on income tax, business tax, estate tax, etc. may be
located in iBistro, the Library online catalog, using the general Subject
search "
Taxation." The Reference Collection also has some more
specific tax manuals such as the
All States Tax Handbook. Ask the librarian to assist you in locating the tax information you need. |
