New baby: getting the birth certificate and Social Security number
The hospital birth form, requesting a Social Security number, ordering certified birth certificates, parentage forms and what to use them for.
Someone hit your car and drove off. What now?
What to do right away after a hit and run, who pays for the damage, and when you need a lawyer.
Car accident: what to do right after
The steps to take at the scene, who to call, and when you might need an injury lawyer.
Pulled over for DUI: what happens next
What to do during the stop, what the breath test means, and why the first days matter.
Slipped and fell at a store: what to do
What to do after a fall at a store or someone else’s property, what to avoid, and when a lawyer can help.
A pipe burst or the basement flooded: what to do first
The first steps after a burst pipe or flooded basement: stop the water, stay safe, document it, call insurance and dry it fast.
Behind on rent or got an eviction notice: what to do
What an eviction notice means, your rights as a tenant, rental help, and why you must never miss the court date.
Laid off: how to file for unemployment
How to apply for unemployment benefits, what you need, weekly certifications, job search rules, appeals and taxes.
The AC or heat stopped working: what to check and when to call
Safe quick checks for an AC or furnace, gas and carbon monoxide warnings, staying safe in extreme weather, hiring a tech and renters’ rights.
Getting food help: how to apply for SNAP
How to apply for SNAP food benefits, what to bring, emergency benefits within 7 days, the interview, your EBT card, and other food help.
Lost your job? Keeping health insurance: COBRA or the Marketplace
COBRA vs Marketplace plans, your 60-day deadlines, using your new income, a spouse’s plan and Medicaid, and choosing carefully.
First steps when someone dies
A gentle, step-by-step guide to the first days and weeks after losing someone.
Behind on your mortgage? What to do
What to do after a missed payment, the options to ask about, free help, and scams to avoid.
Got a letter from the IRS? What to do
How to read an IRS notice, meet the deadline, spot scams, set up a payment plan, and find help.
A family member was arrested: how to find them and how bail works
How to find someone in jail, how bail and bail bonds work, what not to say on jail calls, and getting a lawyer.
You were served with a lawsuit: what to do first
How to read a summons, find your deadline, check the case is real, file an answer and avoid a default judgment.
Someone stole your identity: what to do first
Freeze your credit, report to IdentityTheft.gov, close fake accounts, check your credit reports and protect your tax return.
Your power or gas is about to be shut off: what to do
How to stop a power or gas shutoff: payment plans, LIHEAP energy help, medical and weather protections, and shutoff scams.
Your car was towed and they want cash: what to do
How to find a towed car, what to bring, tow fee limits, checking for damage and how to fight a bad tow.
A storm or hail damaged your roof: what to do first
Staying safe after a storm, stopping more damage, documenting it, filing a roof insurance claim, and avoiding storm-chaser roofers.
Your bank account was frozen or your pay is being taken
Why accounts get frozen and wages garnished, what money is protected, how to file a claim of exemption, wage limits, and undoing a judgment.
Locked out of your email, photos and accounts: how to get back in
How to recover a hacked or locked email account safely, avoid fake support scams, lock things down and protect your other accounts.
Hurt at work and the claim was denied: what to do
Reporting a work injury, getting care, why claims get denied, appealing to your state workers’ comp agency, retaliation and lawyers.
Adding your new baby to health insurance
Your deadline to add a newborn, job plans vs Marketplace, Medicaid and CHIP, choosing a plan, and other things to update.
Understanding a severance offer before you sign
What severance agreements include, the rights you give up, review periods for workers 40+, negotiating, what’s owed anyway, and WARN notice.
Talking to lenders before you fall behind
Why calling early helps, making a budget, which bills come first, hardship options to ask for, getting it in writing, free counseling and debt relief scams.
Student loans in default and your pay is being taken
How federal loan default happens, wage garnishment and offsets, requesting a hearing, rehabilitation and consolidation, and private loans.
Filing a water damage insurance claim
Stopping the water, documenting damage, calling your insurer, preventing more damage, what’s usually covered, building your claim, and disputing an offer.
Frozen pipes: how to prevent them and thaw them safely
Preventing frozen pipes before a freeze, finding your shutoff, signs a pipe is frozen, thawing safely, what to do if a pipe bursts, and renters.
Power outage: what to do and how to stay safe
Reporting an outage, staying safe in the dark, generator and carbon monoxide safety, food safety, medical needs, and warming or cooling centers.
Staying safe in a heat wave
Staying cool, cooling centers, heat exhaustion vs heat stroke, hot cars, checking on others, medicines that raise risk, and help with cooling bills.
Bitten by a dog: what to do
First aid, when to see a doctor, what to ask the owner, reporting the bite, and who pays.
Someone emptied a joint bank account: what to do
Why banks usually can’t reverse joint account withdrawals, how to protect your money now, and ways to get your share back.
Your phone stopped working and money vanished: SIM swap
Signs of a SIM swap, getting your number back, protecting your bank and email, switching away from text codes, reporting it and preventing it.
In a car accident without insurance: what to do
What to do after a crash when you have no insurance, possible penalties, claiming against the other driver, and paying for damage you caused.
Sewage backing up into your tub or basement: what to do
What to do when sewage backs up: stop using water, stay safe, plumber or city, insurance coverage, cleanup and prevention.
After a house fire: what to do in the first days
Staying safe after a fire, emergency help, insurance and living expenses, the fire report, listing damaged belongings, and avoiding rushed contracts.
The garage door won’t open after a loud bang: broken spring
Signs of a broken garage door spring, why not to fix it yourself, getting the car out safely, hiring a pro and avoiding bait-and-switch prices.
Served with divorce papers: what to do first
Reading the petition, your deadline, automatic court orders, filing a response, financial records, protecting the kids and getting help.
Becoming a guardian in an emergency
What to check first, medical decisions without a proxy, filing for emergency guardianship, how long it lasts, a guardian’s duties, and getting help.
Someone filed a fake deed on your house: what to do
How deed fraud works, who’s targeted, warning signs, free county alerts, what to do right away, clearing your title, and paid “title lock” services.
A background check mixed you up with someone else
Your right to see the report, telling the employer or landlord, disputing errors, proving a mix-up, and escalating if it isn’t fixed.
Checking for, and clearing, a warrant
Bench vs arrest warrants, how to check, talking to a lawyer first, clearing bench warrants, and avoiding warrant scam calls.
Can you back out after the home inspection?
The inspection contingency, your options, canceling in writing before the deadline, earnest money risks, and getting help.
Why is my paycheck smaller than my salary?
Where your money goes: gross vs net pay, federal and state taxes, Social Security and Medicare, benefits, 401(k) and your W-4.
Debt collectors won’t stop calling: your rights
How to make a collector prove a debt, what they can’t do, how to stop the calls, old debts, and where to report abuse.
A huge medical bill: how to check it and lower it
How to check a medical bill for mistakes, appeal insurance denials, get financial assistance, use surprise-bill protections and set up a fair payment plan.
Medicare when you turn 65: how to sign up
Your 7-month sign-up window, the parts of Medicare, Original vs Advantage, delaying Part B with job coverage, free help and avoiding sales traps.
Building credit from nothing
How to start a credit history with a secured card, credit-builder loan or authorized user status, the habits that matter, and avoiding credit repair scams.
Filing your first tax return
Key dates, the forms you need, whether your parents can claim you, free ways to file, getting a refund, and state returns.
Using Zelle, Venmo and Cash App safely
Why payment apps work like cash, double-checking before you send, common scams like fake bank calls and “accidental” payments, and what to do if scammed.
Fake calls and AI voices that sound like family
How the “grandparent” scam works, AI voice cloning, warning signs, a family safe word, and what to do if you already paid.
Side hustle taxes: what to set aside
What taxes apply to side income, self-employment tax, how much to set aside, quarterly estimated payments, record keeping and 1099 forms.
Open enrollment: picking a health plan without overpaying
Open enrollment dates, what to check in your current plan, updating your income, comparing total cost, avoiding look-alike plans, and free help.
Getting a divorce, step by step
How a divorce usually goes, from filing papers to the final order, in plain words.
A contractor took the money and walked off: what to do
How to document unfinished work, send a notice to finish, complain to the licensing board, watch for liens and get money back.
Small claims court, start to finish
How small claims court works: demand letters, limits, filing, serving the other side, what to bring, and collecting after you win.
Turning 26: how to get your own health insurance
When a parent’s coverage ends, your 60-day sign-up window, your options, help with the cost, and the four words that matter.
Bankruptcy: how it works and what you keep
Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13, the automatic stay, what you keep, which debts stay, the required courses and what it does to your credit.
Probate, step by step
What probate is, what skips it, filing with the court, the executor’s job, paying debts and taxes, and distributing the estate.
Getting your security deposit back
How to protect your deposit at move-in and move-out, what landlords can deduct, state deadlines, and what to do if they keep it.
Power of attorney, explained simply
Financial vs health care powers of attorney, why to sign while someone can decide, choosing an agent, signing correctly and sharing copies.
Paying for a nursing home: Medicare, Medicaid and more
What Medicare covers, how Medicaid pays for long-term care, the 5-year look-back, spousal protections, and other ways to pay.
Getting a Social Security number when you’re new to the US
Who can get a Social Security number, applying through immigration or at an office, what to bring, keeping it safe, and when you need an ITIN instead.
Opening a bank account when you’re new to the US
What banks ask for, ID options, credit unions, low-fee accounts, deposit insurance, sending money home and avoiding costly shortcuts.
Picking your work benefits: a plain guide
Your sign-up deadline, choosing a health plan, HSAs and FSAs, getting the 401(k) match, disability and life insurance, and beneficiaries.
How to fill out a W-4 at a new job
What the W-4 does, which steps to fill, when to use the IRS estimator, why not to claim exempt, and updating it later.
Signing your first apartment lease: what to check
What to read in a lease: money, dates, breaking it, repairs and rules, unfair clauses, move-in photos, and rental scams.
Do you need renters insurance?
What renters insurance covers and doesn’t, replacement cost vs actual cash value, typical costs, and making a home inventory.
When student loan payments start, and what to do now
Grace periods, finding your loans and servicer, choosing a repayment plan, autopay, what to do if you can’t pay, and avoiding loan scams.
What does that text, slang or emoji mean?
A friendly guide to common texting shortcuts, today’s slang, emoji that don’t mean what they look like, and how tone comes across.
How US healthcare works, for newcomers
Ways to get covered, community health centers, where to go for care, emergency rights, free interpreters, and avoiding surprise costs.
Getting a US driver’s license when you’re new
What documents states ask for, the written, vision and road tests, REAL ID vs standard licenses, car insurance, and fake license scams.
Renting an apartment with no US credit history
How to rent without US credit: proof of income, references, co-signers, larger deposits, smaller landlords, fair housing rights and scams.
Enrolling your kids in a US public school
Every child’s right to attend, what documents schools usually ask for, welcome centers, English learner help, school meals and enrolling without stable housing.
Sending money home safely and for less
Comparing fees and exchange rates, your rights to see costs, cancel and fix errors, using licensed providers, and avoiding scams.
Scams that target newcomers to the US
Notario fraud, free government forms, fake immigration calls, job scams, fake visa lottery and rental scams, and how to report them.
Family leave for a new baby: your options
FMLA job protection, who qualifies, state paid family leave, employer leave and short-term disability, pumping rights and making a leave plan.
Choosing childcare: what to look for and how to pay
Types of childcare, starting early, checking licenses and inspections, what to ask on visits, help paying, and keeping an eye on things.
What to do with your 401(k) after leaving a job
Your four choices, why cashing out costs so much, direct rollovers, loans and vesting, fees and beneficiaries, and finding lost accounts.
Home care or assisted living? Choosing care for a parent
Figuring out what help is needed, home care, adult day programs, assisted living, nursing homes and memory care, checking quality and costs.
Helping a parent manage their bills
Talking with your parent, getting the right legal authority, making a money map, automating bills, keeping records, and watching for scams.
Moving to a new state: license, car, taxes and more
A checklist for moving states: driver’s license, car registration and insurance, part-year taxes, address updates, health insurance and records.
Tipping in the US, and when to call 911
How much to tip at restaurants and for common services, checking for included charges, when to call 911, asking for an interpreter, and other key numbers.
Selling an inherited house: the steps in order
Getting legal authority to sell, protecting a vacant house, agreeing with heirs, ways to sell, taxes and stepped-up value, and safe closings.
A loved one’s debts after death: what you owe and what you don’t
Who pays debts after a death, when family might owe, collectors’ limits, money that usually skips creditors, and the executor’s steps.
Applying for Social Security disability (SSDI)
SSDI vs SSI, the basic disability test, gathering records, applying, the waiting period, appeals after denial, representatives, and Medicare.
Clearing an old record: expunging or sealing
Expunging vs sealing, who qualifies, clean slate laws, filing a petition, free help, and what changes after a record is cleared.
Getting pre-approved for a mortgage
Pre-qualification vs pre-approval, documents to gather, low down payment options, comparing lenders, staying steady until closing, and free help.
What a home inspection checks, and what it doesn’t
What a standard inspection covers, common extra tests, choosing an inspector, attending, reading the report by priority, and your deadline.
Selling a house fast for cash: the pros and cons
The trade-off of cash buyers, getting several offers, comparing with an agent, contract traps, safe closings, and foreclosure rescue scams.
What you can write off as a small business or freelancer
The ordinary and necessary test, common deductions, home office rules, what isn’t deductible, keeping records, and avoiding bad advice.
Hiring your first employee: the checklist
Employee vs contractor, getting an EIN and registering, workers’ comp, day-one forms, payroll taxes, wage rules, and free help.
Holiday shopping scams and stolen packages: how to stay safe
Fake stores, paying safely, fake delivery texts, stopping porch theft, what to do if a package is stolen, and charity and gift card scams.
Getting ready for a hurricane or big storm
Knowing your evacuation zone, supplies and a go-bag, documenting your home, flood insurance timing, evacuating safely, and staying safe after.
Chimney cleaning: how often and why
Why chimneys need cleaning, how often to check them, warning signs, and what it costs.
Kitchen hood cleaning: what the fire code expects
Why restaurant hoods need cleaning, how often the fire code says to clean, and what inspectors check.
Child custody, explained simply
Legal and physical custody, parenting plans, mediation, what judges look at, and how support fits in.
Making a will, in plain words
What a will does, what happens without one, choosing an executor and guardian, and signing it the right way.
Mold in the house: what to do
Signs of mold, fixing the moisture, when you can clean it yourself, when to call a pro, and renters’ rights.
Starting an LLC, explained simply
What an LLC is, how it protects you, and the steps to start one: name, state filing, agent, EIN, bank account.
Getting a public defender: how it works
Your right to a lawyer, how to ask for a public defender, the financial form, working well with your lawyer, and plea decisions.
A neighbor’s tree fell on your property: who pays?
Safety after a tree falls, how insurance usually works, when a neighbor is responsible, talking it out, and overhanging branches.
A mechanic charged way more than the quote: what to do
Your rights on repair estimates, getting an itemized invoice, getting your car back, disputing the charge and filing complaints.
The airline lost your bags or broke your wheelchair: your rights
Reporting delayed, lost or damaged bags, interim expenses, claim deadlines, bag fee refunds, wheelchair protections and DOT complaints.
Inheriting a house that still has a mortgage
Your rights as a relative who inherits a mortgaged home, talking to the servicer, keeping payments up, your options, title and reverse mortgages.
When a pet dies: gentle next steps
What to do when a pet dies at home or at the vet, cremation choices, burial rules, grief support, and end-of-life decisions.
Video calls with the grandkids, made easy
Choosing an app, getting set up, Wi-Fi, answering and muting, tips to look and sound good, making it a habit, and staying safe.
Seeing a doctor by video: how to get ready
What telehealth is good for, checking coverage, getting your device and space ready, joining safely, getting help, and avoiding telehealth scams.
Choosing a pediatrician for your baby
When to choose, what to check, questions to ask at a meet and greet, well-child visits and vaccines, and help without insurance.
Starting to save for your child’s education
How 529 plans work, starting small and automatic, letting family help, the rules for using the money, and balancing with retirement.
Talking with a parent about driving
Warning signs, how to start the conversation, involving a doctor, small limits, other ways to get around, and when it’s time to stop.
A cracked or lost tooth: implants, bridges or dentures, and the costs
Saving a cracked tooth, replacement options, Medicare and dental coverage, getting a written estimate, lower-cost care and financing traps.
A parent had a will, but no one can find it
Where to look for a missing will, the lawyer and bank, the probate court, what happens with only a copy or no will, and delivering it to court.
Fixing a mistake on a birth or marriage certificate
Which office fixes birth and marriage records, what proof you need, small typos vs big changes, timing, and updating other records.
Fighting an HOA fine
Reading the rules, your right to notice and a hearing, responding in writing, uneven enforcement, the risks of not paying, and getting outside help.
Divorcing a spouse you can’t find
Doing a diligent search, asking for alternative service like publication, following notice rules, default divorce, limits, and free help.
Recording a phone call: is it legal in your state?
One-party vs all-party consent, the safest way to record, calls across state lines, what’s never allowed, and taking good notes instead.
The house in a divorce: buyout, sell, or keep
Buyouts, selling and splitting, co-owning for a while, appraisals, why refinancing matters, keeping payments current, taxes, and the divorce agreement.
Hiring a property manager for your rental
What property managers do, common fees, checking licenses and references, key terms in the agreement, and staying involved.
Workers’ comp, explained for small business owners
What workers’ comp covers, how no-fault protects you, state requirements, how to buy it, what to do when someone is hurt, and the risks of going without.