About Judy Malmon, J.D.
Judy Malmon has blended law and writing throughout her career. She got her J.D. from University of California, Davis and practiced elder and disability law in California and Minnesota. She honed her writing by drafting appellate decisions in a nationwide class action, writing blogs for law firms, and writing for Westlaw. She loves digging into everyday legal questions, deciphering the complexities of law, and telling personal stories.
Articles written by Judy Malmon, J.D.
Planning for Long-Term Care in New Jersey
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. Everyone needs to think about how care will be paid for as we approach the end of our lives, and how this may affect our children and grandchildren. No one wants to be a burden and, if possible, we’d all like to pass something on. Hoping for the best is not a plan, and can have devastating effects. “If you don’t plan and something happens, chances are you’ll spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on long-term care,” says Bridgewater elder …
Protecting Your Business Against Corporate Espionage
Companies own sensitive information that competitors could use for financial advantage. Some competitors take extreme measures to access trade secrets, even committing criminal fraud. Other corporate espionage involves former employees getting back at their employer by sharing information. With threats from the inside and outside, businesses must take corporate espionage threats seriously. Applicant screening, employee training, and comprehensive exit procedures can reduce the risks of employee …
Avoiding Vacation Home Havoc
With the aging baby boomer generation, more families will be facing decisions about what to do with family vacation property. You may have a cottage, wilderness retreat or beachfront condo that’s been the family getaway for relaxation and wreak holiday havoc dating back to your children’s earliest memories (or possibly even your own). Now, you’re wondering how you can protect this asset for future generations, keeping things fair and harmonious between your loved ones. Talk to Your Kids, …
Avoiding a Fence Dispute in Minnesota
Fences can be a good thing for neighborly relations. In urban areas, they delineate your back or front yard, provide a landscaping backdrop, keep pets and kids safe, and keep wanderers out. In rural areas, fencing can mark the location of a boundary, protect part of the land, and contain free-range livestock. When you have a fence that runs along the boundary lines between your land and adjoining property, Minnesota fence laws allocate responsibility and define what’s permitted. Where …
How Does Bankruptcy Filing Affect My Spouse?
Filing for bankruptcy is a very personal decision and, of course, should never be entered into lightly. As you consider entering this process, if you're a married couple, you'll also need to decide whether you'll seek bankruptcy protection individually or jointly with your spouse. Although bankruptcy law is federal law, there are some unique state laws that govern how your bankruptcy will affect your spouse. Reach out to an experienced bankruptcy lawyer in your area for legal advice. When Only …
What Common Law Marriage Means in Real Life
A stubborn piece of legal misinformation is the belief that after seven years of living together, an unmarried couple has a “common law marriage.” There are a number of reasons why this is inaccurate, covered below. To avoid legal pitfalls and put your relationship on solid legal ground, consult with a family law attorney. Origins of Common Law Marriage The term "common law” refers to the recognized body of law that has come into being through means other than legislation or statutory …
Reciprocal Easement Agreements Can Make or Break a Development Deal
Commercial development projects like retail shopping malls and mixed-use commercial/residential developments can create thriving business hubs and provide an economic boost to surrounding communities. To the uninitiated, it may seem that a new condo building with a ground-level Whole Foods just appears one day. But countless legal details go into the development of a new retail or mixed-use project well before shovel ever touches ground. One such example is a strategy known as Reciprocal …
Fence Laws in Oregon
We don’t need Robert Frost to tell us that fences can be a good thing for neighborly relations. If you live in an urban area, a fence can identify property boundaries and a backdrop to landscaping, keep the dog and kids safe, and keep wanderers out. If you live in a more rural area, even a neighbor’s fence can provide boundary markers, as well as protect and contain free-range livestock. When you have a boundary fence that runs along the boundary between your property and that of your …
Can You Trademark Disparaging Names?
The Lanham Act is a federal law governing patents and trademarks. It describes what types of words, phrases, and ideas can be afforded federal trademark protection, and what cannot. Since its enactment in 1946, trademarks have not been permitted where they are immoral, deceptive, scandalous, or disparaging. What this means has been the subject of case law analysis for years. A trademark application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is assessed by a staffer reviewing the …
Common Law Marriage and Same-Sex Couples
Common law marriage is an informal legal marriage without a ceremony, license, or certificate. It derives from early English law and social custom, which recognized legal marriage when a couple lived together and held out to the community that they were married. Seven U.S. states currently recognize common law marriage. Following the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, same-sex marriage is the law of the land. Same-sex couples are entitled to the same considerations and …
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