Questions tagged [legal]
Questions around financial laws and legal systems.
184
questions
189
votes
6
answers
43k
views
Found a heap of BTC but have no documentation. What do I do?
Many years ago, I bought around 400 BTC for a few hundred dollars (?) and stored them in a hard drive. Shortly after that, I lost this hard drive, wrote it off as an "Oh well" and didn't think ...
- 1,689
81
votes
12
answers
43k
views
A friend asks me all the time to pick up money for her (Western Union, Moneygram)
A friend of mine trades Bitcoin and often asks me to pick up money for her, i.e., someone sends money to me (on my name) and I just pick it up and give it to my friend. The amounts are usually around $...
- 699
68
votes
11
answers
39k
views
Rent cheque was stolen from landlord - am I obligated to pay again?
I live in Quebec, and my rent cheque was stolen from my landlord as they travelled to the bank to deposit it. They've asked me to stop payment on the cheque, and provide them with a new one. The ...
- 887
63
votes
5
answers
20k
views
Can a company block a specific person from buying its stock?
Say there is a very rich, very unpopular individual. This individual wishes to buy millions of dollars in stock in a company he or she thinks will be successful. The company, however, realizes that by ...
- 2,055
62
votes
6
answers
21k
views
Is it legal to photograph and test ATMs?
Some online company asked me do a job like this
We have a special task for you! Our analyst department collects information
regarding Bitcoin ATMs across different states and cities. In most ...
- 513
62
votes
4
answers
17k
views
Closed account, haven't received payment. When has the bank "stolen" my money?
Background
I closed a checking account over 40 days ago at a large national bank in the US. I was told I would receive a check for the remainder (>$1000) in one to two weeks. I still have not ...
- 693
44
votes
6
answers
20k
views
Can a CEO short his own company?
I'm just curious, it seems a CEO could make a lot of money by shorting a huge amount of shares on his company through a third party and then purposefully tanking the company before being fired. Surely ...
- 539
41
votes
7
answers
16k
views
Is it legal to use cash pulled from a credit card to pay the monthly payment on that credit card?
I've got a buddy who is having problems with credit card debt. He had a small business go sour on him and ended up with about 35K of debt that's he struggling to keep under control while looking for ...
- 596
32
votes
5
answers
27k
views
Dry cleaners lost $160 pants, what should I do?
My local dry cleaner lost a pair of pants that go with my suit. It's only $160 but I feel like they should compensate me for the loss. So far, they have completely refused. Some of the possible ...
- 475
31
votes
4
answers
16k
views
Transfer over $10k
I recently realized that most of my money is going into my checking account where it's just sitting there losing value due to inflation, etc. I want to open a savings account at a different bank (...
- 291
29
votes
4
answers
18k
views
Can a company charge you for services never requested or received?
My partner and I have recently moved into our new home and as expected have received a number of letters from companies for the previous occupants.
This latest "Letter" (I say letter but It was a ...
- 415
28
votes
3
answers
9k
views
Accountant/ lawyer will not return my call
I have an accountant who is also a lawyer who did my taxes for about 7 years. I received a notice from the IRS for the years that he filed the taxes saying that I owed $5,000. I sent him the notice ...
- 391
28
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Would simplistic date / amount / description bookkeeping "cut it" legally?
I've read many articles and texts over the years about running companies and personal finances. Every time, I sink down in my chair, mentally exhausted from the utterly confusing, cryptic material I'...
- 289
28
votes
3
answers
13k
views
I need a title out of my name from a vehicle that my ex drive, refuses to cooperate, what can I do to resolve this?
The vehicle my ex fiance drives has the title under my name only. I have been understanding and cooperative for 10 months now. It's gotten to the point he refuses to cooperate and the last two months ...
- 281
28
votes
10
answers
4k
views
Why is insider trading illegal?
I feel I must first make the confession that I know very little about stocks and trading them. But when I heard the news of Raj Rajaratnam convicted and what he was convicted of (insider trading), it ...
- 391
27
votes
7
answers
20k
views
Girlfriend took off with the car I got a loan for
I got a loan on a car from CarMax for my girlfriend. She was to make the payments but instead took off with it & I can't find her. Should I report it stolen? The insurance, loan and registration ...
- 371
27
votes
2
answers
6k
views
How far removed from source does one need to be to avoid Insider Trading?
As I tried to research and ponder this question, I couldn't help but wonder:
How many steps (i.e., persons) removed does one need to be from a source of material/non-public information regarding a ...
25
votes
7
answers
9k
views
Can my dad remove himself from my car loan?
I bought a new car from a dealership, and my dad agreed in front of my husband and my mother to co-sign for me. The dealership allowed me to take the paperwork out to my dad's house and have him sign ...
- 259
21
votes
3
answers
4k
views
If I create software that can identify and predict insider trading, and I use that to trade, am I insider trading?
Inspired by this question, and I don't know much about insider trading beyond it.
The title pretty much says it all. Let's say I make software that picks up on patterns of insider trading. (For ...
19
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Does a post-dated check have any *valid* use for delaying payment?
I was recently witness to a salesman claiming that a customer could post-date a check to guarantee their check would not be cashed before the item they just ordered was received.
I was under the ...
- 1,298
19
votes
4
answers
9k
views
Where should I put my will so that it can be easily found when the time comes?
This has been puzzling me for a while. What is the best place to keep a last will and testament so that it can easily be found and executed obviously without any help from me?
I've seen a lot of ...
- 52.3k
13
votes
2
answers
783
views
When an insider discloses a stock trade are they required to execute?
Insiders and executives for public companies are required to disclose in advance their intention to make stock transactions.
Upon the expiration of the waiting period are they required to execute the ...
- 3,026
12
votes
4
answers
8k
views
Is it legal to use casino to gain bonus points or rewards on credit cards?
I'd like to know if this scenario is legal:
Walk in a casino and buy chips with a credit card for the maximum limit on that credit card.
Change back all those chips in cash money.
Deposit the cash ...
user3722
12
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Is there a way to live with and contribute to someone else's mortgage payments without the money being considered taxable rent income?
If my business partner purchases a home and I move in with him, presumably the money I'd give him to help out with his mortgage would be considered rent, and so he'd have to pay taxes on rent income. (...
- 863
12
votes
2
answers
18k
views
How can I avoid being fined or penalized because my accountant might have failed to file my taxes on time?
I decided to use a CPA because my tax situation got complicated this year. I have attempted to contact my accountant several times and cannot get a response from him at all. It is now after the ...
- 145
12
votes
1
answer
667
views
What are the advantages of a prenuptial agreement?
Why people don't do them? and why people do?
Does it makes financial sense to do them?
- 5,815
11
votes
1
answer
4k
views
Can a 15 year old finance something? [duplicate]
I would like to get a laptop, mainly to use in school and extracurriculars. While I can save up with my job, it would be much easier to finance the laptop instead, since I'm saving up for other things ...
- 111
9
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Should I be worried that I won't be given a receipt if I pay with cash?
I'm getting an aftermarket accessory installed on my car by an individual. The person has actually been recommended to me by a big dealership in my area and this person seems to be pretty reputable ...
- 251
8
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Co-signing a loan and having them leave the state with no contact information
I helped my now ex get into school by co-signing a loan. I have made great attempt on contacting her through friends and family. She has left the state and won't talk to me about our responsibilities. ...
- 81
8
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Is it illegal to refrain from selling stock based on insider information?
If I were planning to sell my stock of the company I work for, then see a non-public draft of the next quarterly report that will make the stock go way up, and cancel my plan to sell based on that ...
- 149
8
votes
1
answer
32k
views
How to get back the money that you lent someone? [closed]
I lent a friend a few hundred dollars a couple of years ago. Initially, he agreed to pay me back in a few months, but it never happened. The only evidence that I have is my check slip and also a long ...
- 183
8
votes
3
answers
35k
views
Is Stock Trading legal for a student on F-1 Visa in USA? [duplicate]
I'm an international student in US on F1 Visa. I just want to know if how legal is trading stocks on my visa status. I've found some posts on quora that say Trading is completely legal, but should not ...
8
votes
2
answers
10k
views
Non-Resident Alien investing in a Vanguard mutual fund: is this allowed?
first a little bit of background about me. I'm a phd student on an F1 visa. I have been in the US for a little over 2.5 years and I expect to stay here for about the same length of time. Because I've ...
- 181
8
votes
2
answers
913
views
What constitutes illegal insider trading?
The SEC defines illegal insider trading as:
[...] buying or selling a
security, in breach of a fiduciary duty or other relationship of trust
and confidence, while in possession of material, ...
- 183
7
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Collections calling thanks to BioLife. Is this a scam?
My father just received a phone call from collections saying he owes $650 for a product he purchased in 2015. We thought it was a scam call at first but they seemed to have his personal information ...
- 173
7
votes
2
answers
409
views
Employer reneging on 401k matching
Our employer enforces mandatory withholding in the 401k plan every payday, which appears to be done correctly and timely. As per our benefits contract, the employer is supposed to match our ...
- 71
7
votes
1
answer
272
views
Am I required to have a lawyer create / oversee creation of my will?
While specific to my current state of residence (Kentucky), I'm wondering in the general case for the US.
Am I required to have a lawyer create / oversee writing my and my wife's wills?
What do I ...
- 3,239
7
votes
2
answers
976
views
Is it legal to charge others a fee if I handle their money for them unlicensed?
Let's say that a friend or two wants to give me x amount of dollars and asks me to invest in things. I charge them a fee or percentage even though I have no license to be a financial advisor or ...
- 204
6
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How can Ponzi schemes be detected and legally prosecuted?
Out of curiosity:
How can Ponzi schemes be detected?
What are the conditions to be classified as a Ponzi scheme?
What are the legal means to prosecute such schemes?
A Ponzi scheme "operator" can ...
- 168
6
votes
2
answers
487
views
Can you legally invest (i.e. avoid Insider Trading) when you know insider employees?
I have a family member ("Sue") that works for "Company A", which is currently working for another company ("Company B").
Me > Sue > Company A > Company B
I know nothing about company B except their ...
6
votes
1
answer
655
views
Can landlord/property change unit after approval and payment of fees?
My boyfriend and I are currently in the process of moving across the country, about 650 miles. On September 2nd we visited a property in the area we will be moving to and we really liked it. After ...
- 61
6
votes
1
answer
595
views
Do I need to keep paper records for my business?
Do I need to keep paper records of invoices, receipts and anything else required for running a business?
Ideally I am hoping that scanned copies are sufficient when running a business.
- 161
5
votes
3
answers
384
views
Is it totally legal to refuse the payment of mature commercial paper debt?
I was reading up about commercial paper on investopedia. It says that commercial paper is a form of short-term unsecured debt. It then goes on to say that
Commercial paper is not usually backed ...
- 223
5
votes
5
answers
402
views
Paid under the table prior to putting me on the books- recently told me they're issuing a 1099 for all the income they paid
I worked for a bit over 4 months under a verbal agreement that I would be paid off the books for purposes of still collecting unemployment during the pandemic.
My employer recently let me know that I'...
- 51
5
votes
3
answers
49k
views
It is legal if company asks for scans of my Credit Card?
I've made the deposit into my investment account, but company ask me for the scans (front and signed back) of my Credit Card that I used to make the deposit and send them via e-mail for verification ...
- 1,936
5
votes
3
answers
989
views
Is it insider trading if you use internal knowledge to profit from third-party stocks/investments?
To give some examples of what I have in mind:
Let's say a high-level manager at Tesla finds out they're planning to build drones using newly developed batteries that would be a huge leap compared to ...
- 5,770
5
votes
1
answer
494
views
Can a company control its stock through contracts with stockholders?
A question yesterday, Can a company refuse to sell stock?, had asked about if a company could prevent sale of its stock to certain parties. The accepted answer was that, no, a company can't put ...
- 346
5
votes
1
answer
807
views
What actions 'encumber' shares?
Reading through a shareholder agreement, I encountered the following section:
Encumbering shares
Subject to a special resolution of the shareholders to the contrary, no shareholder shall ...
- 389
5
votes
1
answer
293
views
Finding problems with house after purchase
We recently bought a house in Nebraska, USA. I am British and this was my first experience of the US home buying process (and I hope my last!). I am hoping for some guidance as to whether either the ...
- 151
4
votes
5
answers
1k
views
What are the bounds of the enforced value of "legal tender"? [closed]
Suppose Bob and Alice are both U.S. citizens and Bob lends Alice 100 euros with 105 euros required to be paid back to Bob in exactly one month. A month later, Alice comes back with X amount of ...
