Ancient Egyptian law dates back to the year 3000BC. More than five thousand years ago, the legal system’s beginnings were based on tradition, social equality, rhetorical speech, and impartiality. Similar to the modern legal mechanisms of today, in those days, there were also witnesses, an individual that could be considered a judge, and two separated parties vying for an outcome of either guilty or innocent.
Currently, the law is involved in almost every single process of personal life, corporate behavior, and national governance. Examples include criminal law, business law, civil rights law, family law, and environmental law.
If you are the owner of a manufacturing business in a remote, natural area of your country, it will serve you best to know the different legal requirements as it pertains to corporate environmental practices. If you are the victim of an accident involving a large vehicle, hiring a truck accident attorney would guarantee you and your loved ones get the proper compensation you deserve.
As we can see, the law is everywhere we look. As a result, it would be wise for us to familiarize ourselves with the different legalities involved at different stages in our lives. Some of the most common ones include purchasing a house and finding work.
Purchasing a House
Some people are fortunate enough to have sufficient money to purchase a house or apartment outright. For the rest of us, we need to rely on mortgages and other types of housing loans, either from public or private banks or other financial institutions. From a legal standpoint, before you decide on borrowing money, there are a few aspects to consider:
- Length. If you are in your late twenties in America, you can get a mortgage for a period of up to 50 years. Still, you should be careful when making this choice. A long-term mortgage might have low monthly payments. But this doesn’t mean you are saving money.
- Collateral and other requirements. Be mindful of what you sign off to the bank. In some instances, you will be able to borrow a larger amount of money by including your car, your parents’ house, or even property you don’t own as collateral. Read the terms thoroughly and, if possible, have a qualified lawyer help you decide on what to sign and what not to.
- Interest rates. As with length, there are many options from which to use. You can have a fixed interest rate, a flexible one, or a combination of both. As such, look at your current finances and make a forecast for the future. Work on it until you can come up with a payment plan that is realistic and affordable.
By looking at these and other aspects, your mortgage will be an opportunity to have the house of your dreams, not the nightmares in your least favorite horror movie.
Finding Work
Many college graduates are excited to join the workforce. The beginning of their careers represents financial independence and is a clear sign that you have finally become an adult.
Let us imagine you went through a thorough interview process to beat other candidates for a high-paying position. It is now time to sign the contract and start working. But before you sign your name on the dotted line and buy a couple of your favorite suits, make sure you read the contract in its entirety. And if you have questions, ask the HR manager to clarify them to you and explain why a certain clause is included in the document you are signing.
Some companies offer great benefits, but in reality, if you read between the lines, you will see that, in fact, they are making you work very hard for your money. For example, your contract might not include overtime pay or a commutation allowance. In other cases, your paid leave will not carry over to the following year. Even if you are extremely busy and cannot take any days off, you will not be compensated for this.
Of course, most organizations will offer you a fair working deal. Still, you shouldn’t rest on your laurels and accept any job offer without looking at the real working conditions it represents.
There are plenty of moments in our lives where we will have to make decisions based on the law. Two of these are the time when you purchase your first house and the moment you start working. Others are marriage, starting a business, and writing a will if you have an estate to leave behind for your immediate family, other relatives, or close friends.
Remember, there is no such thing as too much information. Thus, do your due diligence on all legal matters you encounter. It will prevent you from having many future unnecessary headaches.
