E.A. Gjelten

E.A. Gjelten

Legal Editor

E.A. (Liz) Gjelten has been a special projects editor at Nolo since 2016. A generalist when it comes to subject matter, she enjoys using her research, analytical, and writing skills to translate complex legal issues into jargon-free language that’s accessible to lay readers without compromising accuracy.

Nolo. In addition to her work on surveys about lay people’s experiences with the legal process, Liz writes articles for Nolo.com, Lawyers.com, Criminaldefenselawyer.com, and Alllaw.com in several areas of the law, including workers’ compensation, criminal law, civil rights, school law, and animal law. 

Legal background. Before coming to Nolo, Liz worked for 12 years as a legal author for Thomson Reuters, writing about new legal developments in workers’ compensation and family law for Westlaw and print publications. She also wrote an annual roundup of new California legislation for a monthly family law journal. Before that, Liz worked as an author, legal editor, and managing editor for California Family Law Report, a small legal publishing company.

Other pursuits. Liz has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University. She’s a produced playwright and has taught at San Francisco State University and New College of California. She’s also worked as a freelance book editor, journalist, and grant writer.

Articles By E.A. Gjelten

What Happens If the Dog Bite Victim Was Partly at Fault?
When a dog-bite victim and dog owner share liability for the victim’s injuries, states have different rules for deciding how much compensation the victim should receive—if they get anything.
What Happens When Dogs Hurt or Chase Livestock?
Farmers and other livestock owners may legally kill dogs that are chasing or attacking their animals, and the dog owners are responsible for any damages to the livestock.
Living Together and Property Agreements
Learn what cohabitation agreements are, who needs one, the legal requirements for an enforceable cohabitation contract, and what it should include.
Child Support Payment FAQ
Paying child support can seem like a burden. Do you have to pay? For how long? Get answers to common questions about child support.
When Dogs Bite Veterinarians or Other Animal Workers
When can a vet or groomer sue a pet owner for a bite or other injury?
Strict Liability Dog-Bite Laws
Most states in the U.S. make dog owners financially responsible when their animals bite someone, even if the owner wasn’t negligent or didn’t know the dog could be dangerous. But there may be exceptions and conditions.
New Jersey Dog-Bite Laws
Dog owners in New Jersey could be liable in a civil lawsuit if their animals hurt someone—but they may have legal defenses.
A Negligent Dog Owner's Liability
If a dog hurts someone because its owner didn’t take reasonable care to control the animal, the owner could be legally responsible for the injury.
Child Custody and Religion
Religion can be a hot button topic, particularly during a child custody dispute. Can one parent raise the child in a certain religion without the other parent’s consent? Continue reading to learn all about religion and child custody.
Child Visitation Guidelines
Learn how child visitation works, including parents’ rights to spend time with their children, visitation and parenting time agreements, how judges decide on visitation, when grandparents can get visitation, and more.