The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is disrupting almost every part of life in the U.S. (and around the globe). In addition to fears for your health and loved ones, you may have critical questions about your rights to paid sick leave, medical leave, unemployment insurance, workers’ compensation, or disability benefits. Below you will find legal updates and information on emergency orders, government policies, and laws that have been enacted in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
If you were already in communication with a lawyer, or were wondering how to contact one during this time, see our article on safely communicating with a lawyer during the stay-in orders.
In response to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, many businesses around the country have laid off workers or drastically reduced their hours. In addition, thousands of people have been forced to stop working—or to request extended leave—to perform childcare, to care for family members who have contracted coronavirus, or to deal with their own medical issues related to the disease.
If you're a worker who has been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak, you might qualify for unemployment benefits, workers' compensation benefits, or a period of paid or unpaid leave. Learn more about your rights and benefits here.
Coronavirus (COVID-19), Disasters, Emergencies, and Price Gouging in California
Coronavirus: Your Rights in the Workplace
Taking Family and Medical Leave
Coronavirus: Can I Be Forced to Work in Unsafe Conditions?
Collecting Unemployment Benefits in Your State
Basic Unemployment Information
Unemployment Benefits: How Much Will You Get -- and For How Long?
Unemployment Benefits: What If You're Fired?
Denied Unemployment Benefits: The Appeal Process
Do You Need a Lawyer to File for Unemployment Benefits?
Partial Unemployment Benefits During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak
Leaving Your Job: Layoffs, Furlough, and RFI's
Furloughs: Can My Employer Cut My Work Hours?
Do Employees Have Any Protections From Being Laid Off?
Reduction-In-Force or Layoff: What Difference Does it Make?
Union Employees: Are You Protected From Layoffs?
Your Rights When You Leave a Job
Can I Get Workers' Compensation Benefits for Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Workers' Comp: Can I Get Wage-Loss Benefits While in Quarantine for Coronavirus Exposure?
Workers' Compensation Benefits for Coronavirus
State Specific Articles on Workers' Comp Benefits
Injuries and Illnesses Covered by Workers' Compensation
FAQ on Workers' Compensation Claims and Benefits in California
Your Rights Under Wage and Hour laws
Unpaid Wages: Do You Need a Lawyer?
Emergency Coronavirus Law Provides Paid Sick Leave and Expands FMLA Rights
State Laws Protecting Your Right to Time Off Work
State Family and Medical Leave Laws
Wrongful Termination: Was Your Firing Illegal?
Damages in a Wrongful Termination Case
Wrongful Termination: Retaliation & Whistleblowing
What Will It Cost to Hire a Lawyer for Your Wrongful Termination Case?
The coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a major impact on every business and industry around the globe in expected and unexpected ways. Read below to learn how to adapt to the current national crisis, and manage your business, employees, and possible layoffs during the coronavirus outbreak.
Enforcement of Business Closure Orders During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Illegal Reasons for Firing Employees
Keeping Your Remaining Employees After Layoffs
How to Cut Costs and Spend Less in a Cash-Strapped Business
The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is wreaking havoc on just about every aspect of peoples’ lives, including work, business operations, personal finances, and more. Below you will find updates on government responses to the COVID-19 crisis--like the IRS extending income tax payment deadlines--and general information to help you through this crisis. Whether you own a business, are an independent contractor, or have general questions or concerns on things like deducting stock losses, we will provide information and legal updates to help keep you informed.
CARES Act: Learn About the Key New Tax Provisions
Deducting Business Losses Related to the Coronavirus Outbreak
IRS Eases Enforcement Efforts During Coronavirus Pandemic
How to Claim a Tax Deduction for Stock Losses
IRS Extends 2019 Income Tax Payment Deadline in Response to Coronavirus
What Assistance is Available for My Small Business Shut Down by the Coronavirus Pandemic?
Force Majeure Contract Provisions During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Coronavirus and Business Contracts: When Performance Becomes Impossible or Impracticable
Relief Available to Independent Contractors During Coronavirus Outbreak
In response to COVID-19, states are changing their short-term disability programs and Social Security has changed the way it's handling applications and appeals. Find out how to keep your claim on track.
Get Help With Social Security Disability Claims During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Getting California Short-Term Disability Benefits During the Coronavirus Outbreak
How COVID-19 and School Closures Affect Special Education and Children With IEPs
The economic impact of COVID-19 has been extreme for so many Americans, tenants among them. People who are renting want to know what their rights are and whether any relief is available in light of the coronavirus (it is). At the same time, many landlords face financial stress as well, and also need to know what their rights and options are. See below for information on these critical issues.
Emergency Bans on Evictions and Other Tenant Protections Related to Coronavirus
How Evictions Work: What Renters Need to Know
Evicting a Tenant or Ending a Lease
How to Evict a Tenant by State
Statewide Rent Control Has Arrived: California’s Tenant Protection Act of 2019
Emergency Bans on Evictions and Other Tenant Protections Related to Coronavirus
In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, the federal government, as well as and some states, counties, and courts, have imposed a foreclosure moratorium—a temporary halt to the initiation or continuation of foreclosure procedures—for specific kinds of loans and in particular areas of the country.
Also, if the coronavirus outbreak has impacted your ability to make mortgage payments, you might qualify short-term payment relief, like a forbearance or a waiver of late fees, or a more permanent solution, like a loan modification. Learn more about whether you’re protected from foreclosure due to a moratorium, and how to apply for mortgage relief, here.
Coronavirus: Foreclosure Relief
Coronavirus: Mortgage Relief If You Have an FHA-Insured Loan
Coronavirus Mortgage and Foreclosure Relief Under the Federal CARES Act
Moratorium on Reverse Mortgage Foreclosures Due to Coronavirus Outbreak
While each day of a pandemic or national emergency brings with it unpredictable events, the financial hurdles most people face are surprisingly universal. Find out how planning for both best-case and worst-case scenarios will help you make sound decisions for you and your family.
How Much Will My COVID-19 Stimulus Check Be, and Am I Eligible?
Student Loan Relief Under the Federal CARES Act
Coronavirus: Dealing With Debt
Dealing With Loans and Credit Card Debt You Can't Pay After COVID-19
How to Manage Your Credit During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Mortgage Payment Relief During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Coronavirus: Mortgage Relief If You Have a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac Loan
Coronavirus Mortgage and Foreclosure Relief Under the Federal CARES Act
How to Manage Your Federal Student Loans During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Laid Off Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Bankruptcy Can Help.
Can I File for Bankruptcy If I Can't Leave the House Due to Coronavirus?
Bankruptcy Procedures Change Due to Coronavirus Outbreak
Coronavirus Pushes Back Deadline for Bankruptcy Filers to Get REAL ID
California Northern District Bankruptcy Court Closes Physical Location Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Washington Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District Closes Physical Locations Due to Coronavirus
New Jersey Bankruptcy Court Closes Physical Locations Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Florida Southern District Bankruptcy Court Closes Physical Locations Due to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
The fallout from the coronavirus has reached all corners of the legal system, including personal injury and medical malpractice cases. What happens to cases that were in progress? What are the rules for the cases that emerge in the midst of the pandemic?
Coronavirus: Can I Be Liable for Getting Someone Else Sick?
How Might Coronavirus Affect Your Personal Injury Case?
States Allow Doctors to Practice Across State Lines During COVID-19 Crisis
Whether you're a U.S. citizen abroad or an immigrant hoping to come to the United States, you'll want to keep track of any new restrictions and daily changes in U.S. government policies and procedures.
How Health Issues Can Make You Inadmissible to the U.S.
Will Collecting Unemployment During Coronavirus Outbreak Make Me a Public Charge?
Granted a Temporary Visa Before Coronavirus Outbreak, Can I Still Come to the U.S.?
At the U.S. Border or Airport During COVID-19 Pandemic: What to Expect When Entering
Ban Imposed on Travelers From Europe Due to Coronavirus Threat
Temporary Ban and Quarantine Affects Travel to the U.S. From China, Due to Coronavirus
Trump Expands Ban on Entry Due to Coronavirus to U.S. to Travelers From Iran
H-1B Employers and Coronavirus: Obligations Your Business May Have to Workers
How H-1B Workers Can Maintain Legal Status During Coronavirus Pandemic
The U.S. Constitution and state constitutions protect citizens' fundamental rights--the right to travel, the right to due process, and the right to a fair trial, among others. How will emergency police powers (such as curfews and quarantines) and court closings impact these rights?
Emergency Powers and Citizen Rights During the Coronavirus Public Health Crisis
Coronavirus (COVID-19), Disasters, Emergencies, and Criminal Price Gouging in California
Resources for Domestic Violence Victims During COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Orders
Impact of Coronavirus Outbreak on Jails
How Is the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Impacting Criminal Cases?
The global Coronavirus pandemic is upending every aspect of our lives. To reduce the spread of this virus, local and state governments are ordering businesses and courts to close, and asking people to stay home and practice social distancing. How will the social and economic impacts of this pandemic affect family law issues, such as divorce cases, custody arrangements, and support orders?
How to Handle Child Custody and Visitation During the COVID-19 Outbreak
How Family Law Attorneys and Courts are Operating During the Coronavirus Outbreak
All markets are being affected by the pandemic, and real estate is no exception. Learn more about what to consider regarding buying, selling, or owning a home during this unstable time.
Can You Buy a House During Coronavirus Pandemic?
Selling a House During Coronavirus Pandemic
Is Now a Good Time to Refinance My Home Mortgage?
In the face of coronavirus uncertainty, wills, powers of attorney, living wills, and other documents can help you be prepared for the unexpected. Social distancing and commerce restrictions may complicate finalizing some of these documents, but there’s still a lot you can do—even from quarantine-- to safeguard your assets, protect your family, and explain your final wishes.
Using WillMaker During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Coronavirus Preparation: Now is the Time to Make a Living Will & Medical Power of Attorney
Notarizing and Witnessing Legal Documents During the Coronavirus Crisis
Creating a Financial Power of Attorney While in Coronavirus Quarantine