Preserve relevant evidence early. The duty and its scope depend on the governing law and the circumstances; the federal electronic-evidence rule does not set a universal retention timetable.
General principles, with federal Rule 37(e) as the main example for electronic information and California’s CACI No. 204 jury instruction as the labeled state example. Rules for physical evidence and in other states differ. The guide does not cover criminal cases.
A civil case moves through a predictable set of stages, but most of the deadlines that matter are set by the court you are in. Knowing the sequence helps you see what comes next and what you cannot ignore.
General principles, with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as the labeled worked example and California court self-help guidance as the labeled state example. Deadlines, limits and procedures differ by court and by state. The guide does not cover criminal cases or the deadline for filing a lawsuit in the first place.
Every civil claim comes with a deadline to file. Miss it, and the other side can usually ask the court to end the case before anyone looks at what happened.
General principles, with California court guidance and Texas statute text as the labeled examples. Each state sets its own periods, start dates and exceptions by type of claim. No 50-state survey, no criminal deadlines, and no advice on calculating a specific deadline.
A settlement trades a lawsuit or claim for a payment or promise. The release you sign decides how much of your right to sue you hand over in that trade.
General principles, with California statute, court guidance and court forms as the labeled example. Release rules, approval of minors’ settlements and enforceability of particular clauses differ by state. Tax points are federal only. No settlement values or advice on whether to settle.