To help with your writing efforts, here’s what people are looking for in Personal Law online. Trending topics culled from JD Supra, search analytics, social media conversations, and other sources:
Consider writing about:
How deepfakes and other tech developments are ramping up financial risks for individuals; why the elderly may be more susceptible to imposter scams and their evolving tactics; how relatives or other trusted acquaintances may be able to help at-risk individuals guard against these types of scams and better protect their assets, or pursue recovery options after the fact.
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Disputes over pet ownership, custody, care, rehoming, or visitation rights in the event of a separation or divorce; any noteworthy lawsuits or other legal developments on this front; pets’ definition and status under the law (as property or otherwise), and how that may be evolving, depending on jurisdiction; resources or additional guidance on preventing or resolving disputes over one’s pets.
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Data privacy and data security issues that individuals considering whether to use ChatGPT or similar AI tools should be aware of; how people’s personal information is stored or used by AI companies; what privacy laws may or may not apply; settings and data rights that individuals should familiarize themselves with if they want to better manage the AI industry’s use of their information.
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A new rule implemented by the U.S. Department of Education on May 1st regarding student loans; when the rule takes effect; the department’s rationale for the new limits; how the new caps stand to affect students, educational institutions, and specific professions or industries; confusion or unanswered questions that have arisen around the Education Department’s action; what to know about lawsuits challenging the department rule; how student loans have trended over the years; potential financial alternatives for students who may be facing new loan restrictions and resulting financial hardship.
Related information:
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What happens if someone dies without having created a will. Take your pick of several potential approaches for examining this issue, whether by presenting a cautionary tale (real-life or hypothetical) regarding the fate of an estate that lacks a will, or describing state-specific laws that pertain to such situations, or using the passing of a celebrity as a jumping-off point for describing the consequences of dying without a will. How are these types of situations likely to play out for dependents, other relatives, or other would-be heirs? What courses of action might affected parties pursue after they discover that the deceased left no will?
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Common legal issues involving children as they head off to college. Among the points to consider exploring: matters involving parental authority and consent; medical authority issues; health care proxy forms; access to reproductive health services; power of attorney; handling of finances and digital assets; and more.
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Estate planning issues to consider in the case of estate holders or potential beneficiaries who may have permanent – or intermittent but severe – conditions that would impair their financial decision-making; types of trusts that can be useful tools in these types of situations; what to know about the role of a trustee or other outside advisers; additional guidance on how to get ahead of a potentially dangerous series of missteps.
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What to know when undertaking domestic or international travel with minors, whether family members or otherwise; potential legal issues involving minors; documentation that may need to be presented for international travel, especially in the case of divorced parents; additional issues involving travel industry safeguards related to the prevention of child sex trafficking and how those well-intentioned precautions may inadvertently snare innocent adults; how to resolve disputes with transit authorities over issues involving minors; remedies or compensation available to passengers who have experienced travel interruptions or additional costs due to conflicting or missing information from airlines or other travel industry companies regarding documentation needed for a minor child; additional tips regarding contractual obligations, waivers, and travel insurance.
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The legal rights of parties to human egg donations; legal protections and obligations that may apply to these types of arrangements; important contract terms to cover; potential liability risks, common oversights, or other pitfalls that can arise in egg donation arrangements; what else individuals should be aware of before entering into an egg donation agreement.
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The process of renouncing one’s citizenship (whether as regards most countries, or regarding a specific country); benefits of doing so; key steps in the process; common pitfalls or misunderstandings to avoid; what else to know before going through with this process; potential alternatives (under certain scenarios) to renouncing citizenship; related trends involving the renouncing of citizenship.
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How (and when) to challenge a will; common grounds for doing so; what constitutes undue influence; related points regarding notifications, timelines, legal rights, costs, and types of challenges. Consider whether to present a descriptive list of do’s and don’ts by itself, or whether to use a real-life case as an example of what to do, or as a cautionary tale illustrating what not to do.
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Laws, rights, protections, or other issues involved in fostering children; qualifications needed to foster children; how to find and vet a placement agency; preparation, paperwork, and common pitfalls; additional issues involving age-specific details, children from other countries, or children with special needs; whether to make the transition from a foster parent-child relationship to adoption (and how to do so); a look at any noteworthy cases illustrating how disputes may arise (or are resolved) involving foster or adoptive parents, children, and agencies involved in children’s placement and welfare.
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Planning for pets’ needs in the event of an owner’s illness, displacement, incapacitation, or death; how pet owners (or their relatives or caretakers) can prepare for these transitions and help ensure a continued happy life for beloved pets; how to establish trusts addressing pets’ needs; conversations and documentation to undertake in advance; anticipating potential challenges (whether by family members or by outside parties) to a pet trust’s terms; practical takeaways from any real-life legal disputes involving trusts that have been set up for pets.
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The steps involved in writing a final will and testament; what to include and not to include; how to select an executor; how to provide for minor children and other dependents; key financial considerations to address; how to talk to a spouse or other family members about your last wishes; pointers on living wills; how to turn a will into a legal document; templates and sample language. Alternatively, consider doing one of the following: present a list of do’s and don’ts on crafting a will; or use a legal dispute over a contested will (perhaps involving a celebrity) as a jumping-off point to illustrate potential pitfalls; or write about what can happen if someone does not have a will.
Consider writing about:
The process of arranging to donate one’s own body or a loved one’s body to scientific endeavors (ranging from a medical teaching facility to a forensic “body farm”); how to locate, assess, and choose among prospective recipient entities; applicable legal or regulatory standards and guidelines; designation of a responsible party to carry out the transfer of the body; additional guidance regarding communication with family members or caretakers; the recording and execution of donation plans; the costs of donating a body to science vs. the cost of cremations, burials, or newer, purportedly more eco-conscious alternatives; any common misunderstandings regarding the body donation process and necessary steps, or other obligations, limitations, or considerations.
Consider writing about:
A March ruling by a federal appeals court regarding a Biden-era program for student loan borrowers; what the ruling means for the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan and participants in the program; new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education in the wake of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling; what else individuals with outstanding student loans should know about their options and obligations; how student loans and debt have been trending in recent years;
Related information:
https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Education/2026/0328/affordability-save-plan-student-loans-debt
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/30/student-loan-borrowers-deadline-save.html
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Conditions under which a native-born American may be able to obtain dual citizenship, whether through marriage, citizenship by descent, or naturalized citizenship status; common misunderstandings regarding any of these scenarios; limitations or roadblocks to securing dual citizenship rights and protections; key points to know about the process (either generally speaking or specific to one country) of obtaining dual citizenship; additional options for high-net-worth individuals; any downsides to possessing dual citizenship.
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New proposals (whether nationally, globally, or in a more limited jurisdiction) to legalize or otherwise encourage “human composting” (also known as terramation or natural organic reduction); what this alternative to better-known forms of burial or cremation consists of; how to vet a business that advertises this service; how this type of business practice is regulated; what else to consider before choosing this end-of-life option; and perhaps a wider-angle look at other types of services that advertise themselves as being greener alternatives to either customary burials or cremations.
Related information:
https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2026/04/09/lawmakers-weigh-human-composting-in-illinois
Consider writing about:
Living trusts; how they are defined and what purpose they serve; main types of trusts and their advantages and disadvantages; tips on creating and maintaining a living trust; how to protect (or alternatively, how to challenge) a living trust; common mistakes, misunderstandings, or oversights involving living trusts; alternatives to living trusts; and perhaps a look at what can happen if someone fails to create or properly execute a living trust.
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The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act; focus of this congressional legislation; how it could affect individuals’ ability to vote; related pointers for individuals regarding current or outdated forms of personal identification and proof of citizenship; how individuals can best protect their voting rights.
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What individuals should do when they suspect, or receive a notice of, a data breach involving their private information; how to tell a legitimate notification from a fake one; key steps for minimizing fallout following a data breach, and for preventing or ceasing the criminal misuse of one’s personal data; additional tips regarding online safety and electronic devices; overview of breach notification laws, and what an affected individual may consider doing if those laws have not been followed; how to obtain financial relief in conjunction with damage caused by a data breach; what else to know about related processes involving claims, settlements, and payouts.
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Tax treatment of proceeds from crowdfunding campaigns; common misconceptions or other potential pitfalls on the part of individual or business recipients of crowdfunding donations; how these funds are regarded by taxation authorities (in the jurisdiction of your choice); best practices as regards recordkeeping, documentation, reporting, etc.
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Tax issues that first-time homebuyers should be paying attention to, whether prior to a property purchase, or after the acquisition of a property, or, down the road, if they decide to sell that property; guidance on tax obligations, credits, and deductions; common oversights or misunderstandings pertaining to real estate-related tax reporting and filing; practical takeaways from any recent or otherwise noteworthy court cases involving homeowners and tax strategies.
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The process by which a missing person is declared legally dead; whether this process may differ markedly from one jurisdiction to another; rights and potential pitfalls for family members and others, whether pertaining to inheritance or other matters; and, conversely, what someone can do if they discover that they have been declared legally dead without their knowledge.
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Tennessee legislation that would set a death penalty for women who have abortions; under what circumstances such a sentence might arise; exceptions to the penalties described in the Tennessee measure; how novel this proposed amendment may be (whether strictly for Tennessee, or nationally or internationally); whether other jurisdictions are considering similar laws; current status of the Tennessee measure, and prospects for its passage; potential grounds for challenging such legislation; how legal disputes over abortion restrictions are unfolding nationally.
Related information:
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Your choice of familiar or newer tax-related scams, especially those that start popping up more frequently as we approach tax filing deadlines. Take your pick of scams targeting individual taxpayers or businesses in general, or tax professionals in particular. What should taxpayers or their tax advisers be on the lookout for this season, and how might tax-related scams be evolving with increased accessibility to AI systems and other tech tools? What guidance is the Internal Revenue Service or law enforcement offering on these threats, and what additional guidance would you add (whether in terms of precautions or ways to mitigate damage after the fact)?
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Sexual contact in assisted-care facilities; how perspectives on this topic (whether on the part of the care facilities themselves or family members or others) may be evolving; issues pertaining to consent, privacy, and security; need to distinguish between consensual vs. non-consensual contact; complications involving dementia or other mental impairments; related guardian rights and obligations; any noteworthy lawsuits involving these issues; information that caregivers should seek on this topic before choosing a care facility.
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Tax tips for expats. Common tax questions, misunderstandings, or blind spots that may arise for U.S. citizens when living or working outside the United States; related pointers involving tax benefits, credits, obligations, or potential pitfalls; relevant best practices, or related pointers on how to simplify one’s tax reporting process or perhaps minimize one’s tax bill after relocating to another country, whether full-time or part-time.
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The issue of designating a guardian in case a minor child is left without parents or other legally recognized adult caretakers. What should an individual do to help ensure that a child will not be left to fend for him- or herself in the event of an untimely death? What are the recommended processes, tools, and resources for the following? — choosing and designating a guardian; initiating and recording relevant communications on the guardian’s selection and role; allocation of finances; and the subsequent protection of a minor heir’s finances and overall well-being, among other issues. What are the potential pitfalls involving the selection of a guardian and a guardian’s ability to fulfill an expected role?
Consider writing about:
What to keep in mind when trying to decide whether to establish a family foundation; typical objectives or scenarios for which a family foundation would be a suitable match; planning tips, best practices, applicable regulations, legal obligations, or potential pitfalls to be aware of, or a list of do’s and don’ts to consider; alternatives to a family foundation.