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:
Continuing legal issues complicating the handling of the estate of Zappos founder Tony Hsieh; why this estate matter has been so complex; where any disputes in the matter stand now; what lessons other people may be able to draw from this case, whether in terms of their own assets and future estates, or vis a vis their inheritance rights, legal protections, potential pitfalls, or options for resolution.
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Situations under which the use of conservatorships may be a logical option to explore; how conservatorships are typically structured, implemented, and reviewed; rights and obligations of the conservatee and the conservator; potential pitfalls to address before and during a conservator’s term of service; process for contesting a conservatorship; alternatives to a conservatorship.
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Advance directives; different types of directives and circumstances or needs to which each is best suited; what an advance directive can and cannot do (and any common misconceptions that may exist regarding those points); templates or other resources for creating an advance directive; related discussions to have with family members or guardians before the need for an advance directive arises; differences in state laws regarding advance directives; additional guidance regarding an advance directive’s legality and implementation.
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Private placement life insurance; what it consists of; how it compares to other forms of life insurance; whom private placement life insurance is best suited for; potential advantages and disadvantages for individuals considering this form of insurance.
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Sexual harassment that targets students at colleges or universities, whether it’s committed by faculty, staff, fellow students, or campus visitors; schools’ obligations to protect students from harassment; how protocols for reporting or responding to harassment claims have evolved; how online actions or off-campus behaviors are treated; state or federal laws that apply to any of these types of harassment; potential for defamation or other risks for accused individuals.
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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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An accelerating controversy over localities’ use of automated license plate readers; what this technology consists of, how it works, and what it’s used for; how widespread this tech tool is becoming; how data from the license plate readers is collected, stored, shared, leveraged, and protected; how individuals or local officials are pushing back against the surge in automated license plate readers; key issues fueling opposition to the readers, and/or cases of inadvertent or deliberate misuse of the readers; what to know about the rights or potential liabilities on the part of license plate reader manufacturers or law enforcement authorities “versus” individuals’ expectations of personal privacy; what license plate readers may illustrate regarding the rise of the surveillance state.
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Issues involving student safety as the new school season gets underway; legal obligations or protections on the part of school administrators, teachers, parents, or guardians; potential risk areas or threats that may be increasing tensions for school districts these days; how artificial intelligence may be fueling risks to students’ personal safety or well-being; questions parents may want to be asking about schools’ ongoing safety protocols and their response systems for specific types of incidents; what parents or students may be able to do to help bring potential threats to authorities’ attention before a crisis occurs.
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Insurance for pets; how big of a business this is (in the country or region of your choice); whether pet insurance options have become more common (and perhaps more popular or more complex) as the veterinary industry has changed and as veterinary services costs have risen; what pet owners should consider when researching, negotiating, or renewing pet insurance policies; how pet owners may be able to lower the insurance costs for their pets’ care; any noteworthy legal disputes involving pet insurance and coverage; any interesting innovations that may be occurring in the pet insurance sector.
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A final rule published by the U.S. State Department this week pertaining to applicants for B-1 and B-2 visas; purpose of this visa bond program; when it takes effect; conditions under which the bond would be levied, returned or forfeited; whom the visa bond program would most impact.
Related information:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/countries-subject-to-visa-bonds.html
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/03/2026-15726/visas-visa-bond-program
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The process for obtaining expungement of criminal records; what this process consists of, and the significance of the end result; any universal or near-universal process guidelines vs. variations from state to state; key challenges or pitfalls that can arise in the process of seeking an expungement; potential resources that may facilitate the expungement process; alternative options to expungement, and how they compare in terms of financial expense, complexity of processes, and end results.
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Lapsed or terminated life insurance policies; allowable grounds, and required steps on the part of either insureds or insurers, for terminating a policy; any noteworthy legal disputes over terminated policies; when an option may exist for a former policyholder to reinstate a life insurance policy.
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Recent federal appeals court rulings regarding searches of travelers’ electronic devices at a U.S. border; types of searches or devices at issue; what to know about the underlying cases at issue in these rulings; practical guidance for individuals regarding protecting personal or business data when traveling.
Related information:
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The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 29 ruling in Chatrie v. United States; what to know about the workings of geofencing technology and geofence warrants; basis for the high court’s ruling; the ruling’s potential implications for individual privacy rights, for police procedures, and for investigations, arrests, and prosecutions.
Related information:
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Long-term care insurance; how it’s defined; pros and cons of this type of insurance for various individuals or scenarios; how to calculate, plan for, and manage the cost of long-term care insurance; how to evaluate specific insurance plans and providers; what else to know before purchasing long-term care insurance; potential alternatives to this type of insurance.
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Whether to use AI tools to create an estate plan; for whom and what types of circumstances AI tools are best suited in this context; best practices, limitations, or potential pitfalls to be aware of; whether an AI-generated estate plan would be more vulnerable to legal challenges after the fact.
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The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s alleged use of administrative subpoenas to determine the identities of social media users who are critical of the federal government; how administrative subpoenas work; what to know about their potential impact and limitations; how unusual the DHS’ action may, or may not, be; how social media platforms are responding to DHS subpoenas; basis for legal challenges to the DHS’s alleged targeting of online critics; how individuals can best protect themselves from repercussions when commenting online.
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Travel insurance tips; costs that travel insurance policies typically cover; limitations or exclusions to watch out for when researching travel insurance; whether other forms of insurance would be of use when travel plans go awry; alternatives to a stand-alone insurance policy when weighing travel-related risks.
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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.
Consider writing about:
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.
Consider writing about:
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.