Reference articles for US readers
Each article explains a single topic in plain language, with citations to federal and state sources. Start anywhere — the articles stand alone.
DocAssessment uses a deterministic-first extraction pipeline to analyse legal documents. The articles below give the background context for the most common document types — lease, employment, insurance, contract — so readers can take the extracted facts into an informed next step. For the technical pipeline, see the methodology page.
California Lease Law Basics: What Renters and Landlords Should Know
A plain-language overview of California residential lease law covering notice periods, security deposit limits, habitability duties, and renter protections under Civil Code sections 1940 to 1954.
2026-04-21 · 1,701 words
Texas Residential Lease Requirements: The Core Rules in the Property Code
An overview of Texas residential lease rules covering security deposits, habitability, notice periods, and the statutory disclosures required under Chapter 92 of the Property Code.
2026-04-21 · 1,647 words
New York City Lease Rights: Rent Stabilization, ETPA, and the HSTPA
A walkthrough of residential lease rights in New York City — rent stabilization, the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, the 2019 HSTPA reforms, and the Attorney General's tenant guide.
2026-04-21 · 1,676 words
Security Deposit Limits by State: A Practical Reference for US Renters
A reference article summarising residential security deposit caps, return deadlines, and bad-faith penalties across several US states, drawn from state statutes and attorney general guidance.
2026-04-21 · 1,840 words
Lease Renewal vs Month-to-Month: What Each Option Means for US Renters
How fixed-term lease renewals compare with month-to-month tenancies in the United States — notice periods, rent-increase mechanics, and the tradeoffs each choice carries.
2026-04-21 · 1,731 words
Breaking a Lease Legally: The Paths US Tenants Use to Terminate Early
A practical overview of the statutory and contractual paths US tenants may use to terminate a residential lease before the end date, from SCRA protections to constructive eviction.
2026-04-21 · 1,516 words
At-Will Employment Explained: What US Workers and Employers Should Know
A plain-language overview of at-will employment in the United States — the default doctrine, the exceptions, and the clauses in offer letters and contracts that modify it.
2026-04-21 · 1,649 words
W-2 vs W-9 vs 1099: What Each Form Means for US Workers
A practical explanation of the W-2, W-9, and 1099-NEC / 1099-MISC forms — who files them, what they report, and how the employment-versus-contractor distinction drives the choice.
2026-04-21 · 1,571 words
Non-Compete Enforceability by State: A US Reference After the FTC Rule
A state-by-state reference on residential non-compete clause enforceability, the 2024 FTC rule status, and the factors courts apply when the clause is subject to state-law review.
2026-04-21 · 1,516 words
Severance Agreement Red Flags: What US Workers Should Read Carefully
A reference article on severance agreement clauses that frequently warrant extra scrutiny — release scope, ADEA compliance, confidentiality, non-disparagement, cooperation, and cure periods.
2026-04-21 · 1,580 words
Employment Contract vs Offer Letter: What's Actually Binding in a US Hire
A factual comparison of offer letters and employment contracts in the US — what each typically includes, how they interact with at-will employment, and which clauses are legally enforceable.
2026-04-21 · 1,577 words
FMLA Eligibility and Rights: What US Workers Need to Know
A practical overview of the Family and Medical Leave Act — who qualifies, what leave is available, how it interacts with state laws, and the reinstatement and benefits rights FMLA provides.
2026-04-21 · 1,509 words
Understanding Health Insurance EOBs: How to Read an Explanation of Benefits
A plain-language walkthrough of the Explanation of Benefits document health insurers send after each claim — what the line items mean, how to spot errors, and when to appeal.
2026-04-21 · 1,512 words
Auto Insurance Policy Declarations: How to Read the Dec Page
A guide to reading the declarations page of a US auto insurance policy — coverages, limits, deductibles, rated drivers, and what the dec page does and does not tell you.
2026-04-21 · 1,656 words
Homeowners Policy Exclusions: What Standard Policies Do Not Cover
An overview of the exclusions that typically appear in US homeowners insurance policies — flood, earthquake, maintenance, wear and tear, and the named-peril versus open-peril distinction.
2026-04-21 · 1,570 words
Disability Insurance: Short-Term vs Long-Term in the US
A comparison of short-term and long-term disability insurance in the United States — waiting periods, benefit periods, own-occupation vs any-occupation, and how employer and individual policies differ.
2026-04-21 · 1,518 words
Life Insurance Beneficiary Designations: How They Actually Work
A practical guide to life insurance beneficiary designations in the United States — primary vs contingent, per stirpes vs per capita, minors, trusts, and common mistakes that cause payouts to go sideways.
2026-04-21 · 1,598 words
Contract vs Memorandum of Understanding: What's Actually Binding
A practical distinction between contracts and MOUs in US business practice — when an MOU creates legal obligations, the language that matters, and the clauses that make each document enforceable or not.
2026-04-21 · 1,602 words
Force Majeure Clauses Explained: What They Cover and What They Don't
A practical overview of force majeure clauses in US contracts — what counts as an excused event, notice and mitigation requirements, and how pandemics and supply disruptions have reshaped the doctrine.
2026-04-21 · 1,606 words
Non-Disclosure Agreement Essentials: The Clauses That Actually Matter
A walkthrough of the essential clauses in US non-disclosure agreements — definition of confidential information, exclusions, permitted uses, term, and the landmines to avoid.
2026-04-21 · 1,552 words
Indemnification Clauses: A Reading Guide for US Contracts
A practical guide to reading indemnification clauses in US business contracts — scope, carve-outs, procedural requirements, duty to defend, and insurance backing.
2026-04-21 · 1,544 words
Contract Termination: For Convenience vs For Cause
A practical comparison of termination-for-convenience and termination-for-cause clauses in US business contracts — notice requirements, remedies, cure periods, and the differences in risk allocation.
2026-04-21 · 1,548 words
Contract Assignment and Delegation: What Can Be Transferred, and How
A walkthrough of contract assignment and delegation in US business practice — which rights can be transferred, consent requirements, anti-assignment clauses, and the treatment of delegable duties.
2026-04-21 · 1,632 words
Reading an Invoice vs a Quote: What Each Document Means
A practical guide to the difference between a quote and an invoice in US business practice — legal significance, payment obligations, and what each document does and does not commit you to.
2026-04-21 · 1,560 words
Small Business Vendor Agreement Basics: What to Read Before Signing
A practical guide for US small businesses reading vendor agreements — scope of work, payment terms, warranties, liability limits, indemnity, termination, and the clauses that most often cause trouble.
2026-04-21 · 1,668 words