Top 10 Legal How-Tos of 2014

The idea of tackling a legal issue yourself may seem intimidating, but you may be surprised at what you can accomplish with a little legal know-how.

Of course, there are some instances where consulting with a lawyer is the most prudent option. There are others, however, in which hiring a lawyer may or may not be necessary. Our series "Legal How-To" presents some of those scenarios, laying out what is required for those who may be interested in taking on a legal issue on their own.

What were this year's most popular DIY legal stories? Here are the top 10 Legal How-Tos of 2014:

1. Legal How-To: Getting Student Loans Forgiven -- For those suffering under the weight of student loan debt, there are a number of options for student loan forgiveness.
2. Legal How-To: Challenging Radar Guns in Court -- Looking to fight your speeding ticket? You may be able to challenge radar gun evidence in court.
3. Legal How-To: Getting Squatters Evicted -- Trying to remove squatters on your property by force may lead to trouble. Instead, squatters must generally be evicted through a legal process known as unlawful detainer.
4. Legal How-To: Changing Your Court Date -- Although the rules vary by jurisdiction and the type of case, in many instances you may be able to change a court date that conflicts with your schedule by following a few simple steps.
5. Legal How-To: Fighting a Restraining Order -- If you are served with a restraining order, you have the option of fighting it in court. But you should be sure to follow the rules set out by the order in the meantime.
6. Legal How-To: Using Facebook as Evidence -- In addition to being a useful social network, Facebook can also be used to provide evidence in court.
7. Legal How-To: Evicting a Roommate -- Sometimes, getting a roommate to leave is as simple as just asking. In other situations, however, a roommate must be formally evicted.
8. Legal How-To: Taking Your Wife's Last Name -- More men are choosing to take their wife's last name, but doing so may be more problematic in some states than in others.
9. Legal How-To: Withdrawing Your Child From Public School -- Parents generally have the right to withdraw a child from public school and educate the child at home, but there are legal requirements for doing so.
10. Legal How-To: Getting Married in Las Vegas -- Las Vegas is a great place for a wedding. But before tying the knot, make sure that what happens in Vegas will actually be legally recognized outside of Vegas.

For more tips and information on a wide range of legal topics, check out FindLaw's Learn About the Law section.

Related Resources:

• FindLaw's Top 10 Consumer Blog Posts for 2014 (FindLaw Insider)
• Top 10 Legally Weird Stories of 2014 (FindLaw's Legally Weird)
• Top 10 DUI Stories of 2014 (FindLaw's Blotter)
• The Top 10 Celebrity Justice Stories of 2014 (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)