At 18, everyone becomes legally responsible for his or her actions. Ignorance of the law is never a good enough defense. With this easy-to-use guide, any Californian can avoid common legal pitfalls--and lawyers` fees--by knowing what the laws are. In clearly organized chapters, illustrated with humorous true stories, Jean Wallace summarizes the law relating to areas of particular interest to young adults. These include: * Cars (traffic violations, accidents, repairs, buying, and selling) * Criminal law (pranks, hazing, DUI, etc., and their penalties, arrests and bail procedures, and court proceedings) * Landlord-tenant problems (leases, roommates, repairs, and deposits) * Consumer credit * Travel in Mexico * Marriage, divorce, and child support She also provides information on self-help agencies, small claims court, and how to hire and use an attorney. With information nowhere else available in such a simple, concise form, What Every 18-Year-Old Needs to Know about California Law will help young adults avoid costly and frightening encounters with the legal system. Indeed, any citizen of California with legal questions can benefit from this reliable guide.