No, you are not. Only a judge can increase your child support amount. If a judge does increase the amount you are ordered to pay, then you would have a legal obligation to pay that amount.

No. She is not legally obligated to report the crime and the prosecutor can’t make her testify against her husband. It’s called spousal privilege. However, if the state believes she conspired with her husband to manufacture and distribute meth, she may be prosecuted.

Question: Can the alimony I pay be increased if my ex-wife quits her job voluntarily and has no visible means of support? There are no children involved. Can I really be made to pay her more than I do now?!

The Judge’s Answer: In order for your ex-wife to receive an increase in alimony, she must prove that there has been a substantial change in her income and financial status that would warrant modification. If she voluntarily quit her job so that you can pay her more alimony, it is unlikely the court will grant her request for an increase.

The hospital has a duty to provide you medical treatment in cases of emergencies and cannot deny you simply because you don’t have insurance. If you have been denied treatment, you can sue the hospital for damages or seek an injunction to prevent the hospital from denying you and others emergency treatment. However, pursuant to Obamacare, everyone must have health insurance either through a private provider or through a state or federal assisted program. If you don’t have insurance you must pay a tax equal to 1% of your income in 2014 and 2.5% in 2016.

Question: Judge Mathis, if I want to sue the Department of Unemployment – what kind of lawyer should I get?

The Judge’s Answer: If you worked for the Department of Unemployment and you feel you were wrongly terminated or if you did not like the decision or finding regarding your rights to unemployment benefits, you will need an employment lawyer.

Yes, you do. You have the right to petition the court for visitation. Be prepared to prove that visitation is in the best interest of your grandchild and that you have established a substantial relationship with him or her.

Yes. If your friend promised to pay you for work you performed, you performed the work as agreed, and your friend failed to pay you as agreed, you have a claim against him for breach of contract. However, the court will not honor your illegal contract to be paid “under the table.” Any award you receive will be considered taxable income to you and your friend can report your earnings to the IRS.

Question: If you got bit at work by a spider and contracted a MRSA infection and the insurance company denies your claim because their reasoning is that you work on the inside and not the outside – will you be able to fight for your money?

The Judge’s Answer: If you were injured on the job, during work hours, while you were performing your work duties, you have a claim for workman’s compensation.

If you think the negligence of your neighbor caused damage to your home, you may sue your neighbor. For example, if your neighbor left her house and left the water running in the sink which subsequently caused damage to your house, you have a claim against her — even if her actions were a mistake. However, if her washing machine malfunctions through no fault of her own, she is not liable to you.

It depends. Hospitals are liable for the negligent acts of its employees. If the doctor was an employee of the hospital, you may sue the doctor and the hospital. If the doctor was an independent contractor, the hospital will not be liable for the negligent actions of the doctor unless it failed to inform you that the doctor was not an employee of the hospital.

No, you can’t. Such a claim is known as alienation of affection. However, alienation of affection claims have been abolished in your state.

Yes, you can since it is your belief that your former friend maliciously interfered with your business relationships. In order to be successful, you must prove that you lost business with a third party. For example, you would have to show that you had a contract with a third party to do business and that the deletion of the documents caused you to lose that business. Simply deleting documents you drafted which can be drafted again will not allow you to collect damages.