Law and Legal Sources

General Law

• Nolo
  Nolo is a publisher of legal self-help books. They offer Easy to Understand Articles on the most common kinds of legal questions.
• Findlaw GPOACCESS (for the Federal Government) and the State of Connecticut Website offer lists of government agencies organized by the subjects the agencies are concerned with. In general, a good place to look for legal information is in the publications (or on the websites) of concerned agencies. For example, it might be better to look for answers about rental security deposits on the housing dept. website instead of in the Connecticut General Statutes.

Connecticut, Legal Encyclopedias, Congressional Record, Supreme Court Decisions, Executive Orders

• The State of Connecticut Judicial Dept. offers general information on common topics such as Divorce or Landlord/Tenant.
• The Connecticut General Statutes are available online and in the Reference Room at R345 C7g. The Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies are available in the Reference Room at Rq353.9746 C75or. The General Statues address all areas of Connecticut law. The Regulations have no index but are organized in the same order as the General Statutes.
• The United States Code R345 U5 and The Code of Federal Regulations R353 C66 are the main ways of accessing Federal law. The text of laws are published in U.S. Statutes at Large XR345 or in slip form for more current laws.
• Courts and Selected Judicial Offices in Bridgeport
• The Bridgeport Municipal Code and Ordinances are available online and in the Reference Room. The Zoning Regulations are also available in a binder with maps in a vertical file. There is a binder of letters that update these documents.
• Legal Encyclopedias
  If you have no clue where to start looking for actual texts of something try a legal encyclopedia, they often give the citations.
• Congressional Record (and index)
  The Bridgeport Public Library has paper copies from the beginning. Later issues are available on microfilm with paper indexes. Still later it is available from Thomas.
• BPL has never received any form of Bills.
• For legislative materials from Connecticut use the Connecticut General Assembly Website
• Supreme Court Decisions
  http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/ is a good place to start. Official text is published in U.S. Reports (Ju6.8) or in slip form for more current ones.
• The Connecticut Law Journal (Rq353.9746 C75Lj has equivalent material for Connecticut.
• Executive Orders

Bankruptcy, Taxes, Tax Forms and Tax Assistance

• United States Bankruptcy Court
  District of Connecticut
• Federal Taxes
  (Local office at the corner of Lafayette and State in the Federal Court House)
• Connecticut Taxes
  (Local office at 10 Middle St.)

Tax Forms

• Connecticut
  Department of Revenue Services
• Federal
  Internal Revenue Service
• Prior Years Federal Forms
• Tax Forms for other States
  Includes a table with links to tax forms for all states and territories.

Immigration & Citizenship

• Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services
• The International Institute, a local organization to help immigrants.

Patent, Trademark and Copyright

• Copyright
• Patents and Trademarks

Find an Attorney

• Martinedale Hubbell Online
  OR
• The Legal Services Network in Connecticut
  The legal services programs in Connecticut are a group of nonprofit organizations which provide legal assistance in civil matters to low-income persons.