Jasper, Margaret C.

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Jasper, Margaret C.

PERSONAL:

Education: Pace University School of Law, J.D., 1991.

ADDRESSES:

Office—Jasper Law Office, South Salem, NY 10590; fax: 914-533-5097 E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

Lawyer, real estate broker, and writer. Attorney in private practice in South Salem, NY; Jasper Real Estate, South Salem, principal broker. Also general counsel to Gold City Records, NY; member of the law guardian panel for the Family Court of the State of New York.

MEMBER:

American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Westchester County Bar Association, American Trial Lawyers Association, National Association of Realtors, Westchester/Putnam Board of Realtors, Mensa.

WRITINGS:

Estate Planning, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1994, 2nd revised and updated edition, 2001.

Juvenile Justice and Children's Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1994, 2nd revised and updated edition, 2001.

Law for the Small Business Owner, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1994, 2nd edition, 2001.

Marriage and Divorce, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1994, 2nd edition, 2001.

The Law of Contracts, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1995.

The Law of Dispute Resolution: Arbitration and Alternative Dispute Resolution, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1995, 2nd edition published as The Law of Alternative Dispute Resolution, 2000.

The Law of Personal Injury, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1995, 2nd edition, 2000.

Real Estate Law for Homeowner & Broker, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1995, 2nd edition, 2000.

AIDS Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1996, 2nd edition, 2000.

Dictionary of Selected Legal Terms, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1996, 2nd revised and updated edition, 2001.

Elder Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1996, 2nd edition, 2001.

The Law of Buying and Selling, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1996, 2nd edition, 2002.

The Law of Immigration, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1996, 2nd edition, 2000.

The Law of Libel & Slander, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1996.

The Law of Medical Malpractice, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1996, 2nd edition, 2001.

The Law of No-Fault Insurance, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1996, 2nd edition, 2002.

The Law of Obscenity and Pornography, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1996.

The Law of Product Liability, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1996, 2nd edition, 2001.

The Right to Die, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1996, 2nd edition, 2000.

Animal Rights Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1997, 2nd edition, 2002.

Bankruptcy Law for the Individual Debtor, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1997.

Consumer Rights Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1997, 2nd edition, Oxford University Press (New York, NY), 2007.

Employee Rights in the Workplace, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1997, 2nd edition, 2003.

Environmental Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1997, 2nd edition, 2002.

The Law of Child Custody, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1997.

The Law of Debt Collection, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1997, 2nd edition, 2001.

Probate Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1997.

Victim's Rights Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1997.

Workers' Compensation Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1997, 2nd edition, 2008.

The Americans with Disabilities Act, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1998, 2nd edition, Oceana (New York, NY), 2008.

Commercial Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1998.

Education Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1998.

Insurance Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1998.

Labor Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1998, 2nd edition, 2002.

Landlord/Tenant Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1998.

The Law of Capital Punishment, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1998.

The Law of Violence against Women, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1998, 2nd revised and updated edition, Oceana (New York, NY), 2007.

Motor Vehicle Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1998.

Religion and the Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1998.

Drunk Driving Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1999.

Employment Discrimination Law under Title VII, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1999, 2nd edition, Oceana (New York, NY), 2008.

Hospital Liability Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1999, 2nd edition, Oceana (New York, NY), 2008.

The Law of Speech and the First Amendment, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1999.

Social Security Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 1999, 2nd edition, 2004.

Home Mortgage Law Primer, 2nd edition, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2000.

The Law of Attachment and Garnishment, 2nd edition, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2000.

The Law of Copyright, 2nd edition, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2000.

The Law of Patents, 2nd edition, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2000.

The Law of Premises Liability, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2000.

The Law of Special Education, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2000.

The Law of Trademarks, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2000, 2nd edition, 2004.

More Everyday Legal Forms, 2nd edition, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2001.

Harassment in the Workplace, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2002.

Healthcare and Your Rights under the Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2002.

Identity Theft and How to Protect Yourself, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2002, 2nd edition, 2006.

Individual Bankruptcy and Restructuring, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2002, 2nd edition, 2006.

Welfare: Your Rights and the Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2002.

Executors and Personal Representatives: Rights and Responsibilities, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2003.

International Adoption, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2003.

Living Together: Practical Legal Issues, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2003.

Nursing Home Negligence, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2003.

Privacy and the Internet: Your Expectations and Rights under the Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2003.

Teenagers and Substance Abuse, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2003.

What If It Happened to You: Violent Crimes and Victims' Rights, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2003.

What If the Product Doesn't Work: Warranties and Guarantees, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2003.

Your Child's Legal Rights: An Overview, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2003.

Banks and Their Customers, 3rd edition, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2004.

Buying and Selling Your Home, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2004.

DWI, DUI and the Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2004.

Auto Leasing, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Becoming a Citizen, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Co-ops and Condominiums: Your Rights and Obligations as an Owner, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Hiring Household Help and Contractors: Your Obligations under the Law, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

How to Change Your Name, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

How to Protect Your Challenged Child, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Injured on the Job: Employee Rights, Worker's Compensation and Disability, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Lemon Laws, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Prescription Drugs, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Retirement Planning, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Rights of Single Parents, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Small Claims Courts, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Your Rights in a Class Action Suit, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Your Rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

You've Been Fired: Your Rights and Remedies, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2005.

Custodial Rights, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2006.

How to Start Your Own Business, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2006.

Missing and Exploited Children: How to Protect Your Child, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2006.

Credit Cards and the Law, 3rd revised and updated edition, Oceana (New York, NY), 2007.

Dealing with Debt, Oceana (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2007.

Health Care Directives, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2007.

How to Form a Limited Liability Company, Oceana (New York, NY), 2007.

Pet Law, Oceana Publications/Oxford University Press (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2007.

Protecting Your Business: Disaster Preparation and the Law, Oceana Publications (New York, NY), 2007.

Trouble Next Door: What to Do with Your Neighbor, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2007.

Your Rights as a Tenant, Oceana Publications (Dobbs Ferry, NY), 2007.

Guardianship, Conservatorship, and the Law, Oceana (New York, NY), 2008.

The Law of Adoption, Oceana (New York, NY), 2008.

SIDELIGHTS:

Margaret C. Jasper, a lawyer in general practice, is the author of numerous legal books that focus on specific areas of the law and explain the basic principles for the lay person in a straightforward manner "using minimal legal jargon," as noted by a contributor to Reference & Research Book News. Usually included in her books are state-by-state laws.

Jasper's book topics range from common legal issues such as divorce to the things consumers need to know when leasing a car. In the case of the latter, for example, the author's book Auto Leasing includes information on the benefits of buying or leasing a car, the ongoing costs of leasing, and what consumers should look for in leasing contracts. She also provides information on consumer protection issues and agencies. A related title, Lemon Laws, teaches the consumer about what his or her options are when they buy a new car that turns out to be defective, or a "lemon." Information includes how to ascertain whether or not a vehicle falls within the lemon laws of a particular state and what action to take if a consumer believes the car they bought is a lemon.

In addition to her law practice, Jasper is also a licensed realtor and principal broker for Jasper Real Estate. Her legal books include several focusing on real estate and housing issues. For example, in Co-ops and Condominiums: Your Rights and Obligations as an Owner, Jasper explores the legal differences between condo and co-op ownership, and the different rights that these ownerships convey. She also explains financing and insurance issues and what happens when a rental becomes a co-op. The book includes an appendix, resource directories, and a checklist. Another book by the author associated with the home and real estate is Hiring Household Help and Contractors: Your Obligations under the Law. In addition to concisely explaining the legal issues associated with hiring, firing, and taxing workers employed in or at the home, the author includes state-by-state laws concerning home help in such areas as age requirements. The book includes numerous forms used in the employer/employee relationship.

Jasper also has written books about changing your name and protecting a challenged child. How to Change Your Name not only includes information on the legal issues associated with changing one's name but also a guide for protection against identity fraud. Jasper also features a directory of laws for changing one's name listed by state, checklists, and a glossary. How to Protect Your Challenged Child features issues such as education, health care, and services for challenged children of all types, including children with physical, mental, or emotional issues.

In the second edition of her book Social Security Law, Jasper provides a comprehensive look at Social Security and the Social Security Administration, from how it is funded and monies distributed to application procedures and individual programs. She also covers less-common issues such as the rights of retired people who decide to live or work overseas.

Employment law is another area that Jasper has written about. Injured on the Job: Employee Rights, Worker's Compensation and Disability provides an overview of workplace safety, federal and state laws, and legal issues associated with workplace injury, disability, and compensation. The author includes information on state-by-state laws and statistics. She also discusses the statistically most dangerous jobs. In You've Been Fired: Your Rights and Remedies, the author, according to a Reference & Research Book News contributor, "uses plain English" to discuss a fired worker's rights, including severance pay and unemployment benefits. The author also discusses discrimination issues that may be involved in a firing. Your Rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act was called an "accessible guide" by a Reference & Research Book News contributor. The author discusses when unpaid leave is appropriate, notification issues, and enforcement.

Jasper told CA: "I have always loved to write, and I think it has to do with the love of reading I developed throughout my childhood.

"I like to write in the evening, when it is quiet, the phone is not ringing, and my thoughts can flow. I can work right through the night. During the day, there are too many distractions to think straight!

"The most surprising thing I have learned as a writer is that one day I can have writer's block and can't get a word down, and the next day I can write for hours, nonstop.

"The ‘Legal Almanac’ series is designed to help lay people understand a wide variety of legal topics without confusing legal language. There are over eighty titles available covering almost every topic you can imagine."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Law Library Journal, summer, 1998, Sheila Collins, review of Animal Rights Law, p. 371.

Reference & Research Book News; February, 1999, review of The Law of Capital Punishment, p. 126; August, 1999, review of Commercial Law, p. 122; August, 1999, review of Insurance Law, p. 123; August, 1999, review of Labor Law, p. 123; August, 1999, review of Landlord/Tenant Law, p. 122; August, 1999, review of Motor Vehicle Law, p. 126; August, 1999, review of Religion and the Law, p. 125; August, 1999, review of The Americans with Disabilities Act, p. 122; August, 1999, review of The Law of Violence against Women, p. 126; February, 2003, review of Animal Rights Law, 2nd edition, p. 165; February, 2004, review of Law for the Small Business Owner, 2nd revised edition; November, 2004, review of Privacy and the Internet: Your Expectations and Rights under the Law p. 167; May, 2005, Margaret C. Jasper, review of Banks and Their Customers, 3rd edition, p. 197; May, 2005, Margaret C. Jasper, review of Buying and Selling Your Home, p. 199; May, 2005, Margaret C. Jasper, review of DWI, DUI and the Law, p. 200; May, 2005, Margaret C. Jasper, review of Prescription Drugs, p. 205; May, 2005, Margaret C. Jasper, review of Retirement Planning, p. 199; May, 2005, Margaret C. Jasper, review of Rights of Single Parents, p. 198; May, 2005, Margaret C. Jasper, review of The Law of Special Education, 2nd edition, p. 202; May, 2005, Margaret C. Jasper, review of Your Rights in a Class Action Suit, p. 205; August, 2005, review of Small Claims Courts, p. 188; August, 2005, review of Social Security Law, 2nd edition, p. 185; November, 2005, review of Co-ops and Condominiums: Your Rights and Obligations as an Owner; November, 2005, review of Hiring Household Help and Contractors: Your Obligations under the Law; November, 2005, review of How to Change Your Name; November, 2005, review of How to Protect Your Challenged Child; August, 2006, review of Auto Leasing; August, 2006, review of Injured on the Job: Employee Rights, Worker's Compensation and Disability; August, 2006, review of Lemon Laws; August, 2006, review of You've Been Fired: Your Rights and Remedies; August, 2006, review of Your Rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act.