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State Laws

When people think about the law, some of the first things that come to mind might be the Constitution or the Supreme Court. However, the fact is that most of our interactions with legal issues and the law actually involve matters of state and local laws.

State vs. Federal Laws

The relationship between state and federal law is a bit similar to that between state and the federal governments. When the United States of America was founded, one of the guiding principles behind the government’s design was the idea that each state would remain a sovereign entity, with its own government separate from those of the other states and the federal government.

Similarly, while a few areas of law are covered by federal law, it is state laws which address the vast majority of legal issues and cases that arise in this nation. Specifically, the U.S. Congress has created a few sets of legislation covering entire areas of law, such as immigration. Also, a few others have been reserved for the federal government by the Constitution, such as bankruptcy and patent laws. But with limited exceptions, each of the 50 states has its own laws that address the large majority of issues its residents, visitors, and businesses face.

State Laws in Everyday Life

States create laws that affect almost every aspect of our daily lives. The most common example is that for those who drive a car, ride a motorcycle, or operate a truck, each state has its own license requirements and traffic laws that must be followed.

In addition to infractions and traffic tickets, each state has its own set of laws addressing criminal conduct. What is a crime in one state may or may not be a crime in another, and these actions may also be punished completely differently.

Similarly, each state has a multitude of civil laws dealing with everything from taxes and business laws, to health codes and family laws. FindLaw's State Laws collection features state-specific laws across dozens of the most popular legal topics. Our state law materials include user-friendly summaries of laws as well as citations and links to relevant sections of official online statutes.

Attorneys Usually Specialize in State Law

Attorneys almost always focus on one state’s laws, and often practice in one particular area of law. To be allowed to practice law in a given state, an attorney must typically pass an examination that covers various types of laws, as well as a background check. However, when practicing law, attorneys usually stick to their specialty, which might be criminal law or employment law, for example. These same attorneys may also be qualified to practice in federal courts, as well.

State Laws on Animal Cruelty and Neglect
By E.A. Gjelten, Author and Editor
Animal abuse may be a crime around the country, but states have different standards for illegal mistreatment or neglect of pets. ...
Truancy Laws: The Legal Consequences of Skipping School
By E.A. Gjelten, Author and Editor
Learn how different states deal with unexcused absences from school—from truancy prevention programs to threatening truants’ parents with fines or jail. ...
View All State Laws Topics
Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors.
Please select a topic from the list below to view user-friendly summaries of state laws as well as citations and links to relevant sections of official state statutes . If you're looking for in-depth information on a legal topic, please visit FindLaw...
Animal Cruelty Laws in California
By E.A. Gjelten, Author and Editor
California outlaws many forms of animal abuse and neglect. The state also allows bystanders to rescue endangered pets from locked cars. ...
Animal Cruelty Laws in Florida
By E.A. Gjelten, Author and Editor
You can be charged with a crime in Florida if you abuse or neglect a dog or other animal. And if you leave your pet locked in a hot or cold car, someone else is allowed to break in if needed to rescue the animal. ...
Animal Cruelty Laws in Idaho
By E.A. Gjelten, Author and Editor
Idaho outlaws various forms of animal abuse, from neglect and abandonment to torture. ...
Animal Cruelty Laws in Illinois
By E.A. Gjelten, Author and Editor
You can be charged with a crime in Illinois if you abuse animals, don’t take proper care of your pets, or tether dogs in a dangerous way. ...
Animal Cruelty Laws in Indiana
By E.A. Gjelten, Author and Editor
Indiana outlaws different kinds of animal abuse and neglect, including animal cruelty as a form of domestic violence. ...
Animal Cruelty Laws in Iowa
By E.A. Gjelten, Author and Editor
It’s a crime in Iowa to abuse someone else’s animal or to torture any animals, but the state’s animal protection laws are relatively weak. ...
Animal Cruelty Laws in Kentucky
By E.A. Gjelten, Author and Editor
Kentucky outlaws cruel mistreatment, abandonment, or neglect of animals, but its animal protection laws are much less detailed than in many other states. ...

State Laws

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