Side Bar
Bite-sized stories and real-world breakdowns that turn curious humans into legally literate adults.
Welcome to side bar
This is a space for clear, thoughtful conversations about the legal side of everyday life. Here, you’ll find practical explainers, relatable stories, and timely insights on topics that quietly shape your world — from adulting and money to family, work, housing, justice, and what’s unfolding in the news.
You don’t need to be an expert to understand how the law affects your life. Side Bar is here to help you learn the rules in a way that feels approachable, useful, and human — so you can make informed decisions with more confidence and a lot less overwhelm.
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Find the legal stuff that matters to your life right now — no scrolling required.
Medical Aid in Dying Isn't Suicide.
In this blog, we get to the bottom of what “medical aid in dying” actually is. How is it different from euthanasia and assisted suicide, and why is that difference not just legal hairsplitting but the entire point?
Divorce Isn't Just Legal. Nobody Warns You About the Rest.
Divorce changes more than your legal status. Learn how to prepare your money, manage divorce brain, and find the support you need to move forward.
Common Law Marriage: The Myth That Won't Die
No, there's no "seven-year rule." Brooke Hardie breaks down the real requirements for common law marriage—and why there's no such thing as a common law divorce.
Your Parents Are Getting Older. When Is It Time to Step In?
RN and care manager Catherine Vergara on spotting the signs, handling resistance, and starting the conversation before a crisis forces it.
So Your Parents Are Getting Older. Here’s the Stuff Nobody Told Us About.
Power of attorney, home care, and the caregiving binder every family needs before a health crisis hits.
Prenups, Community Property, and the Three Things You Should Do Before Divorce Finds You
Divorce attorney Jodi Lazar breaks down prenups, community property, and the financial steps every woman should take before marriage trouble starts.
Hosting Responsibly: When a Good Time Becomes a Legal Problem
What’s your liability when you are serving alcohol at a get-together? You’d be surprised how much responsibility you have.
Love Turned Into Paperwork: The Estate Planning Documents That Matter
Estate planning isn’t about wealth — it’s about clarity. Learn which documents every adult needs to protect family, avoid probate chaos, and plan with intention.
The 10 Things Every 18-Year-Old Needs to Know About Being a Legal Adult
A “Life Is Legal” Guide for New Grown-Ups (and the Parents Who Love Them)
Can Gift Cards Expire?
You want to send a thoughtful gift to your mom for her birthday. She has everything. She lives far away. And the thought of purchasing something, wrapping it in post-office-approved paper, figuring out postage, and standing in line makes you want to lie down for a bit.
Welcome to Life Is Legal…and Why I Started This Podcast
The law is everywhere—but the explanations aren’t. Brooke Hardie shares why she started Life Is Legal and what legally literate living really looks like.