self-help (law)

Self-help in the context of the law means taking action to resolve a problem or dispute without involving the court system. It's kind of like when you try to solve a problem with a friend on your own, without asking a grown-up for help.

For example, let's say you and your friend have an argument over who gets to play with a toy. You might try to solve the problem by talking to your friend and coming up with a compromise, like sharing the toy or taking turns playing with it. That's self-help in action!

In the legal world, self-help can involve things like landlords changing locks on rental properties or car owners repoing their own vehicles. But in many cases, self-help isn't allowed because it can lead to people taking matters into their own hands and breaking the law instead of using the legal system to resolve disputes.

So, while self-help can be a helpful way to solve small problems, it's important to know when it's okay to use it and when it's better to ask for help from a grown-up or legal professional.