About Paper Alibi
Renter rights shouldn't require a law degree to understand. Paper Alibi turns the maze of tenant law into one clear, plain-language plan.
When something goes wrong with a rental, the information you need already exists — in state statutes, court forms, and legal-aid guides. It's just scattered, written for lawyers, and hard to act on when you're stressed. Paper Alibi gathers it into one place and walks you through it, step by step.
Why we built this
Most renters never chase a wrongly-withheld deposit or a bad charge, not because they're wrong, but because figuring out the rules and deadlines is exhausting. The law is often on the renter's side — but only if you know it in time. We wanted a tool that meets people where they are: no jargon, no pressure, and no assumption that you already understand the process.
How it works
You pick your state and your issue, answer a few plain questions, and get a plan: your deadlines, your rights, and your single next step — each backed by a link to the official law or form it came from. Your answers stay in your browser on your own device and are never sent to us.
Everything we present is compiled from free, public sources. We organize and translate; we don't invent rules, and we always link back so you can check our work.
What it costs
The core plan is free and always will be — understanding your situation, your deadlines, and your next step. An optional $5 kit turns that plan into ready-to-use drafts, scripts, and a printable packet, to save you the formatting and organizing time. You can always use the free official forms yourself instead.
What we are — and aren't
Paper Alibi gives legal information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm, we are not your lawyer, and using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your specific situation, we point you to free and low-cost legal help in your state.
For the full disclaimer, our method, and the list of sources we compile from, see Legal & disclaimers.
How we keep it accurate
Laws change. Each guide carries a "last reviewed" date and links to the current statute so you can confirm the latest text. When a law is amended, we update the guide and note it. If you spot something out of date or missing, tell us — it genuinely helps.
What's next
We're starting deep rather than wide: Montana security deposits first, done thoroughly, before adding more issues and states. Renting somewhere we don't cover yet? Tell us your state and we'll prioritize by demand.