In the digital age, it seems that Google has become the first stop for people seeking legal advice. From tenant rights to personal injury laws, search trends offer a clear picture of the legal issues people are most concerned about.
To find out which legal issues are most top of mind in 2025, we used Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer to identify 300 of the most searched legal questions nationwide across 13 major categories. Then, we plugged each question into Google Trends to see how popular it was in every state over the past year, ultimately revealing the most Googled legal question in each one.
Americans are turning to Google with questions about everything from navigating divorce and custody battles to understanding car accident liability and marijuana laws. Some reflect urgent personal needs, while others show how shifting policies and hot-button issues are driving national interest.
The Most Googled Legal Question in Every U.S. State
So, which types of legal issues dominated search trends across the states? Here’s a breakdown of the most Googled legal topics by category:
- Marriage & Divorce – 9 states
- Automotive – 8 states
- Employment – 7 states
- Real Estate – 5 states
- Estate Law – 5 states
Legal questions about marriage and divorce were the most commonly searched across the U.S., leading in nine states. Residents in states like Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, West Virginia, and Wisconsin are all searching for answers tied to romantic unions and their legal complications. Some questions were practical (“How to file for divorce”), while others were driven by curiosity or morality (“Is adultery a crime?”).
Other highly searched questions in this category focused on the cost of divorce, the meaning of common law marriage, and the legal consequences of unpaid child support. It shows how deeply intertwined our relationships are with the legal system, where matters of the heart may end up as matters of the state.
Automotive-related laws came in a close second, appearing as the most searched legal topic in California, Florida, and other states with heavy traffic and high car ownership. From “Is it illegal to drive without insurance?” to “What is lemon law?” and “What to do after a car accident?”, these queries reflect the everyday legal scenarios drivers encounter, often tied to confusion following a crash or a claim. In states with dense urban centers or high tourism, such as Florida, legal uncertainty on the road is especially common.
Employment law rounded out the top three legal categories, with questions like “What is overtime pay?” (Alabama, Wyoming) and “What is FMLA?” (Family & Medical Leave Act) (Washington) pointing to widespread uncertainty around workplace rights. With remote work and gig jobs still shifting employment norms, it’s not surprising that more people are Googling their labor protections and benefits.
Other common legal questions in the employment category centered on minimum wage requirements (Arizona), the length of maternity leave (District of Columbia), and whether the FMLA provides paid time off (Oregon).
Questions about real estate and estate law each appeared in five states and often intersect in practice. Searches for terms like probate, foreclosure, and quitclaim deed signal that many Americans feel unequipped to handle the legal complexities of buying, selling, or passing down property. The high cost of mistakes in these areas likely drives this demand for clear online information.
Notably, a few states turned their attention to politically charged issues. Residents in Kansas and Tennessee were most curious about “states where weed is legal,” while Kentucky and New Jersey zeroed in on “states where abortion is illegal.” These searches reflect ongoing cultural and legislative shifts, especially in areas where national debates have led to state-level legal ambiguity.
There was also a timely interest in immigration law. Hawaii and Massachusetts saw peak searches related to green card status and ICE warrants, showing that immigration remains a legal topic people are actively seeking clarity on in 2025.
Regional Differences Show Local Legal Priorities
South: States in the south were more likely to search for questions related to criminal charges, specifically indictment procedures (Georgia and Texas). Several southern states also showed heightened interest in marriage and divorce laws, with residents in Louisiana, Maryland, and West Virginia asking questions about prenuptial agreements, adultery, and how to file for divorce.
West: In the West, residents of states like Nevada and New Mexico showed greater interest in tenant rights, while those in Arizona, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming were more focused on employment issues, highlighting a region known for progressive legislation, yet where many still seek clarity on key policies.
Northeast: Legal curiosity skewed toward family and estate issues in places like Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania, where aging populations, long-held property ownership, and multi-generational living arrangements make inheritance and property transitions more legally layered.
The Most Googled Legal Questions in America, Overall
These are the 10 most searched legal questions in the U.S., overall:
- What is minimum wage? – 23,000 searches/month (Employment)
- What is probate? – 20,000 (Estates)
- What is a green card? – 19,000 (Immigration)
- States where weed is legal – 17,000 (Marijuana)
- How to get paid while on FMLA – 16,000 (Employment)
- What is alimony? – 15,000 (Marriage & Divorce)
- What is intellectual property? – 12,000 (Intellectual Property)
- How to trademark a name – 12,000 (Intellectual Property)
- What is a patent? – 12,000 (Intellectual Property)
- Can you go to jail at an arraignment? – 11,000 (Criminal Law)
The top legal questions Americans searched in 2025 show a blend of everyday life logistics and high-stakes legal confusion. Unsurprisingly, “What is minimum wage?” tops the list with over 23,000 monthly searches. With inflation still affecting paychecks and minimum wage laws varying by state (and sometimes by city), this question reflects a basic, urgent need: understanding how much one is legally entitled to earn.
Probate and FMLA-related questions follow closely behind, pointing to two critical life events that often leave people unsure: navigating a loved one’s estate and managing time off from work. The question “How to get paid while on FMLA” gets 16,000 searches monthly, suggesting a real disconnect between policy and public understanding, especially as medical leave and caregiving needs have become more central to modern employment.
The ongoing national dialogue around immigration and recreational marijuana usage is evident, too. “What is a green card?” and “States where weed is legal” signal growing curiosity around both access and legality, fueled by frequent policy changes, state-by-state variance, and a steady stream of media attention. Intellectual property makes a strong showing as well, with “What is intellectual property?”, “How to trademark a name,” and “What is a patent?” each appearing in the top 10.
Lastly, the question “Can you go to jail at an arraignment?” stands out as a real-world concern that likely stems from personal experience or proximity to legal trouble. With over 11,000 monthly searches, it reflects how often people turn to Google in high-stress moments, looking for fast clarity in the face of legal uncertainty.
The Most Searched Car-Related Legal Questions in the U.S.
These are the 10 most searched auto-related legal questions nationwide:
- Is a DUI a felony? – 7,500 searches/month
- What is a DUI? – 6,500
- What to do after a car accident – 5,500
- What is a DWI? – 4,400
- What is the legal alcohol limit? – 4,000
- What happens if someone else is driving my car and gets in an accident? – 3,100
- Is it illegal to drive without insurance? – 3,100
- What is lemon law? – 3,000
- How long do speeding tickets stay on your record? – 2,000
- How long does a DUI stay on your record? – 2,000
Americans are searching car-related legal questions more than ever, driven by everything from day-to-day driving concerns to high-stakes legal implications. Topping the list is “Is a DUI a felony?” at 7,500 monthly searches, followed closely by “What is a DUI?” and “What is a DWI?” This surge in Google searches makes sense: alcohol-impaired driving still accounts for about 30% of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. Since DUI definitions, penalties, and aggravating factors vary by state, like prior offenses or BAC thresholds, this complexity continues to fuel public confusion and the need for clarity.
The third most searched car-related legal question, “What to do after a car accident,” reflects how common and disorienting car crashes are. At 5,500 searches per month, this query suggests that many people are seeking quick legal guidance immediately after an incident, often unsure whether they need to call the police, alert their insurance company, or hire a lawyer.
Other top queries like “What happens if someone else is driving my car and gets in an accident?” and “Is it illegal to drive without insurance?” point to more complex liability scenarios. These questions arise when people face unexpected or shared driving situations, often revealing how unprepared many are for the nuances of insurance and liability laws.
Interestingly, several of the most searched terms center on long-term consequences—“How long does a DUI stay on your record?” and “How long do speeding tickets stay on your record?” These concerns suggest a growing awareness of how driving offenses can affect insurance, employment, and more.
Closing Thoughts
From basic employment protections to high-stakes criminal inquiries, the legal questions people ask online often reflect deeper concerns about fairness, safety, and navigating the unknown. And while a quick search can offer clarity, many of these legal matters demand experienced, thoughtful guidance.
As a firm dedicated to helping clients navigate complex legal issues, especially in personal injury and car accident law, Murphy & Prachthauser understands how confusing legal questions can be. This study highlights the legal questions people are searching for most, and therefore pinpoints the exact concerns that experienced lawyers can help with.
If you or a loved one is facing a legal challenge and needs straightforward answers, Murphy & Prachthauser is here to help.
Methodology
We began by identifying common legal topics across 13 legal categories using NOLO’s legal encyclopedia, then compiled a list of related keywords. Using Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer, we found the legal questions with the highest average monthly search volume for each keyword. This process yielded a list of the 300 most commonly searched legal questions nationwide.
From there, we ran each question through Google Trends to analyze state-by-state interest over the past 12 months. This allowed us to determine the most Googled legal question in every U.S. state. We also highlighted the top-searched auto-related legal questions—such as those related to car accidents and vehicle defects—since these align closely with our core practice areas.