I'm a big fan of American Pickers, the tv show where Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz scour the country side for fantastic, eccentric and sometimes forgotten antiques hoarded by some of America's most interesting characters.
Making the most of your prenuptial agreement
More couples are seeking prenuptial agreements as a way to prepare for marriage. It is not that they anticipate their marriages will end in divorce. They see prenuptial agreements in the same way as wearing a seat belt protects in case of an accident even though you don't expect to have one.
Since it is becoming more common for couples to wait before getting married, many partners enter marriage already secure in a career, possessing assets and owning real estate. They may also have their own businesses and a mountain of debt. If you are in this or a similar situation, you may want to avoid comingling your individual assets with your spouse's or becoming responsible for his or her debt. A prenup can help you meet those goals.
'Tis the Season: Traveling with Children
'Tis the season of many, many holidays and all the adherents of all the different holidays seem to share one tradition, they travel to see family. When that family lives in another city, they travel to another city. When that family lives in another state, they travel to another state. And when that family lives in another country, they travel to another country.
A Whirlwind of Hurt
Imagine finding out that you have been sued in Federal Court. Imagine that the case involves the most important thing in the whole world to you, perhaps even more important than your own life. Now imagine that, at the same time that you find out that there is a case at all, you also learned that your final trial is only one week away. Welcome to our world.
Custody Catch Phrases
The terms "co-parenting" and "best interests of the child" are phrases that are part of our daily language in the world of custody and family law. They are also commonly thrown around as weapons between divorcing parents, often without any real tie-in with their intended meaning. As a professor once told our class, they are terms of art, so we should use them artfully!
The Ambivalent Parent
"But I love my baby! I can't believe he's getting custody! I can't believe that he will be the person making all the important decisions in my child's life! It's like I don't matter at all!"
Common mistakes may sink your post-divorce finances
Life after divorce is often full of uncertainty, especially if the divorce has caught you off guard. You may have fears and concerns about how you will manage when your household income no longer includes your spouse's earnings or you have to find a new place to live. Other factors, such as alimony and child support, may place an even greater burden on your already stretched budget.
However, some of the financial problems you may face after your divorce can be avoided if you achieve a fair property division agreement and if you are careful not to make common money mistakes. As emotional a time as a divorce may be, it is important that you think clearly and make wise decisions when it comes to your money.
What's the Score?
"She's done it again! We have a Parenting Plan that sets out the schedule. It's supposed to be my weekend with the kids and here comes some other reason I shouldn't have my weekend. Sure, last month, I needed to switch weekends because I had family coming and they wanted to see the kids, but she's now asked me to switch weekends six times this year and it's only May! And now this weekend, she wants to get the kids 3 hours earlier than she's supposed to! This is absurd!"
It Could Only Get Worse
While driving home this evening, I was listening to NPR interview a woman in Panama City talking about the horrific devastation which all but wiped out that town. The reporter asked her, now that she, her husband and her three year old daughter have lived through that Cat 4 hurricane and lost everything, is she considering moving?
What To Do When Your Client Is Wrong
As I have written, we always want to represent the good guys. Our strategy always starts with a good guy approach. Representing the good guys is consistent with our MO. It is who we are known to be. We are honest and problem solving, not deceptive and problem creating. Judges know this. Opposing Counsels know this.
