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Keeping Your Teen Safe on the Road

June 6, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment
A diagram of the forces on the brain in a coup... 

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Your baby is about to operate a deadly weapon, or restated, your teenager is starting to drive an automobile. The maturity level, based on how well your offspring slams a door during a good conversation, may have you a little concerned.

Many dangers exist on the road. According to the CDC, while falls (mainly children between the ages of 0 to 4) is the number one leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI), automobile accidents are the leading cause to TBI deaths in America. “The force involved in some TBIs is such that after the initial impact, the brain slams into the skull directly opposite from the site of impact, causing another injury. This is known as a coup-contrecoup injury and can occur even when there are no external signs of trauma like contusions, lacerations, etc.,” according to a Los Angeles brain injury attorney.

A study suggests that the three most common mistakes that lead teens to car accidents are being distracted, miscalculating the risks, and not paying attention to the road. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI), driver distraction is the leading cause of automobile accidents including cell phone use and reaching for objects. Research also suggests the distracting feature of cell phone use is the conversation, and often drivers conversing with other passengers have an uncontrollable tendency to look away from the road and look at the person they are speaking to.

Now that you are armed with some empirical evidence, talk to your teen about safe driving, even if it results in slamming doors.

Filed Under: Family Law, General, Legal

4 Best Places to Throw a Party

May 4, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment
At Evan's second birthday party (Gymboree)

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Having a party can be a ton of work, especially for a single mom dealing with a divorce, which can make things a little hard to handle. It’s a lot of work, but it’ll be worth it when everyone is enjoying the party.

There’s a lot that goes into planning a party. You need to figure out where to have the party, how many people to invite and what you’re going to do for food, drinks and entertainment.

The easiest place to have a party is your home. By having it there you’ll have full control over everything. If you’re having a large party, you can always hire staff to help with the cooking, serving and cleaning.

Another place is a fun restaurant. Many restaurants will have a party package, which is something to consider. You won’t have to worry about cooking or cleaning. If a lot of people will be showing up then it will be best to reserve the place or a special room - be sure to do that at least one month in advance.

The park is also a perfect spot for a children’s party. The only thing to worry about is the weather. There’s so much space and play areas that no child will be bored during the festivities. The best part is, they can dress in fun costumes for a themed party.

Your last option would be having a party at entertainment places like the movie theatre, bowling alley or an amusement park. These types of places always cater to larger parties and often have a special deal for your child’s birthday party.

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Minnesota Standard Visitation Schedule

March 17, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

In Minnesota there is no set standard visitation schedule. Parents are encouraged to come to a schedule that works for both of them as well as is looking out for the best interest of the child. In situations where an agreement cannot be reached it is left up to the judge to set a schedule. This schedule will most likely not be very specific and will generally include basic visitation rotations such as a couple of weekday/ weeknight visits, alternating weekends, legal holidays that alternate year-to-year, and a two-week vacation each year (usually specified as being taken over summer break).

You may be in a situation that requires a more specific schedule. For example if one parent is likely to be uncooperative with setting exchange times or give adequate notice of intended vacation times, etc., you may need to put together a proposal for a very specific schedule that includes set vacations, set exchange times and places, and specific days and times for holidays.

It is advisable to consider using a mediator to attempt to negotiate the visitation schedule before taking it to the court system. By using a mediator you are more likely to find a solution that will allow a more appropriate schedule for your child. For instance, your situation may be that the other parent does not want overnight visits or is incapable of managing overnight visits. If this is the case, it would be wise to adjust the visitation schedule to eliminate or reduce overnight visits. On the other hand, you may want to split the parenting time more evenly than what would be offered through the court system.

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Utah Standard Visitation Schedule

March 5, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

In Utah the standard visitation schedule for children ages 5-18 is basically as follows:

The noncustodial parent will have the child one weekday evening and alternating weekends continuing year-to-year. The noncustodial parent is also entitled to alternating holidays. Holiday time and birthdays take precedence over normal weekends. Weekend rotation is not subject to change because of the holiday schedule.

The holiday schedule is set out as such: In years ending in an odd number the noncustodial parent will have the child for the child’s birthday either the day before or after the actual birth date, the weekend of Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday beginning on Friday and ending on Monday, spring break, July 4th holiday, Labor Day weekend, fall school break, Veteran’s day holiday, and the first portion of Christmas school vacation.

In years ending in an even number the noncustodial parent is scheduled to have the child for the child’s birthday on the actual birth date, President’s Day holiday beginning on a Friday and ending on a Monday, Memorial Day weekend, July 24th holiday, Columbus Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving holiday from Wednesday evening until Sunday evening, and the second portion of the Christmas school vacation.

The custodial parent is entitled to the same holiday schedule in the opposite years. In addition to the weekday/weekend and holiday schedules each parent is allowed two weeks of uninterrupted time over the extended school break (such as summer vacation). The noncustodial parent is allowed an additional two weeks of visitation time with the child. All four weeks can be taken consecutively. These extended visits cannot interfere with the other parent’s holiday schedule, but can interfere with the normal weekend rotation.

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Court vs. Mediation

February 25, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

When you are faced with a legal issue that may need to be taken to court, it may be advisable to attempt mediation first. Overall mediation can achieve a more favorable outcome with less money and time that issues that need to be resolved using the court system.

In the court system your case is usually public knowledge. However through mediation cases are kept private and confidential. Courts take a lot of time and are usually lengthened by conflicting schedules between parties, attorneys, judges, etc. In mediation you set the schedule. Of course there are several people’s schedules you still need to deal with, but overall you are much less likely to experience significant delays in scheduling as you would in the courts.

Judges have very little time to hear or review your individual case. Sometimes they have less than five minutes to hear what you have to say. In fact, you may only get a minute or two to testify in your own case. Through mediation services you are able to spend the time necessary to be heard. You are able to fully describe your situation and work on a solution. Many times you have to make split second decisions in crowded hallways on your case when dealing with the court system. In mediation, however, you are able to take the necessary time to think over your decision.

Court costs can become very expensive. Every delay costs money. Time that your attorney spends preparing your case and every hour your attorney spends waiting on your case costs you money even if there is no progress made. Through mediation you are able to control the cost for the most part. The cost of mediation tends to be about one-third of the cost of a typical court proceeding.

Filed Under: Expert Advice, General Tagged With: , , ,

What is Mediation

February 18, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

You may have heard the term “mediation” before but you may not really know what it is. In the legal world mediation refers to using a licensed mediator or neutral third party to help resolve legal issues without litigation. A mediator will help people create workable solutions to problems without assigning blame or making judgments. Mediation allows the parties involved to be in control of the situation rather than a judge or attorneys.

In general settlements that have been reached through mediation are far more likely to be honored than those that have been reached through a court battle. When an agreement is reached through mediation a document is drawn up with the agreement spelled out so both parties can be reminded of the agreement. For protection of each individual, it is still advisable for each party to have their own attorney who is willing to work in a mediation environment. Once the agreement is reached and written up, each party as well as their attorneys will receive a copy of the agreement. The attorneys can then file the agreement with the courts to make it legal.

Mediation is a voluntary process, although in many states is not mandatory before taking certain types of cases to litigation. During mediation the mediator will help parties understand the issues. They will help to develop solutions that are designed for the specific needs of each person. It is a mediator’s job to help keep control of the situation in the hands of the parties rather than any outside agency, individuals, or the authorities.

Overall mediation is less expensive, less stressful, less traumatic, and a less prolonged process with much better results than traditional litigation processes. Mediations are set in a private, comfortable, safe setting. Mediators are not counselors or therapists. It is a conflict resolution system.

Filed Under: Family Law, General Tagged With: , , ,

Properly Planning for the Adoption Process

February 10, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

The adoption process can be expensive. It is estimated that the initial adoption process can cost anywhere from $10,000-$35,000 depending upon the agency, age of the child and where the child is being adopted from. This amount of money doesn’t even include how much it will cost once the child has entered your family. In a recent survey it is estimated that it can cost over $12,000 a year to raise a child. This means if you are planning on adopting a child you need to spend some time properly planning your finances as you it can be a fairly expensive process.

Properly planning your finances might not be as difficult as it sounds. By just taking the time to sit down and properly plan out your family’s finances you will be able to find ways to minimize your monthly bills and help make way for the expensive adoption process. Here’s a look at some ways that families were then planning on saving up for the adoption process have been able to minimize their family’s bills.

Downgrading Services. A large chunk of the family finances can often be going to cell phone, Internet and cable television. If you are looking at minimizing your family’s bills you can assess whether you can downgrade or eliminate some services. This can include not purchasing premium cable channels or getting rid of data plans on the cell phone. These downgrades can help you save money every month.

Refinancing Loans. Another great way to save money every month is to consider refinancing any type of loan that you may have. Mortgage or car refinancing can allow you to take advantage of lower interest rates and minimize your monthly car or mortgage payments. The amount of money that you can save every month can help you to afford the adoption process. This option is especially beneficial for those that have high interest rates on their car or mortgage.

Filed Under: Adoptions, General Tagged With: , ,

Using Mediation for Parenting Schedule

February 9, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

In many states couples are being asked to try mediation before taking divorce and/or custody issues to the courts. Some couples are able to do this, however other couples cannot due to hostility. If you feel that you are a couple that can work out your issues through mediation, you will find that the process is much easier and much, much cheaper! A mediator is a neutral third party that can help resolve issues that may arise during the process. Mediators are able to also help get everything put together legally so that it can be presented to the courts properly.

When parents use mediation services and work to put together a parenting plan without court intervention this allows the children involved to feel less stress. Older children can be involved in the process and can voice their opinion about the schedule. Mediators will take into account the child’s wishes and what is in the best interest of the child.

One major advantage of using a mediator versus using litigation is that by using mediation parents can find a reasonable schedule that will work for them. They have a say in what happens. However, in litigation the court will usually make all of the decisions pertaining to the schedule. In situations where both parents are willing to work with a mediator, an agreement is able to be reached approximately 60 percent of the time without any court intervention.

To make mediation services work it is necessary that both parents come with an open mind and be willing to listen. When parents come to mediation with an open mind they are able to brainstorm and come to a solution that is workable for everyone involved. Most importantly, it is important that the focus be on what is best for the children, not on what went wrong with the marriage.

Filed Under: Family Law, General Tagged With: , ,

Helping Your Child Deal With Divorce

January 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Children of all ages have difficulty understanding why their parents are getting divorced. How can you help your child understand and cope with your divorce? Your child’s reaction to the divorce will be a direct result of how you tell them about the divorce and how you and your soon-to-be ex choose to deal with each other in front of the children and/or how you talk about each other to the children or when the children are around. There are many things that you can do to help your children cope with the up-coming divorce and adjust to their new life.

First, when initially telling the children about your decision it is best coming from both parents if possible. You need to set aside a time when the entire family can be present. This will put you in a situation where you can avoid blaming each other and will give the children the opportunity to ask questions.

Plan ahead what you are going to tell the children. If possible discuss this with the other parent and come to an agreement about what will be discussed and what will not be discussed in your family meeting.

It may be difficult, but you must stay calm. If this means that you need to keep the meeting short or that you cannot meet with the other parent present then that is how you need to plan the meeting. If you lose control of your emotions your children are going to have difficulty handling the dynamics of the divorce. Children react to their parents emotions. You need to find a way to stay strong for your children to help them through this difficult time.

Listen to your children. You are dealing with a lot of emotions right now yourself, but your children are going to be dealing with a lot now too. You are losing your spouse. Your child will feel as though he is losing his parents. Acknowledging your child’s concerns and truly listening to what they have to say is important in the healing process for all of you.

Filed Under: Divorce, General Tagged With: , ,

Communicating About Bankruptcy With the Family

January 12, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

After understanding bankruptcy laws, there are many reasons why families come to decide that declaring bankruptcy is the right decision for them. These reasons alone can provide a large amount of stress for any one individual or couple, but the decision is even more difficult with a family because it affects family as a whole. While there are certain aspects of the bankruptcy that will only pertain to the adults, it is a good idea to involve the children in certain conversations in order to make sure that they understand the situation and know that they are still physically and emotionally safe.

How you choose to communicate with your children will vary largely on their ages, personality types and maturity levels and you may find that it is best to speak with each separately in order to talk with them at the level, and in a way, that will work best for each of them as an individual. For example, a more analytical child may want more details about the process of bankruptcy and what it means, whereas a more artistic child may be more interested in how the bankruptcy will affect their day to day lives. When communicating with children, perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is that children, regardless of age, will react more to your emotions and state of mind than your words, so choosing a time when you are calm and confident will go a long way towards creating the same reactions in your children.

Above all, assure them that you love them and that everything will be fine. This is a good reminder for you as well. Continually remind yourselves that even though bankruptcy seems overwhelming, it is merely a temporary condition. Keeping this in the forefront of your mind, will help put the situation in perspective and keep hope alive for both you and your family.

Filed Under: Financial, General
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