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Category: Family Law

Happy Co-Parenting Through Summer Break

Written on . Posted in Adoption, Blogs, Family Law, Juvenile Law.

Talking to your ex is one thing, but planning, communicating and being agreeable with your ex is another thing completely. You’re not just exes, you’re parents too and that means some extra effort goes into keeping this summer the break your family and kids deserve. Great times and great memories don’t just happen, you’ve got to do your part to keep stress low and create happy summer memories!  Here are some things to keep in mind.

REMEMBER YOUR GOALS

  • It’s all about your child(ren).  No matter what the situation, make sure they benefit in the end.
  • Peace. The stress of co-parenting through all your summer happenings is inevitable, so it’s all about how you handle it.  Be strong and be the example of peace for your family.

MINDFUL TIPS

  • Speak Kindly – This isn’t as simple as it sounds, we know.  But the difference between a nice tone and a negative tone can save you a lot of misunderstandings and negative interactions.
  • Communicate and Confirm – Be as clear as possible about your plans and expectations, once everything is worked out, confirm one last time before you part or end your conversations. A quick text to wrap up of the plan and reference later on never hurts.
  • Find a Mediator – If smiling through a polite conversation with your ex just isn’t possible, don’t hesitate to designate a mediator to keep important information flowing without all the emotion.
  • Be flexible – Disappointment, frustration and impatience are sure to make an appearance this summer, but if you make the decision to not sweat the small stuff, it’ll be easier to get back to your summer break happiness.
  • Enjoy Your Summer – Obstacles and all, you’re making this whole thing work one way or another, and you’re doing it for the people you love the most.

It’s Your family, Your Life and Your Story to Write.

Everyone here at Rachel Frazier Johnson Law wishes you a great summer break and hope that we have helped in a small way to ease the stress of co-parenting.

Disclaimer: The information above is not intended to be and does not constitute legal advice, counseling or recommendations under any circumstances. The use of the content does not create an attorney-client relationship or other professional relationship between the user and Rachel Frazier Johnson Law. Rachel Frazier Johnson Law strongly recommends that if the user has a specific legal issue then they engage an attorney admitted to practice law in their jurisdiction. The user is exclusively responsible for their selection of an attorney and for making all arrangements with that attorney. The content above and the Rachel Frazier Johnson Law website is not a substitute for competent legal advice. Reliance on and use of the information contained in or linked from the website of Rachel Frazier Johnson Law is done at your own risk.

The Costs of Not Having An Attorney

Written on . Posted in Adoption, Blogs, Entertainment Law, Estate Planning, Family Law, Juvenile Law, Personal Injury.

When it comes to hiring an attorney a good majority of individuals think the costs far outweigh the reward. Although, this can be a money saving avenue for some, the truth is for most people, saving money in the beginning costs much more in the end.

Attorney, Lauren A. Bostick, is a natural born advocate who’s dedicated to helping others through her extensive experience in family law, divorce, child custody, spousal maintenance and child support provides us with a great example of what hiring the right lawyer can do for you.

Lauren consistently achieves outstanding results for our clients and their family court matters. Just yesterday she produced another big win.

Our clients came to Lauren with a tragic story and in desperate need of child support she felt she was owed. Previously, she went to court unrepresented in her family case matter while the opposing party had acquired counsel.

What You Need to Know:

Without much knowledge of the law representing yourself is an arduous task, one only more challenging when you are working against an opposing party that has hired counsel. It’s important to remember that clearly, no attorney can guarantee results but one thing to remember is that unrepresented you can face opposing counsel who’s life’s work has been to do what you are trying to learn and execute effectively.

It’s hard work and although not impossible, winning a case unrepresented when facing another represented party, is an exception to the rule and not the rule.

Unfortunately, our client, like most unrepresented clients, had to learn the hard way resulting in the judge not ruling in the opposing party’s favor.

In fact, this resulted in a denial of child support and, to make things worse, an order to pay the other party’s attorney’s fees.  Not only was the child support she needed denied but now she had to pay for the other party’s counsel.

After this unfavorable ruling, she called us. Attorney Bostick listened to her story, sought understanding of the events, and then drawing on her knowledge and experience of family law, concluded that the client did in fact, have grounds for child support.

What You Need to Know:

One thing to remember when looking for counsel is that no matter who your attorney is, they cannot guarantee results. But what does work in your favor is the results are based on the specific facts of your case and the rulings of the Court. Which means, when hiring your attorney, it’s important to share all of your story, make sure the attorney is listening attentively, and feel confident that they can act as your advocate.

This case is a prime example of why we recommend at minimum consulting with an attorney before making the decision to hire or not hire an attorney. It could save you much more money in the end.

Another demonstration of Attorney Bostick’s talents, experience and commitment to advocating for those who cannot for themselves was one our client is grateful for.

Our client was awarded the child support she needed to properly provide for her children. And the court vacated, cancelled, the order requiring her to pay the other’s attorney’s fees.

It was a huge win for our client and another example of what hiring the right attorney can do for your.

Disclaimer: The information above is not intended to be and does not constitute legal advice, counseling or recommendations under any circumstances. The use of the content does not create an attorney-client relationship or other professional relationship between the user and Rachel Frazier Johnson Law. Rachel Frazier Johnson Law strongly recommends that if the user has a specific legal issue then they engage an attorney admitted to practice law in their jurisdiction. The user is exclusively responsible for their selection of an attorney and for making all arrangements with that attorney. The content above and the Rachel Frazier Johnson Law website is not a substitute for competent legal advice. Reliance on and use of the information contained in or linked from the website of Rachel Frazier Johnson Law is done at your own risk.

Hiring an attorney

Talking to Your Children About Your Divorce

Written on . Posted in Blogs, Family Law.

When you walk down the aisle with that special person, the last thing on your mind is a divorce. But if the time comes when you both finally decide it’s best to go your separate ways, there remains a significant burden – how do you tell the kids?

No matter how prepared you feel, as parents we can’t help but question ourselves when it comes to our children. We struggle with the day-to-day parenting endeavors and now facing this tough conversation is one most parents dread. When it comes to talking to our children about our divorce, most of us find ourselves unsure of what or how much to tell them.

You’re likely still extremely emotional and worried that you may not be able to talk about the topic with your children calmly, or you may want to shield your children from all the happenings in the house altogether.

The truth is, having a conversation with your kids about your divorce is going to go a long way in preparing them both, physically and emotionally for the changes that lie ahead. But where do you begin? What will you say? What wont you say? 

AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, TALK TO THEM IN THE PRESENCE OF YOUR SPOUSE.

This may be difficult to accomplish because your divorce may be messy. But, jointly talking to the kids has a lot of benefits.

  • When you and their other parent can come together it ensures your children are receiving the same information from both of you. This limits the amount of confusion and creates the needed stability in a trying time as this.
  • You’re communicating to your children that you both are still united about something – being their parents.
  • You’re creating the reassurance they need but may not ask for. They will see that both of you are going to work hard to create a new family structure, for them.

ALLOW THEM TO ASK QUESTIONS AND GIVE THEM HONEST ANSWERS.

All the questions you may have asked yourself when contemplating divorce are likely running through their minds. Where will we live? Where will mom/dad live? When will I see mom/dad?

Kids are smart, so be sure to answer their questions honestly. Lack of honesty and transparency can lead to resentment and anger later on. When we aren’t honest, kids often seek answers themselves or create their own emotionally charged, inaccurate answers.

Although, honesty and transparency is crucial, you must also bear in mind that your answers should be delivered with age appropriate boundaries.

Not all kids are the same. While some may have all the questions in the world and a few you didn’t think of, others may be hesitant or too overwhelmed to ask at the moment. You want to be prepared with a few topics to cover.

LET THE KIDS KNOW WHAT LIFE AFTER DIVORCE WILL LOOK LIKE.

Change is intimidating for most adults. Now imagine being a child learning about your parents’ divorce, this can be terrifying for your children. So, it is important that you let them know what they can expect. Be sure to tell them as best as possible, things like:

  • Where everyone will live.
  • How much time they will have with each parent.
  • When will they see mom/dad.
  • What this mean for their schooling.
  • Most importantly they will be wondering WHY? Why are you getting divorced, why cant you just make-up? Be sure to practice this with your spouse and have a clear concise answer that is age appropriate for them to deal with the sensitive information.

You may not have all the answers right now and that’s ok. It’s also ok to tell your children that. If you are not sure about certain details, communicate to your kids that you will let them know as soon as a decision is reached. This will help ease some of the anxiety that comes with the whole process.

REASSURE YOUR CHILDREN.

They will have some fears, some maybe from what they learned from friends whose parents are divorced or from what they have seen in movies. In some cases, they may think they are the cause of the divorce or that their parents don’t love them anymore. So, try as much as possible to reassure them of your love and commitment to them and go the extra mile to encourage them in words and action. Tell them often and sincerely, how much you care for them and that your love for them will never change.

We know it is not easy communicating with your children in times like this, especially when you are trying to find your own way of handling it. If this is the case, DO NOT BE AFRIAD TO ASK FOR HELP. Engaging a therapist or extended family members can be helpful.

Whatever you have to do, don’t shy away from talking to your kids about your divorce and the changes they can expect. Providing them with honest, age appropriate answers and reassuring them of the things that wont change, your love for them, will better equip them to deal with the shock and allow them to start looking towards a peaceful future.

Disclaimer: The information above is not intended to be and does not constitute legal advice, counseling or recommendations under any circumstances. The use of the content does not create an attorney-client relationship or other professional relationship between the user and Rachel Frazier Johnson Law. Rachel Frazier Johnson Law strongly recommends that if the user has a specific legal issue then they engage an attorney admitted to practice law in their jurisdiction. The user is exclusively responsible for their selection of an attorney and for making all arrangements with that attorney. The content above and the Rachel Frazier Johnson Law website is not a substitute for competent legal advice. Reliance on and use of the information contained in or linked from the website of Rachel Frazier Johnson Law is done at your own risk.

Mortgage Relief, Protecting Your Credit, Your Home and Your Future

Written on . Posted in Blogs, Estate Planning, Family Law.

The hard truth is real estate prices took a plunge in 2006, and now homeowners, like you, have been struggling with mortgage payments to cover debt that may be greater than your current home value. It’s a sticky situation that many homeowners face and while prices have increased from record lows, millions still continue to fall behind on mortgages that are simply overwhelming. You may have considered selling your home but with a heavy mortgage in place, this can create difficulties in the sale. So, what do you do from here?

Homeowners must look to new sources of relief when it comes to easing the burden of mortgage debt.

‘Subject to Agreement’ contracts enable homeowners to work with real estate investment firms to get their mortgage payments caught up and protect their credit. The relief is immediate because the real estate investment firm pays any past due mortgage payments as their contribution to the agreement.

Ultimately, ‘Subject to Agreement’ contracts outline terms where the deed to your home is signed over to the investor and in return they assist you with your mortgage payments. Once your mortgage is up-to-date, you can focus on repairing your credit, develop a working budget, and finding a solution for your housing situation.

If you feel you are too far behind on mortgage payments and believe that foreclosure is your only way out, consider another option.

Though they have become more common than ever before, foreclosures should not be used as a way out of your debt. When a mortgage company has to foreclose on your property, you lose more than your home. The damage to your credit is far-reaching and long lasting. It may seem like the easy way out of an over mortgaged house, but recovering from a foreclosure is far from painless.

When you foreclosure, your foreclosure remains as a major black mark on your credit report for seven years. Over the seven years, you can take other steps to reduce the effect of this detrimental decision, but the fact is your foreclosure will affect every financial step you attempt to take.

If you find a lender who is willing to lend to you, you can expect to pay high credit card and loan interest rates, making it even more difficult to remain debt free. Some activities you may not have even considered, such as applying for college or employment, can include a credit check and allowing your mortgage company to foreclose on your home can severely alter your future plans.

Instead of causing long-term damage to your credit, learn more about a ‘Subject to Agreement’ arrangement. Enjoy debt relief without limiting your prospects.

We invite you to contact us at Rachel Frazier Johnson Law and discover how we can help you overcome your debt and look forward to a better future.

 

Disclaimer: The information above is not intended to be and does not constitute legal advice, counseling or recommendations under any circumstances. The use of the content does not create an attorney-client relationship or other professional relationship between the user and Rachel Frazier Johnson Law. Rachel Frazier Johnson Law strongly recommends that if the user has a specific legal issue then they engage an attorney admitted to practice law in their jurisdiction. The user is exclusively responsible for their selection of an attorney and for making all arrangements with that attorney. The content above and the Rachel Frazier Johnson Law website is not a substitute for competent legal advice. Reliance on and use of the information contained in or linked from the website of Rachel Frazier Johnson Law is done at your own risk.
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