NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: MAKE A WILL!

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: MAKE A WILL!
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Estate planning does not necessarily have to be complicated or confusing!

Most Adults Have No Estate Plan, Nor A Simple Will According To Study

estate planning will new years resolutionsIt’s that time of year when best intentions are set forth and New Year’s resolutions are made. However, according to U.S. News and World Report, by February over eighty percent of those new year’s resolutions have been broken. For many, it is time to make a very important resolution that is easy to keep and will provide benefits for years to come. Make a will.

Many of us have heard or read lately of some of the celebrities who have died with large estates and no estate planning, creating headaches and confusion for their loved ones-celebrities such as Prince, Aretha Franklin and Michael Jackson, to name a few.

However, even those with more modest estates need estate plans to ensure that their savings are passed on to those that they intend. Surprisingly, or maybe not surprisingly, most adults have no estate plan whatsoever, not even a simple will.

Only 40 Percent Of Adults Have A Will Or Trust

According to … Read More... “NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION: MAKE A WILL!”

Blast From The Past: Divorce: Dividing Property, Assets & Debts in Ohio

Blast From The Past: Divorce: Dividing Property, Assets & Debts in Ohio
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Property Division: Dividing Property, Assets & Debts in Ohio

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: I thought this basic primer was worth posting once again especially now that we are at the start of “divorce season”. Division of debts and assets in a divorce is not always a simple or cookie cutter process.”

Property Division in Ohio Can Be Complicated In Marriage Breakup – Hire A Experienced Divorce Lawyer Early

property division divorceDepending upon the issues in a marriage breakup, dividing assets and debts is usually a preliminary topic of conversation.  This can be a complex and lengthy discussion depending upon the nature of the assets, length of the marriage, and title of the property. The first aspect of analyzing how the court may divide property pertains to whether or not the property was acquired before or after the date of marriage. If the property is separate pre-marital property, that property would remain the property of the initial owner and would not be subject to division.

In Ohio, property acquired during the term of the marriage is generally divided “equitably”.  While the courts in Ohio strive to create a fair … Read More... “Blast From The Past: Divorce: Dividing Property, Assets & Debts in Ohio”

Ohio Stalking and Sexually Oriented Civil Protection Orders

Ohio Stalking and Sexually Oriented Civil Protection Orders
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Protection Order A Must For Victims Of Stalking Or Domestic Violence

Have You Been Stalked And Require A Protection Order? How And Where To File Locally In The State Of Ohio

protection order stalkingStatistics show that 8% of American women and 2% of American men will be stalked at some point in their lives. This means that 1.4 million Americans are stalked every year.  And while some times the perpetrator is related to the victim, often times they are not.

A Civil Stalking or Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order is very similar to a domestic violence civil protection order, however they seek to protect victims even if they are not a family or household member of the abuser.  If a victim has been threated with physical harm or mental distress more than once and the incidents are closely related in time, then he or she may be entitled to a Stalking Civil Protection Order, and a victim of a sexual offense can seek a Sexually Oriented Offense Protection Order after the first threat according to Ohio Revised Code §2903.214.

In order to obtain either type of these protection orders, … Read More... “Ohio Stalking and Sexually Oriented Civil Protection Orders”

How to Navigate the Challenges that the Holidays can Bring

How to Navigate the Challenges that the Holidays can Bring
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Do You Dread Holiday Celebrations And Family Gatherings?

holiday celebrationsIt’s a time of year with many holiday celebrations and gatherings. These are joyous experiences for many, but a difficult time for others. Our lives are not like a Hallmark Channel story with freshly baked cookies, fake snow, and conflicts that always have happy endings.

We know that our happiness comes more from the people whom we love rather than the gifts that we get.

However, past hurts (whether real or imagined) may feel particularly intense right now, in marked contrast to the apparent happiness around us.

Here are some particularly challenging situations.

  1. Divorce. Some kids tell me that they like the fact that their parents are divorced because they get twice as many gifts. Humor hides their pain. Most of them want what they will never get – their mom and dad back together again.

    The best gift you can give your children is to develop a business-like relationship with your ex-spouse. You need not forget yesterday’s betrayal and pain. You just need to love your kids more than you dislike your ex-spouse, and put their needs above

… Read More... “How to Navigate the Challenges that the Holidays can Bring”

The Legal Contours of Child Endangerment

The Legal Contours of Child Endangerment
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Child Endangerment In Ohio

Could You Be Legally Charged With Child Endangerment Or
Child Abuse?

child endangerment child abuse

Adults who care for children have a legal obligation to ensure that those children avoid unreasonably dangerous situations. Failing to adequately protect a child may result in the caregiver being charged with “child endangerment” or “endangering the welfare of a child.”

Examples of child endangerment may include:

  • Driving while intoxicated with a child in the vehicle
  • Leaving a child alone and unsupervised with available dangerous weapons
  • Leaving a child unattended  in an unsafe area or vehicle
  • Hiring a person with a known history of sexual offenses  to supervise a child
  • Leaving a young child unsupervised or in the care of another young child
  • Providing drugs or alcohol to an underage driver
  • Opting for spiritual healing rather than conventional medicine when a child’s life is in danger
  • Failing to report suspected child abuse
  • Domestic violence episodes that take place in front of children

The Supreme Court of Nebraska recently had the opportunity to explore the contours of this concept in State v. Mendez-Osorio, 297 Neb. 520 (2017). The case revolved … Read More... “The Legal Contours of Child Endangerment”

Blast From The Past: Holidays: Just Say No And Feel Empowered!

Blast From The Past: Holidays: Just Say No And Feel Empowered!
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Holidays Got Your Down?

PUBLISHERS NOTE: “Congratulations! We all made it through Thanksgiving. So, the mad dash of the holiday season is officially upon us. This sage advice from psychotherapist, Donna F. Ferber, from 2013 warrants a repost. Take a breath. Slow down. And just say “no”.”

A Guide to Happier Holidays: Replace HO–HO-HO with NO-NO-NO!

holidaysWell, the holiday hoopla is ramping up. Displays of sparkly red and green stuff has taken center stage in our stores, catalogues are arriving in droves, internet sites are offering deals, discounts and sales on every imaginable product. Magazines at the grocery checkout display unbelievable glossy covers of gorgeous people, in gorgeous houses, serving gorgeous food. Now with the sudden drop in temperature and the promise of snow this week, the reality that the holidays are descending on us is unavoidable.

It feels impossible to slow this down or simply get a grip. It is like being swept up in some tinselly tidal wave. I don’t want to shop yet; I still am cleaning out the garden! Yet, as the heat clicks on, and my sweaters and even gloves … Read More... “Blast From The Past: Holidays: Just Say No And Feel Empowered!”

DIVORCE ALERT: The Financial Risks of Signing an I-864 Affidavit of Support to Sponsor an Immigrant to be Admitted to the Country

DIVORCE ALERT: The Financial Risks of Signing an I-864 Affidavit of Support to Sponsor an Immigrant to be Admitted to the Country
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Sponsored Immigrant Divorce Affidavit Alert

New Affidavit Form, I-864 Ensures That immigrants Who Are Admitted Into The U.S. Do Not Become Public Charges

sponsored immigrantTitle II, Chapter 2, Act 212 and 213A of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 provides that family-sponsored immigrants may not be admitted into the United States unless the person seeking the immigrant’s admission executes an Affidavit of Support, a.k.a. Form I-864, as codified in 8 U.S.C. 1182 and 1183a.

At its core, the I-864 is a legally, enforceable contract between the sponsor, and both the U.S. government and the sponsored immigrant.  By signing the form, the sponsor is obligated to provide the sponsored immigrant with whatever support is necessary to maintain them at an annual income that is at least 125% of the federal poverty level.  The Affidavit is intended to ensure that immigrants who are admitted into the U.S. do not become public charges. Click here to read more about this Affidavit and its implications from the U.S. Citizen and  Immigration Services website.

Once an Affidavit is signed, the sponsor’s obligation can only end if one of … Read More... “DIVORCE ALERT: The Financial Risks of Signing an I-864 Affidavit of Support to Sponsor an Immigrant to be Admitted to the Country”

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