#i can tell you which section of the file that entails his experiences during the time of the first vienna siege
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fafayayarhen · 8 days ago
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How many rings will Roderich have? Will he even get any? Does he have a favorite? What will it look like? Do he he have to return them to his exes when they're no longer married?
Many
Kidding it should only be up to 4 if we count the main once from Spain, Portugal, France and Hungary. Unless we feel like adding more for the funsies though I cannot think of any further major ruling figures Habsburgs married off into the other sovereigns that wouldn't like. Make it look like an entire polygamous bit (Austrian monarchs marrying into the Dutch line was in the period of the Spanish and Austrian branches unity, and we can get away with the Portuguese bit because the major marriage later was during the Spanish succession war, Maria Anna and Joao V 1708 - 1750) ... so 4 is the perfect number to stop at.
Considering both spouses have their own rings and Roderich is synonymous with tu felix austria nube, he'd have kept them because 1) They're sure as hell expensive antique and nothing comes close to the unique look of said rings.
And 2) Maybe when he's feeling mischievous and wants to taunt them he'd wear the rings to meetings and conferences. Particularly to mess with France. Especially to mess with France. And simultaneously making Spain's blood boil and remembering why he wants to murder France and it's not because of Napoleon this time.
Favourite rings: from the marriage with Spain & Hungary.
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houstontexaslawinfo · 6 years ago
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I am not the Biological Father but I want to be – Paternity by Estoppel?
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If you want to related guideline confidentiality Texas Father Law experience, So you can better suggestions- I am not the Biological Father but I want to be – Paternity by Estoppel?
Divorce Attorneys in Houston – In the past 12 months, my office has represented three different Husbands each going through their own Texas divorce who all had cases in which their wife has had a child with another man. The facts of each case have varied in some of the cases the husband was aware the wife had cheated on them but not that the child was not theirs biologically.
The one thing that was consistent in all three of the cases was that the husband had bonded and love the child and did not care if the child was his biologically. They wanted to remain the father of the child with all the duties and responsibilities that entailed even after the marriage was over.
The facts and the people were different in each one of the three cases so all the twists and turns of the cases played out a little differently. In this blog article, I am going to discuss the various applicable Texas Laws that should be contemplated when contemplating a case involving paternity by Estoppel.
WHAT IS PATERNITY BY ESTOPPEL?
The doctrine of paternity by estoppel is most often applied in child support cases to either preclude a man who has held the child out as his own from avoiding support of the child after his relationship with the child’s mother has ended.
However, it can also be used to preclude a mother who held one man out as her child’s father from denying him a relationship with the child as the father later.
When I handled my first one of these cases I remembered this doctrine from law school and thought I would ask some of my colleagues for their help in getting caught up on applying it in the real world. Unfortunately, this did not work out very well. Most the Texas family law attorneys did not know what I was talking about. However, with a lot of research, I found a few Texas cases on point that allowed me to create the necessary tools to fight these cases in court.
CUSTODY BATTLES ARE EXPENSIVE
Houston Divorce Attorneys – One of the things I caution someone contemplating fighting a case involving paternity by estoppel is that it may get very expensive. This partly because is a fact intensive issue and partly because it is also a fight regarding conservatorship of a child.
In many of my cases I can give my clients a guestimate regarding the range of potential costs based on where their case ends up in the process. I am also able to tell them what similar cases have averaged as far as costs.
The cases I have had which have been outliers to this range and cost averages have been cases where there is some sort fight over conservatorship of a child.
PRESUMPTION OF PATERNITY – MOTION TO DENY GENETIC TESTING
In my cases discussed above the issue of paternity came up during the divorce process because the wives decided to bring up that their husbands were not the genetic father of the children. One of my first battles in one of these cases was over DNA testing.
A wife had on her own without agreement or Court Order conducted a DNA test and was trying to get it admitted to show that her husband was not the Genetic father of the child. In response, we filed a “Motion to Deny Genetic Testing and Objection to Admissibility of Results of Genetic Testing.”
A COURT CAN DENY A MOTION FOR GENETIC TESTING
Under the Family Code Section 160.204 “A man is presumed to be the father of a child if he is married to the mother of the child and the child is born during the marriage”
Divorce Attorneys Houston – When a child has a presumed or acknowledged father, a court can deny a motion for genetic testing based on equity. See Tex. Fam. Code §160.608(a), (f). To deny the motion, the court must find, based on clear and convincing evidence, that (1) the mother or father engaged in conduct that estops either party from denying parentage and (2) disproving the father’s relationship with the child would be inequitable. See id. §160.608(a), (d), (f). In determining whether testing would be inequitable, the court must consider the child’s best interest. See id. §160.608(b), (f). To determine the child’s best interest, the court must consider the following factors:
1. The length of time between the date the parentage suit was filed and the date the presumed or acknowledged father was placed on notice that he may not be the genetic father. See id. §160.608(b)(1), (f). 2. The length of time the presumed or acknowledged father assumed the role of the child’s father. See id. §160.608(b)(2), (f). 3. The facts surrounding the presumed or acknowledged father’s discovery of his possible nonpaternity. See id. §160.608(b)(3), (f). 4. The nature of the relationship between the child and the presumed or acknowledged father. See id. §160.608(b)(4), (f). 5. The age of the child. Id. §160.608(b)(5). 6. Any harm that may result to the child if presumed or acknowledged paternity is successfully disproved. See id. §160.608(b)(6), (f). 7. The nature of the relationship between the child and the alleged father. Id. §160.608(b)(7). 8. The extent to which the passage of time reduces the chances of establishing the paternity of another man and a child-support obligation in favor of the child. Id. §160.608(b)(8). 9. Any other factors that may affect the equities arising from the disruption of the relationship between the child and the presumed or acknowledged father or the chance of other harm to the child. Id. §160.608(b)(9), (f).
GENETIC TESTING UNDER TEXAS FAMILY CODE 160.502
Divorce Attorney in Houston – If a child has a presumed, acknowledged, or adjudicated father, the results of genetic testing are inadmissible to adjudicate parentage unless performed; except:
1. With the consent of both the mother and the presumed, acknowledged, or adjudicated father; or 2. Under an order of the court under Section 160.502.
Based on Texas Family Code 160.502 we were initially able to keep out the genetic results because they had not been conducted by agreement or by court order. We then had to have a court hearing ad described above on whether the Court would order genetic testing… Continue Reading
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blogpr940 · 4 years ago
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Basic Fashion Sketches
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These schools often require students to have completed basic art and design courses before entering a program. Applicants usually must submit sketches and other examples of their artistic ability. Other Experience. Fashion designers often gain experience in the fashion industry through internships or by working as an assistant designer. Hi everyone,This tutorial video is about how to draw a fashion figure for beginners(10 head fashion croquis) step by step. This is the basic fashion sketches. You’ll learn how to sketch a basic fashion runway figure and utilize various marker techniques to render multiple patterns like florals, gingham and leopard + textures like shine, denim, and fur. We’ll go over how to illustrate fashion details like faces, hair and difficult-to-draw hands and feet. First episode of the series to learn how to draw fashion. Follow my channel to be notified when further videos are posted!Today’s tips: 1.
Of all the questions and advice seeking that I receive from new and emerging fashion brands, the topic that is most often addressed is production. From “How do I work with a manufacturer?” to “My samples are horrible! What went wrong?!”, the trials and tribulations are aplenty.
This is because production is one of the most challenging parts of launching a fashion brand. Finding the right factory for your collection and then communicating properly with the people who are making your clothing is not something you can just wing. Planning and preparation are really important.
So when a designer asks me about where to even start in the whole manufacturing process, I always say two things:
Go through your pre-production checklist.
Create a tech pack.
Once you know you’re ready to work with a factory, have researched which factories makes sense for your brand, and have started to have a dialogue, Oone thing you need to have ready to present to your factory is your tech pack.
Capture One 20 on my Late 2018 mac Mini with internal SSD is horribly slow. It took over an hour to import and generate previews for about 7000 medium sized JPG files. And I noticed that during all that, it was using about 30% of one of the 6 CPU physical cores, 10% to 20% of the other 5 physical cores, and 0% of the six hyperthreaded cores. Capture one 20 slow start.
Tech packs are those things we’re all pretty sure we need to give to our factories but aren’t quite sure what they entail.
You don’t want to wing it with this one. The wrong info in your tech pack could mean the wrong finished sample. That means that tech packs are an incredibly important fashion business tool when you’re communicating your designs and specifications to your sample maker and factory.
The more detail you can give them, the less room for mistakes. The clearer you make your requests, the less likely there will be misinterpretations. The more you have in writing, the less likely you’ll be financially responsible for fixes.
Cover Page
The Cover Page houses the basic front and back view of the style. These sketches should have a white or transparent fill, and not contain color or print. The sketches can be computer generated, hand drawn, or photographs. An important concept to be mindful of is to make sure that the image is proportional and clean, meaning they should not be stylized.
Inspiration Page
The Inspiration Page houses any image(s) which helped create the original style. If the factory is to be the source of the pattern, the image(s) may help the factory create the pattern and reach the designer’s desired aesthetic. Inspiration images may contain whole garments or detail pictures, such as close up photos of a pocket or collar. An explanation of why the inspiration image is important may also be needed so the correct aspect of the image is conveyed in the style.
Callouts Page
The Callouts Page is used to articulate the type of construction and design details that should be used when constructing the garment. Be sure to use arrows to clearly mark what type of construction is to be used where. Also be sure that the factory understands any special phrases or acronyms that may be used to abbreviate words.
Print-Fabric Placement Page
The Print-Fabric Placement Page is used to indicate where you would like print and/or fabric. The front and back sketch of the style is colored in relation to a color key at the bottom of the page. This color key makes it very easy to distinguish the desired placement for each type of fabric. Prints could also be used to convey the placement of fabrics; such as one fabric being dots, and one fabric being stripes. Just make sure to clearly label the key.
Colorway Page
The Colorway Page identifies the colors which are to be used in the design. The current tab format includes several areas to input color information, and grids can be easily copied and pasted to create more information areas. Each color area contains sections for the color name, color number, and color swatch. The color number may be the pantone color number or an original number. If any other information is needed, simply edit the format so there are more columns in each information area.
This page may also hold print colorways if the design is not going to be one solid color. A true to size print out with color key may also/or instead be needed to identify each color in the print.
Bill of Materials Page
The Bill of Materials Page; also known as the BOM, is comprised of all materials used in constructing the garment. There are five main sections contained in this tab, which are as follows: Fabrics, Trims, Labels, and Packaging.
In each section there are five types of information that can be identified. This information includes Placment (where the material will be used or in what position it will be sewn into the garment), Comments (any extra means that are necessary to understanding the use of the material), Material (the fiber content, identification number, or substance the material is made of), Supplier (the provider of the goods), Color Number ( the item color to be used).
Fold Page
First of all I would like to say I am happy user of Deezer, nice interface and alot of songs available, currently making several playlist. But i have several problems regarding Deezer with communicating to the Samsung Multiroom app, the last update of Samsung Multiroom was around 4 weeks ago and since then it goes from bad to worse. Samsung multiroom for windows 10. Hi, I can't login to deezer via Samsung multiroom. It keeps advising the ID or password is wrong. I've re-entered multiple times, even changed the password a couple of times, logged in and out of deezer directly using the same credentials (to prove it is correct). Have reset the multiroom. I've been told by Tech Support today (I had to contact them as they don't call me) that Deezer is no longer supported via the Multiroom App. This appears to be Samsung's solution to mine and other users problems with accessing Deezer via the App. They haven't chosen to tell any of us and Deezer still appears within the choice of Apps.
The Fold Page expresses how the garment should be folded and packed. This pack will then be shipped to the desired destination. This page should contain a series of sketches showing the step by step process of folding and packing a shirt. Each sketch has a description for easy directional reference. If sketches cannot be created, a series of step by step photos with explanations would be an acceptable alternative. A description without any supporting images can also be used, however the explanations need to be very clear and easy to follow.
Label Placement Page
The Label Placement Page explains the type of label that is to be used in the product, and where it should be placed. Remember, the material the labels are made of can be found in the BOM.
Proto Specs Page
The Proto Specs Page indicates the measurements to which the pattern and first fit sample should be developed to. The chart contains five columns of information.
The Point of Measure (POM) indicates how each part of the style needs to be measured to ensure the garment or handbag is the correct size and fits correctly.
The Description expresses how and what needs to be measured in correlation to the POM code. It should be specific enough to relay what and how the point should be measured. The acronym for ‘high point of shoulder’ (HPS) will be seen often. Most vertical measurements will be measured from HPS, and should be indicated in the description.
The Requested indicates the actual measurements that the garment or handbag should be developed from. If there is uncertainty of what a measurement should be, the column may be left blank and a note made for the factory to help determine the necessary measurement. The spec can then be measured and filled in at the first fit.
The Tolerance (+/-) indicates the most a measurement is allowed to be over or under the requested measurement. This number is very important during production, so that the specs of the product are in the approved range of measurements.
The Comments is for adding important notes.
1st Fit Specs Page
The 1st Fit Specs Page holds all spec information about the first fit sample of development. It includes all five columns of information in the proto specs an adds these additional columns:
The Actual column is the area in which the measurements of the fit sample are inputted to help visually compare them to what specs were requested.
The Revised column is the area to input the measurements that the next sample or production should meet.
2nd Fit Specs
The 2nd Fit Specs Page is identical to the 1st fit specs page, except in this page the Requested column is pulled.
1st Fit Comments Page
The 1st Fit Comments Page includes all corrections that need to be made to the 1st fit sample. The fit and construction of the product should be reviewed and commented on. All tabs that took part in the development and creation of the first fit sample should be reviewed as well, to make sure all aspects of the product were followed correctly.
2nd Fit Comments Page
The 2nd Fit Comments Page is exactly the same as the 1st Fit Comments page, noting any errors in fit and construction.
Graded Specs Page
The Graded Specs Page holds the measurements for all sizes that will be put through production.
There’s a lot that goes into an effective Tech Pack. We’ve created a clear, detailed template to make things easy for you. Plug in your info, save, and print. Get it now!
Fashion designers create original clothing, accessories, and footwear. They sketch designs, select fabrics and patterns, and give instructions on how to make the products they design.
Duties
Fashion designers typically do the following:
Study fashion trends and anticipate designs that will appeal to consumers
Decide on a theme for a collection
Use computer-aided design (CAD) programs to create designs
Visit manufacturers or trade shows to get samples of fabric
Select fabrics, embellishments, colors, or a style for each garment or accessory
Work with other designers or team members to create prototype designs
Present design ideas to creative directors or showcase their ideas in fashion or trade shows
Market designs to clothing retailers or to consumers
Oversee the final production of their designs
Larger apparel companies typically employ a team of designers headed by a creative director. Some fashion designers specialize in clothing, footwear, or accessory design; others create designs in all three fashion categories.
For some fashion designers, the first step in creating a new design is researching current fashion and making predictions about future trends, such as by reading reports published by fashion industry trade groups. Other fashion designers create collections using a variety of inspirations, including art media, their surroundings, or cultures they have experienced and places they have visited.
Fashion Design Sketches
After they have an initial idea, fashion designers try out various fabrics and produce a prototype, often with less expensive material than will be used in the final product. They work with models to see how the design will look and adjust the designs as needed.
Although most designers first sketch their designs by hand, many now also sketch their ideas digitally with computer-aided design (CAD) programs. CAD allows designers to see their work on virtual models. They can try different colors, designs, and shapes while making adjustments more easily than they can when working with real fabric on real people.
How To Draw Basic Fashion Sketches
Designers produce samples with the actual materials that will be used in manufacturing. Samples that get good responses from fashion editors or trade and fashion shows are then manufactured and sold to consumers.
Basic Fashion Drawings
The design process may vary by specialty, but it generally takes 6 months, from initial design concept to final production, to release either the spring or fall collection. In addition to releasing designs during the spring and fall, some companies release new designs every month.
The Internet and e-commerce allow fashion designers to offer their products outside of traditional brick-and-mortar stores. These designers ship directly to the consumer, without having to invest in a physical shop to showcase their product lines of collections.
The following are examples of types of fashion designers:
Accessory designers design and produce items such as handbags, suitcases, belts, scarves, hats, hosiery, and eyewear.
Costume designers design costumes for the performing arts and for motion picture and television productions. They research the styles worn during the period in which the performance is set, or they work with directors to select and create appropriate attire. They also must stay within the production’s costume budget.
Fashion Sketches Art
Clothing designers create and help produce men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel, including casual wear, suits, sportswear, evening wear, outerwear, maternity clothing, and intimate apparel.
Basic Fashion Sketch Design Model Stick
Footwear designers create and help produce different styles of shoes and boots. As new materials, such as lightweight synthetic materials used in shoe soles, become available, footwear designers produce new designs that combine comfort, form, and function.
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lawattorney1-blog · 6 years ago
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What to Look For in a Divorce Lawyer - How to Choose Wisely
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With the changes in family law over the last 30 years, including the adoption of equitable distribution in place of the old common-law rules, the adoption of laws protecting military spouses, and the adoption of support guidelines and various local rules promulgated within the various circuits, the area of separation and divorce has become much too complicated and specialized for someone who does not regularly handle these types of cases. It distresses us when clients come to us with poorly drafted separation agreements, and/or decrees which other inexperienced attorneys have handled. Just as it is better to win at trial than to have a great appeal issue, it is much better to have the right attorney, one who will get it right the first time, than to have to pay someone to fix problems stemming from errors made in the first place. Sometimes the errors are very costly and cannot be fixed as shown in the series of articles I wrote for The Family Law News, a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law, entitled "Costly Errors in Multi-State Military Divorce; Or a Military Wife's Tale of Woe," which are published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 issues of the publication. The series of articles outlines the legal authorities, strategy and procedural points we used to successfully defend a military retiree, who was a veteran of the Vietnam War.   If you have any issues regarding where by in addition to how you can use CA Divorce lawyer, you can email us on our own web site. His ex-wife was attempting to obtain half of his military retired pay and spousal support here in Virginia, despite having divorced him six years earlier in Hawaii. While we are always happy to achieve a successful outcome for our clients, we felt sorry for the ex-wife, who had received poor legal advice from hr attorney in the original divorce action in Hawaii, advice that lead to poor decisions which the Virginia Court found to bind her permanently. In ruling for us in the case, the judge told the ex-wife that instead of suing her ex-husband, show should go after the attorney in Hawaii who represented her in the divorce. So, how do you go about finding a good divorce lawyer? Here are a few suggestions: Suggestion #1-Ask a Lawyer If you know a lawyer, ask him/her for a referral to a good divorce lawyer. He or she will probably know someone or several someones who devote a significant portion of the practice of law to separation and divorce and related issues. For example, I have been handling separation and divorce for 30 years and have an excellent reputation among the local legal community. Any divorce attorney worth his/her salt should have established a reputation among other lawyers. Lawyers generally know who is good for a particular type of case; they certainly know who they would see, if they were facing separation and divorce. Suggestion #2-Yellow Pages/Internet While not a great source of information, the Yellow Pages and internet can be a beginning source of attorney names. Lawyers who do not mention separation, divorce, military divorce, and related areas like custody and support or property division, are not seeking cases in those areas and certainly don't devote a significant portion of the practice to those areas. Be leery of ads that include a laundry list of everything under the sun. Remember the old saying, "a jack of all trades and master of none"? Wouldn't you rather have someone who takes the time to focus at least a significant amount of time to family law, than someone who maybe devotes 3% of his/her practice to family law issues? Remember not everyone advertises in the Yellow Pages or haw a website or internet presence.. For example, there are more telephone listings than there are attorney ads in the Yellow Pages. SUGGESTION # 3-VIRGINIA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is operated by the Virginia State Bar. Lawyers must ask to get on the list and must agree to a fixed fee for an initial consultation. A lawyer can be listed under any category he/she asks for. The names are on a rotating list and given to consumers who contact the service. Again, not all attorneys are listed. We are not listed with the referral service. This resource can provide the name of an attorney who is seeking family law cases. This does not mean that the attorney is an expert in these types of cases or that he/she is experienced. All it means is that he or she is seeking divorce cases. Be sure to take the questions I talk about here to the attorney interview. Suggestion #4-Talk to More Than One Attorney In fact, interview several attorneys. Ask each attorney who else handles separation and divorce in the area. If they won't give you names, leave the office, when you see names showing up on various lists of recommendations, the odds are probably good that the attorney is doing these cases on a regular basis. Suggestion #5 - Use a Checklist I have outlined factors that you should consider when selecting a divorce lawyer. A. Experience. The longer you have been practicing a particular area of the law, the more you know. There is an old adage that says a good lawyer knows the law and a great lawyer knows the judge! What is the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? Experience. B. Experience Trying Cases. Has he/she achieved any trial successes for his/her clients? Can the lawyer point to case results or client testimonial reflecting his/her abilities? C. Are they willing to settle when appropriate to do so? Trial attorneys sometimes suffer from a hired gun mentality. They like the thrill of trying cases and may not consider other options, such as mediation or arbitration to achieve a resolution. Most good divorce attorneys do not adopt this approach, but see trial as a last resort, when other options have failed to precipitate a fair resolution of the issues. Unlike other areas of the law, family law often entails ongoing relationships and consequently requires a different perspective. I recently read an article by a personal injury attorney, who was writing on how to choose a personal injury lawyer. He said not to choose a lawyer who settles a lot of cases. When it comes to separation and divorce, I believe it is important to try to reach an agreement, if you can. Going to court about family law unless you have to is like using a sledge hammer on a flea problem; you may kill a few fleas, but you wreak a lot of damage to the structure of the house, too. When individuals settle their own cases outside of court, they can be a lot more creative than the court would be in fashioning a remedy that is fair to both parties. Sometimes, agreement is just not possible. When that is the case, you want an experienced able divorce attorney who can advocate for your position in court and has a proven track record of success. D. Respect in the legal community. What are other lawyers saying about this lawyer? Has the lawyer lectured or taught? Has he/she taught other lawyers? E. Publications. Has he/she written anything that has been accepted for publication in legal journals? This is another sign of respect for the lawyer and for his/her skills and experience. Has he/she written or published anything designed to educate the public as to their rights duties and responsibilities under the law? F. Affiliations and memberships. What professional affiliations does the attorney have? Is he/she a member of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar Association? A member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers? A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys? G. Does the attorney limit the number of cases he/she undertakes? We don't take every case that calls in or walks through the door. We limit the number of cases that we undertake to handle at a given point in time so that we an focus on doing the best job for those clients. H. Relationship issues. 1. How was the telephone answered when you called for an appointment? 2. How were you greeted when you entered the office? Were you offered refreshments? 3. Did the attorney and staff listen to you? Are you sure? Could you tell they were listening? 4. Were you interrupted during your time with the lawyer? 5. Does the attorney use written agreements setting out the parameters of the representation and the financial arrangements? 6. One of the most important aspects of choosing a lawyer is the relationship aspect: you need to be able to work effectively and comfortably with your lawyer. The relationship requires intimacy and trust. Do you feel comfortable with the attorney? 7. Were you introduced to staff? 8. How long does the attorney retain files on closed cases? What happens to the closed file? How is it disposed of? What steps does the attorney take to safeguard your confidential information? I. Why does he/she practice divorce law? Friends and colleagues think I'm crazy to devote so much time to separation and divorce law. They may be right, I just may be a little crazy. But like the song says, "it just may be a lunatic you're looking for." When interviewing a potential divorce lawyer be sure to ask him/her why they choose to practice family law. Does the lawyer have a life experience that allows him/her to advocate for divorce clients with genuine passion? Is that passion something that is reflected in client testimonials? J. Cost. Unlike personal injury practice, the best divorce lawyers do not offer "free" consultations. You will notice that cost is last on the list. In our experience, the best divorce lawyers are generally not the cheapest. In the long run, what is it worth to you to retain or acquire your fair share of the assets that have been accumulated over the course of your married life? What is it worth to you to insure that you retain your fair share of time with your children? Some things are worth fighting for and worth the price that you have to pay. If your attorney does not devote a significant portion of his/her practice to family law issues, has never tried a contested divorce, has never tried a contested custody case or who has never tried an equitable distribution case, or drafted a qualified domestic relations order dividing a pension, or who has no experience in military divorce and has never drafted a military retired pay order, you may want to choose another lawyer for your separation and divorce.
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aishagod-blog · 7 years ago
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Divorce Lawyer, Divorce Attorney, how to find a divorce attorney, where to find a divorce lawyer
With the changes in family law over the last 30 years, including the adoption of equitable distribution in place of the old common-law rules, the adoption of laws protecting military spouses, and the adoption of support guidelines and various local rules promulgated within the various circuits, the area of separation and divorce has become much too complicated and specialized for someone who does not regularly handle these types of cases. It distresses us when clients come to us with poorly drafted separation agreements, and/or decrees which other inexperienced attorneys have handled. Just as it is better to win at trial than to have a great appeal issue, it is much better to have the right attorney, one who will get it right the first time, than to have to pay someone to fix problems stemming from errors made in the first place. Sometimes the errors are very costly and cannot be fixed as shown in the series of articles I wrote for The Family Law News, a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law, entitled "Costly Errors in Multi-State Military Divorce; Or a Military Wife's Tale of Woe," which are published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 issues of the publication.
The series of articles outlines the legal authorities, strategy and procedural points we used to successfully defend a military retiree, who was a veteran of the Vietnam War. His ex-wife was attempting to obtain half of his military retired pay and spousal support here in Virginia, despite having divorced him six years earlier in Hawaii. While we are always happy to achieve a successful outcome for our clients, we felt sorry for the ex-wife, who had received poor legal advice from hr attorney in the original divorce action in Hawaii, advice that lead to poor decisions which the Virginia Court found to bind her permanently. In ruling for us in the case, the judge told the ex-wife that instead of suing her ex-husband, show should go after the attorney in Hawaii who represented her in the divorce.
So, how do you go about finding a good divorce lawyer? Here are a few suggestions:
Suggestion #1-Ask a Lawyer
If you know a lawyer, ask him/her for a referral to a good divorce lawyer. He or she will probably know someone or several someones who devote a significant portion of the practice of law to separation and divorce and related issues. For example, I have been handling separation and divorce for 30 years and have an excellent reputation among the local legal community. Any divorce attorney worth his/her salt should have established a reputation among other lawyers. Lawyers generally know who is good for a particular type of case; they certainly know who they would see, if they were facing separation and divorce.
Suggestion #2-Yellow Pages/Internet
While not a great source of information, the Yellow Pages and internet can be a beginning source of attorney names. Lawyers who do not mention separation, divorce, military divorce, and related areas like custody and support or property division, are not seeking cases in those areas and certainly don't devote a significant portion of the practice to those areas. Be leery of ads that include a laundry list of everything under the sun. Remember the old saying, "a jack of all trades and master of none"? Wouldn't you rather have someone who takes the time to focus at least a significant amount of time to family law, than someone who maybe devotes 3% of his/her practice to family law issues? Remember not everyone advertises in the Yellow Pages or haw a website or internet presence.. For example, there are more telephone listings than there are attorney ads in the Yellow Pages.
SUGGESTION # 3-VIRGINIA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE
The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is operated by the Virginia State Bar. Lawyers must ask to get on the list and must agree to a fixed fee for an initial consultation. A lawyer can be listed under any category he/she asks for. The names are on a rotating list and given to consumers who contact the service. Again, not all attorneys are listed. We are not listed with the referral service. This resource can provide the name of an attorney who is seeking family law cases. This does not mean that the attorney is an expert in these types of cases or that he/she is experienced. All it means is that he or she is seeking divorce cases. Be sure to take the questions I talk about here to the attorney interview.
Suggestion #4-Talk to More Than One Attorney
In fact, interview several attorneys. Ask each attorney who else handles separation and divorce in the area. If they won't give you names, leave the office, when you see names showing up on various lists of recommendations, the odds are probably good that the attorney is doing these cases on a regular basis.
Suggestion #5 - Use a Checklist
I have outlined factors that you should consider when selecting a divorce lawyer.
A. Experience. The longer you have been practicing a particular area of the law, the more you know. There is an old adage that says a good lawyer knows the law and a great lawyer knows the judge! What is the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? Experience.
B. Experience Trying Cases. Has he/she achieved any trial successes for his/her clients? Can the lawyer point to case results or client testimonial reflecting his/her abilities?
C. Are they willing to settle when appropriate to do so? Trial attorneys sometimes suffer from a hired gun mentality. They like the thrill of trying cases and may not consider other options, such as mediation or arbitration to achieve a resolution. Most good divorce attorneys do not adopt this approach, but see trial as a last resort, when other options have failed to precipitate a fair resolution of the issues. Unlike other areas of the law, family law often entails ongoing relationships and consequently requires a different perspective. I recently read an article by a personal injury attorney, who was writing on how to choose a personal injury lawyer. He said not to choose a lawyer who settles a lot of cases. When it comes to separation and divorce, I believe it is important to try to reach an agreement, if you can.
Going to court about family law unless you have to is like using a sledge hammer on a flea problem; you may kill a few fleas, but you wreak a lot of damage to the structure of the house, too. When individuals settle their own cases outside of court, they can be a lot more creative than the court would be in fashioning a remedy that is fair to both parties. Sometimes, agreement is just not possible. When that is the case, you want an experienced able divorce attorney who can advocate for your position in court and has a proven track record of success.
D. Respect in the legal community. What are other lawyers saying about this lawyer? Has the lawyer lectured or taught? Has he/she taught other lawyers?
E. Publications. Has he/she written anything that has been accepted for publication in legal journals? This is another sign of respect for the lawyer and for his/her skills and experience. Has he/she written or published anything designed to educate the public as to their rights duties and responsibilities under the law?
F. Affiliations and memberships. What professional affiliations does the attorney have? Is he/she a member of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar Association? A member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers? A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys?
G. Does the attorney limit the number of cases he/she undertakes? We don't take every case that calls in or walks through the door. We limit the number of cases that we undertake to handle at a given point in time so that we an focus on doing the best job for those clients.
H. Relationship issues.
1. How was the telephone answered when you called for an appointment?
2. How were you greeted when you entered the office? Were you offered refreshments?
3. Did the attorney and staff listen to you? Are you sure? Could you tell they were listening?
4. Were you interrupted during your time with the lawyer?
5. Does the attorney use written agreements setting out the parameters of the representation and the financial arrangements?
6. One of the most important aspects of choosing a lawyer is the relationship aspect: you need to be able to work effectively and comfortably with your lawyer. The relationship requires intimacy and trust. Do you feel comfortable with the attorney?
7. Were you introduced to staff?
8. How long does the attorney retain files on closed cases? What happens to the closed file? How is it disposed of? What steps does the attorney take to safeguard your confidential information?
I. Why does he/she practice divorce law? Friends and colleagues think I'm crazy to devote so much time to separation and divorce law. They may be right, I just may be a little crazy. But like the song says, "it just may be a lunatic you're looking for." When interviewing a potential divorce lawyer be sure to ask him/her why they choose to practice family law. Does the lawyer have a life experience that allows him/her to advocate for divorce clients with genuine passion? Is that passion something that is reflected in client testimonials?
J. Cost. Unlike personal injury practice, the best divorce lawyers do not offer "free" consultations. You will notice that cost is last on the list. In our experience, the best divorce lawyers are generally not the cheapest. In the long run, what is it worth to you to retain or acquire your fair share of the assets that have been accumulated over the course of your married life? What is it worth to you to insure that you retain your fair share of time with your children? Some things are worth fighting for and worth the price that you have to pay.
If your attorney does not devote a significant portion of his/her practice to family law issues, has never tried a contested divorce, has never tried a contested custody case or who has never tried an equitable distribution case, or drafted a qualified domestic relations order dividing a pension, or who has no experience in military divorce and has never drafted a military retired pay order, you may want to choose another lawyer for your separation and divorce.
Attorney Virginia Dante Perry is actively engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis on family law and trials for over 30 years. Over those years she has tried to represent herself and her clients with honesty and integrity. Atty. Perry takes a "no nonsense" approach. She does not promise what she cannot deliver, but tries to deliver more than she promises. She says what she will do and she does what she says. Part of her vision is to educate people as to their rights, duties and responsibilities under the law. Atty. Perry is a people person. She enjoys meeting and talking with people, advising them, informing them and helping them to resolve their problems. She has clients who have been with her since the 1970's. She has a reputation for being thorough and methodical in handling family law matters and for being a "straight shooter."
Ms. Perry has written a series of articles on multi-state military divorce, which were published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 Issues of "The Family Law News," a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law. Atty. Perry has just finished a new publication entitled "The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Hiring a Lawyer." Ms. Perry has also written a series of special reports some of which are available in pdf format through her website, as well as numerous brochures and pamphlets on legal subjects as part of the firm mission to educate people as to their legal rights, duties and responsibilities.
For more information about Atty. Perry or for additional publications and articles, see the website at http://www.valawtalk.com
http://divorcelawyerattorneynearme.com
0 notes
detectivelaslo-blog · 7 years ago
Text
Divorce Lawyer, Divorce Attorney, how to find a divorce attorney, where to find a divorce lawyer
With the changes in family law over the last 30 years, including the adoption of equitable distribution in place of the old common-law rules, the adoption of laws protecting military spouses, and the adoption of support guidelines and various local rules promulgated within the various circuits, the area of separation and divorce has become much too complicated and specialized for someone who does not regularly handle these types of cases. It distresses us when clients come to us with poorly drafted separation agreements, and/or decrees which other inexperienced attorneys have handled. Just as it is better to win at trial than to have a great appeal issue, it is much better to have the right attorney, one who will get it right the first time, than to have to pay someone to fix problems stemming from errors made in the first place. Sometimes the errors are very costly and cannot be fixed as shown in the series of articles I wrote for The Family Law News, a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law, entitled "Costly Errors in Multi-State Military Divorce; Or a Military Wife's Tale of Woe," which are published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 issues of the publication.
The series of articles outlines the legal authorities, strategy and procedural points we used to successfully defend a military retiree, who was a veteran of the Vietnam War. His ex-wife was attempting to obtain half of his military retired pay and spousal support here in Virginia, despite having divorced him six years earlier in Hawaii. While we are always happy to achieve a successful outcome for our clients, we felt sorry for the ex-wife, who had received poor legal advice from hr attorney in the original divorce action in Hawaii, advice that lead to poor decisions which the Virginia Court found to bind her permanently. In ruling for us in the case, the judge told the ex-wife that instead of suing her ex-husband, show should go after the attorney in Hawaii who represented her in the divorce.
So, how do you go about finding a good divorce lawyer? Here are a few suggestions:
Suggestion #1-Ask a Lawyer
If you know a lawyer, ask him/her for a referral to a good divorce lawyer. He or she will probably know someone or several someones who devote a significant portion of the practice of law to separation and divorce and related issues. For example, I have been handling separation and divorce for 30 years and have an excellent reputation among the local legal community. Any divorce attorney worth his/her salt should have established a reputation among other lawyers. Lawyers generally know who is good for a particular type of case; they certainly know who they would see, if they were facing separation and divorce.
Suggestion #2-Yellow Pages/Internet
While not a great source of information, the Yellow Pages and internet can be a beginning source of attorney names. Lawyers who do not mention separation, divorce, military divorce, and related areas like custody and support or property division, are not seeking cases in those areas and certainly don't devote a significant portion of the practice to those areas. Be leery of ads that include a laundry list of everything under the sun. Remember the old saying, "a jack of all trades and master of none"? Wouldn't you rather have someone who takes the time to focus at least a significant amount of time to family law, than someone who maybe devotes 3% of his/her practice to family law issues? Remember not everyone advertises in the Yellow Pages or haw a website or internet presence.. For example, there are more telephone listings than there are attorney ads in the Yellow Pages.
SUGGESTION # 3-VIRGINIA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE
The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is operated by the Virginia State Bar. Lawyers must ask to get on the list and must agree to a fixed fee for an initial consultation. A lawyer can be listed under any category he/she asks for. The names are on a rotating list and given to consumers who contact the service. Again, not all attorneys are listed. We are not listed with the referral service. This resource can provide the name of an attorney who is seeking family law cases. This does not mean that the attorney is an expert in these types of cases or that he/she is experienced. All it means is that he or she is seeking divorce cases. Be sure to take the questions I talk about here to the attorney interview.
Suggestion #4-Talk to More Than One Attorney
In fact, interview several attorneys. Ask each attorney who else handles separation and divorce in the area. If they won't give you names, leave the office, when you see names showing up on various lists of recommendations, the odds are probably good that the attorney is doing these cases on a regular basis.
Suggestion #5 - Use a Checklist
I have outlined factors that you should consider when selecting a divorce lawyer.
A. Experience. The longer you have been practicing a particular area of the law, the more you know. There is an old adage that says a good lawyer knows the law and a great lawyer knows the judge! What is the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? Experience.
B. Experience Trying Cases. Has he/she achieved any trial successes for his/her clients? Can the lawyer point to case results or client testimonial reflecting his/her abilities?
C. Are they willing to settle when appropriate to do so? Trial attorneys sometimes suffer from a hired gun mentality. They like the thrill of trying cases and may not consider other options, such as mediation or arbitration to achieve a resolution. Most good divorce attorneys do not adopt this approach, but see trial as a last resort, when other options have failed to precipitate a fair resolution of the issues. Unlike other areas of the law, family law often entails ongoing relationships and consequently requires a different perspective. I recently read an article by a personal injury attorney, who was writing on how to choose a personal injury lawyer. He said not to choose a lawyer who settles a lot of cases. When it comes to separation and divorce, I believe it is important to try to reach an agreement, if you can.
Going to court about family law unless you have to is like using a sledge hammer on a flea problem; you may kill a few fleas, but you wreak a lot of damage to the structure of the house, too. When individuals settle their own cases outside of court, they can be a lot more creative than the court would be in fashioning a remedy that is fair to both parties. Sometimes, agreement is just not possible. When that is the case, you want an experienced able divorce attorney who can advocate for your position in court and has a proven track record of success.
D. Respect in the legal community. What are other lawyers saying about this lawyer? Has the lawyer lectured or taught? Has he/she taught other lawyers?
E. Publications. Has he/she written anything that has been accepted for publication in legal journals? This is another sign of respect for the lawyer and for his/her skills and experience. Has he/she written or published anything designed to educate the public as to their rights duties and responsibilities under the law?
F. Affiliations and memberships. What professional affiliations does the attorney have? Is he/she a member of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar Association? A member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers? A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys?
G. Does the attorney limit the number of cases he/she undertakes? We don't take every case that calls in or walks through the door. We limit the number of cases that we undertake to handle at a given point in time so that we an focus on doing the best job for those clients.
H. Relationship issues.
1. How was the telephone answered when you called for an appointment?
2. How were you greeted when you entered the office? Were you offered refreshments?
3. Did the attorney and staff listen to you? Are you sure? Could you tell they were listening?
4. Were you interrupted during your time with the lawyer?
5. Does the attorney use written agreements setting out the parameters of the representation and the financial arrangements?
6. One of the most important aspects of choosing a lawyer is the relationship aspect: you need to be able to work effectively and comfortably with your lawyer. The relationship requires intimacy and trust. Do you feel comfortable with the attorney?
7. Were you introduced to staff?
8. How long does the attorney retain files on closed cases? What happens to the closed file? How is it disposed of? What steps does the attorney take to safeguard your confidential information?
I. Why does he/she practice divorce law? Friends and colleagues think I'm crazy to devote so much time to separation and divorce law. They may be right, I just may be a little crazy. But like the song says, "it just may be a lunatic you're looking for." When interviewing a potential divorce lawyer be sure to ask him/her why they choose to practice family law. Does the lawyer have a life experience that allows him/her to advocate for divorce clients with genuine passion? Is that passion something that is reflected in client testimonials?
J. Cost. Unlike personal injury practice, the best divorce lawyers do not offer "free" consultations. You will notice that cost is last on the list. In our experience, the best divorce lawyers are generally not the cheapest. In the long run, what is it worth to you to retain or acquire your fair share of the assets that have been accumulated over the course of your married life? What is it worth to you to insure that you retain your fair share of time with your children? Some things are worth fighting for and worth the price that you have to pay.
If your attorney does not devote a significant portion of his/her practice to family law issues, has never tried a contested divorce, has never tried a contested custody case or who has never tried an equitable distribution case, or drafted a qualified domestic relations order dividing a pension, or who has no experience in military divorce and has never drafted a military retired pay order, you may want to choose another lawyer for your separation and divorce.
Attorney Virginia Dante Perry is actively engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis on family law and trials for over 30 years. Over those years she has tried to represent herself and her clients with honesty and integrity. Atty. Perry takes a "no nonsense" approach. She does not promise what she cannot deliver, but tries to deliver more than she promises. She says what she will do and she does what she says. Part of her vision is to educate people as to their rights, duties and responsibilities under the law. Atty. Perry is a people person. She enjoys meeting and talking with people, advising them, informing them and helping them to resolve their problems. She has clients who have been with her since the 1970's. She has a reputation for being thorough and methodical in handling family law matters and for being a "straight shooter."
Ms. Perry has written a series of articles on multi-state military divorce, which were published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 Issues of "The Family Law News," a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law. Atty. Perry has just finished a new publication entitled "The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Hiring a Lawyer." Ms. Perry has also written a series of special reports some of which are available in pdf format through her website, as well as numerous brochures and pamphlets on legal subjects as part of the firm mission to educate people as to their legal rights, duties and responsibilities.
For more information about Atty. Perry or for additional publications and articles, see the website at http://www.valawtalk.com
http://divorcelawyerattorneynearme.com
0 notes
deadbruise-blog · 7 years ago
Text
Divorce Lawyer, Divorce Attorney, how to find a divorce attorney, where to find a divorce lawyer
With the changes in family law over the last 30 years, including the adoption of equitable distribution in place of the old common-law rules, the adoption of laws protecting military spouses, and the adoption of support guidelines and various local rules promulgated within the various circuits, the area of separation and divorce has become much too complicated and specialized for someone who does not regularly handle these types of cases. It distresses us when clients come to us with poorly drafted separation agreements, and/or decrees which other inexperienced attorneys have handled. Just as it is better to win at trial than to have a great appeal issue, it is much better to have the right attorney, one who will get it right the first time, than to have to pay someone to fix problems stemming from errors made in the first place. Sometimes the errors are very costly and cannot be fixed as shown in the series of articles I wrote for The Family Law News, a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law, entitled "Costly Errors in Multi-State Military Divorce; Or a Military Wife's Tale of Woe," which are published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 issues of the publication.
The series of articles outlines the legal authorities, strategy and procedural points we used to successfully defend a military retiree, who was a veteran of the Vietnam War. His ex-wife was attempting to obtain half of his military retired pay and spousal support here in Virginia, despite having divorced him six years earlier in Hawaii. While we are always happy to achieve a successful outcome for our clients, we felt sorry for the ex-wife, who had received poor legal advice from hr attorney in the original divorce action in Hawaii, advice that lead to poor decisions which the Virginia Court found to bind her permanently. In ruling for us in the case, the judge told the ex-wife that instead of suing her ex-husband, show should go after the attorney in Hawaii who represented her in the divorce.
So, how do you go about finding a good divorce lawyer? Here are a few suggestions:
Suggestion #1-Ask a Lawyer
If you know a lawyer, ask him/her for a referral to a good divorce lawyer. He or she will probably know someone or several someones who devote a significant portion of the practice of law to separation and divorce and related issues. For example, I have been handling separation and divorce for 30 years and have an excellent reputation among the local legal community. Any divorce attorney worth his/her salt should have established a reputation among other lawyers. Lawyers generally know who is good for a particular type of case; they certainly know who they would see, if they were facing separation and divorce.
Suggestion #2-Yellow Pages/Internet
While not a great source of information, the Yellow Pages and internet can be a beginning source of attorney names. Lawyers who do not mention separation, divorce, military divorce, and related areas like custody and support or property division, are not seeking cases in those areas and certainly don't devote a significant portion of the practice to those areas. Be leery of ads that include a laundry list of everything under the sun. Remember the old saying, "a jack of all trades and master of none"? Wouldn't you rather have someone who takes the time to focus at least a significant amount of time to family law, than someone who maybe devotes 3% of his/her practice to family law issues? Remember not everyone advertises in the Yellow Pages or haw a website or internet presence.. For example, there are more telephone listings than there are attorney ads in the Yellow Pages.
SUGGESTION # 3-VIRGINIA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE
The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is operated by the Virginia State Bar. Lawyers must ask to get on the list and must agree to a fixed fee for an initial consultation. A lawyer can be listed under any category he/she asks for. The names are on a rotating list and given to consumers who contact the service. Again, not all attorneys are listed. We are not listed with the referral service. This resource can provide the name of an attorney who is seeking family law cases. This does not mean that the attorney is an expert in these types of cases or that he/she is experienced. All it means is that he or she is seeking divorce cases. Be sure to take the questions I talk about here to the attorney interview.
Suggestion #4-Talk to More Than One Attorney
In fact, interview several attorneys. Ask each attorney who else handles separation and divorce in the area. If they won't give you names, leave the office, when you see names showing up on various lists of recommendations, the odds are probably good that the attorney is doing these cases on a regular basis.
Suggestion #5 - Use a Checklist
I have outlined factors that you should consider when selecting a divorce lawyer.
A. Experience. The longer you have been practicing a particular area of the law, the more you know. There is an old adage that says a good lawyer knows the law and a great lawyer knows the judge! What is the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? Experience.
B. Experience Trying Cases. Has he/she achieved any trial successes for his/her clients? Can the lawyer point to case results or client testimonial reflecting his/her abilities?
C. Are they willing to settle when appropriate to do so? Trial attorneys sometimes suffer from a hired gun mentality. They like the thrill of trying cases and may not consider other options, such as mediation or arbitration to achieve a resolution. Most good divorce attorneys do not adopt this approach, but see trial as a last resort, when other options have failed to precipitate a fair resolution of the issues. Unlike other areas of the law, family law often entails ongoing relationships and consequently requires a different perspective. I recently read an article by a personal injury attorney, who was writing on how to choose a personal injury lawyer. He said not to choose a lawyer who settles a lot of cases. When it comes to separation and divorce, I believe it is important to try to reach an agreement, if you can.
Going to court about family law unless you have to is like using a sledge hammer on a flea problem; you may kill a few fleas, but you wreak a lot of damage to the structure of the house, too. When individuals settle their own cases outside of court, they can be a lot more creative than the court would be in fashioning a remedy that is fair to both parties. Sometimes, agreement is just not possible. When that is the case, you want an experienced able divorce attorney who can advocate for your position in court and has a proven track record of success.
D. Respect in the legal community. What are other lawyers saying about this lawyer? Has the lawyer lectured or taught? Has he/she taught other lawyers?
E. Publications. Has he/she written anything that has been accepted for publication in legal journals? This is another sign of respect for the lawyer and for his/her skills and experience. Has he/she written or published anything designed to educate the public as to their rights duties and responsibilities under the law?
F. Affiliations and memberships. What professional affiliations does the attorney have? Is he/she a member of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar Association? A member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers? A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys?
G. Does the attorney limit the number of cases he/she undertakes? We don't take every case that calls in or walks through the door. We limit the number of cases that we undertake to handle at a given point in time so that we an focus on doing the best job for those clients.
H. Relationship issues.
1. How was the telephone answered when you called for an appointment?
2. How were you greeted when you entered the office? Were you offered refreshments?
3. Did the attorney and staff listen to you? Are you sure? Could you tell they were listening?
4. Were you interrupted during your time with the lawyer?
5. Does the attorney use written agreements setting out the parameters of the representation and the financial arrangements?
6. One of the most important aspects of choosing a lawyer is the relationship aspect: you need to be able to work effectively and comfortably with your lawyer. The relationship requires intimacy and trust. Do you feel comfortable with the attorney?
7. Were you introduced to staff?
8. How long does the attorney retain files on closed cases? What happens to the closed file? How is it disposed of? What steps does the attorney take to safeguard your confidential information?
I. Why does he/she practice divorce law? Friends and colleagues think I'm crazy to devote so much time to separation and divorce law. They may be right, I just may be a little crazy. But like the song says, "it just may be a lunatic you're looking for." When interviewing a potential divorce lawyer be sure to ask him/her why they choose to practice family law. Does the lawyer have a life experience that allows him/her to advocate for divorce clients with genuine passion? Is that passion something that is reflected in client testimonials?
J. Cost. Unlike personal injury practice, the best divorce lawyers do not offer "free" consultations. You will notice that cost is last on the list. In our experience, the best divorce lawyers are generally not the cheapest. In the long run, what is it worth to you to retain or acquire your fair share of the assets that have been accumulated over the course of your married life? What is it worth to you to insure that you retain your fair share of time with your children? Some things are worth fighting for and worth the price that you have to pay.
If your attorney does not devote a significant portion of his/her practice to family law issues, has never tried a contested divorce, has never tried a contested custody case or who has never tried an equitable distribution case, or drafted a qualified domestic relations order dividing a pension, or who has no experience in military divorce and has never drafted a military retired pay order, you may want to choose another lawyer for your separation and divorce.
Attorney Virginia Dante Perry is actively engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis on family law and trials for over 30 years. Over those years she has tried to represent herself and her clients with honesty and integrity. Atty. Perry takes a "no nonsense" approach. She does not promise what she cannot deliver, but tries to deliver more than she promises. She says what she will do and she does what she says. Part of her vision is to educate people as to their rights, duties and responsibilities under the law. Atty. Perry is a people person. She enjoys meeting and talking with people, advising them, informing them and helping them to resolve their problems. She has clients who have been with her since the 1970's. She has a reputation for being thorough and methodical in handling family law matters and for being a "straight shooter."
Ms. Perry has written a series of articles on multi-state military divorce, which were published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 Issues of "The Family Law News," a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law. Atty. Perry has just finished a new publication entitled "The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Hiring a Lawyer." Ms. Perry has also written a series of special reports some of which are available in pdf format through her website, as well as numerous brochures and pamphlets on legal subjects as part of the firm mission to educate people as to their legal rights, duties and responsibilities.
For more information about Atty. Perry or for additional publications and articles, see the website at http://www.valawtalk.com
http://divorcelawyerattorneynearme.com
0 notes
trainingpup-blog · 7 years ago
Text
Divorce Lawyer, Divorce Attorney, how to find a divorce attorney, where to find a divorce lawyer
With the changes in family law over the last 30 years, including the adoption of equitable distribution in place of the old common-law rules, the adoption of laws protecting military spouses, and the adoption of support guidelines and various local rules promulgated within the various circuits, the area of separation and divorce has become much too complicated and specialized for someone who does not regularly handle these types of cases. It distresses us when clients come to us with poorly drafted separation agreements, and/or decrees which other inexperienced attorneys have handled. Just as it is better to win at trial than to have a great appeal issue, it is much better to have the right attorney, one who will get it right the first time, than to have to pay someone to fix problems stemming from errors made in the first place. Sometimes the errors are very costly and cannot be fixed as shown in the series of articles I wrote for The Family Law News, a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law, entitled "Costly Errors in Multi-State Military Divorce; Or a Military Wife's Tale of Woe," which are published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 issues of the publication.
The series of articles outlines the legal authorities, strategy and procedural points we used to successfully defend a military retiree, who was a veteran of the Vietnam War. His ex-wife was attempting to obtain half of his military retired pay and spousal support here in Virginia, despite having divorced him six years earlier in Hawaii. While we are always happy to achieve a successful outcome for our clients, we felt sorry for the ex-wife, who had received poor legal advice from hr attorney in the original divorce action in Hawaii, advice that lead to poor decisions which the Virginia Court found to bind her permanently. In ruling for us in the case, the judge told the ex-wife that instead of suing her ex-husband, show should go after the attorney in Hawaii who represented her in the divorce.
So, how do you go about finding a good divorce lawyer? Here are a few suggestions:
Suggestion #1-Ask a Lawyer
If you know a lawyer, ask him/her for a referral to a good divorce lawyer. He or she will probably know someone or several someones who devote a significant portion of the practice of law to separation and divorce and related issues. For example, I have been handling separation and divorce for 30 years and have an excellent reputation among the local legal community. Any divorce attorney worth his/her salt should have established a reputation among other lawyers. Lawyers generally know who is good for a particular type of case; they certainly know who they would see, if they were facing separation and divorce.
Suggestion #2-Yellow Pages/Internet
While not a great source of information, the Yellow Pages and internet can be a beginning source of attorney names. Lawyers who do not mention separation, divorce, military divorce, and related areas like custody and support or property division, are not seeking cases in those areas and certainly don't devote a significant portion of the practice to those areas. Be leery of ads that include a laundry list of everything under the sun. Remember the old saying, "a jack of all trades and master of none"? Wouldn't you rather have someone who takes the time to focus at least a significant amount of time to family law, than someone who maybe devotes 3% of his/her practice to family law issues? Remember not everyone advertises in the Yellow Pages or haw a website or internet presence.. For example, there are more telephone listings than there are attorney ads in the Yellow Pages.
SUGGESTION # 3-VIRGINIA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE
The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is operated by the Virginia State Bar. Lawyers must ask to get on the list and must agree to a fixed fee for an initial consultation. A lawyer can be listed under any category he/she asks for. The names are on a rotating list and given to consumers who contact the service. Again, not all attorneys are listed. We are not listed with the referral service. This resource can provide the name of an attorney who is seeking family law cases. This does not mean that the attorney is an expert in these types of cases or that he/she is experienced. All it means is that he or she is seeking divorce cases. Be sure to take the questions I talk about here to the attorney interview.
Suggestion #4-Talk to More Than One Attorney
In fact, interview several attorneys. Ask each attorney who else handles separation and divorce in the area. If they won't give you names, leave the office, when you see names showing up on various lists of recommendations, the odds are probably good that the attorney is doing these cases on a regular basis.
Suggestion #5 - Use a Checklist
I have outlined factors that you should consider when selecting a divorce lawyer.
A. Experience. The longer you have been practicing a particular area of the law, the more you know. There is an old adage that says a good lawyer knows the law and a great lawyer knows the judge! What is the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? Experience.
B. Experience Trying Cases. Has he/she achieved any trial successes for his/her clients? Can the lawyer point to case results or client testimonial reflecting his/her abilities?
C. Are they willing to settle when appropriate to do so? Trial attorneys sometimes suffer from a hired gun mentality. They like the thrill of trying cases and may not consider other options, such as mediation or arbitration to achieve a resolution. Most good divorce attorneys do not adopt this approach, but see trial as a last resort, when other options have failed to precipitate a fair resolution of the issues. Unlike other areas of the law, family law often entails ongoing relationships and consequently requires a different perspective. I recently read an article by a personal injury attorney, who was writing on how to choose a personal injury lawyer. He said not to choose a lawyer who settles a lot of cases. When it comes to separation and divorce, I believe it is important to try to reach an agreement, if you can.
Going to court about family law unless you have to is like using a sledge hammer on a flea problem; you may kill a few fleas, but you wreak a lot of damage to the structure of the house, too. When individuals settle their own cases outside of court, they can be a lot more creative than the court would be in fashioning a remedy that is fair to both parties. Sometimes, agreement is just not possible. When that is the case, you want an experienced able divorce attorney who can advocate for your position in court and has a proven track record of success.
D. Respect in the legal community. What are other lawyers saying about this lawyer? Has the lawyer lectured or taught? Has he/she taught other lawyers?
E. Publications. Has he/she written anything that has been accepted for publication in legal journals? This is another sign of respect for the lawyer and for his/her skills and experience. Has he/she written or published anything designed to educate the public as to their rights duties and responsibilities under the law?
F. Affiliations and memberships. What professional affiliations does the attorney have? Is he/she a member of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar Association? A member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers? A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys?
G. Does the attorney limit the number of cases he/she undertakes? We don't take every case that calls in or walks through the door. We limit the number of cases that we undertake to handle at a given point in time so that we an focus on doing the best job for those clients.
H. Relationship issues.
1. How was the telephone answered when you called for an appointment?
2. How were you greeted when you entered the office? Were you offered refreshments?
3. Did the attorney and staff listen to you? Are you sure? Could you tell they were listening?
4. Were you interrupted during your time with the lawyer?
5. Does the attorney use written agreements setting out the parameters of the representation and the financial arrangements?
6. One of the most important aspects of choosing a lawyer is the relationship aspect: you need to be able to work effectively and comfortably with your lawyer. The relationship requires intimacy and trust. Do you feel comfortable with the attorney?
7. Were you introduced to staff?
8. How long does the attorney retain files on closed cases? What happens to the closed file? How is it disposed of? What steps does the attorney take to safeguard your confidential information?
I. Why does he/she practice divorce law? Friends and colleagues think I'm crazy to devote so much time to separation and divorce law. They may be right, I just may be a little crazy. But like the song says, "it just may be a lunatic you're looking for." When interviewing a potential divorce lawyer be sure to ask him/her why they choose to practice family law. Does the lawyer have a life experience that allows him/her to advocate for divorce clients with genuine passion? Is that passion something that is reflected in client testimonials?
J. Cost. Unlike personal injury practice, the best divorce lawyers do not offer "free" consultations. You will notice that cost is last on the list. In our experience, the best divorce lawyers are generally not the cheapest. In the long run, what is it worth to you to retain or acquire your fair share of the assets that have been accumulated over the course of your married life? What is it worth to you to insure that you retain your fair share of time with your children? Some things are worth fighting for and worth the price that you have to pay.
If your attorney does not devote a significant portion of his/her practice to family law issues, has never tried a contested divorce, has never tried a contested custody case or who has never tried an equitable distribution case, or drafted a qualified domestic relations order dividing a pension, or who has no experience in military divorce and has never drafted a military retired pay order, you may want to choose another lawyer for your separation and divorce.
Attorney Virginia Dante Perry is actively engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis on family law and trials for over 30 years. Over those years she has tried to represent herself and her clients with honesty and integrity. Atty. Perry takes a "no nonsense" approach. She does not promise what she cannot deliver, but tries to deliver more than she promises. She says what she will do and she does what she says. Part of her vision is to educate people as to their rights, duties and responsibilities under the law. Atty. Perry is a people person. She enjoys meeting and talking with people, advising them, informing them and helping them to resolve their problems. She has clients who have been with her since the 1970's. She has a reputation for being thorough and methodical in handling family law matters and for being a "straight shooter."
Ms. Perry has written a series of articles on multi-state military divorce, which were published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 Issues of "The Family Law News," a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law. Atty. Perry has just finished a new publication entitled "The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Hiring a Lawyer." Ms. Perry has also written a series of special reports some of which are available in pdf format through her website, as well as numerous brochures and pamphlets on legal subjects as part of the firm mission to educate people as to their legal rights, duties and responsibilities.
For more information about Atty. Perry or for additional publications and articles, see the website at http://www.valawtalk.com
http://divorcelawyerattorneynearme.com
0 notes
emmimacc-blog · 7 years ago
Text
Divorce Lawyer, Divorce Attorney, how to find a divorce attorney, where to find a divorce lawyer
With the changes in family law over the last 30 years, including the adoption of equitable distribution in place of the old common-law rules, the adoption of laws protecting military spouses, and the adoption of support guidelines and various local rules promulgated within the various circuits, the area of separation and divorce has become much too complicated and specialized for someone who does not regularly handle these types of cases. It distresses us when clients come to us with poorly drafted separation agreements, and/or decrees which other inexperienced attorneys have handled. Just as it is better to win at trial than to have a great appeal issue, it is much better to have the right attorney, one who will get it right the first time, than to have to pay someone to fix problems stemming from errors made in the first place. Sometimes the errors are very costly and cannot be fixed as shown in the series of articles I wrote for The Family Law News, a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law, entitled "Costly Errors in Multi-State Military Divorce; Or a Military Wife's Tale of Woe," which are published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 issues of the publication.
The series of articles outlines the legal authorities, strategy and procedural points we used to successfully defend a military retiree, who was a veteran of the Vietnam War. His ex-wife was attempting to obtain half of his military retired pay and spousal support here in Virginia, despite having divorced him six years earlier in Hawaii. While we are always happy to achieve a successful outcome for our clients, we felt sorry for the ex-wife, who had received poor legal advice from hr attorney in the original divorce action in Hawaii, advice that lead to poor decisions which the Virginia Court found to bind her permanently. In ruling for us in the case, the judge told the ex-wife that instead of suing her ex-husband, show should go after the attorney in Hawaii who represented her in the divorce.
So, how do you go about finding a good divorce lawyer? Here are a few suggestions:
Suggestion #1-Ask a Lawyer
If you know a lawyer, ask him/her for a referral to a good divorce lawyer. He or she will probably know someone or several someones who devote a significant portion of the practice of law to separation and divorce and related issues. For example, I have been handling separation and divorce for 30 years and have an excellent reputation among the local legal community. Any divorce attorney worth his/her salt should have established a reputation among other lawyers. Lawyers generally know who is good for a particular type of case; they certainly know who they would see, if they were facing separation and divorce.
Suggestion #2-Yellow Pages/Internet
While not a great source of information, the Yellow Pages and internet can be a beginning source of attorney names. Lawyers who do not mention separation, divorce, military divorce, and related areas like custody and support or property division, are not seeking cases in those areas and certainly don't devote a significant portion of the practice to those areas. Be leery of ads that include a laundry list of everything under the sun. Remember the old saying, "a jack of all trades and master of none"? Wouldn't you rather have someone who takes the time to focus at least a significant amount of time to family law, than someone who maybe devotes 3% of his/her practice to family law issues? Remember not everyone advertises in the Yellow Pages or haw a website or internet presence.. For example, there are more telephone listings than there are attorney ads in the Yellow Pages.
SUGGESTION # 3-VIRGINIA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE
The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is operated by the Virginia State Bar. Lawyers must ask to get on the list and must agree to a fixed fee for an initial consultation. A lawyer can be listed under any category he/she asks for. The names are on a rotating list and given to consumers who contact the service. Again, not all attorneys are listed. We are not listed with the referral service. This resource can provide the name of an attorney who is seeking family law cases. This does not mean that the attorney is an expert in these types of cases or that he/she is experienced. All it means is that he or she is seeking divorce cases. Be sure to take the questions I talk about here to the attorney interview.
Suggestion #4-Talk to More Than One Attorney
In fact, interview several attorneys. Ask each attorney who else handles separation and divorce in the area. If they won't give you names, leave the office, when you see names showing up on various lists of recommendations, the odds are probably good that the attorney is doing these cases on a regular basis.
Suggestion #5 - Use a Checklist
I have outlined factors that you should consider when selecting a divorce lawyer.
A. Experience. The longer you have been practicing a particular area of the law, the more you know. There is an old adage that says a good lawyer knows the law and a great lawyer knows the judge! What is the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? Experience.
B. Experience Trying Cases. Has he/she achieved any trial successes for his/her clients? Can the lawyer point to case results or client testimonial reflecting his/her abilities?
C. Are they willing to settle when appropriate to do so? Trial attorneys sometimes suffer from a hired gun mentality. They like the thrill of trying cases and may not consider other options, such as mediation or arbitration to achieve a resolution. Most good divorce attorneys do not adopt this approach, but see trial as a last resort, when other options have failed to precipitate a fair resolution of the issues. Unlike other areas of the law, family law often entails ongoing relationships and consequently requires a different perspective. I recently read an article by a personal injury attorney, who was writing on how to choose a personal injury lawyer. He said not to choose a lawyer who settles a lot of cases. When it comes to separation and divorce, I believe it is important to try to reach an agreement, if you can.
Going to court about family law unless you have to is like using a sledge hammer on a flea problem; you may kill a few fleas, but you wreak a lot of damage to the structure of the house, too. When individuals settle their own cases outside of court, they can be a lot more creative than the court would be in fashioning a remedy that is fair to both parties. Sometimes, agreement is just not possible. When that is the case, you want an experienced able divorce attorney who can advocate for your position in court and has a proven track record of success.
D. Respect in the legal community. What are other lawyers saying about this lawyer? Has the lawyer lectured or taught? Has he/she taught other lawyers?
E. Publications. Has he/she written anything that has been accepted for publication in legal journals? This is another sign of respect for the lawyer and for his/her skills and experience. Has he/she written or published anything designed to educate the public as to their rights duties and responsibilities under the law?
F. Affiliations and memberships. What professional affiliations does the attorney have? Is he/she a member of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar Association? A member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers? A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys?
G. Does the attorney limit the number of cases he/she undertakes? We don't take every case that calls in or walks through the door. We limit the number of cases that we undertake to handle at a given point in time so that we an focus on doing the best job for those clients.
H. Relationship issues.
1. How was the telephone answered when you called for an appointment?
2. How were you greeted when you entered the office? Were you offered refreshments?
3. Did the attorney and staff listen to you? Are you sure? Could you tell they were listening?
4. Were you interrupted during your time with the lawyer?
5. Does the attorney use written agreements setting out the parameters of the representation and the financial arrangements?
6. One of the most important aspects of choosing a lawyer is the relationship aspect: you need to be able to work effectively and comfortably with your lawyer. The relationship requires intimacy and trust. Do you feel comfortable with the attorney?
7. Were you introduced to staff?
8. How long does the attorney retain files on closed cases? What happens to the closed file? How is it disposed of? What steps does the attorney take to safeguard your confidential information?
I. Why does he/she practice divorce law? Friends and colleagues think I'm crazy to devote so much time to separation and divorce law. They may be right, I just may be a little crazy. But like the song says, "it just may be a lunatic you're looking for." When interviewing a potential divorce lawyer be sure to ask him/her why they choose to practice family law. Does the lawyer have a life experience that allows him/her to advocate for divorce clients with genuine passion? Is that passion something that is reflected in client testimonials?
J. Cost. Unlike personal injury practice, the best divorce lawyers do not offer "free" consultations. You will notice that cost is last on the list. In our experience, the best divorce lawyers are generally not the cheapest. In the long run, what is it worth to you to retain or acquire your fair share of the assets that have been accumulated over the course of your married life? What is it worth to you to insure that you retain your fair share of time with your children? Some things are worth fighting for and worth the price that you have to pay.
If your attorney does not devote a significant portion of his/her practice to family law issues, has never tried a contested divorce, has never tried a contested custody case or who has never tried an equitable distribution case, or drafted a qualified domestic relations order dividing a pension, or who has no experience in military divorce and has never drafted a military retired pay order, you may want to choose another lawyer for your separation and divorce.
Attorney Virginia Dante Perry is actively engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis on family law and trials for over 30 years. Over those years she has tried to represent herself and her clients with honesty and integrity. Atty. Perry takes a "no nonsense" approach. She does not promise what she cannot deliver, but tries to deliver more than she promises. She says what she will do and she does what she says. Part of her vision is to educate people as to their rights, duties and responsibilities under the law. Atty. Perry is a people person. She enjoys meeting and talking with people, advising them, informing them and helping them to resolve their problems. She has clients who have been with her since the 1970's. She has a reputation for being thorough and methodical in handling family law matters and for being a "straight shooter."
Ms. Perry has written a series of articles on multi-state military divorce, which were published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 Issues of "The Family Law News," a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law. Atty. Perry has just finished a new publication entitled "The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Hiring a Lawyer." Ms. Perry has also written a series of special reports some of which are available in pdf format through her website, as well as numerous brochures and pamphlets on legal subjects as part of the firm mission to educate people as to their legal rights, duties and responsibilities.
For more information about Atty. Perry or for additional publications and articles, see the website at http://www.valawtalk.com
http://divorcelawyerattorneynearme.com
0 notes
slothandhappiness-blog · 7 years ago
Text
Divorce Lawyer, Divorce Attorney, how to find a divorce attorney, where to find a divorce lawyer
With the changes in family law over the last 30 years, including the adoption of equitable distribution in place of the old common-law rules, the adoption of laws protecting military spouses, and the adoption of support guidelines and various local rules promulgated within the various circuits, the area of separation and divorce has become much too complicated and specialized for someone who does not regularly handle these types of cases. It distresses us when clients come to us with poorly drafted separation agreements, and/or decrees which other inexperienced attorneys have handled. Just as it is better to win at trial than to have a great appeal issue, it is much better to have the right attorney, one who will get it right the first time, than to have to pay someone to fix problems stemming from errors made in the first place. Sometimes the errors are very costly and cannot be fixed as shown in the series of articles I wrote for The Family Law News, a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law, entitled "Costly Errors in Multi-State Military Divorce; Or a Military Wife's Tale of Woe," which are published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 issues of the publication.
The series of articles outlines the legal authorities, strategy and procedural points we used to successfully defend a military retiree, who was a veteran of the Vietnam War. His ex-wife was attempting to obtain half of his military retired pay and spousal support here in Virginia, despite having divorced him six years earlier in Hawaii. While we are always happy to achieve a successful outcome for our clients, we felt sorry for the ex-wife, who had received poor legal advice from hr attorney in the original divorce action in Hawaii, advice that lead to poor decisions which the Virginia Court found to bind her permanently. In ruling for us in the case, the judge told the ex-wife that instead of suing her ex-husband, show should go after the attorney in Hawaii who represented her in the divorce.
So, how do you go about finding a good divorce lawyer? Here are a few suggestions:
Suggestion #1-Ask a Lawyer
If you know a lawyer, ask him/her for a referral to a good divorce lawyer. He or she will probably know someone or several someones who devote a significant portion of the practice of law to separation and divorce and related issues. For example, I have been handling separation and divorce for 30 years and have an excellent reputation among the local legal community. Any divorce attorney worth his/her salt should have established a reputation among other lawyers. Lawyers generally know who is good for a particular type of case; they certainly know who they would see, if they were facing separation and divorce.
Suggestion #2-Yellow Pages/Internet
While not a great source of information, the Yellow Pages and internet can be a beginning source of attorney names. Lawyers who do not mention separation, divorce, military divorce, and related areas like custody and support or property division, are not seeking cases in those areas and certainly don't devote a significant portion of the practice to those areas. Be leery of ads that include a laundry list of everything under the sun. Remember the old saying, "a jack of all trades and master of none"? Wouldn't you rather have someone who takes the time to focus at least a significant amount of time to family law, than someone who maybe devotes 3% of his/her practice to family law issues? Remember not everyone advertises in the Yellow Pages or haw a website or internet presence.. For example, there are more telephone listings than there are attorney ads in the Yellow Pages.
SUGGESTION # 3-VIRGINIA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE
The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is operated by the Virginia State Bar. Lawyers must ask to get on the list and must agree to a fixed fee for an initial consultation. A lawyer can be listed under any category he/she asks for. The names are on a rotating list and given to consumers who contact the service. Again, not all attorneys are listed. We are not listed with the referral service. This resource can provide the name of an attorney who is seeking family law cases. This does not mean that the attorney is an expert in these types of cases or that he/she is experienced. All it means is that he or she is seeking divorce cases. Be sure to take the questions I talk about here to the attorney interview.
Suggestion #4-Talk to More Than One Attorney
In fact, interview several attorneys. Ask each attorney who else handles separation and divorce in the area. If they won't give you names, leave the office, when you see names showing up on various lists of recommendations, the odds are probably good that the attorney is doing these cases on a regular basis.
Suggestion #5 - Use a Checklist
I have outlined factors that you should consider when selecting a divorce lawyer.
A. Experience. The longer you have been practicing a particular area of the law, the more you know. There is an old adage that says a good lawyer knows the law and a great lawyer knows the judge! What is the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? Experience.
B. Experience Trying Cases. Has he/she achieved any trial successes for his/her clients? Can the lawyer point to case results or client testimonial reflecting his/her abilities?
C. Are they willing to settle when appropriate to do so? Trial attorneys sometimes suffer from a hired gun mentality. They like the thrill of trying cases and may not consider other options, such as mediation or arbitration to achieve a resolution. Most good divorce attorneys do not adopt this approach, but see trial as a last resort, when other options have failed to precipitate a fair resolution of the issues. Unlike other areas of the law, family law often entails ongoing relationships and consequently requires a different perspective. I recently read an article by a personal injury attorney, who was writing on how to choose a personal injury lawyer. He said not to choose a lawyer who settles a lot of cases. When it comes to separation and divorce, I believe it is important to try to reach an agreement, if you can.
Going to court about family law unless you have to is like using a sledge hammer on a flea problem; you may kill a few fleas, but you wreak a lot of damage to the structure of the house, too. When individuals settle their own cases outside of court, they can be a lot more creative than the court would be in fashioning a remedy that is fair to both parties. Sometimes, agreement is just not possible. When that is the case, you want an experienced able divorce attorney who can advocate for your position in court and has a proven track record of success.
D. Respect in the legal community. What are other lawyers saying about this lawyer? Has the lawyer lectured or taught? Has he/she taught other lawyers?
E. Publications. Has he/she written anything that has been accepted for publication in legal journals? This is another sign of respect for the lawyer and for his/her skills and experience. Has he/she written or published anything designed to educate the public as to their rights duties and responsibilities under the law?
F. Affiliations and memberships. What professional affiliations does the attorney have? Is he/she a member of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar Association? A member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers? A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys?
G. Does the attorney limit the number of cases he/she undertakes? We don't take every case that calls in or walks through the door. We limit the number of cases that we undertake to handle at a given point in time so that we an focus on doing the best job for those clients.
H. Relationship issues.
1. How was the telephone answered when you called for an appointment?
2. How were you greeted when you entered the office? Were you offered refreshments?
3. Did the attorney and staff listen to you? Are you sure? Could you tell they were listening?
4. Were you interrupted during your time with the lawyer?
5. Does the attorney use written agreements setting out the parameters of the representation and the financial arrangements?
6. One of the most important aspects of choosing a lawyer is the relationship aspect: you need to be able to work effectively and comfortably with your lawyer. The relationship requires intimacy and trust. Do you feel comfortable with the attorney?
7. Were you introduced to staff?
8. How long does the attorney retain files on closed cases? What happens to the closed file? How is it disposed of? What steps does the attorney take to safeguard your confidential information?
I. Why does he/she practice divorce law? Friends and colleagues think I'm crazy to devote so much time to separation and divorce law. They may be right, I just may be a little crazy. But like the song says, "it just may be a lunatic you're looking for." When interviewing a potential divorce lawyer be sure to ask him/her why they choose to practice family law. Does the lawyer have a life experience that allows him/her to advocate for divorce clients with genuine passion? Is that passion something that is reflected in client testimonials?
J. Cost. Unlike personal injury practice, the best divorce lawyers do not offer "free" consultations. You will notice that cost is last on the list. In our experience, the best divorce lawyers are generally not the cheapest. In the long run, what is it worth to you to retain or acquire your fair share of the assets that have been accumulated over the course of your married life? What is it worth to you to insure that you retain your fair share of time with your children? Some things are worth fighting for and worth the price that you have to pay.
If your attorney does not devote a significant portion of his/her practice to family law issues, has never tried a contested divorce, has never tried a contested custody case or who has never tried an equitable distribution case, or drafted a qualified domestic relations order dividing a pension, or who has no experience in military divorce and has never drafted a military retired pay order, you may want to choose another lawyer for your separation and divorce.
Attorney Virginia Dante Perry is actively engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis on family law and trials for over 30 years. Over those years she has tried to represent herself and her clients with honesty and integrity. Atty. Perry takes a "no nonsense" approach. She does not promise what she cannot deliver, but tries to deliver more than she promises. She says what she will do and she does what she says. Part of her vision is to educate people as to their rights, duties and responsibilities under the law. Atty. Perry is a people person. She enjoys meeting and talking with people, advising them, informing them and helping them to resolve their problems. She has clients who have been with her since the 1970's. She has a reputation for being thorough and methodical in handling family law matters and for being a "straight shooter."
Ms. Perry has written a series of articles on multi-state military divorce, which were published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 Issues of "The Family Law News," a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law. Atty. Perry has just finished a new publication entitled "The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Hiring a Lawyer." Ms. Perry has also written a series of special reports some of which are available in pdf format through her website, as well as numerous brochures and pamphlets on legal subjects as part of the firm mission to educate people as to their legal rights, duties and responsibilities.
For more information about Atty. Perry or for additional publications and articles, see the website at http://www.valawtalk.com
http://divorcelawyerattorneynearme.com
0 notes
ms-qualia-blog · 7 years ago
Text
Divorce Lawyer, Divorce Attorney, how to find a divorce attorney, where to find a divorce lawyer
With the changes in family law over the last 30 years, including the adoption of equitable distribution in place of the old common-law rules, the adoption of laws protecting military spouses, and the adoption of support guidelines and various local rules promulgated within the various circuits, the area of separation and divorce has become much too complicated and specialized for someone who does not regularly handle these types of cases. It distresses us when clients come to us with poorly drafted separation agreements, and/or decrees which other inexperienced attorneys have handled. Just as it is better to win at trial than to have a great appeal issue, it is much better to have the right attorney, one who will get it right the first time, than to have to pay someone to fix problems stemming from errors made in the first place. Sometimes the errors are very costly and cannot be fixed as shown in the series of articles I wrote for The Family Law News, a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law, entitled "Costly Errors in Multi-State Military Divorce; Or a Military Wife's Tale of Woe," which are published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 issues of the publication.
The series of articles outlines the legal authorities, strategy and procedural points we used to successfully defend a military retiree, who was a veteran of the Vietnam War. His ex-wife was attempting to obtain half of his military retired pay and spousal support here in Virginia, despite having divorced him six years earlier in Hawaii. While we are always happy to achieve a successful outcome for our clients, we felt sorry for the ex-wife, who had received poor legal advice from hr attorney in the original divorce action in Hawaii, advice that lead to poor decisions which the Virginia Court found to bind her permanently. In ruling for us in the case, the judge told the ex-wife that instead of suing her ex-husband, show should go after the attorney in Hawaii who represented her in the divorce.
So, how do you go about finding a good divorce lawyer? Here are a few suggestions:
Suggestion #1-Ask a Lawyer
If you know a lawyer, ask him/her for a referral to a good divorce lawyer. He or she will probably know someone or several someones who devote a significant portion of the practice of law to separation and divorce and related issues. For example, I have been handling separation and divorce for 30 years and have an excellent reputation among the local legal community. Any divorce attorney worth his/her salt should have established a reputation among other lawyers. Lawyers generally know who is good for a particular type of case; they certainly know who they would see, if they were facing separation and divorce.
Suggestion #2-Yellow Pages/Internet
While not a great source of information, the Yellow Pages and internet can be a beginning source of attorney names. Lawyers who do not mention separation, divorce, military divorce, and related areas like custody and support or property division, are not seeking cases in those areas and certainly don't devote a significant portion of the practice to those areas. Be leery of ads that include a laundry list of everything under the sun. Remember the old saying, "a jack of all trades and master of none"? Wouldn't you rather have someone who takes the time to focus at least a significant amount of time to family law, than someone who maybe devotes 3% of his/her practice to family law issues? Remember not everyone advertises in the Yellow Pages or haw a website or internet presence.. For example, there are more telephone listings than there are attorney ads in the Yellow Pages.
SUGGESTION # 3-VIRGINIA LAWYER REFERRAL SERVICE
The Virginia Lawyer Referral Service is operated by the Virginia State Bar. Lawyers must ask to get on the list and must agree to a fixed fee for an initial consultation. A lawyer can be listed under any category he/she asks for. The names are on a rotating list and given to consumers who contact the service. Again, not all attorneys are listed. We are not listed with the referral service. This resource can provide the name of an attorney who is seeking family law cases. This does not mean that the attorney is an expert in these types of cases or that he/she is experienced. All it means is that he or she is seeking divorce cases. Be sure to take the questions I talk about here to the attorney interview.
Suggestion #4-Talk to More Than One Attorney
In fact, interview several attorneys. Ask each attorney who else handles separation and divorce in the area. If they won't give you names, leave the office, when you see names showing up on various lists of recommendations, the odds are probably good that the attorney is doing these cases on a regular basis.
Suggestion #5 - Use a Checklist
I have outlined factors that you should consider when selecting a divorce lawyer.
A. Experience. The longer you have been practicing a particular area of the law, the more you know. There is an old adage that says a good lawyer knows the law and a great lawyer knows the judge! What is the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? Experience.
B. Experience Trying Cases. Has he/she achieved any trial successes for his/her clients? Can the lawyer point to case results or client testimonial reflecting his/her abilities?
C. Are they willing to settle when appropriate to do so? Trial attorneys sometimes suffer from a hired gun mentality. They like the thrill of trying cases and may not consider other options, such as mediation or arbitration to achieve a resolution. Most good divorce attorneys do not adopt this approach, but see trial as a last resort, when other options have failed to precipitate a fair resolution of the issues. Unlike other areas of the law, family law often entails ongoing relationships and consequently requires a different perspective. I recently read an article by a personal injury attorney, who was writing on how to choose a personal injury lawyer. He said not to choose a lawyer who settles a lot of cases. When it comes to separation and divorce, I believe it is important to try to reach an agreement, if you can.
Going to court about family law unless you have to is like using a sledge hammer on a flea problem; you may kill a few fleas, but you wreak a lot of damage to the structure of the house, too. When individuals settle their own cases outside of court, they can be a lot more creative than the court would be in fashioning a remedy that is fair to both parties. Sometimes, agreement is just not possible. When that is the case, you want an experienced able divorce attorney who can advocate for your position in court and has a proven track record of success.
D. Respect in the legal community. What are other lawyers saying about this lawyer? Has the lawyer lectured or taught? Has he/she taught other lawyers?
E. Publications. Has he/she written anything that has been accepted for publication in legal journals? This is another sign of respect for the lawyer and for his/her skills and experience. Has he/she written or published anything designed to educate the public as to their rights duties and responsibilities under the law?
F. Affiliations and memberships. What professional affiliations does the attorney have? Is he/she a member of the Family Law Section of the Virginia State Bar Association? A member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers? A fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys?
G. Does the attorney limit the number of cases he/she undertakes? We don't take every case that calls in or walks through the door. We limit the number of cases that we undertake to handle at a given point in time so that we an focus on doing the best job for those clients.
H. Relationship issues.
1. How was the telephone answered when you called for an appointment?
2. How were you greeted when you entered the office? Were you offered refreshments?
3. Did the attorney and staff listen to you? Are you sure? Could you tell they were listening?
4. Were you interrupted during your time with the lawyer?
5. Does the attorney use written agreements setting out the parameters of the representation and the financial arrangements?
6. One of the most important aspects of choosing a lawyer is the relationship aspect: you need to be able to work effectively and comfortably with your lawyer. The relationship requires intimacy and trust. Do you feel comfortable with the attorney?
7. Were you introduced to staff?
8. How long does the attorney retain files on closed cases? What happens to the closed file? How is it disposed of? What steps does the attorney take to safeguard your confidential information?
I. Why does he/she practice divorce law? Friends and colleagues think I'm crazy to devote so much time to separation and divorce law. They may be right, I just may be a little crazy. But like the song says, "it just may be a lunatic you're looking for." When interviewing a potential divorce lawyer be sure to ask him/her why they choose to practice family law. Does the lawyer have a life experience that allows him/her to advocate for divorce clients with genuine passion? Is that passion something that is reflected in client testimonials?
J. Cost. Unlike personal injury practice, the best divorce lawyers do not offer "free" consultations. You will notice that cost is last on the list. In our experience, the best divorce lawyers are generally not the cheapest. In the long run, what is it worth to you to retain or acquire your fair share of the assets that have been accumulated over the course of your married life? What is it worth to you to insure that you retain your fair share of time with your children? Some things are worth fighting for and worth the price that you have to pay.
If your attorney does not devote a significant portion of his/her practice to family law issues, has never tried a contested divorce, has never tried a contested custody case or who has never tried an equitable distribution case, or drafted a qualified domestic relations order dividing a pension, or who has no experience in military divorce and has never drafted a military retired pay order, you may want to choose another lawyer for your separation and divorce.
Attorney Virginia Dante Perry is actively engaged in the general practice of law with an emphasis on family law and trials for over 30 years. Over those years she has tried to represent herself and her clients with honesty and integrity. Atty. Perry takes a "no nonsense" approach. She does not promise what she cannot deliver, but tries to deliver more than she promises. She says what she will do and she does what she says. Part of her vision is to educate people as to their rights, duties and responsibilities under the law. Atty. Perry is a people person. She enjoys meeting and talking with people, advising them, informing them and helping them to resolve their problems. She has clients who have been with her since the 1970's. She has a reputation for being thorough and methodical in handling family law matters and for being a "straight shooter."
Ms. Perry has written a series of articles on multi-state military divorce, which were published in the Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 Issues of "The Family Law News," a peer review publication of the Virginia State Bar, Section of Family Law. Atty. Perry has just finished a new publication entitled "The 7 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Hiring a Lawyer." Ms. Perry has also written a series of special reports some of which are available in pdf format through her website, as well as numerous brochures and pamphlets on legal subjects as part of the firm mission to educate people as to their legal rights, duties and responsibilities.
For more information about Atty. Perry or for additional publications and articles, see the website at http://www.valawtalk.com
http://divorcelawyerattorneynearme.com
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bothandvancouver-blog · 8 years ago
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Ron Dutton and the B.C. Gay and Lesbian Archives
The following is a brief profile on Ron Dutton, founder of the B.C. Gay and Lesbian Archives. On February 14, 2017, Alexandra Bischoff and Anna Tidlund visited Dutton to ask him a few questions about his archival process, and to see the massive holdings which the archivist has been collecting since 1976. All quotations are of Dutton from this initial interview.
The B.C. Gay and Lesbian Archives (BCGLA) is unlike most archival institutions. One of its most distinguishing features is that the archives are housed within the founder’s apartment in Vancouver’s West End. Files are meticulously boxed and stored in the apartment’s guest bedroom, so there is an immediate sense of warmth, comfort and refuge offered not only to the visiting researcher but also the documents themselves.
Ron Dutton, the magnanimous figure behind the project, welcomes interested parties into his home, sits down with them at his kitchen table, and works through the vague inquiries that people often begin their research with. He tells us that while he hosts researchers of all kinds, they usually fall under four categories: fact checkers from the media, academics from across North America, cultural workers looking for inspiration, or individuals creating personal projects about family members.
For forty-two years, Dutton has worked to collect ephemera of B.C.’s queer communities. I ask him what major events can be found in the archive, to which he replies, “everything. I don’t make assumptions that something is too trivial to be collected. I collect everything.” The archive covers, he elaborates, anything B.C. and queer community related. His collection of around 750,000 items includes books by B.C.’s queer authors, magazines, newspapers, the newsletters of queer organizations, small publications (“that you would never find on the internet”), event ephemera, personal diaries, photo albums, audio cassettes, CDs, VHSs and DVDs, posters of all sizes, and government reports—to name a few.
There are many hidden gems. Tucked in one section are over 100 VHS tapes of drag shows at the no-longer operating Dufferin Hotel. Dutton sets the scene: grainy video of the 1970s and 80s capturing a smoke filled bar, drunken commentary cutting through the audio of a bad sound system, mixed with pure, drag magic. These tapes document hours upon hours of renowned performers (like Wanda Fuca and, pictured below, Adrian Alexandria de Vander Vogue) showcasing some of their best material.
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Dutton grew up in a small town in rural Alberta and went to the UofA for Library and Archival studies. The air in the 1970s, he recalls, was electric. According to Dutton, a fundamental difference between the 1970s and the 2000s is todays lack of optimism—or perhaps the overabundance of it in back then.
He notes that the broad theme of the 1960s belonged to “people who had been held down [by systems of oppression] and were not willing to take the abuse anymore.” The radical, anti-colonial protests resulting from WWII, as well as the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements worked to create a rhetoric around oppression that previously did not exist. This newfound vocabulary made it possible to verbalize the cruelties perpetrated against gay and lesbian people, propelling the Gay Liberation movement into the public sphere for the first time.
Because gay and lesbian communities in North America have historically been so vulnerable to judicial and societal violence, most of Dutton’s holdings represent queer culture from the 1960s onwards. A necessary quietude—the survival tactics of living under-the-radar, and even in denial of one's sexual or gender identity—means that Dutton’s most difficult task as an archivist has been to “work backwards” to uncover materials that describe the lives of queer people living in the 1950s and earlier.
One particularly unique case comes from an unlikely source. The Spanish Mapmakers of the 1730s, who travelled to document the coast of British Columbia, made several notes in monarchy-mandated journals about “cross-dressing” Indigenous peoples. More important than the discovery of men wearing “dresses” or women wearing “men’s clothing” was the discovery that these individuals were fully integrated and respected in society; whether they had same sex partners or held working positions typically associated with different sexes, people who identified as Two-Spirited were not outcast from their communities.
Dutton understands that certain groups have traditionally been written out of history. While the Spanish Mapmaker’s diaries have been studied extensively since the 1730s, for example, any notations therein about Two-Spiritedness were largely ignored. Even within the Gay Liberation movement itself, media representation in the 1970s generally showcased white, middle class activists. This is why Dutton has gone to extra lengths to make sure that the BCGLA offers as equal a representation as possible for all queer people. 
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Because Ron Dutton is ultimately committed to “bringing home” the individuals whose narratives the archive keeps alive, he regularly speaks at schools. He wants to connect with queer youth, who have grown up in a fundamentally different culture than he did. To see “gay politicians, musicians, and cultural icons” on television is something that Dutton did not experience in his childhood. He finds that young people have a great desire to know who came before them, and to hear what struggles their predecessors went through.
The elderly, on the other hand, have a more difficult time accepting Dutton’s claim that they have anything meaningful to contribute to the conversation—that they are, inherently, of historical and societal value. Again, due to the survival tactic of silence, queer seniors who lived through the 1940s and 50s can sometimes still be self-censoring. Dutton is patient, realizing that the stories of these individuals will be told and honored when they themselves are ready. With much sincerity and a depth of sensitivity, he tells us that he has a habit of combing through obituaries for mentions of “fond memories from the ‘special friend’” of the deceased. He will collect these notices and add them to the archive, knowing that he is bringing them home; the archivist wants “them to be where their heart was.”
I asked Dutton if he had ever imagined that the archive would become so expansive. He laughed and said, “If I had any idea, I would have been so intimidated I probably wouldn’t have even started.” The position has grown to be so substantial, and Dutton has been gifted so many collections of files and ephemera, that the task of stewardship has become a lifelong endeavour. “I have adjusted to match the needs that the job entails,” he tells us. A task this monumental requires a person with the fortitude to equal that of the archive’s holdings; by all accounts, Dutton is up to the challenge.
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To visit the B.C. Gay and Lesbian Archives, email Ron Dutton to make an appointment: [email protected]
Alexandra Bischoff and Anna Tidlund would like to express our gratitude to Ron Dutton for offering us such a candid view into his life and work.
Text
Alexandra Bischoff
Images
Courtesy of Alexandra Bischoff, a BCGLA finding aid in-situ, 2016.
Courtesy of Ron Dutton, photo of Robert Pogue aka Adrian Alexandria de Vander Vogue, 1972.
Courtesy of Ron Dutton and Imtiaz Popat, photo of activist Imtiaz Popat and Salaamat during the Vancouver Pride Parade, 2010. Salaamat has since become Salaam-Vancouver when it joined the Salaam Canada: Queer Muslim Community coalition. 
Courtesy of Ron Dutton and Pat Hogan, photo of the Menopausal Old Bitches (M.O.B.), Vancouver Pride Parade 2006.
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