Bruce Law Firm - August 2021

Bruce Law Firm - August 2021

aug 2021

Attorney Rebecca Hertz

ON MAJOR LIFE CHANGES

Hi everyone. I’m Rebecca Hertz and I’ve gone through some major life changes lately. I recently married my sweetheart of five years in late January while the pandemic was still very much an issue, and we decided to put our home on the

to school (see Page 2) or preparing for your financial landscape to change due to divorce (see Page 3) — has its ups and downs. My absolute favorite part of working with my clients is that I get to have a positive impact as they undergo divorce, which is one of the biggest and most difficult life changes.

market in March so we could move into our dream home. Needless to say, it’s been a year of a lot of change for me! Getting married and buying a home are both incredibly exciting things, but the truth is that they are both also big transitions that require a lot of planning and a fair amount of stress. Like many brides-to-be, I became engaged in 2019 before anyone outside the scientific community had heard the word coronavirus. When the pandemic hit, I was in full planning mode, with deposits already placed for vendors. And so by the time COVID-19 hit in earnest, it became clear that the wedding we had been planning was not going to happen. It was disappointing, but it also helped us strip things down to see what the most important things were. For us, it was having a ceremony with

When couples divorce, it’s common for the marital house to be sold and for each person to seek new housing. That means packing up and moving, worrying about finding a good place to live in your preferred neighborhood, and dealing with the stress of little things like those few boxes that still aren’t unpacked months later! While my move was for different reasons, having gone through that so recently makes me feel even more compassion for my clients. Asking “How are you?” might feel like a loaded question for anyone these days, but when I ask my clients, I genuinely want to know. Being a practicing

Photo by Stephanie Lynn Studios

family law attorney means more than knowing the legal code, doing depositions, and going to mediations. It’s about supporting people through a major life change, and part of that is offering a listening ear and my presence and understanding. Some of you may have read my bio on the firm’s website and know already that I chose to pursue law after graduating with degrees in communications and sociology. At the end of my sociology classes, professors would ask if we had any questions about the inequities in society that we’d just learned about. My question was always the same: “How do we change this?” Ultimately, I found my answer in practicing law. I know I can’t change some of the bigger societal issues, but I can impact the individual lives I encounter. In fact, I get to do that every day here at Bruce Law Firm.

our closest loved ones present. So, that’s what we did. In the end, it was an absolutely amazing day, and all the stress and planning was worth it.

Just as we were getting settled into life as newlyweds, I decided to make another major life change, this time in my career and am thankful for that change. As those changes were happening, my husband and I packed up our home and moved in temporarily with a friend while our new home was finished. Talk about stressful! Since we were all working from home, the hardest part by far was having three people share one home office. I did a lot of stepping outside to take phone calls and ensure my client’s privacy. When we finally moved into our new place in May, I felt such relief.

I tell you all of this not just so you can get to know more about me but because I want you to know that any life change — whether it’s heading back

– Rebecca Hertz

561-810-0170 • 1

Back to School and In-Person Classes

How to Help Your Kids Prepare

Regardless of your child’s age or grade, the first day of school can be stressful. While it’s often exciting to pick out new clothes, buy a book bag, and anticipate seeing friends again, it can also be a nerve-wracking time. In addition to the usual concerns about who they’ll sit with at lunch, if they look okay, and if they said something that sounded dumb in class, this year many kids also have to reacclimate to full-time, in-person classes.

Here are a few tips for a smooth transition into the school year:

Will a Night at the Movies Change Forever? Movie Theaters in Post-Pandemic Times Out of all the businesses hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, few were affected more than movie theaters. For the past year, as movies have debuted on streaming services rather than in theaters, many industry leaders, critics, and theatergoers alike have raised the alarming question: Did COVID-19 kill the movie theater industry? In short? No. Not by a long shot. Though the past year has left the industry somewhat beleaguered (AMC closed 60 theaters permanently, Cineworld reported losses totaling $2 billion, and the Alamo furloughed more than 5,000 employees). Yet, despite all of this, a night at the movies is here to stay. When a Vox reporter reached out to various moviegoers about whether they would attend theaters once the pandemic ends, many of them said yes because streaming a film in their living room just can’t provide the same experience. Watching a movie in a theater completely immerses one in the experience — you can’t pause the film to watch later or do chores. And you’re in it with the whole theater. Comedies are funnier when you laugh with others. A hero’s triumphs are more spectacular when you cheer them on together. (Who didn’t go nuts when Captain America caught Thor’s hammer in “Avengers: Endgame”?) When you leave the theater, you feel a little closer to the strangers around you, and having been immersed in the movie alongside your friends, you can discuss how you liked the movie on the way home. Of course, movie theaters will still change as a result of the pandemic. Theaters are working to become more digital, some even moving to eliminate paper tickets and creating options to order concessions before your arrival. More theaters may promote private viewings of movies so people can be more careful about whom they watch movies with. Some theaters are also trying to create more of an “experience” for moviegoers by offering a wider array of food and even comfier seats. However, these changes, especially given the circumstances of the past year, are hardly surprising. The movie theater industry has been evolving for over 100 years, and it certainly won’t stop evolving now.

• Routine is king. A sure-fire way to address anxiety about the unknown is to put routines in place. A few weeks prior to the first day of school, start establishing bedtime and wake times. Help your little ones or encourage your older children to pick out an outfit the night before. This will help them begin to mentally prepare for the transition. • Chat and connect. Sometimes the best way to help address your children’s concerns is simply by listening. Ask them how they are feeling about the new school year. Know that it’s normal for them to have some anxiety about making friends or being with a new teacher. Even if they don’t open up right away, knowing that you are a consistent source of support and care can help ease the difficulties they’re experiencing. • Do your homework together. If you have the opportunity to attend an open house and meet your child’s teacher, go together and plan out their route to school and/or to their classroom. It’s also a good idea to check what safety precautions may be in place for the start of the school year and make sure you’re prepared for them (e.g., having plenty of masks if masking is required). As you help your kids prepare for back-to-school season, remember that last school year was difficult for many children and that the return to school this year may feel like an even bigger deal than normal because of it. Remind your kids that they can do hard things and help them get excited about all the things they’ll get to do this year that they missed out on last year.

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2 • BrucePA.com

Finances and Divorce

What You Need to Prepare

August 14 is National Financial Awareness Day, and it’s a good time to revisit a topic we’re asked about a lot: How do I get my financial house in order if I’m planning for divorce?

First, we want to say that while finances are a common point of contention in a relationship, money should not be the only reason for ending a marriage. Getting divorced will impact each person’s financial situation and it’s important to think about, but it’s equally important to think about non-financial goals as it relates to divorce and living one’s best life possible. Those who don’t define these non-financial goals early risk feeling lost or falling into depression after the divorce. If you know someone who is considering divorce and they don’t have a clear picture of their current finances, it’s going to be harder for them to get organized for divorce. Encourage them to visit their financial planner or insurance agent with their spouse prior to telling them they want a divorce.While both spouses are often equally accountable financially, it’s common for one to have a clearer picture of the couple’s finances. Getting a lay of the land is an important place to start. Our next piece of advice would be to use that information as a jumping-off point to get a sense of what financial records are needed to get organized for the divorce.We’ve compiled a complete list of these records on our website, BrucePA.com/divorce-education/ get-organized-for-divorce. Those considering divorce can use these documents to:

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Organize the assets and liabilities at stake in the divorce

• Review bank statements for any unusual transactions (unexplained payoffs, suspicious charges, incoming and outgoing transfers, withdrawals, and deposits) • Build their claim for non-marital property • Determine their desired financial settlement • Create both a current and a post-divorce budget While this might feel like a lot, our website provides step-by-step instructions on how to prepare financially for divorce as well as several worksheets and forms to help you organize the information you gather on your individual situation. Doing this work as part of getting organized for divorce will pay off in the long run.

Have a LAUGH

Summer Vegetable Greek Salad

Inspired by CookieAndKate.com

Ingredients For the vinaigrette: •

For the salad: •

2 tbsp red wine vinegar 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 garlic clove, minced

1 head romaine lettuce, chopped 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved 1 small cucumber, seeded and chopped 1 cup yellow bell pepper, chopped 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1/4 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved

• • • • • •

• • • • • • • •

1 tsp dried oregano

1/2 tsp honey

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled

Optional protein choices: 1 cup cooked chickpeas or 6 oz Genoa salami

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar, mustard, garlic, oregano, honey, and salt. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil, whisking until well combined. 2. In a large serving bowl, toss together the romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, red onion, parsley, olives, and feta (as well as the chickpeas or salami, if desired). 3. If you plan to serve all the salad at once, drizzle the dressing over the salad to lightly coat, then toss to combine. Otherwise, store the vinaigrette and salad separately, then dress each portion before serving.

561-810-0170 • 3

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1601 Forum Pl. Ste. 1101 West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Attorney Rebecca Hertz on Dealing With Change page 1 Will a Night at the Movies Change Forever? Help Your Kids Prepare This Back-to-School Season page 2

Getting Finances Organized for Divorce Summer Vegetable Greek Salad page 3

Wake Up Without Coffee — Really! page 4

Don’t Reach for the CoffeE 3 Natural Ways to Boost Your Energy Without Caffeine

GO FOR A WALK When you wake up in the morning, head outside! Movement stimulates your brain and improves your mood, and the act of walking is relaxing enough that it doesn’t require much effort on your part. Plus, it’s a great way to get your steps in, wake up slowly, and get outside before a busy day.

If you can’t start your day without your daily cup — or cups — of joe, you’re not alone. More than 450 million cups of coffee are consumed by U.S. residents every day, and unfortunately, heavy caffeine consumption may not be healthy. (It’s a big reason why celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Jim Carrey, and Kim Kardashian don’t drink it!) Moderate amounts of caffeine can improve your mental health, and some studies suggest it could even prevent some chronic conditions. However, there are major downsides to overconsumption, which equates to more than four cups of coffee each day. These can include high blood pressure, addiction symptoms, and decreased mentality.

If you want to break out of the caffeine cycle and reduce how much coffee you drink, try replacing that cuppa with one of these methods!

STRETCH After lying in one position all night, your body may feel stiff and achy. Stretching awakens your muscles and helps you break out of that groggy morning feeling. Start with your back and do some slow core twists. Then, sit on the floor and lay your legs out in front of you. Stretch forward, then sit back up. Next, position your right foot on the opposite side of your left knee. Keeping your hips centered, turn your torso toward your right foot so that your right arm is on your right knee. Switch to the other side and repeat as needed. Finally, pull your head toward your shoulders to loosen your neck.

JUST BREATHE This might sound like it will lull you to sleep, but there are actually some breathing techniques that can help you wake up! The “breath of fire” is a rapid-fire breathing technique, during which you inhale deeply, exhale deeply, inhale deeply again, and then exhale quickly. Repeat this as needed. Other practices that focus on breathing, like yoga, can be effective, too.

Waking up isn’t an exact science, but once you find a healthy method that works for you, you may never need coffee again. (Gasp!)

4 • BrucePA.com