Bruce Law Firm May 2021

Bruce Law Firm May 2021

Our First Teachers in Life

AND THOSE WHO COME AFTER

Mothers are important. They are the first ones to nurture and care for us when we are born. They make sure we are taken care of and help with making our lives fuller as we encounter our first difficulties in life. Moms teach us how to be better people and guide us as best as they can down that path. Thank you to all of the mothers out there, especially to ours:‑ Bernice and Krissy. But throughout our lives, sometimes our mothers cannot be there for us. Maybe they are working, or away, or sick — there can be many reasons. But if you are open and receptive, then you understand that mother figures come in different shapes and help in different situations, when our actual mother(s) cannot be

or are not with us. And so we believe that Mother’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate mothers, but also the people who sometimes fill that role, whatever that may look like. And so for this cover article, we think it’s important to talk about Mother’s Day but also National Teachers Day, which is celebrated on May 4. These two holidays are closely related. Our first teacher in life is usually our mother. As we grow older, they continue to watch over us, protect us, and help us grow. Eventually, we will meet more people who take on the role of “mother” (really a mentor) in other aspects of our life, like during our school years or even as we launch our career. When Ashley started private practice, she had a female mentor that helped guide her through the rigors of a large law firm and gain the respect of colleagues. Her transition from working with judges to private practice was stark. This person, who also happened to be a team manager for the law firm, was a true mentor, and also Ashley viewed her as a “work mom” or “teacher” who showed she truly cared for Ashley and her career. This is something for which we will always be grateful and we try to pay this forward whenever we can. Now, running our own law practice and being a parent, we appreciate how demanding a mentor role can be on both sides. As a mother, Ashley does her best to ensure our children are well cared for and that they have the tools they need to grow. Yet, there are moments when we can’t be there for them, especially during the day while they are in school and we are working to make people’s lives who want to separate from their narcissistic, manipulative, and controlling spouse, better. In those cases, we are grateful for the teachers who guide and support them in school. Recently, we received a call from our daughter’s teacher. During our call, her teacher explained how well Ruby was doing and how she was growing in school. As her parents, it’s nice to know someone like Ruby’s teacher can step into the mom role while we can’t be there. For May, we want to say thank you to all the mothers, mother figures, and teachers who take on those roles in our lives.We are so grateful for each person who not only stepped into our life but also into the lives of our friends, colleagues, loved ones, and children throughout the way. Maybe it is time to give your old mentor or child’s teacher a call to check in and say thank you. From us and all of us at Bruce Law Firm, we wish you a happy Mother’s Day and happy National Teachers Day! – Ashley and Christopher Bruce

Dashing through the snow...

Look, it’s Olaf!

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Temporary Relief Hearings How Can They Impact Your Divorce Case? Like most legal processes, a divorce can take some time to finalize. Because of this, a judge may find it necessary to rule in favor of a temporary relief hearing, which is an early ruling of a case to resolve issues relating to important financial matters. Temporary relief hearings are especially useful for correcting the behavior of a spouse who cuts off the family or other spouse financially or uses children to obtain leverage in the early stages of the divorce.

Get Fit With Your Family

5 Easy Ways to Get Everyone Moving

THE AUTHORIZATION

Divorce court judges understand that some people will go to extreme lengths to force their spouse into taking a poor settlement or dropping the divorce. However, unless there is a life-or-death emergency, most judges will not allow spouses to schedule a temporary relief hearing until they have attempted to settle their divorce through mediation. Since most individuals settle their entire divorce at early mediation, judges believe mediation should be the first step.

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. As a parent, you probably know exercise is important for your children’s physical development. It helps build healthy bones, muscles, and joints and reduces the risk of developing diabetes and other diseases later in life. But did you know that physical activity also has many mental and behavioral health benefits? It’s been shown to improve children’s cognitive skills and concentration, boost their self-esteem, and reduce symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. One of the best ways to encourage healthy behaviors in your children is by modeling them yourself. Studies have found that more than 80% of adolescents and adults are not getting enough aerobic activity, showing that children often follow in their parents’ footsteps and that exercising together can benefit everyone. You may be thinking it’s hard enough just to get yourself to the gym, but Stephen Virgilio, author of “Active Start for Healthy Kids,” encourages parents not to limit themselves to traditional forms of exercise. Instead, think of exercise more broadly as “leading an active lifestyle.” And remember that exercise can be fun and a great way to get in more family time.

THE TIME GIVEN

These hearings are usually 30-minute meetings, giving each spouse 15 minutes to present their side of the case. The reason behind this short amount of time is to ensure only the most important testimony and evidence are presented. Each party will have the opportunity to present evidence from potential witnesses on issues involving setting a temporary time-sharing schedule for the children, determining alimony and child support, and addressing the issue of how much a spouse will need to pay their lawyer through trial.

THE IMPACT OF THE CASE

Although temporary relief rulings are temporary, they go a long way toward influencing the settlement of a case. When a judge does not give a spouse what they want on temporary alimony or child custody, that spouse will feel as though they’re fighting an uphill battle to get a different result from the same judge at trial. Typically, someone who is in this position will settle their case rather than pay their divorce attorney the significant costs of trial for the same result. If you believe a temporary relief hearing will benefit your case, it’s important to talk to your divorce attorney. Your lawyer understands this process and how to present your case to the judge.

Here are five easy ways to incorporate more movement into your family’s day.

1. Create a walking ritual. Start walking around the neighborhood before or after dinner each night. Aim for a 20-minute stroll.

2. Have a dance party. Clear some space in the living room, make a playlist with everyone’s favorite tunes, and boogie down for as long as you have the energy. 3. Turn chores into games. Dirt has invaded from outer space and must be eliminated. Set the scene with your kids, grab your tools, and get to work removing the enemy while having fun. 4. Incorporate simple exercises into screen time. Start by making up fun names for exercises like situps or jumping jacks. Then, challenge each other to see who can do the most during your favorite show’s commercial breaks. 5. Get fit in the great outdoors. Cleaning up the yard, planting and maintaining a garden, or just running around outside are all great ways to get in more movement.

Is your friend or client in need of a guide related to recent job or income loss? The book can be downloaded for FREE at SupportModificationBook.com. If your friend or client lives in the South Florida area, we’ll mail them a hard copy of the book upon request. OUR SUPPORT MODIFICATION BOOK CAN HELP!

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A Child’s Testimony

They May Have a Cause to Determine Their Future

When there are children involved in a divorce, parents may want to keep them out of the process as much as possible to protect them from any additional distress. It’s for this same reason that most Florida family law judges disapprove of involving children in their family’s legal dispute. However, there are some situations in which a child may need to testify in a court, especially those involving custody issues.

A CHILD’S TESTIMONY

People believe that for a child to testify, they must be a certain age. However, that is not true. A child can testify at any age, but they must meet certain requirements to do so. For instance, a child must show a level of maturity that proves they understand the subject they will be testifying about. Additionally, their testimony depends on the issues involved in the case itself.

REQUESTING PERMISSION

THE FAMILY LAW JUDGES

Before a child can testify, one party needs to submit a request before the trial takes place asking the court for permission. Typically, the court holds a hearing once the petition is filed to determine if the testimony is, in fact, necessary. If the judge isn’t convinced, the petition will be rejected. If it is accepted, the child’s testimony will be submitted to the court by a third party, such as a licensed mental health professional, a custody evaluator, or a court guardian.

It’s important to keep in mind that not all judges feel the same about testimony from children. One judge may deem the testimony of a 14-year-old necessary while another may not. A major factor in deciding whether a child should testify is that it must be necessary. The judge may determine a child’s testimony is needed in cases involving domestic violence, neglect, or substance abuse or there is no other way to bring evidence into the case.

For any questions or concerns involving child testimony, contact the Bruce Law Firm at 561-810-0170. Our team can talk with you about whether or not it is needed.

Have a LAUGH

Shaved Asparagus Salad

Inspired by ACoupleCooks.com

Ingredients

•

1 lb asparagus spears

•

3/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

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1 tbsp lemon juice

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1/2 tsp kosher salt

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1 tsp Dijon mustard

•

1/8 tsp red pepper flakes

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3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

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Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

1.

With a vegetable peeler, shave each asparagus spear from tip to base. This is easiest to do if the asparagus is on a flat surface. Place shaved asparagus in a bowl and blot off excess moisture with a paper towel.

3.

In a separate bowl, make a vinaigrette by whisking together lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and olive oil. Pour vinaigrette over shaved asparagus and add Parmesan cheese, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasonings.

4.

2.

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The People Who Take on the Role of Mother page 1 5Ways to Increase Your Family’s Fitness A Temporary Solution That Goes a Long Way page 2 Family Law Case: Can Children Testify? Shaved Asparagus Salad page 3 5 Best Recipe Apps for a Healthier Mind and Body page 4

5 Best Recipe Apps for a Healthier Mind and Body If you’re always in a rush, it’s quite possible that food delivery apps have been your best friend during the pandemic. But they may also make it difficult to stay healthy! Save yourself both time and money by replacing your food delivery apps with these top-rated healthy recipe and recipe management apps, instead. omnivore, you’ll love Forks Over Knives’ creative and simple dishes that blend perfectly with your needs. For only $5, you can easily find something to suit your tastes and health needs in the over 400 high-quality recipes from 50 celebrated chefs. You may even stave off heart disease and Type 2 diabetes while you’re at it.

TASTY You’ve likely seen a Tasty food recipe video on Facebook or social media somewhere. Their beautifully simplistic editing style makes it easy to understand and follow recipes, and you can access their whole library for free with their app! It even includes a grocery list function when you want to take on multiple recipes. FORKS OVER KNIVES In recent years, nutritionists and doctors alike have started recommending a plant- based diet for its health benefits. Whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, or a plant-based

BBC GOOD FOOD With over 10,000 recipes accessible from BBC’s cooking history, this app brings together both user-submitted recipes and tested recipes from the BBC Good Food team and celebrity chefs — for free. Create an account and save all your favorites! PAPRIKA You might already have your favorite go-to recipe blogs and websites, such as BudgetBytes and Bon Appetit. How do you manage your cluttered bookmark folders of recipes? Easy! Get a recipe manager app like Paprika! It’s only $5, and you can input all your recipe URLs and easily organize your favorite recipes from the internet. BIGOVEN Only have a few ingredients but need to cook a meal? Just type in three ingredients, and BigOven will search its 350,000-recipe bank to find the perfect options for free. BigOven also makes it easy to follow your favorite food bloggers while staying on top of your food supply!

We hope these apps will help you cook and eat simpler, healthier, and faster than ever!

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