Florida Women's Law Group - August 2021

Florida Women's Law Group - August 2021

the

WOMEN’S

Advocate

August 2021

And How You Can Start Your Own Tradition WHY MY FAMILY NEVER MISSES DINNER TOGETHER

When I was growing up, my family rarely missed dinner together. Regardless of how busy we were, my mom was adamant that we should spend every dinner around the table enjoying our meals together. If we had to eat late because of

realized that the benefits and memories of our nightly dinners far outweighed any health reasons that bar us from eating dinner a few hours later. So, when my daughter was playing basketball, she would practice until 8 p.m., and we would eat dinner at 8:30 p.m. — even on a school night.

some after-school event or errand, then we ate late — but at least we did it as a family.

These dinners are our time, and it is too precious to waste.

Those dinners hold some of my favorite childhood

memories, and as a result, it’s a habit my husband and I have implemented with our children. In today’s world of busy school and activities schedules, easily accessible TV, and social media, it can be difficult to stick to this routine.

As they have gotten older, our children have turned into teens who question if we really have to eat dinner together every single night. Sometimes they ask if they can just go eat alone or while watching TV. Of course, we say no. I do get where they are coming from; I was a teen once, too! But as an adult who cherishes the moments she spent with her family around the table in her youth, I know this will be meaningful to them one day, too. As we approach Family Meals Month this August, I can sympathize with families who have done away with the family dinner and opted for convenience. Kids’ schedules today are so full of activities, and when you’re a single parent, time is far too precious and often scarce. But I would implore you to consider restarting this tradition with your family. It doesn’t have to be perfect, nor does it have to look like my family’s meals. It just has to be a priority — whatever it looks like. This August, try to eat as many dinners as you can together as a family. Sit down around the table, shut off the TV, and see what memories you create together.

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It would be completely tempting for each of us to eat when it was convenient rather than wait for everyone to be ready, but these meals have become a cherished part of our days together. They’re too important to give up on. We began eating our dinners together at the table when the children were just babies. As the kids grew, this habit became beloved family time. We would cook the meals together, sit down at the table, and clean up dinner together. The kids would tell us about their day, and it was a chance for them to loosen up. We would often find ourselves laughing hysterically at something someone said or at a story from that day. It was relaxing and eventful, all at the same time. As our children grew older, their obligations and calendars started to fill up, and our dinners were more difficult to abide by. Our only options were to eat dinner earlier when it was convenient for each of us or to wait until everyone was done with work, exercise, and practice, and eat dinner late at night. I wasn’t sure if our dinner tradition was going to survive. After all, many experts say you shouldn’t eat after a certain time of the day. But I soon

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You just might find a new tradition and happy memories. Enjoy!

–Heather Qu ick

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debts you have) in the event of divorce or the death of a spouse. It often also covers spousal support or alimony and how property and any sentimental items will be divided. Beyond that, prenups may include other provisions to help govern the relationship like what happens if a partner is unfaithful or how household responsibilities are divided. WHEN SHOULD YOU CONSIDER ONE? If you think of prenups as being useful just for the wealthy or for celebrities, think again! A prenup is a good idea in many modern marriages including those where: • One partner has family wealth or assets they want to protect, or one partner has substantial debt • One or both partners own a business • Either partner has a child or children from a previous marriage • Either partner has been divorced before WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? It’s important that each partner hire their own lawyer to represent them when a couple draws up a prenuptial agreement. You’ll also want to f inalize the agreement at least 30 days before your wedding. That means, the sooner you and your partner start talking about it, the better. Though it can be stressful to decide what to include, an experienced lawyer like those at Florida Women’s Law Group can help ease that stress. Visit FloridaWomensLawGroup.com to learn more or contact us to talk about how we can support you as you consider a prenuptial agreement. Stay tuned to next month’s edition where we’ll address post-nuptial agreements.

PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENTS

You’ll find a lot of stereotypes and assumptions about prenuptial (prenup) agreements. They’re seen as unromantic or as a sign that the two parties don’t believe the relationship will last. In reality, prenups are a great way to create a strong foundation for your marriage; they bring up important financial topics many couples avoid because they can be uncomfortable to talk about. Since financial issues are the leading cause of divorce, addressing these issues prior to marriage is a good idea. WHAT IS A PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT? It’s a legal document that outlines what happens to the marital assets (things you own like a house, car, retirement funds, etc.) and liabilities (any

Basic Estate Planning For College-Bound Young Adults

The kids are going back to school soon, and it may feel too soon, even rushed. Back-to-school season is a perfect excuse to slow down and take care of business, though. Once you get this stuff taken care of, you might feel a little better about summer ending and the kids heading off to new adventures. The f irst thing to consider is going to be helping any new adults in your household get on top of the “adult stuff ” that comes with turning 18. You might be thinking of setting up accounts for them to pay into retirement or savings, and that’s a good idea, but don’t forget to help them get an estate plan and a will in order, too. They may still be dependents who are on your health care plan, but when a person turns 18, they’re no longer a child, and having the legal documents in order is a part of that transition. Other legal considerations for kids on their way to college are medical care documents, such as do not resuscitate (DNR) orders and other health care directives. It’s a hard, sometimes scary talk to have, but

that’s part of being an adult, and your child will likely appreciate being treated as such.

For younger children, nothing is more important than f iguring out guardianship in case you end up incapacitated or otherwise unable to continue being their guardian. For teenage minors, make sure they’re included in these decisions. Would they prefer to live with an aunt or uncle, their grandparents, or maybe even an older sibling? Finally, make sure that the potential guardian is okay with the arrangement and understands their potential responsibilities. Send the kids back to school the right way, which is with the security in knowing their futures are planned for. It’s a great example to set as well as a massive weight off everybody’s shoulders. How often do you get to do that? Your attorney will know more and help you out with any questions you may have.

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“Women don’t need to find their voices, they need to be empowered to use it and people need to be urged to listen.”

–Meghan Markle

DEDICATED TOWOMEN Meet Our New Attorney, Catheline!

Growing up, Catheline Georges always thought she would go into the medical field. Her family had high hopes that she might become a nurse or an OB-GYN, but after studying in a magnet program designed to train medical and science students during high school, Catheline realized medicine wasn’t her calling. Law school was “the next best thing,” and as a first- generation American born to Haitian immigrants, she was determined to make her family proud.

Catheline has been with the f irm since April 2021, and in that time, she says she has come to appreciate the “honesty, professional growth, and the ability to interact with different women.” Furthermore, while the work she does as a family law attorney can be challenging, Catheline says it’s the change she sees in clients that continues to push her. “Seeing the person leave you as a stronger person … that’s what I really enjoy seeing,” Catheline says. “You see an individual come in, and they’re at their weakest point. When you start giving them some tools and positive reinforcement, their self-esteem and self- worth improves.” When she isn’t helping our clients, Catheline may be enjoying brunch or working out at step aerobics. She also values time spent with family and friends and traveling. As she continues with the firm, Catheline is excited to continue growing both personally and professionally. And as for our team, we could not be happier to have someone as dedicated and passionate about helping women as Catheline become part of our firm. Thank you for joining our team, Catheline!

“I am a first-generation Haitian immigrant, and my grandfather’s sacrifices and desire to give me a better life motivate me,” Catheline says. Catheline studied pre-law at the University of North Florida and earned her law degree at the Southern University Law Center. After earning her degree, Catheline went to work at a law firm, where she says she was very happy. But after being recruited by the Florida Women’s Law Group, she realized it was the perfect fit.

“It was a good business model and a good benefit for me,” Catheline says. “I want to give back to the community and give back to women.”

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Inside

The Significance of Family Dinners

Why You Should Consider a Prenup

Basic Estate Planning for College

Catheline Georges: A First-Generation American With a Passion for Helping Others

5 Reasons to Diversify Your Banking

IT’S TIME TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BANKING!

You’ve probably heard the expression, “Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.” But what about “Don’t put all of your dollars in one bank”? Banking at a single institution is the default for most people, but just because something is the typical strategy doesn’t mean it’s the best one for you! Here are five reasons to consider taking the road less traveled. 1. Different banks have different perks. Credit unions are member- run nonprofits and often don’t have minimum balance requirements. Traditional banks have cutting-edge financial technology and more loan options. Some banks offer high-yield checking accounts while others don’t, and online banks can have interest rates on savings accounts up to 15 times higher than brick-and-mortars. By banking with more than one institution, you can get the best of both (or three!) worlds. 2. You’ll have a backup if one bank fails. According to Bankrate, 511 U.S. banks failed between 2009 and 2020. That’s not nothing! If your bank isn’t insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC) and it fails, you could lose your entire balance, so diversifying your accounts (or choosing only FDIC-insured banks) is a good backup measure. 3. You can make sure ALL of your money is insured. The FDIC only covers up to $250,000 per depositor, per bank. So, if you have high- value accounts, depositing with multiple banks can ensure all of your money is covered. 4. The more accounts you have, the more withdrawals you can make penalty-free. Many money market and savings accounts have 4 Florida Women’s Law Group | 904-549-6553

limits on how many times you can pull money out each month. If you bank with several institutions, you can make a few withdrawals from each of them, stay under the limits, and avoid fees. 5. You’ll have access to more banks and ATMs. Do you travel across your city, state, or the country regularly? If you do, it can be beneficial to bank with several institutions so you’re always close to an ATM or bank branch. For example, you may want to use a local credit union at home for the member benefits but bank with a national bank for out- of-state emergencies.

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