Law Office of Kevin Jensen - January 2020

Law Office of Kevin Jensen - January 2020

January 2020 480.632.7373 jensenlawaz.com

10 Years Later Celebrating a Decade of Devoting My Practice to Helping Families

It was the late 2000s and I found myself sitting at my computer late one night, desperately trying to find a solution. I had stumbled through the past few months with my law firm, never feeling like I was gaining traction. Some months were good; others were bad. But I was at a crossroads, and I needed a solution. It all began in 2007 when I lost my friend and law partner after a car accident. He was a good man, and I still miss him dearly. But he was also the marketing guy our firm leaned on. We had forged our own path together. I stuck my nose to the grindstone and churned out personal injury cases, and he was the genius when it came to acquiring those cases.

For the first few months, nothing happened.

But then more months rolled by, and we received more calls. I went from about eight active family law cases to 35. My firm and reputation were picking up traction, and the momentum continued

to build. I was steadfast in my belief that I was headed back to personal injury law, but the phones kept ringing with families who needed help finding peace and repairing their lives.

Without his guidance, I was lost, and that’s what prompted probably the lamest Google search I’ve ever done: lawyer marketing.

I was immediately directed to Ben Glass’s Great Legal Marketing program. At first, I thought the program was a hoax to convince lawyers who were desperate to shell out money. But there appeared to be some promise, and, honestly, I was desperate. After I put the money down, I attended a conference and was immediately excited and enthralled. I finally understood what my law partner was trying to do for years.

I can still remember when I realized I was onto something that could make a real difference. In January 2011, I landed eight new family law cases — the most cases I had ever gotten in one month. I knew it was time to bring in help and devote myself to this specialty. I gave my brother-in-law, Brandon Yost, a call, and I told him that if he ever got bored with the tax law, I had a place for him in Arizona. And that’s where we are today. It’s hard to believe a decade ago I was that stressed out attorney, sitting as his computer and worrying about what my next move was going to be. I worried that I would have to scrap the practice and return to a larger firm just to feed my young, growing family. Today, I get to do a job I love every day and help families. In the end, it wasn’t about being a personal injury attorney that attracted me to the job. It was about doing what was right and helping others find relief. I may be in a different practice now, but I’m fulfilling my passion and helping others every day. That’s all the stressed-out lawyer from a decade ago wanted.

And then I did nothing. (I know, not my greatest move.)

Still determined to be a personal injury attorney, I turned to family law cases to fill the gap. I needed some cash flow to stay afloat, and I could at least keep refining my legal skills for when the injury cases would finally and consistently come rolling in. In 2010, I was chatting with a friend of mine who had taught himself on website building. He had put together various sites for small-business owners, and I was immediately interested. I remembered what I had learned from my lame Google search, and I decided to give a website a shot. Instead of focusing on personal injury, I asked my friend to create a family law-based website. I wrote the content while he assembled the pieces into a fairly professional-looking site, especially for 2010.

Have a very happy New Year and a wonderful decade!

-Kevin Jensen

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Screen-Time Strategies

How to Set a Family Media Use Plan

With 24/7 media exposure from TVs, computers, and smartphones, it feels like life is dominated by screens. Consider implementing a media use plan for your family so they don’t miss out on the real world.

decisions. Connect with them on social media if it helps you keep an eye on things.

Set a Curfew

Construct a ‘Media Diet’

Limiting the time your children spend staring at a screen is good for their health. Try to keep screen-time usage to under two hours per day. Implement a rule for no screens at mealtimes, and keep all screens out of bedrooms at night. Keep track of the devices by having a communal charging dock in a shared area where you can make sure everything is plugged in for the night.

Take an active role in what your children watch by co-viewing programs with them. You’ll have a better sense of what they’re seeing and can point them toward the programming that’s right for them. Look for educational media choices that teach good values. There are a lot of great educational opportunities on the internet, but there’s also a lot of room for negative exposure. If this is a concern, keep the family computer in a public part of your home so you can see what they’re accessing online. It’s important to educate your children about proper media health, but it’s even more important to encourage your kids to be healthy in other ways. Beyond the tips mentioned above, encourage them to play outdoors and read physical books so they can participate more actively in the real world.

Have a Chat

Don’t shy away from warning your kids about what exists in the digital world. Explain to them that certain content isn’t age-appropriate, and teach them what movie and TV ratings mean. Remind them to be careful about what they put on the internet because anything they upload never really goes away. Teach them to be smart with their

Actually ...

Debunking Common Divorce Myths This Opposite Day

On Jan. 25, quirky people will celebrate — or won’t celebrate — Opposite Day. It’s a holiday dedicated to breaking away from the norm and doing the exact opposite of what you would normally do. It can also be a day to debunk some long-held myths and start believing the opposite (which is just the truth). Below are a few common divorce myths we want to debunk. Myth: The Mother Always Gets the Children Reality: The barbaric belief that mothers are the sole caretakers of children is no longer a reality in the court system, and today, many courts agree to do what’s best for the children involved in a divorce. In fact, Arizona courts tend to favor equal time for both parents. The state recognizes the benefits of a strong parental presence in a child’s life, and that means making sure both parents have the opportunity to be involved. Myth: Divorce Is Expensive Reality: Getting a divorce is not easy, and it can certainly put a strain on your finances. Statistics show that bankruptcy is common after divorce,

but that does not make it the norm. Divorce can be expensive, but it does not have to be. Some divorce cases must be escalated to court, but at the Law Offices of Kevin Jensen, we can help you and your spouse find options that help you avoid costly fees and come to an amicable agreement through affordable mediation. Myth: Getting a Divorce Means You Don’t Value Family Reality: The old adage of staying married for the kids no longer rings true. While studies show the value of children growing up in two-parent homes, studies also link mental and behavioral issues to unhealthy home environments. Furthermore, divorce rates in the U.S. are not at the all-time high many people believe. In fact, fewer people are choosing marriage, dropping from 58% to 53% in 2017. Choosing divorce can sometimes be a healthier, safer option for your family and well-being. Getting a divorce can be a good choice. Don’t get sucked into these common myths and many others that continue to swirl around divorce. To learn more about the facts of divorce in Arizona, visit JensenLawAZ.com. For questions about the proceedings of your case, call 408.632.7373.

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How Podcasts Can Help You Through Your Divorce New Year, New You!

‘LDS Divorce Coach’

As we start the new year, you may be, like many people, setting new goals for yourself. Unfortunately, keeping New Year’s resolutions becomes harder as the new- year glow wears off, and statistics show many people give up on their goals by the end of January.

The Law Offices of Kevin Jensen is fortunate enough to partner with divorce coach Emily Sanchez. A mom and divorcée with connections in the church, Sanchez understands the complexities

of parenthood, divorce, marriage, and faith. During each episode, Sanchez offers listeners a short coaching session to encourage healing, hope, and empowerment. Sanchez’s advice and expertise range from stepparenting, surviving anniversaries, overcoming stress, co-parenting, and more. Listen to “LDS Divorce Coach” on Apple Podcasts.

This year, make a commitment to your well-being with an easy self-improvement tool: podcasts.

‘Secrets of Wealthy Women’

‘The Overwhelmed Brain’

Statistics show there can be a link between bankruptcy and divorce, but it doesn’t have to happen! Every week, Veronica Dagher of the Wall Street Journal sits down with successful women to discuss the obstacles they have faced, what motivates them, and how they reached for lofty goals on “Secrets of Wealthy Women.” Archives of the show reveal a treasure trove of easy- listening episodes sure to get you fired up about your next great move. You can listen to “Secrets of Wealthy Women” on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Between co-parenting schedules, dating, and finances, there’s nothing simple about a divorce. Getting a divorce brings about complex emotions, and after his 13-year relationship ended, Paul Colaianni experienced this himself. In each episode, Paul, a personal empowerment coach, details chronic bad habits we trick ourselves into doing and how these create havoc on our lives. Listeners are treated to tricks for breaking out of the mold and calming their overwhelmed brain. Listen to “The Overwhelmed Brain” on Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, and other listening platforms.

The experts at the Law Offices of Kevin Jensen can guide you through the complexities of your divorce. If you have questions about your case, call 480.632.7373.

Hoppin’ John

LAUGH BREAK

A traditional New Year’s favorite in the South, Hoppin’ John includes black-eyes peas that are said to represent coins, a sign of prosperity for the coming year. It’s usually served alongside collard greens, which represent cash.

ingredients

• 1 cup dried black-eyed peas • 5–6 cups water • 1 dried hot pepper, optional (arbol and Calabrian are great options)

• 1 smoked ham hock • 1 medium onion, diced • 1 cup long-grain white rice

directions 1. Wash and sort peas. 2. In a saucepan, cover peas with water, discarding any that float. 3. Add pepper, ham hock, and onion. Gently boil and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until peas are just tender, about 90 minutes. At this point, you should have about 2 cups of liquid remaining. 4. Add rice, cover, drop heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes, undisturbed. 5. Remove from heat and let steam for an additional 10 minutes, still covered. 6. Remove lid, fluff with a fork, and serve.

Inspired by Epicurious

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10 Years of Helping Families

Tips to Establish a Family Media Use Plan

Divorce Myths You Need to Stop Believing

How Podcasts Can Help You Through Your Divorce

Help Your Kids Achieve More This Year

With Simple, Actionable Goals

With every new year comes an opportunity to reinvent ourselves or start down a new path toward self- improvement. Making resolutions is a big part of many families’ New Year’s traditions, and parents often have a desire for their kids to take part in that tradition when they’re old enough. Following through on resolutions is tough, especially for young children, but with your help, they can achieve their goals. PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH. You are your children’s role model for almost everything, including following through on New Year’s resolutions. So, ask yourself if you follow through on your own resolutions. When you proclaim that you will read more books or finally get a gym membership, do you actually try to do it? Your kids will assign as much importance to New Year’s resolutions as you do, so by sticking to your own commitments, you can help them stay on track too. KEEP THINGS SIMPLE AND ACHIEVABLE. When your kids are forming their resolutions, their first attempts will probably be very broad. Statements like “I want to be more kind” or “I will try to help more around the house” incorporate good values but don’t include any actionable steps. Help your kids think of tangible ways to act on those goals. For example, if they want to be tidier, a good resolution might be for them to clean their room once a week or take responsibility for one household chore every day. DON’T DO ALL THE WORK FOR THEM. While it’s important for you to help your kids formulate their goals, be sure that you aren’t taking over. If they’re ultimately responsible for their resolutions, they’ll feel more compelled to keep them. Instead, suggest different goal areas they could improve, such as home, school, or sports, and let them elaborate.

When it comes to creating habits, nobody is perfect, so even if your kids falter on their goals in the middle of February, don’t worry. The important thing is that you continue to encourage them every step of the way.

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