Law Offices of Daniel J Miller - August 2022

Law Offices of Daniel J Miller - August 2022

IN YOUR DEFENSE

AUGUST 2022

757.852.3000 | LegalDefense.com

DURING MY TOUGHEST UPHILL BATTLE Finding the Proper Work/ Life Balance

counsel took a lot of stress off of my shoulders. I knew they were doing what they had to do to make the case work in my favor. Being an attorney myself, I had to learn to let them take control of it. I had to set my emotions aside and let the attorney do what was best in my particular situation. It ended up paying off because I could still run my business at the time, which was very busy, while going through my divorce. My advice for those going through a similar situation is to try your best to take the emotion out of your divorce. It’s not easy, but think of it almost like a business arrangement. You and your ex-spouse are going your separate ways, and you need to take this time to make sure you can continue to take care of yourself and your children. That’s why it’s really important to hire strong counsel to represent you. If you weren’t already aware, we do handle family law cases at our office in addition to our other areas of practice. We have a team of talented and caring attorneys who handle nothing but family law and are always available to anyone who is seeking assistance. If you’re going through a divorce and need representation, or if you have any questions pertaining to family law, give us a call and we will be glad to assist you. Even if you never go through a divorce, you are still bound to run into a few uphill battles in your life. These include losing a loved one and losing your job. You can come out of these situations a stronger person as long as you stay composed, remain positive, and stick to your core values. When you put your mind to it and stay strong, you can get through just about anything. –Daniel J. Miller

Throughout our lives, we face many obstacles that seem to weigh us down. These uphill battles become difficult quickly, and it can seem like the entire world is working against us. It’s in these moments that we have to rise above the challenge so we can grow to become stronger as individuals. It might not be easy, but with the proper amount of dedication and understanding, we can get through any difficult situation. Possibly the biggest uphill battle I ever faced in my career came in 2017. I was going through my own divorce and was really struggling to find balance between my work and personal life. As many of my clients can attest, going through a divorce with children and assets can be incredibly time-consuming and starts to wear on you emotionally. Trying to work while I was dealing with my own personal issues was difficult, to say the least.

Of course, I hired an attorney to represent me, which was one of the best decisions I could have made. Being able to rely on good

757.852.3000 1

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

W hen C o -P arents D isagree A bout V accinations

When vaccines to combat the COVID-19 pandemic were made available to the public, people were quick to show their support or advocate against the use of the vaccine. This conversation became more heated once the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended children over the age of 5 receive the vaccine. In some instances, co-parents found themselves on opposite ends of the conversation from each other. Now, the CDC has recommended children ages 5–11 years should receive a booster shot five months after their initial Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination series. But what happens when one parent wants their child to get the booster shot and the other parent does not? In many cases, it doesn’t matter if you’re the parent who wants the kid to be vaccinated and boosted or the parent who doesn’t. The decision is usually up to your co-parenting or custody agreement. Whenever you have any type of serious disagreement with your co- parent, you should refer back to the custody

paperwork before making any rash decisions. Who has control over health care decisions, including vaccinations, should be outlined in the custody paperwork. If one parent has sole custody over their child, they have the right to determine if their child receives the vaccine or not. If the parents have joint custody over the child, the court expects the parents to discuss the matters together to come up with a solution. In some joint custody agreements, one parent still has the final say on health care decisions and has the right to vaccinate the child even if it goes against the other parent’s wishes. If the co-parents have a joint agreement and one does not have the right to make decisions over the other, they can ask the court to help make a decision. In this situation, judges will want to hear testimony from a medical professional. They will also determine if one parent has a history of

making medical decisions on behalf of the child and what their school requires. They may also ask the child for their opinion if they’re older, around ages 12–14. If you find yourself in this situation, legal help is available. Our expert team of family law attorneys can assist you. Give us a call today.

G et O utside W ith G eocaching TRACKING DOWN TREASURES

It’s time to get started. To begin your geocaching journey, first visit Geocaching.com and sign up for a new account. From this, you will be able to create a unique geocacher name that people in the geocache community can call you by! This will also come in handy when you sign the logbook. You can also download the Geocaching app to your smartphone and use it as a GPS receiver. Once you open the map on your phone, it will show a map of your location with bubble icons to see all the geocaches near you. There will be an arrow icon that you can click on that will find the specific geocache you are searching for. It will then open a compass that shows you which direction to go in and how many feet you are away from the final location. This treasure hunt brings an entire community together from all around the world. It encourages people to challenge themselves and get outside. The act of hiding and finding a geocache is thrilling, and you never know what you might find next.

International Geocaching Day takes place on the third Saturday of the month of August. It’s a chance to experience an adventure- filled day that will get you out of the house and into nature. People of all ages gather to commemorate the placement and discovery of geocaches across the world, and there’s no telling what kind of surprise you might discover if you participate! What is geocaching? Geocaching is basically a high-tech version of a treasure or scavenger hunt. It is inspired by the older treasure hunt called letterbox, where you plant clues in various locations that lead to the letterbox. For geocaching nowadays, you use a GPS to track down caches. These are typically waterproof containers — and inside there is a logbook for you to sign. These caches can be filled with trinkets such as coins, pins, or even miniature figurines, but if you take anything, be sure that you replace it with something else. It doesn’t have to be anything expensive, just a token of sorts for someone else to discover.

2 LEGALDEFENSE.COM

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

Relocating as the Custodial Parent

WHAT TO KNOW

custodial parent’s visitation would be less frequent but for a longer duration.

Moving to a new home can often be a tedious and time-consuming process, but it can be even more difficult if you’re divorced and have a child with your ex-spouse. Many parents have wondered what the process would look like if they had to move due to work or any other reason to a different city or state. You’ll have to jump through a few hoops in order to successfully relocate with your child if you’re the custodial parent. Virginia courts take into account the best interests of the child in regards to relocation. There are three factors that are focused on when determining if the move is in the best interests of the child. First, the courts will look at the effect the relocation will have on the relationship between the non-custodial parent and the child. Then they’ll look at

how drastically the relocation will affect the non-custodial parent’s visitation with the child. And lastly, they’ll evaluate the reasons the custodial parent is looking to relocate. In many cases, if the custodial parent is allowed to relocate with the child, the visitation arrangement for the non- custodial parent will be adjusted. For example, let’s say the custodial parent and child had lived within 15 minutes of the non-custodial parent. They may have had visitation rights every weekend and would have visitation rights for a couple weeks throughout the summer. If the custodial parent wants to move to the other side of the state or out of state, the non-custodial parent’s ability to visit will be diminished. The court may determine that the non-

For those custodial parents who just recently made the move to Virginia from out of state, you may be wondering when you can move the jurisdiction to Virginia. After the child has lived in the state for a minimum of six months, you can look at changing the jurisdiction. However, if there is already a custody or visitation order established in another state, and the other parent continues to reside in that state, then jurisdiction will remain there. Relocating when you have a custody agreement can be confusing and stressful. If you have any questions or concerns about the process, give our office a call.

RESTAURANT- STYLE CHICKEN MARSALA

SUDOKU

Inspired by FoodNetwork.com

Are you craving chicken Marsala? Now’s your chance to cook it at home!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup flour, for dredging • Salt and pepper, to taste • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/4-inch thick • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

• 4 oz prosciutto, thinly sliced • 8 oz mushrooms

• 1/2 cup Marsala wine • 1/2 cup chicken stock • 2 tbsp butter

DIRECTIONS

1. In a bowl, mix flour, salt, and pepper until evenly distributed. 2. Add chicken to flour mixture and coat all sides. Shake off any excess. 3. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add olive oil. Once hot, add chicken to the skillet. Work in batches if pieces don’t all fit in the pan. Cook each side for 5 minutes until golden brown. 4. Remove chicken to a platter. 5. Lower heat to medium. Add prosciutto to pan and sauté for 1 minute. Add mushrooms and sauté until browned, about 5 minutes. 6. Add Marsala to skillet. Let it come to a boil, then add the chicken stock and simmer for 1 minute. 7. Stir in the butter and add chicken back into the skillet. Let simmer gently for an additional minute, then serve.

757.852.3000 3

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

2725 GATOR RD. SUITE 100 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452 757.852.3000 | LegalDefense.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

OVERCOMING UPHILL BATTLES PAGE 1 WHEN CO-PARENTS DISAGREE ABOUT VACCINATIONS ENJOY THE ADVENTURE AND HUNT PAGE 2 PLANNING TO RELOCATE? IT MIGHT AFFECT YOUR CUSTODY AGREEMENT RESTAURANT-STYLE CHICKEN MARSALA PAGE 3 SIRI, WHAT’S THE PRETTIEST U.S. RESTAURANT? PAGE 4 INSIDE THIS ISSUE

WHERE THE VIEW IS PART OF THE MENU … 3 MOST BEAUTIFUL RESTAURANTS IN AMERICA

The French Laundry — Yountville, California If there’s a contest for the best food and views offered by a restaurant in America, this three-star Michelin restaurant just might place first. Run by Thomas Keller, its rustic, cottage-like setting in Napa Valley always turns heads with its surprisingly sophisticated design (as well as its exclusive tasting menus!). The restaurant’s gardens are beautifully lit and dotted with Japanese maple trees — a sight that will blow you away.

When you go to a nice restaurant, you’re not just paying for food — you’re also paying for an experience. Decor might be the last thing on a guest’s mind, but with the right design, some restaurants are absolutely breathtaking. Here are a few of our favorites. Pink Cadillac Diner — Natural Bridge, Virginia Taking a step into this restaurant feels like stepping straight into the 1950s … in all the best ways possible. The diner’s bold, beautiful shades of bubblegum pink — including a vintage pink Cadillac parked in front — prompt nostalgia and delight. Accompanied with a classic burger and ice cream diner menu, this East Coast gem is a destination you won’t want to miss. Cecconi’s Dumbo — New York City There are plenty of gorgeous restaurants in the Big Apple, but you’ll always hear Cecconi’s Dumbo mentioned among the best. Located in Brooklyn Bridge Park, your table might have dramatic views of the bridge or a waterfront view of the Manhattan skyline. It’s the best possible pairing with their classic Italian menu, complete with handmade pasta and high-end ingredients from Italy.

Most people can have a good meal at home, so if you have the time and money, why not pay a little extra for a nice view? Go ahead and indulge. We won’t judge — we’ll even be a little jealous!

4 LEGALDEFENSE.COM

Published by Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com