Atlanta Divorce Law Group August 2018

Atlanta Divorce Law Group August 2018

We Can Help You Navigate This Seemingly Impossible Task HAPPILY EVER AFTER DIVORCE ®

AUGUST 2018

Today, divorce is a frequent occurrence. Read a book, turn on the TV, or go to the movie theater and the narrative you’ll discover is bound to include the separation of two formerly happy married characters.

The prevalence of divorce in fiction reflects its presence in the real world. In 2018, one divorce happens every 13 seconds in the U.S. That equates to 277 divorces per hour, 6,646 divorces per day, 46,523 divorces per week, and 2,419,196 divorces per year. Just because these statistics corroborate the number of portrayals you encounter on Netflix doesn’t mean that the divorce process is accurately represented. More often than not, the couple’s separation is depicted as spiteful, harmful, and combative, but this is not always the case and it doesn’t have to be. My team and I at Atlanta Divorce Law Group know that, regardless of the circumstances, divorce is a painful process. More often than not, mistakes have been made, trust has been broken, and memories have become afflictive, so residual anger is a normal part of the process. That being said, we want to completely change the way our clients view divorce. If you have worked with us before, then you are familiar with our trademarked value system: “Happily Ever After Divorce. ® ” It’s anchored to the idea that divorce doesn’t have to be the negative, harrowing experience that it is believed to be by the majority of the population. No matter how rampant divorce actually is, the choice to separate

from a partner still invites a lot of unwanted negativity and scrutiny for those involved, creating a stigma that makes people afraid to talk about divorce, seek counseling, or consult a lawyer. Our goal is to guide our clients away from that mindset and instead help them view their divorce as the catalyst for restructuring their lives. Divorce doesn’t have to be about “tearing families apart”; it can be the foundation on which former partners can work together to build better lives for themselves and their children. Ideally, it’s the starting point in the pursuit to experience personal development, growth, and happiness. You might be thinking to yourself, “A lot of divorce firms emphasize collaborative divorce.” While this is true, my team’s practices are much more nuanced than that. While other law offices are well-versed in legal coaching, the sheer amount of psychological, communicative, and therapeutic training that my team goes through makes our relationships with clients more than just professional. We are as much life coaches as we are legal ones. In addition to the extensive training my team receives, each one of us has our own “Happily Ever After Divorce ® ” story, which only furthers our ability to empathize with clients’ quandaries. We want to help clients get to a point in their lives where they can look back, take a deep breath, and realize that they made the right decision, just as we all did. We are forever grateful to our previous clients who have put their trust in us, and we hope to encourage others to do the same so we can help them reach their own “Happily Ever After Divorce. ® ” After all, the more people we help, the more plausible the eradication of the awful stigma surrounding divorce becomes. Every single person deserves to feel confident in these difficult life decisions, and we are here to help you get there at every step of the way. –Sara Khaki

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For the School Year 3 WAYS TO MENTALLY PREPARE YOUR KIDS

It may not feel like it yet, but summer is coming to a close, and summer break is ending along with it. Soon, the kids will be back to early morning breakfasts before the school bus arrives and late-night study sessions. Thankfully, there are some steps your family can take during these closing weeks of summer to ensure your kids hit the ground running this school year.

abuse, admissions of wrongdoing, texts to children with hurtful comments about the other parent, texts denying a parent from seeing the children, or messages proving infidelity, you should catalog the conversations and give them to your attorney to strengthen your case. While collecting these types of messages can help, our team does want you to keep in mind that attorneys and legal assistants bill by the hour, so to reduce legal costs, be sure to only share relevant messages. Additionally, remember that each state differs depending SET AN EARLY BEDTIME For many kids, summer schedules are flexible. They may have become accustomed to sleeping in and staying up late without any obligations. Getting back into the rhythm of the school year can take some getting used to. In fact, according to psychologist Cherie Valeithian, it can take upward of two weeks to properly adjust to a new sleep-wake cycle. So why not give your kids a head start and ensure they begin the school year bright-eyed and bushy-tailed? OUTLINE A HOMEWORK SCHEDULE Resuming a homework regimen can be a difficult transition for some kids. Late summer, when they don’t have assignments to worry about yet, can be a great opportunity to help them prepare a study schedule. Ask the following questions to help them get started: “Do you want to dive right into homework when you get home? Do you need to accommodate for a sport or extracurricular activity? Do you

work best when doing your assignments in one large chunk, or would you prefer taking breaks in between assignments?” Your kids may find that last year’s schedule doesn’t work for them this year. Emphasize that this is okay; part of growing up is learning how and when you work most effectively. Don’t be afraid to help them switch things up as the school year progresses. ASK YOUR KIDS HOW THEY FEEL Maybe your kids are excited about the school year. Maybe they are anxious, or perhaps they’re just disappointed to see summer vacation come to an end. Starting a dialogue about the aspects of school your kids are looking forward to and those they’re dreading can help you dispel myths and identify problem areas. More than anything else, this can help your kids feel at ease about the coming year.

ATTORNEY’S CORNER: YOU ASK, WE ANSWER

Can Text Messages Be Used as Evidence in My Divorce?

In our digital era, technology is at the forefront of everything we do, regardless of whether we want it to be or not. Have there been instances when you noticed that Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, brightened the screen of your phone, patiently waiting for a task to complete without your prompting? Or have you noticed an odd similarity between the commercial products you discuss with friends and the advertisements you see on Facebook? The fascinating and terrifying nature of cutting- edge technology also plays a role in the process of divorce and custody battles. Current and potential clients often ask whether or not text messages can be used as evidence in a court case. Our answer here is twofold. Text messages, emails, and other forms of electronic communication are now acceptable forms of evidence in the courtroom, but they should only be used when absolutely necessary. For example, if you have received messages containing threats of physical violence, verbal

on no-fault divorce laws, meaning that some states do not require the spouse seeking a divorce to provide justification (proof of wrongdoing or infidelity) for their decision. The state of Georgia is one of those states, so unless you want to use the messages to appeal to a judge for custody rights, proof of fault is not necessary in divorce court. If you have any further questions regarding how text messages can or should be used in your case, feel free to reach our team at Atlanta Divorce Law Group by calling 678-203-9893.

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Back-to-School Advice for Divorced Families Tips to Help Your Child This School Year

DON’T STRESS OVER THE CLOTHES This might seem like a strange tip, but one issue our team at Atlanta Divorce Law Group frequently hears from clients is the frustration with their kids’ clothing going missing. Clients’ frustration stems from the experience of buying their child new clothes, taking them to stay with a co-parent, and then never seeing those clothes again. This situation can be maddening, but the truth is that it’s a losing battle. Your co-parent isn’t going to keep track of every item that comes to them from your house and ensure it returns to yours. The solution is to dress the children in clothes you won’t miss when they stay with their co-parent. MARK THE CALENDAR The last tip our team recommends is to create a family calendar to keep track of visitation schedules, extracurricular activities, homework deadlines, and school events. Once you have an effective and organized method for keeping track of important dates, our team recommends that, if possible, both parents try to attend school events together. We understand that the close proximity might be uncomfortable, but showing united support for your children will ultimately help them avoid feeling guilty or conflicted.

Now that school is getting back into full swing, many newly divorced parents are adjusting to parenting during the school year. The following tips can help you ensure your children’s success in navigating the emotional terrain of new schedules, environments, and experiences that often occur after a divorce. GET THE DETAILS School systems have learned the best practices to help children with divorced parents navigate changes, stresses, or emotions that may come as a result of a recent or existing separation. One way co-parents can help their children and the school with this process is to gather details and stay up-to-date on information. When it comes to students heading back to school, one of the most common frustrations we hear pertains to co-parents forgetting to share important school details with each other. Don’t rely on your ex to pass along school information. You can contact the school and request that report cards and other information be sent to each parent separately. If necessary, you can even request separate parent- teacher conferences.

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HEAR WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY “From my first meeting with Sara, I felt a sense of caring and compassion. Throughout my case, I was highly impressed with her knowledge and dedication.

Her responsiveness to my inquiries and her correspondence were impressive.”

–Ali A.

“What sets Atlanta Divorce Law Group apart from all the other divorce law firms I’ve seen is the way the whole staff treats their clients with such great care. They are there for you every step of the way and make you feel comfortable in a time when things aren’t so easy.” –Nataly

Like and share our page so that you’ll be notified each time we broadcast. You DON’T want to miss this! Follow the link below to watch:

Send us a message or comment with your questions, and our attorneys will answer them on Facebook Live each week! Jeanette and Sara discuss tips for families in transition as well as adoption, dating after divorce, and more.

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Inside This Issue

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Happily Ever After Divorce ® : Our Value System

How to Prepare Your Kids for School

How Text Messages Can Have an Impact on Your Divorce Case

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3 Ways Divorced Parents Can Help Their Kids Return to School

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Hear What Our Clients Are Saying

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The Strangest Holidays in August

August’s Silliest Holidays Are These on Your Calendar?

February has Valentine’s Day; September has Labor Day; December, of course, has Christmas; and August has, um, National Raspberry Cream Pie Day. August may not host any major holidays, but it doesn’t lack for some of the goofiest on the calendar. AUGUST 6: NATIONAL WIGGLE YOUR TOES DAY While the origin of this holiday is uncertain, it’s held every year on August 6. To celebrate, people are encouraged to wear sandals, flip flops, or other toe-exposing footwear. You can also frolic barefoot in the grass or simply stretch those digits throughout the day. Just don’t expect to see any Hallmark cards

devoted to National Wiggle Your Toes Day anytime soon.

is a day devoted to them. Take the day to hunt for lost treasures and screaming deals. Many thrift shops also benefit nonprofit organizations, giving you even more reason to frequent them. AUGUST 27: NATIONAL ‘JUST BECAUSE’ DAY This celebration is really scratching the bottom of the holiday barrel. Joseph J. Goodwin created National “Just Because” Day in the 1950s. It’s a day to do something “just because.” Be spontaneous and have a little fun. There’s no one way to celebrate, which is fitting, given that the existence of the holiday seems to defy logic altogether.

AUGUST 13: LEFT-HANDERS DAY About 10 percent of the population is left- handed. Lefties may be stuck in a right-hand- dominant world, but on August 13, they rule the roost. Originally founded in England, Left- Handers Day has taken off in the U.S. Righties are encouraged to try out a left-handed approach for the day. Lefties, for their part, are free to be themselves. AUGUST 17: NATIONAL THRIFT SHOP DAY Thrift shops are a staple of American commerce, so it makes sense that there

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