The Manely Firm, P.C. - January 2022

The Manely Firm, P.C. - January 2022

Al l fami ly law. Al l around Georgia. Al l around the wor ld.

J anuary 2022

P utting D own R oots

WHY I LOVE GARDENING

You know what they say about all work and no play ... January is National Hobby Month, so it’s the perfect time to discuss my passion outside of the office. For many years now, I’ve gotten great joy out of gardening and landscaping. I’ve always loved nature — in my youth, I did a lot of backpacking — but I’m not sure how I began landscaping. I suspect it had to do with water running downhill and onto my property. I had to figure out how to deal with the excess water and prevent it from ruining the yard. I’ve done so by making creeks and intentional paths to guide the water where I want it to go. From there, one thing led to another — and suddenly, I was landscaping!

When we first moved into our house, our yard was just a big field. There were woods in the back, but otherwise, it had no character. Luckily, it did have a lot of potential.

A fence now divides the yard into three levels. We currently use the top level as a soccer field. When the boys were much younger, they helped me dig a koi pond in the middle level. The lowest level houses most of the decorative landscaping. My pride and joy is probably the circle garden. It has marble columns in the center that we jokingly call “Stonehenge,” and holly and boxwood shrubs surround them. We get to look out at the feature when we’re eating dinner in our dining room. I’ve also laid a flagstone path that wanders through the various gardens, plus stairs that lead up and down the hills. Strolling along the pathway is a relaxing way to pass the time. We haven’t neglected the woods, either. I’ve created paths and bridges throughout to make the space easier to navigate and explore. I’ve also built six bridges so far, and I’m working on my seventh. They’re not the most attractive bridges you’ve ever seen, but they’re functional and sturdy. We also have a rain garden, where we grow swamp-type plants. This past year, I finally broke down and hired someone to help me maintain the yard. In the past, the boys and I spent about 10 hours a week on upkeep, and now that they’ve grown up and moved on, I realized I couldn’t do it all by myself. The good news is that it leaves me room to focus on design and improvements.

Even with all I’ve done, there’s still plenty left to tackle. Life never stops changing, and the yard needs to change with it. The top level started as a playground, transformed into a soccer field, and will soon contain a small play yard again, this time for the grandchildren. Shelia likes to joke that she didn’t marry a lawyer; she married a gardener who happens to practice law. I love gardening because I get to look at what already exists and find opportunities in it to create something new. Sometimes the changes I make are minor, like a decision to plant monkey grass. Other times, I might feel elaborate and decide to build a bandstand and a covered bridge! The good news is that it keeps me busy — and there will always be something new to do. –Michael Manely 1

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S kills T hat E nrich U s

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A HOBBY January is National Hobby Month, and since it falls at the beginning of the year, it’s the perfect time to try something new! Hobbies add variety to your life and ensure you aren’t just living to work, so to speak. The best way to find a hobby you enjoy is to be open to new things. Whether it’s gardening, reading, drawing, running, fishing, crafting, or even beekeeping, finding an activity you enjoy is important. Here’s why!

HOBBIES ARE STRESS RELIEVERS.

Hobbies offer a healthy escape from your busy lifestyle by keeping you engaged in something you find pleasure in. Instead of just relaxing on the couch and turning off your mind for a bit (which is totally acceptable sometimes), hobbies allow you to remain mentally productive while winding down at the same time.

HOBBIES ALSO PROVIDE EUSTRESS .

Believe it or not, one type of stress is deemed beneficial: eustress. If you aren’t overly stressed and are feeling a little under-stimulated, a hobby can provide activity for both your mind and body to keep you feeling excited about life and ready to take on new challenges and adventures.

HOBBIES OFFER A SOCIAL OUTLET.

HOBBIES DEVELOP PATIENCE.

Some hobbies involve group activities, such as bowling, sports teams, book clubs, and even wine tasting. Connecting with others offers the social support humans depend on to lead a healthy and fruitful life. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find some great friends who share the same passions as you!

When you take on a new hobby, you are tasked with learning something new. Whether you’re practicing a new instrument, learning a different language, or figuring out how to make jewelry, a learning curve is involved. Building new skills takes patience, a very important attribute for success.

N ext in a L ong L ine of L awyers MEET CARA SCHLOSSER!

her niche took some work. She originally graduated with a degree in business management and worked at an accounting firm. It wasn’t her passion, so she went to law school, where she took many classes on children and the law. After a brief detour into estate planning, Cara realized family law was her ideal practice area. She’s been at The Manely Firm for a little over a year, and her career is both challenging and rewarding. “You’re helping people at a crossroads in their lives,” she explains, “whether that’s changing custody or getting out of a marriage that might have lasted 20–30 years.” She loves building relationships and seeing the impact of her work in real time. “It’s rewarding to put people in a better position than they were when they came to me,” she says. Cara met her husband, David, through law school, and they’ve been married for two years. “We got married a week after I took the bar exam!” she laughs.

They now live with their 11-month-old son, Warren, and their playful Maltese Yorkie mix, Maisy. “She comes to work with me sometimes, which is a nice aspect of the job,” she notes. Of The Manely Firm, Cara says, “They really care about people. I’m a younger attorney, and they care about my specific goals and how they can help me achieve them.” She also shares that she was six months pregnant when they hired her. “A lot of people won’t hire you when you’re pregnant,” she says, “because you’ll immediately go on leave. But The Manely Firm has really supported me in my pregnancy and through my postpartum experience. “It’s been exactly what I was hoping for as both a mom and an attorney,” Cara says. “It’s a very healthy and genuine culture here, and being able to learn in a safe environment makes a big difference for me.”

Cara Schlosser comes from a long line of attorneys. “I am the fifth generation of lawyers in my family,” she says. “My great-grandfather was a district attorney in southern Mississippi and prosecuted the Klan. That’s a big part of my family’s history and a good example of how you can pursue justice even in the face of adversity.”

Cara keeps her ancestors’ fighting spirit alive for her clients today. But despite her family’s rich history, finding

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Has Your Custody Plan Stopped Making Sense?

“C heers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right .” — O prah W infrey

A MODIFICATION CAN HELP

For many people, a new year is a time for reflection. “It’s an opportunity to take a snapshot of your life,” Michael Manely says. “You should ask yourself: Is this where I want to be? And is there anything I want to change?” One of the things that might need changing is your family law agreement. A court order is like an engine — it works perfectly well until it doesn’t. Eventually, both start to break down, and components from 2–3 years ago lose some of their function. But modifying an agreement is not as simple as starting a new exercise routine. To receive a modification, you need to have experienced a substantial change in circumstances. With regard to child support, there needs to be a significant change in income. For modification of visitation or custody, the standards are a bit looser and open to interpretation. There’s no upper limit on the frequency or number of changes, but a judge is unlikely to react favorably to repeated small or nuisance modification requests. As children grow, their needs and activities evolve, which means that an existing plan can stop making sense. One or both parents can also experience a change in their job responsibilities, which might require extra hours, different hours, or a relocation. Any move can be grounds for a modification. Things obviously can’t stay the same if one parent moves several states away. But even a 30-minute move can significantly impact getting a child to and from school or day care. Finally, when a new stepparent or stepchildren enter the picture, the entire family’s needs can change. Of course, when there’s a court order, you can’t just make these changes yourself. Even if your ex is agreeable to the modifications, you should still have them documented to protect everyone in case of a later conflict or change of heart. It’s the best way to protect yourself and your child. “January is a good time to take stock and be intentional about crafting the way you want it,” Michael says. If your custody agreement is no longer working for your family, The Manely Firm can help. Give us a call today for help with a court order that works with the life you have now.

C hicken and L eek F ilo P ie

Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com

I ngredients

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3 oz unsalted butter, divided 2 large leeks, finely sliced 2 large carrots, finely chopped

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3 tbsp heavy cream

12 oz cooked chicken, cut into chunks 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 12 sheets frozen filo pastry, thawed

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1 tbsp flour

14 oz chicken stock, warmed

2 tsp Dijon mustard

D irections 1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2.

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Stir in mustard and heavy cream, then add cooked chicken and parsley. Transfer to a large ovenproof dish. In a pan, melt remaining butter. Put a single filo sheet on a board and brush with melted butter. Scrunch up pastry sheet and place on top of chicken mixture. Continue until pie is covered. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the filo is golden and chicken mixture is bubbling.

In a pan over low heat, melt 1 oz butter. Add leeks and carrots and cook for 15 minutes, until softened but not colored. Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Gradually add chicken stock, stirring until sauce is smooth, then let simmer for 10 minutes.

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Cal l for a Consul tat ion: ( 866) 245-5685

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

211 Roswell St. NE Marietta, GA 30060 (866) 687-8561 www.allfamilylaw.com

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Michael Shares His Love of Gardening

Why Hobbies Are Important Meet Attorney Cara Schlosser!

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How Do You Modify a Court Order? Chicken and Leek Filo Pie

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The Lost Art of the Thank-You Note

B ringing B ack a L ost A rt YOUR GUIDE TO WRITING A THANK-YOU NOTE

Know When a Note Is Needed. You should strongly consider sending a thank-you note any time you receive a gift, but they are particularly expected after big events like weddings or showers. It’s also good form to send a note whenever someone has done you a big favor or hosted you at their house. Professionally, thank-you notes should always be sent after job interviews. Notes should be sent as soon as possible, ideally within one month of the gift or event. Use Paper. It may seem old-fashioned, but that’s exactly what makes it special. In fact, the Ask Your Target Market survey found that 72% of respondents thought handwritten notes were more meaningful than electronic ones. Even if your handwriting is messy, your recipients will appreciate the personal touch. Exceptions apply for thank-you notes sent after job interviews — due to time sensitivity, these are best sent via email. Be Specific. Especially when you’ve got a large stack to get through, it’s pretty tempting to write the same note over and over again, changing only the salutation. Don’t give in! While it’s fine to have a template, recipients will recognize when the note you sent them is generic. Be sure to mention exactly what you’re thankful for (not just “the gift”) or how you plan to use the gift. Now, you’re ready to let people know how much you appreciate them in a way that’s both simple and classic. Your family, friends, and colleagues will be impressed, and who knows, you just might start a trend.

A 2019 survey by Ask Your Target Market showed 80% of respondents appreciate receiving thank-you notes — but only 22% of respondents report regularly sending them. That’s a pretty big discrepancy. During the holiday season, you probably received several gifts and may have been hosted at a family member’s house, so now is the perfect time to revive the dying art of the thank-you note. If it’s been a while since you last wrote one, fear not. Here’s everything you need to know to get started.

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