When is a Divorce Final?
July 22, 2013 | Elizabeth A. SchadingMany parts of your life will seem to go “on hold” when you are getting a divorce. It’s important to understand when a divorce is final so that you don’t start engaging in activities (like dating) that should really be avoided until the process is complete. It’s common for clients to “feel divorced” when they begin the divorce. Then they discover that divorce is a process, one that can go on for a very long time and feel never-ending. This is frustrating, but until that process is complete you are still legally married in the eyes of the state. There are different types of paperwork that are involved in a divorce that can help you understand when a divorce is final. The first is the “Summons and Petition.” The spouse who initiates the divorce has this document “served” on the other spouse. This means that someone is hired to physically walk up to your spouse and deliver the documents. They cannot be mailed. However, one could agree to accept service by signing an Admission of Service. What’s in the Summons and Petition? The information includes general information like the names of both parties, the address of both parties, the names of all children, and information about employment, assets, and debts. It also includes…
Read MoreCan I Date During My Divorce?
July 20, 2013 | Elizabeth A. SchadingMany people want to know if they can date during their divorce. You can date. There’s certainly no law against dating during your divorce. However, that doesn’t mean you should date. One reason why you should not date is that it may inspire your spouse to fight you harder than ever before. Divorce has a strong emotional element, and that element can impact how your divorce proceeds. Issues that may have been resolved quickly could suddenly become long, drawn out, protracted battles. This can happen even if your spouse is already dating. Even if perhaps your spouse may have initiated the divorce by leaving you for someone else. This does not mean that your spouse will be reasonable about you dating. In his or her own mind they’re the injured party. They may feel like you’re wronging them further by dating and may try to “seek justice.” Second, dating before your divorce is finalized could have an impact on custody proceedings. Focusing on a new sweetheart instead of your children does not look good to a judge, even if you take pains not to expose your children to the new love interest. Exposing your children to the new love interest is bad parenting. Your children are going through enough life change – they…
Read MoreWhat The Law Says About Miniature Horses as Service Animals
July 17, 2013 | Joan M. QuadeBy Joan Quade and Jennifer Wendt Barna, Guzy & Steffen, Ltd Service dogs in our society have become commonplace. Being a nation of pet owners and dog lovers, most people are not surprised that dogs can provide assistance to their owners. But one may be surprised to hear that miniature horses are now being trained and used to assist those with disabilities. [maxbutton id=”1″ ] Yes, miniature horses. They are about the size of a large dog and are extremely cute. Horses are intelligent and have a long history with humans. While we have all seen service dogs, many of us have not seen miniature horses yet. We are all accustomed to seeing dogs in stores, schools, restaurants and even airports. Service animals provide the means for greater independence to individuals with visual difficulties, hearing impairments, or other disabilities. Some service dogs learn to turn off lights, pick up objects, open doors, and can even warn their owner of an impending seizure or a danger in the streets. Service dogs have changed the lives of many disabled individuals. There is, however, a high cost to training service dogs and they have a shorter lifespan than horses. This is one of the reasons cited for training horses as service animals. Even though the horses…
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