Pamela Wright, ESQ.

Share What You Know

Here's 3 Steps to Help You Achieve Your Goals in 2008:

1.  Declare Your Intention;

2.  Make an Action Plan; and

3. Implement It!

I'll be using these 3 simple steps to help me achieve some special goals in 2008.

Happy New Year!

Pam

Waitress, Baking Pies & Finding A Way Out

Last night I watched a new movie on DVD called Waitress.  I was looking for a comedy but found it to be quite dramatic.  It was well written and directed.  Actress Keri Russell of Felicity fame and the supporting cast did a great job!  This movie takes you into the life of a  waitress who makes amazing pies and happens to be stuck in an abusive marriage.  When she gets pregnant life puts her on another path of discovery that leads to ... 

This waitress has a gift for making pies.  She loves baking pies and is very good at it.  This gift opens the door to the rest of her life. 

In today's economy, being the best at something is a good thing.  And when you can trade what you're good at for a profit that is very good indeed.  Whether you own a business and sell a product or service, or are employed by a company and sell your skills, we're all involved in trading. 

If you're trying to figure out what to trade in order to create an economically sustainable lifestyle for yourself or family, I would suggest reading Jim Collins' book called Good to Great over the Holidays.  It focuses on common traits found in some of the most successful companies over the past 50 years.  These findings can be applied to running a business or to the business of working for someone else as an employee.

I read a quote this morning that said, "Reality is what you make it."  I am finding that to be quite true.   

Happy Holidays!

Pam

Holistic Divorce

Is anybody wondering what is Holistic Divorce?  Well, it is an approach to divorce wherein a person is viewed as a "whole person" and guided to develop cost-effective divorce strategies that are in their best interests. 

I advocate Holistic Divorce as a 21st century solution to the Self-Destructive Divorce approach which became very popular in the 20th century and still reigns in many courtrooms today. 

The problem with Self-Destructive Divorce is that nobody really wins.  It is very expensive and has cost many families the equity or much of the equity in their biggest asset -- their house.  Have you ever heard someone say during or after their divorce any of the following:  1) I had no idea my divorce was going to cost over $50,000, 2) I had no idea my divorce was going to cost over $100,000, 3) I had no idea all my equity in the house was going to my lawyer, and 4) I had no idea I'd have no money left after paying my legal bill.  I could have used some of that money for my kids' college fund? 

Holistic Divorce is focused on finding solutions that take into consideration a person is a "whole person" before, during and after the divorce process.  This approach does not process divorce in a tunnel which is only focused on winning through costly litigation.  Today, many people have come to understand that this tunnel vision approach has used up the assets and equity of many families to leave them with the same result they could have gotten through a less expensive divorce approach. 

Life goes on after divorce and our 21st century economy demands that those going through divorce protect their equity and assets from unnecessary, costly litigation.  Sometimes, costly litigation is necessary but many times a win/win settlement agreement can be reached through mediation, the collaborative divorce process or settlement oriented litigation.  Holistic Divorce is dedicated towards helping people find these cost-effective strategies that can help them formulate solutions that are in their best interests as a whole person.

Happy Holidays,

Pam

Domestic Violence and the Weekend

It has been said that domestic violence rises over the weekend particularly on Sunday.  This gives rise to many people coming into the courthouse to get restraining orders on Monday. 

If you ever find yourself in need of a restraining order over the weekend, here's something you can do.  The police can issue what's called an Emergency Protective Order when they are called to a scene after certain requirements are met. The police can also issue an Emergency Protective Order from the police station.  This order is meant to protect victims of domestic violence and their children from further harm until they can get to a courthouse to request a Restraining Order.  "An emergency protective order expires at the earlier of the following times: a) the close of judicial business on the fifth court day following the day of its issuance or b) the seventh calendar day following the day of its issuance."  Family Code section 6256.     

If you need a restraining order over the weekend when the court is closed, you can ask the police for an Emergency Protective Order which can be issued once certain requirements are met.  In order to issue the Emergency Protective Order, the police must contact a judicial officer who must find the following:  "(a) That reasonable grounds have been asserted to believe that an immediate and present danger of domestic violence exists, that a child is in immediate and present danger of abuse or abduction, or that an elder or dependent adult is in immediate and present danger of abuse as defined in Section 15610.07 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and (b) That an emergency protective order is necesssary to prevent the occurrence or recurrence of domestic violence, child abuse, child abduction, or abuse of an elder or dependent adult."  Family Code section 6251. 

If you know a friend who would benefit from this information, pass it on. 

Take care.

Pam