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The Bledsoe Firm JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551 DECEMBER | 2024
IS ADOPTION RIGHT FOR YOU?
WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER
There’s something special about this time of the year. Sure, the holidays can be busy and stressful,
and agencies that are right for you. Our team at Bledsoe Law Firm is familiar with the many different types of adoption and can help your family find the resources you need. Understanding what kind of support you need allows your family to be best prepared to move forward with adoption.
but after all the preparations are done, the time we spend with our families
makes it all worth it. That’s what makes this time of the year so special: We’re reminded of the power of family — by blood or by choice.
THE BASICS Regardless of the adoption path you take, all adoptions follow basic laws in California. For example, all adoptions are confidential, and files can be provided upon request to only the adoptee, adoptive parents, and their attorneys. Additionally, adoptive parents take on the legal rights and responsibilities of a child after an adoption is finalized, and after 12 years of age, a child must consent to the adoption. HOW TO PREPARE Adoption is a life-changing decision. Beyond researching and working with a legal professional, it’s important to get emotionally and mentally prepared for adoption. Start by speaking with adoption experts, your attorney, and a mental health professional to prepare your family for this process and the aftermath.
When it’s time to grow your family, it can be difficult to know how to take that first step. Adoption is a
beautiful gift for families and children, but it can also include tough decisions
and trauma. Understanding that adoption is complicated, with legal obligations and rights, can ensure it remains the best choice for everyone involved.
Then, assess what routes may be best by having the tough conversations with your spouse. For example, does an international adoption or public agency adoption make the most sense for you? Each offers different opportunities and systems, so it’s vital to examine how adoption will fit into your life and how you will adapt to it. Finally, consider taking adoption courses and joining support groups. Creating your family through adoption can come with complications, but you don’t have to do this alone. Remember, it truly takes a village to raise a child. Meeting with other families impacted by adoption, as well as learning about the joys and traumas that can come from adoption ensures your new family has the support it needs to thrive. Adoption can be a beautiful opportunity to grow your family. But it requires preparation and commitment. If you decide to grow your family through adoption, call my team. We’re ready to help you find the resources you need, as well as provide the legal support to protect your family.
MANY TYPES OF ADOPTION Standard adoptions, wherein birth parents give up their parental rights to consenting adults who take on those parental rights and responsibilities of a child, isn’t the only form of adoption. For example, stepparents who have acted as a child’s primary parent may choose to adopt the child, and adoptions to confirm parentage can protect families that use reproductive options to build their families. Furthermore, traditional adoptions can take many avenues, including international, through a public or private agency, or independent adoption without the help of an agency. Plus, adults can also be adopted!
Happy holidays,
—John Bledsoe
Because there are so many options and scenarios for adoption, it’s important to find support systems
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JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551
INJURY-FREE RUNNING PROTECTING YOUR PEACE HOW A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER WORKS
While not perfect, the legal systems we have in our country enact laws, protect citizens, and support rehabilitation. One such system is designed to protect victims from their abusers to ensure safety and a chance at a new life. A domestic violence restraining order is not something someone enters into lightly, but it can be a life-changing protection tool and often an early step toward healing. WHAT IS IT? A domestic violence restraining order differs from other restraining orders in that this document is used to protect people from emotional and physical abuse they may have endured in an intimate relationship, from a parent, or from an in- law. The abuse does not have to be physical, and it can include online harassment, emotional abuse, isolation, as well as withholding access to money. Additionally, domestic violence restraining orders can protect property and pets.
well as a judge’s rulings. If you have a domestic violence restraining order in place, it’s important to understand its nuances. Contact an attorney for questions and concerns you may have. HOW DO I START? The process for applying for a domestic violence restraining order can be relatively simple. Those applying will have to fill out some forms and file these with the court. There is no fee required, and you’re not required to have an attorney. (However, having an attorney can ensure you fully understand your rights, the restraining order, and how to safely move forward.) Depending on the severity of the case, an order may take weeks or months. Everyone deserves to feel safe and lead a peaceful life. Contact our team at Bledsoe Law Firm to learn more about your rights. To learn more about domestic violence resources, visit TheHotline.org or call 800-799-7233.
WHAT CAN IT DO? The goal of a domestic violence restraining order is to protect an adult or child from their abuser. This can include no-contact restrictions, distance requirements, payment through spousal and child support, rules regarding custody, restricting access to weapons or firearms, and requiring separate living arrangements. What is ordered and put in place depends on each case and situation, as
Natural Stepping Stones to Lasting Weight Loss
About 40% of Americans consider themselves overweight, driving rapid growth in both prescription and non-prescription weight-loss drugs and supplements. However, the best route to lasting weight loss for many people is more straightforward and costs less. Here are four natural ways to manage your appetite and shed pounds without pricey prescription meds or supplements. EAT MORE PROTEIN. High-protein foods make you feel fuller for longer and help you consume fewer calories overall without the sugar rebound you get from carb-heavy snacks. Protein also helps maintain muscle mass while losing weight;
muscle burns more calories than fat! Enjoy high-protein Greek yogurt, eggs, chicken, turkey, and fish to feel satisfied on less.
DRINK MORE LIQUIDS. Many people neglect hydration and mistake thirst for hunger. While there is no one-size-fits-all rule, according to the National Academy of Medicine, men need about 13 cups of water a day, and women need about nine, including the water and juices in fruits and vegetables. Staying well-hydrated will help keep your energy level high, your skin moist and radiant, and your mood upbeat. EAT, DON’T DRINK, YOUR CALORIES. An 8-ounce glass of Coke has the same 100 calories as four medium- size carrots, but the Coke won’t sate your hunger. The high-fiber carrots, however, will ease that hollow feeling for a while. To help you feel satisfied throughout the day, add fiber-rich foods such as whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice, veggies, fruits like apples and oranges, and potatoes to your diet. FIND ENJOYABLE WAYS TO EXERCISE. Sustaining physical activity is important in maintaining a healthy weight, but your workouts don’t have to be a forced march. Find ways to reward yourself as you move, such as walking in your favorite park or listening to great music or podcasts on the treadmill. If finding an excellent personal trainer motivates you to get to the gym, then budget for that. Whatever it takes, your health is worth the effort!
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W ord S earch
Guardianship in California
Cardinal
Cocoa
Frosty
Garland
Generosity
Menorah
RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS
Mittens
Peppermint
When circumstances demand the rights and responsibilities of parenting a child fall to an individual other than the parents of that child, that can be achieved through the Probate Court. In California, legal guardianship is a court order that denotes someone other than a child’s parents as their caretaker, who is then legally responsible for taking care of that child. This is usually a result of the child’s parents being unable to care for them, and the reasons for that are varied. It could also refer to someone who is responsible for managing a child’s money, assets, or property, in the event the child has enough of it that managing it requires the assistance of a guardian. If you are looking to file a petition for guardianship, or wish to understand more about the process, then this information may be helpful.
Pinecones
Snuggle
Unity
Yule
Inspired by GoodHousekeeping.com
A GUARDIAN’S RESPONSIBILITIES As a guardian, you are responsible for caring for the child. These
responsibilities include providing for the child’s dental and medical needs, and ensuring they are fed, clothed, and given adequate shelter and education. Furthermore, it requires that the child’s safety, as well as emotional and physical growth, be provided for. FILING A PETITION FOR GUARDIANSHIP To be a legal guardian, you must be the child’s grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle, a friend of the family, foster parent, other relative, or another individual who knows the child. As guardianship cases are handled in probate court, you will need to file your petition for guardianship with the probate clerk. After filling out the necessary paperwork and paying the $225 filing fee, you will be given a case number and court date. While a guardianship suspends the parental rights of the child’s parents, it does not terminate them completely. It is permissible to ask the parents for opinions regarding parenting the child.
Korean Steak Slaw
INGREDIENTS •
2 tbsp gochujang or sriracha hot sauce
•
1 large carrot
•
1/2 red cabbage
•
2 tbsp soy sauce
•
5 green onions, divided
•
3 tbsp sesame oil, divided
•
2 tbsp rice vinegar
•
2 sirloin steaks, about 1 lb total
•
2 tsp sesame seeds, toasted
•
1 daikon radish
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large bowl, mix gochujang, soy sauce, and 2 tbsp sesame oil. Set aside 1 tbsp of mixture to use for dressing. Place steaks in bowl with the remaining marinade and coat. 2. Julienne radish and carrot into strips. Shred red cabbage and slice 3 green onions. Mix the reserved marinade with the remaining sesame oil and rice vinegar, then toss with vegetables in a large bowl to coat. 3. Heat a frying pan until very hot. Fry steaks for 2 minutes on each side for medium rare, brushing with the marinade as they cook. Set aside to rest for 5 minutes, then slice into thin strips. Slice the remaining green onions and add to the slaw. 4. Serve sliced steak over the slaw and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551
23101 Lake Center Drive • Suite 310 Lake Forest, CA 92630
Inside
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What About Adoption?
Is a Domestic Violence Restraining Order Right For You?
2
Shed Pounds Without Dieting
3
Understanding Guardianship
Korean Steak Slaw
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Bundle Up and Fish On
Master Cold-Weather Fishing HOOKED ON WINTER
Just because the weather is getting frosty doesn’t mean you have to put away your fishing rod and tackle. Winter can be an excellent time to get nibbles on the line, especially from freshwater species that group up this time of year. Grab your warm gloves and gear because these cool tips will make your winter angling as easy as shooting fish in a barrel.
catch a large haul of fish. Otherwise, the best times of day to go fishing in the winter are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Make sure to wear
layers of clothing like gloves and bring a hot beverage like coffee or hot chocolate. The cold water can be dangerous, so fishing with a friend during this season is best. Pack it up and play it safe if the weather gets too severe. GRAB THE RIGHT GEAR. Cold weather can wear out your fishing gear, so tune up your reels before you head out. Chilly temperatures can freeze the bearings in reels and thicken oil. Use a line conditioner to ensure water doesn’t freeze onto your line. You may also need to rethink your bait. Live bait like worms is a better option than lures in the winter, as lures move too quickly and spook the fish, which move slower when the waters are icy cold.
SCOPE OUT A SPOT. Finding the right spot to cast your line is one of the most important steps to ensuring a tremendous cold-weather fishing experience. You can visit your state’s Department of Natural Resources website to discover up-to-date information on lakes in your area and what fish are there at different times of year. When choosing a location, avoid high currents that are poor for fishing and dangerous. Areas near bridges are a safe bet as they trap in the warmth that attracts fish.
WATCH THE WEATHER. Cold weather can be less predictable and fluctuate, affecting fish activity. If a cold front is on the way, try to get to the lake right ahead of it to
Bundle up, follow these tips, and you’ll be reeling in impressive catches even when frost is on the ground.
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