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APRIL 2023
The A-Team Administrative Professionals Are Our Firm’s Backbone
absolutely love her. There’s a reason Kacie received the 2022 MVP award, which recognizes the most valuable paralegal or lawyer in the firm and beat out five attorneys in the process. Kacie has a rare drive and initiative and is passionate about family law; we’re so blessed to have her on our team. Ainsley Pettit may only be 21, but she is mature and wise beyond her years. Our firm represented one of Ainsley’s family members several years ago, and I met her when she was only 15 years old. Ainsley initially worked part-time for us, running documents to the courthouse during her summer breaks. In August 2021, we created an Intake Specialist position so our attorneys could concentrate on their cases instead of fielding incessant calls from potential new clients. It was a brand-new position with some uncertainties, but Ainsley willingly accepted and incorporated feedback from the beginning. She quickly became very good at the role, running our customer relationship management software, booking strategy sessions, and taking pressure off our attorneys. Ainsley has transformed how we do business and how much our attorneys can accomplish daily. She’s so impressive that I took her to a 3-day sales workshop in Palm Springs last September. She received intensive training and was the class’s star pupil throughout the course. Ainsley is now our Director of Client Engagement, and I couldn’t ask for anyone better in the role. Her rapport with our prospective clients is evident in how they always want to see her during consultations. Ainsley runs our sales and intake processes and helped build them with me! Last but certainly not least, Brooke Crawford is our Firm Administrator who oversees many of our operations. Brooke was a successful real estate agent looking to spend more time with her two young children, so she applied for a receptionist position at our firm in October 2021. I remember
interviewing Brooke and reviewing her resume, which reflected her experience as a real estate agent and her experience managing a restaurant. I distinctly remember giving Brooke a strange look and saying, “You’re obviously overqualified for this position. Are you sure you want to do this?” Brooke was sure and worked her way up the company ladder at record speed. Brooke’s customer service experience and people skills were evident immediately, and she displayed a calming yet confident demeanor with our clients and other staff members. A couple of months into her employment, an opportunity opened for Brooke, and I promoted her to her current position. She oversees various operations in the firm, such as billing, vendor management, recruitment and onboarding, and trust administration. I’m glad I decided to take a chance on someone with her skill set for an entry-level position, and while I suspected she might not serve as Receptionist for long, Brooke’s story is a testament to those who are willing to pay their dues and walk through doors that open up for them. It has been rewarding and fun to watch her professional and personal growth. I use Kacie, Ainsley, and Brooke as an example for every new hire — they demonstrate how quickly you can advance if you’re willing to dedicate yourself. Every administrative professional in our office is phenomenal. Still, these three set the standard for accountability, adaptability, and proactivity for the entire office, including myself. It just so happens that they are not only the longest-tenured non-attorneys on our team but also the three individuals who lead the firm’s three departments: legal production, sales, and intake and operations. We would be a lesser firm without them, and I appreciate their hard work every day.
L to R: Brooke, Ainsley, and Kacie
Building a winning team takes time, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have assembled a
hardworking, dedicated staff. Attorneys get most of the attention at any law firm, but we can’t do our work alone; without supporting players, we wouldn’t have the time! In honor of Administrative Professionals Day on April 27, I want to highlight the heads of the three different departments at our firm: legal production, sales and intake, and operations. They’re our most tenured team members who set the bar for everyone. Our lead paralegal, Kacie Dunn, joined our firm immediately after graduating from the University of Memphis. I’ll never forget reviewing dozens of resumes and setting Kacie’s resume aside because I wanted someone with experience, and Kacie had never worked at a law firm. But all the experienced paralegals who applied had failed to follow the application instructions, particularly concerning the cover letter. I was impressed with Kacie’s degree, so I decided to see what else she could offer. We put Kacie through the wringer before making an offer! She reminds me occasionally that I called her at close to 7 p.m. on a Friday a few weeks after she applied for her job, but she made time to talk to me nonetheless. During her in-person interview, multiple attorneys presented her with various scenarios and asked how she would handle them. She was cool as a cucumber, and we made her an offer in June 2021. We may have only hired her in 2021, but Kacie has the knowledge, dedication, and skill of someone who has been a paralegal for much longer. There’s nothing she can’t do or hasn’t done at our firm; she‘s answered phones, handled new client intake, and trained new staff. Most importantly for our clients, Kacie is a rock star paralegal and knows our clients’ cases inside and out, which is why our clients
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SAYING GOODBYE TO ‘FORGOTTEN’ CHORES
BY USING A CHORE CHART
Every parent knows the struggle: You try to assign chores to yourself, your spouse, and your children, but somehow at least one falls through the cracks. Maybe your son “forgets” to vacuum, or your daughter “thought it was her brother’s turn” to do the dishes. If you’re sick of the excuses, don’t worry — we have a solution. A chore chart will solve your tidy home problem. WHAT IS A CHORE CHART? A chore chart is a supersize spreadsheet that maps out all of your household’s necessary chores as well as who is responsible for
management and help them reap the benefits chores provide. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, your children will gain higher self-esteem, become more responsible, and display increased resilience when facing challenges. HOW CAN YOU MAKE ONE? You’ll need a whiteboard and a few markers to create a basic chore chart. On the left side of the board, write a list of your family members’ names and their daily chores (for example: “Sarah, set the table”) from top to bottom. Across the top of the chart, write the days of the week from left to right. Then, draw horizontal lines between the chores and vertical lines between the days to create a grid. That’s it! Throughout the week, your family can make check marks in the boxes corresponding to the chores they’ve finished. You can also use magnets to mark completed tasks if you have a magnetic board. To inject a little fun into your chart, use different colors for each family member and decorate it with meaningful drawings and quotes. You can create similar charts for weekly or monthly chores, too!
completing them. It’s a powerful tool to help you divide labor among family members. You can even place the chart in your kitchen or living room to keep your whole family on track. HOW WILL IT HELP YOUR FAMILY? First, your family won’t need to waste time arguing over whose turn it is to do which chores. Second, thanks to the prominent reminder, everyone will be more likely to do their tasks on time. Third, with all the duties clearly outlined, you can ensure that the distribution of labor is fair for everyone. Finally, you’ll teach your kids task
For Better or for Worse
WHY YOU MIGHT NEED A PRENUP
People getting married almost always say “til death do us part” with the best intentions, but none of us can predict the future, and divorce is an unfortunate fact of life. Worse, the hurt and frustration of terminating the bonds of matrimony can cause people to misbehave during the dissolution of a marriage. Thankfully, the law has
Many people with a high income or net worth at the beginning of a marriage worry about protecting their wealth in the event of divorce. Meanwhile, business owners don’t want to risk their company’s ownership, particularly if the value of the business appreciates throughout the marriage. Some people also want a Prenuptial Agreement to protect themselves from liability for a spouse’s debt.
want to protect assets they have set aside for their children from previous relationships.
Notably, Prenuptial Agreements cannot outline future custody or child support payments. Prenuptial Agreements apply to property, not humans. A Court will consider the child’s best interests when deciding guardianship and financial support matters, not previously signed legal documents. Furthermore, Prenuptial Agreements are not all created equal, and a skilled lawyer can convince a judge to disregard an unfair or poorly worded document. An enforceable agreement must meet certain specifications, including full disclosure of assets and liabilities and independent legal advice for both spouses. A family law attorney can help you with this process. If you are considering a Prenuptial Agreement, don’t try it alone. Call Douglass & Runger at (901) 388-5805 to schedule an appointment where you can learn more about your legal rights and how to protect your interests.
a remedy to create certainty in the frequently chaotic process, decided when everyone feels more level-headed. Prenuptial Agreements are contracts couples create before they formally get married. At the most basic level, a Prenuptial Agreement specifies how the parties will handle the division of assets in the event of divorce. Of course, it doesn’t sound very romantic, so it’s worth understanding why some couples take this step.
Prenuptial Agreements can also serve as an essential protection for lower-earning spouses. For example, a parent who intends to stay at home with the children will lose significant career experience and value if forced to later reenter the workforce due to divorce. Prenuptial Agreements can give the stay-at-home spouse peace of mind that they’ll receive continued support in the event of divorce. Many parents also
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Stopped Payment Legal Remedies for Past-Due Child Support Parenthood has many responsibilities, including the legal obligation to support your child(ren). When a couple divorces, a family court will determine a fair amount for the Non-Primary Residential Parent to pay in Child Support. Ideally, the Non-Primary Residential Parent would always pay this amount as ordered to the Primary Residential Parent each month. But we don’t live in an ideal world, so Primary Residential Parents must often ask: What happens if my ex doesn’t pay? Unfortunately, the courts won’t know if the Non-Primary Residential Parent is not paying child support unless the Primary Residential Parent notifies them. In the eyes of the law, no news is good news, and they won’t act without a request. But Tennessee takes non-payment of Child Support seriously, and many legal remedies are available for Primary Residential Parents. Raising a child is expensive and should not fall solely on the Primary Residential Parent. So, emotions can run high when a Child Support payment doesn’t arrive. But it’s generally wise to initially take a diplomatic approach, especially with a parent who has otherwise paid on time. Ask your ex about the payment directly, but ideally, conduct this conversation via text or email to create a written record. Being patient or giving your ex leeway may hurt, but going to court can be time- consuming and costly. It’s usually worth waiting at least 45 days before taking legal action, or you could waste resources. But if you can’t resolve the matter within 90 days, a family law attorney can petition the Court for Contempt and Collection. The Court may impose various remedies once they learn the Non-Primary Residential Parent failed to pay Child Support. One option is an Income Withholding Order, which acts like a garnishment. Child Support payments will come directly from the Non-Primary Residential Parent’s wages. Further, Tennessee can seize state benefits or tax returns to repay due Child Support, and the court may impose interest on past-due payments.
Easy Fruit Dip
Inspired by InspiredByCharm.com
Spring is here, which means it’s time to enjoy fresh fruits and refreshing treats! This recipe has only four ingredients and can be made in under five minutes, so it’s great to bring to parties or make before a quick get-together. We recommend serving it with strawberries or cut-up pineapple, mango, and honeydew.
INGREDIENTS • 1 7-oz jar marshmallow fluff
• Splash of maraschino cherry juice • Fresh-cut fruit of your choice
• 1 8-oz package of
cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
DIRECTIONS 1. In a bowl, place all the ingredients except fruit and blend with a hand mixer until smooth. 2. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1–2 hours before serving.
3. Serve with fresh-cut fruit. Dip and enjoy!
INSPIRATION “It’s never too late
to be what you might’ve been.” —George Eliot
The Court can also hold the Non-Primary Residential Parent in Contempt. If found to be in Civil Contempt of Court, a Non-Primary Residential parent can be jailed until they pay the money owed. Criminal Contempt results in a mandatory jail sentence, but the courts usually only use this remedy for repeat offenders. If you’ve been unable to collect past-due Child Support payments, the experienced team at Douglass & Runger can help. Call us at (901) 388-5805 to learn more about resolving this stressful matter.
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2820 Summer Oaks Drive Bartlett, TN 38134 901-388-5805 www.DouglassRunger.com
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1 The Admins Who Make Our Work Possible 2 Make a Successful Chore Chart Should You Consider a Prenuptial Agreement? 3 How to Collect Past Due Child Support Inside This Issue
Easy Fruit Dip 4 Go Fly a Kite!
Fly a Kite Like a Pro 3 EXPERT TIPS AND TRICKS
Flying a kite is a quintessential spring activity, especially for children. But if you struggled to keep your kite in the air as a kid, you’re not alone. Fortunately, you can use a few simple tricks to significantly improve your skills — and help your child become the best kite-flier on the block. FIND THE RIGHT SPOT. Hopefully, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t fly kites near power lines. Flying it near trees and cars is
also a bad idea. It’s best to have at least a quarter-mile open space around you for safety and the best wind conditions. Beaches, empty sports fields, and parks with wide open areas are the perfect places to get your kite airborne. HAVE THE WIND AT YOUR BACK. Literally! This position will allow you to watch your kite as it ascends into the air. On a sufficiently windy day, simply holding the kite up by its lowest point and letting go as you unspool your string will be enough to launch it into the sky. When it’s not windy enough for your kite to take flight, try a long-line launch by unspooling about 50 feet of string in a straight line and then taking off running. Remember that kite-flying simply won’t work on some days. If your kite keeps crashing tail first, it may indicate too little wind, while a head-first kite fall may mean too strong a breeze. KEEP IT TIGHT. Launching your kite is usually the trickiest part of the process, but keeping it aloft isn’t always straightforward. To ensure your kite stays in the air, you must retain tension on the string — but not too much. It’s time to reel out some of the line when the kite begins to tug. But too much string can weigh down your kite and bring it back to earth. When your line starts to slack, slowly spool it in until it feels taut. Keep your eyes on your kite and your mind on the reel, and you’ll be flying like a pro in no time.
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