Douglass & Runger - April 2023

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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