Check out our first newsletter of 2018!
www.law4jax.com (904) 360-6100
J A NU A RY
The Most Important Thing to Me IS MY FAMILY
My career is one of the most important aspects of my life, but nothing will ever be as important to me as my family. My parents worked hard to provide for my brother Victor and I, and they still work hard every day. My family enabled me to have the career that I have come to enjoy so much. My mother, Nuha, has helped manage the firm’s accounting for the past 17 years. She also works with my father, who is self-employed in commercial real estate. My wife, Alison, works as a homemaker. My children are Jonathan and Addison. Jonathan is 14 and a freshman in high school. Addison is 3, and she is truly a princess! Addison loves Jonathan and is intrigued with his company, and Jonathan takes his time to play and to cherish his sister! Both of my kids are outgoing. Jonathan is a freshman at Bishop Kenny High School, the same place I went for high school. He loves every sport he’s ever played, and that’s all of the sports that involve any type of ball, from table pool to ping-pong, and from hoops to golf, Jonathan loves to play and is very athletic. Academically, Jonathan has always been an excellent student. He hasn’t told us where he would like to attend college yet, but we are proud that he’s already committed himself to earning excellent grades and a post-graduate education.
the 95th percentile for her height. She’s tall, and she’s stronger than one would expect for a young princess her age. Addison loves helping her mom in the kitchen and can even bake sweets, of course, with supervision. When I get home from work, it’s a joy to see her excitement as she hurries to give me one of her very tight hugs. Jonathan and Addison are far apart in age, but they get along well. He is protective of her, and it’s obvious that they love each other. One of Addison’s favorite hobbies is following Jonathan around, trying to emulate everything he does. Alison and I are thankful for our children and for the relationship they enjoy. We inspire our children with core family values, not usually what you see on reality TV. When it comes to taking care of business and responsibilities to our clients, we do so with the very same core values we apply when we cater to our own family. When life’s adventures take us away from the office, my family loves the outdoors. We enjoy spending time on the water and in the woods. We enjoy boating, fishing, water sports, and riding ATVs. We enjoy traveling and camping in the mountains. We try to make it to the Keys every summer, but for now it’s ATV riding and camping weather!
‘CORE FAMILY VALUES: NOT REALITY TV’
is absolutely brilliant! Addison has had an amazing vocabulary since the age of 2. Once, I remember, she said the word “magnificent” in response to my offering to take her to Bono’s Bar B-Q. Addison is in
Princess Addison is unlike the rest of the toddlers her age. Addison is 3 years old but going on 6! She
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Every parent wants to see their child do well in school, and there’s one fun activity that benefits students of all ages: reading. In a world with so much stimulation, however, it can be difficult to motivate kids to put down a screen and pick up a book. New Year’s resolutions are the perfect opportunity to make reading a priority. Here are a few tips to make 2018 the year your kids become bookworms.
children. Talk to other parents and create a network of friends and classmates. After all, nothing is cooler to a kid than what their friends are doing. Avid readers tend to do better academically from kindergarten through college. In fact, a study from the Journal of Education and Practice found that reading comprehension predicted success in other subjects more than any other factor. If you want to see improved report cards, make a reading resolution for your entire household.
certain number of books completed or hours spent reading, offer them a prize. You can even create a big end goal to really cement those reading habits. Better yet, set a combined goal that the entire family can work toward. Don’t be afraid to pull out all the stops. If your kids know that reading one book per week through June means an extra-special summer vacation, their enthusiasm won’t wane come spring. USE READING APPS Goodreads is a social network for bibliophiles. You can find recommendations, share ratings, and create lists of both completed and to-be-read books. Users also create reading lists based on topic, genre, decade, and more.With over 2 billion books added, you’ll never run out of inspiration. Biblionasium offers the same services, but it’s designed specifically for
Courts in Florida look to make co-parents rather than dueling dragons of divorcing spouses. Judges refer to a whole list of factors rather than shine a spotlight on a specific fact or circumstance in order to determine what’s in the best interests of the child or children involved. For modification of custody matters, the proceeding is more complicated because the party looking to make a change has to show a legal change in circumstances before they can even be heard on the best interest analysis. Custody is broken down into two categories in Florida — time sharing and parental responsibility.Time sharing is considered physical time with the child, and parental responsibility refers to the making of decisions on the child’s behalf (school, medical care, or religious upbringing).There are cases where one parent may be awarded 100 percent of the time sharing, but this usually happens in exceptional circumstances. In some matters, What You Need to Know About TIME SHARING AND PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY MAKE IT A FAMILY RESOLUTION There’s no better motivator than solidarity! Plus, we’re guessing everyone in your household could stand to read a little more. You don’t have to read the same books or set identical goals, but it’s a lot more fun when everyone participates. Schedule weekly reading discussions so everyone can share the cool stories they’ve read. Stack your completed books in your house somewhere as a monument to all the knowledge your family has gained. SET REWARD MILESTONES Positive reinforcement will propel your kids to keep reading long after the calendars have turned. For a
• Each parent’s demonstrated capacity and disposition to act in the child’s best interest as shown by each parent’s willingness to encourage and support a relationship between the child and the other parent. • Each parent’s demonstrated capacity and disposition to respond to the child’s needs. • The mental, physical, and emotional health of the parents. • The stability of the child’s home environment. • Any history of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect. • The child’s wishes, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient age and intelligence. • Each parent’s demonstrated capacity and disposition to be involved with the child’s school and extracurricular activities. Parents have the freedom to agree as to what’s best for their children. If they cannot agree, then the court will decide for them. If the court is forced to decide, there is a chance that neither parent will be entirely happy with the outcome. But no matter what, the court is required to make a written finding to support its decision as it relates to child custody determinations.
one parent may be awarded sole parental responsibility, but most of the time, shared parental responsibility is preferred.
Since 2008, Florida courts award “shared parenting” and “time-sharing” as opposed “custody” and “visitation.” Even when one parent is awarded 100 percent of the time-sharing, the trial court will need to identify the steps the other parent will need to take in order to be reunited with their child. Courts will not terminate the child’s relationship with their other parent unless significant circumstances make it necessary. In most cases, the law and the public policy of Florida favor frequent and continuing time-sharing after separation or divorce.
The following are some of the factors that Florida courts take into consideration when making best interest determinations.
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“JACKSONVILLE’S ATTORNEY AT LAW.”
Fathers’ Custody Rights HOW FATHERS’ RIGHTS WORK IN FLORIDA
Determining custody can be the most contentious and emotional part of the divorce process. Parents want to be with their children; it’s as simple as that. However, when the parents can’t agree, the burden falls upon the Florida circuit courts to determine what living arrangement would be best for the child or children after their parents separate or divorce. Suffice it to say that fathers in Florida have come a long way to equality and footing with the mother when it comes to custody cases. There have been an increasing number of cases in recent times where the court awards majority time-sharing or custody of the children to the father. The state’s guidelines for determining custody are broad and complex. Factors like a father’s parenting responsibilities prior to the divorce, their ability to meet a child’s developmental needs, and their willingness to be respectful of and to share their child’s time with their mother are all closely considered. If the parties cannot resolve their disagreement through the help of their lawyers and a mediator, then the judge will resolve it for them
after receiving information limited by the rules of evidence and time.
Fathers who are predisposed to protecting their children from the divorce proceedings are better off in the end. It is always best not to share court documents or information about the proceedings with your children. Sharing documents and information with children can be seen as an attempt to manipulate them, and this sort of manipulation does not reflect well in court. After the court makes an original custody determination, that determination can be changed only after there has been a legal change in circumstances. Generally, in order for there to be a legal change in circumstances, the change must not be anticipated, it must be involuntary, and it must be material and permanent. If there is a true change in circumstances, either parent can file a petition to modify time-sharing or parenting.
TAKE A BREAK SLOW COOKER RASPBERRY WHITE HOT CHOCOLATE
There’s nothing like curling up under a blanket with a warmmug and a novel that finally came out in paperback. Break out the slow cooker and let the sweet aroma waft through your living room as your start Chapter 1.
Ingredients
• • • •
1 cup white chocolate chips
• • •
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups heavy cream, divided 3 cups milk (any variety will do)
4 tablespoons raspberry liqueur or syrup
Directions
1.
In a slow cooker, combine white chocolate chips, condensed milk, 1 cup cream, and milk. Cover and heat on low about 2 hours. In a large bowl, mix remaining 1 cup cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
3.
Using a hand or stand mixer, whip until stiff peaks form. Serve mugs of hot chocolate with about 1 tablespoon of raspberry liqueur or syrup to taste and a dollop of whipped cream.
4.
2.
Recipe inspired by SlowCookerGourmet.net
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“JACKSONVILLE’S ATTORNEY AT LAW.”
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www.law4jax.com | (904) 360-6100 871 CASSAT AVE | JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA 32205
INTRODUCING THE JUBRAN CLAN INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. 2. THE RESOLUTION THAT LEADS TO BETTER GRADES FULL CUSTODY: IS IT POSSIBLE IN FLORIDA? FLORIDA FATHERS’ CUSTODY RIGHTS CAN A BIRD SAVE THE DAY? WARM UP WITH SOME HOT COCOA 3. 4.
THESE FEATHERED HEROES Aren’t Exactly Birdbrains
We hear
After Charlie took a chunk out of the intruder’s arm, the man and his accomplice fled, and Jack called the authorities. Willie Sounds the Alarm In 2009, Megan Howard and her pet parrot, Willie, were babysitting 2-year-old Hannah Kuusk. When Megan went to the bathroom, she suddenly heard a loud scream and a high-pitched voice shouting, “Mama baby!” She dashed out of the bathroom and found Willie next to Hannah, whose face was turning blue. Howard quickly performed the Heimlich maneuver to save the choking girl, but she considers Willie the real hero. The local chapter of the Red Cross later awarded Willie their Animal Lifesaver Award. Cher Ami and the Lost Battalion During World War I, a division of U.S. forces managed to cross German lines in what would be
called the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Unfortunately, they were completely alone. Enemy and friendly fire rained down on them, and the commander sent a plea to headquarters with his last carrier pigeon, Cher Ami. The moment Cher Ami took off, Germans opened fire on the pigeon. However, despite being shot through the breast and losing a leg and an eye, Cher Ami kept flying. He made it 25 miles to headquarters, delivering the message that saved 194 men. Cher Ami was awarded the French Croix de Guerre, a medal celebrating wartime heroics, and his body is enshrined at the Smithsonian’s Price of Freedom exhibit in Washington, D.C. They say birds of a feather flock together, and these brave birds flock with the humans they love. Maybe being birdbrained isn’t such a bad thing after all.
stories about dogs,
cats, and even dolphins stepping up to save the day, but mammals aren’t the only animal heroes worth celebrating. Check out
these feathered friends who
prove every bird has its day.
Charlie the Watch Bird When two men knocked on his door early one September morning in 2011, kindhearted Jack Dukes welcomed the strangers into his home, hoping to offer assistance. The men turned on him. They beat Jack up and demanded pills, but this didn’t fly with Jack’s pet macaw, Charlie. The colorful bird leapt to his master’s defense, scratching and biting one of the invaders.
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