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The Bledsoe Firm JustFamilyLaw.com | 949.363.5551 MAY | 2023
DO YOU HAVE A GRADUATING SENIOR IN YOUR HOUSE?
HELP THEM PREPARE FOR COLLEGE
Graduation season has finally arrived, and many young adults are preparing to graduate from high school in the coming weeks and take their next steps toward adulthood. Some will jump straight into the workforce or start traveling, but many graduating seniors will continue their education at a college or university. It’s exciting as they finally leave the nest and start the next chapter of their lives. I can still remember how ecstatic I was when I graduated high school. With only a few months left before the fall semester begins, you must help your child prepare. Failing to plan can put your child behind their peers and cause them to struggle during the first few months of school. Thankfully, you can do several things with your child this summer to give them the best chance at a successful first semester. Visit the campus. Whether you toured the campus or not, your child will benefit from visiting the campus in the summer if possible. With fewer people around, they can explore to their heart’s content. If they already know their class locations, you can walk with them along their routes and plan the most efficient path, helping them feel more comfortable. If your child missed out on a tour earlier in the year, many campuses offer them through the summer, so look to see if this is an option. Encourage your child to save money. College is expensive. Not only does tuition cost thousands of dollars, but your child will incur other expenses during the school year. Between meals, extracurricular activities, and additional costs, your
child will need to have money saved up so they can thrive. Encourage them to get a job, and teach them the importance of saving money. The more money they save, the more enjoyable their college experience will be. They may need another job once they get to campus, but working beforehand will give them time to settle into their new home.
Connect with their future roommate(s). College is also a social experience. If possible, help
your child get off on the right foot with their future roommate(s) by helping them meet ahead of time! Every college arranges the roommate experience a little differently. Some have all the students in a database where they can contact potential roommates and find the perfect fit. Others assign roommates randomly. Regardless of how the college pairs roommates, connecting as early as possible with future roommate(s) will allow them to make a critical friend before arriving on campus. Gather everything they will need. Your child will likely need a lot during their first semester: clothes, snacks, electronics, and possibly a mini-fridge. Getting these and other necessities in advance will help prepare your child’s dorm room. They’ll also need to get supplies for school, like pens, notebooks, and more. Don’t leave these items until the last minute because stores will likely be picked over once school resumes. Moving into the next step of their educational career is a huge milestone for your children. Celebrate with them and help them prepare for their future as best you can. Following the advice above will give your child the best chance at success. —John Bledsoe
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THE BEST WAY TO CELEBRATE MYSTERY MONTH
Host a Murder Mystery Dinner!
Did you know May is Mystery Month? There are dozens of ways to celebrate this enigmatic occasion, from playing Clue to rewatching "Glass Onion" — but why not bring those experiences to life and host your own murder mystery dinner at home? Thanks to a plethora of kits on the market, doing so is easier than ever! What is a murder mystery dinner? A murder mystery dinner is essentially a real-life game of Clue. You invite friends over for dinner and turn your home into the set of “Knives Out” — without the blood, of course. Each of your friends takes on the persona of a character in the story, and when one of them is “murdered,” you compete to uncover who dunnit. Step 1: Pick your kit. Planning a murder mystery dinner from scratch would take the ingenuity of Sir Arthur Conan
Doyle. Luckily, you have several ready-made mysteries to choose from! You can find boxes from Masters of Mystery and My Mystery Party at your local board game store, but you can find many options available online, too. Night of Mystery (NightOfMystery.com), for example, sells both in-person and virtual kits with themes ranging from ‘80s prom to Christmas homicide. If your friends and family don’t like the idea of acting and dressing up, that’s okay — you can still solve a mystery over dinner! Look into kits available through Unsolved Case Files (UnsolvedCaseFiles.com) or Hunt A Killer (Shop. HuntAKiller.com), which involve collaborative mystery-solving without the character work. Step 2: Curate your guest list . Most murder mystery dinners require at least four people, while some include characters for six,
eight, or more! Check the number of players on your kit and invite your most creative, analytical, theatrical, and mystery-loving friends. Step 3: Decorate and plan the menu. If you choose a themed murder mystery, level up your event with a matching menu and decor! For games taking place in England, whip up a shepherd's pie and make a cardboard cutout of Big Ben. For Havana Nights, plan a build-your- own Cubano bar and throw on an Afro-Cuban playlist. You can be as over-the-top as you like. Remember, it’s Mystery Month!
GRANDPARENT ADOPTION
How to Adopt Your Grandkids in Orange County
As a divorce firm based in Southern California, we often encounter families facing unique circumstances, such as grandparents seeking to adopt their grandkids. If you’re considering this option, it’s essential to understand the specific legal requirements and procedures involved. In California, adoption is a permanent legal process that confers the same rights and responsibilities as biological parents. The grandparents must file a petition for adoption with the court to begin the process. This typically involves completing a home study, undergoing criminal background checks, and interviews with the grandparents and the children. Working with an experienced family law attorney who can guide you through this process and ensure you complete all necessary paperwork correctly is vital. One of the critical factors in the adoption process is the biological parents’ role. In California, both parents typically must provide their consent to the adoption unless their parental rights have been terminated or the court deems them unfit. If only one parent has parental rights, their consent is required unless they are unable or unwilling to provide it. If both parents are deceased, the
grandparents may be able to proceed with the adoption without consent.
Another factor considered in California is the relationship between the grandparents and the children. The court often views grandparents who provide extended care for the children as a positive factor. However, showing the grandparents have a stable and healthy relationship with the children is essential, and that adoption would be in their best interests. It’s worth noting that adult adoption is also an option in California. This allows grandparents to adopt their adult grandchildren. This process is typically more straightforward than adopting minors and may not require consent from the biological parents. In summary, if you’re considering adopting your grandchildren in California, it’s crucial to understand the legal requirements and seek experienced legal guidance. An attorney can guide you through the process and help you make the best decisions for your family. Call our office today if you have any questions or need assistance.
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W ord S earch Blossom Derby
HOW MUCH WILL ALIMONY COST?
Emerald Fertilize Gemini Horse Lightsaber
Mother Nature Parade Seedling Veterans
SALMON CROQUETTES WITH DILL SAUCE
There’s No Simple Formula
Figuring out how much alimony or spousal support you will have to pay is one of the most stressful parts of the divorce process. Although you can find calculators online that purport to determine the alimony the judge will award in your case, the truth is that in California, the judge does not use a formula to decide spousal support. Instead, the judge will consider various factors to determine the support order amount. In some cases, the court will award no alimony.
Inspired by Epicurious.com
INGREDIENTS
• • • • • • • • • •
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt or fat-free sour cream
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
6 sprigs fresh dill, chopped
2 14.75-oz cans salmon packed in water 4 celery stalks, finely chopped 1 large white onion, finely chopped
Some of the factors the judge considers when determining alimony amounts include:
4 large eggs, beaten
1/2 tbsp salt 1 tbsp pepper 2 tbsp olive oil
• The length of the marriage or domestic partnership • What each person needs based on the standard of living they had during the marriage or domestic partnership • What each person pays or can pay (including earnings and earning capacity) to keep the standard of living they had during the marriage or domestic partnership • Whether having a job would make it too difficult to take care of the children • The age and health of both people • Debts and property • Whether one spouse or domestic partner helped the other get an education, training, career, or professional license • Whether there was domestic violence in the marriage or domestic partnership • Whether one spouse’s or domestic partner’s career was affected by unemployment or by taking care of the children or home • The tax impact of spousal support While you might be unable to determine the exact amount of spousal support the judge will grant, you can still arrive at a close estimate. If you want an estimate of how much alimony the judge may award in your circumstance, call us at (949) 363-5551 for a confidential initial case evaluation. We’ll be glad to help you with whatever you may need.
DIRECTIONS
1. In a small bowl, whisk together yogurt, Dijon mustard, and dill to make the dill sauce. Set aside. 2. Drain the salmon, then remove and discard the bones and skin. In a large bowl, mix the salmon, celery, onion, eggs, salt, and pepper. Form the mixture into 8 patties. Coat a medium skillet with olive oil and heat it over medium-high heat. Cook the patties until browned on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. 3. Put a dollop of the dill sauce on top of each patty and serve.
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Inside
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Put Your Graduating Senior on the Path to Success
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Host an Unforgettable Murder Mystery Dinner Understanding Grandparent Adoption in California
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Calculating Spousal Support Payments Salmon Croquettes With Dill Sauce
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Healthy Aging Through Yoga
THE AGELESS BENEFITS OF YOGA HOW SENIORS ARE FINDING NEW VITALITY
For many seniors, maintaining an active lifestyle can be a challenge. Your body might not be as flexible as it once was, and new pains or discomforts seem to appear out of nowhere as time passes. This change can be problematic and will require some adjustment on your part, especially if you’ve lived an active lifestyle. Thankfully, there are some activities you can do to help you stay active, like yoga! You might think that yoga is just for young people, but that’s not the case at all! Yoga is a low-impact exercise that can be modified to suit a wide range of abilities, making it accessible to people of all ages. There is no expectation of perfection, as each individual is encouraged to listen to their own body and move at a comfortable pace. So even if you have health limitations or concerns, yoga is a safe and pleasant activity. Plus, you’ll gain a host of benefits from participating.
By holding poses and moving through sequences, yoga helps to lengthen and stretch muscles, increasing the range of motion and reducing stiffness. You’ll also build muscle strength, particularly in your core. Your balance and posture will improve, which will help lessen physical discomfort and reduce your risk of falls. In addition to physical benefits, yoga is also mentally stimulating. The practice of yoga can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. By incorporating breathing techniques into their practice, seniors can improve cognitive function and memory. There’s also a social aspect involved. Many yoga studios offer classes specifically for seniors, which can provide a supportive and welcoming environment for everyone to practice together. It’s a great way to meet new people and have fun while staying active. There are advantages for people of all ages to practice yoga. If you’ve been interested in trying this activity for a while, now is the time to get out and get involved. You may be surprised by how much you enjoy it!
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