Take a look at our newsletter this month.
What Matters Most
THE StevensFirm, P.A. Family Law Center
349 E. Main Street, Suite 200, Spartanburg, SC 29302 • www.SCFamilyLaw.com • (864) 598-9172 June 2019
Summer is Here
Emily, Legal Assistant “This is me with my boyfriend, Brandon. We were at a rehearsal dinner in Beaufort, South Carolina. There’s nothing better than getting dressed up and enjoying a savory steak with some delectable wine with your all- time favorite person!”
We don’t know about you, but we’re so glad summer is finally here. The Upstate has seen so much rain over these last few months, and it’s nice to finally have some comfortable temperatures and sunshine. We’ve been enjoying coffee on the porch in the mornings, longer dog walks, grilling out in the evenings (one of Ben’s favorite ways to prepare a meal), and are looking forward to a summer full of special times with family and friends. There are lots of traditional holidays to celebrate, too. We’ve just had Memorial Day weekend, and Father’s Day is coming up soon. Fourth of July is next month, and Labor Day isn’t too far away either. But did you know that National Selfie Day is June 21? We didn’t either! Our research did not turn up any information about the creator of this special day. However, we have our suspicions that our good friend Randy Juip, a complex civil litigation attorney in Michigan (www.fbmjla.com), may have had something to do with selfies becoming a national “thing.” Seriously, just ask anyone who has seen him at an ABA TechShow conference in the last decade!
Caitlin, Legal Assistant “This is one my favorite selfies of my husband, Tyler, and me. It was taken during a parents’ night out (we have two kids at home). Every time I see it, I’m reminded of what a fun night we had and how we got to be just ‘us’ again, just like back in high school.”
Jonathan, Senior Associate “This is my wife, Liza, and me on Easter Sunday at our church, The Episcopal Church of the Advent.”
Macy, Receptionist “This selfie is of me taken while I was out fixing a pasture fence. It’s one of my favorites because it shows that a woman can do anything a man can do!”
Mackenzie, Associate Attorney “This is a selfie of my best friend, Sarah, at a concert.”
Ben and Jenny, Partners “We had too many to choose from, but here are three of our favorites. One was taken of us as we passed through the Panama Canal a few years ago — such a cool experience! One was my first selfie with our granddaughter when she was barely 24 hours old. The third one, is really a ‘groupie’ snapped by our friend Randy Juip
(remember him?). We’d been traveling all day with bad weather, delayed flights, and lost luggage to get to the ABA TechShow in Chicago, and here comes Randy with glasses of wine and a selfie stick to greet us. It’s not the best pic of us but will always be one of our favorites.” Do you have a favorite selfie you’d like to share with us for National Selfie Day? Share it with us on our Facebook Page along with a little blurb about why it’s your favorite by June 30 to be entered to win a cool gift from all of us at The Stevens Firm!
Regardless of how it started, at The Stevens Firm, PA, we’re happy to celebrate this unique holiday by sharing our own favorite selfies with all of you:
–Ben and Jenny Stevens
Reminder About Our Firm’s Communication Policy Our promise to you is that while we are working on your case, we don’t take inbound phone calls, faxes, or emails. Our senior partner, Ben Stevens, takes no unscheduled inbound phone calls, as we have found this makes him much more productive and enables him to focus on getting your case resolved faster. You can always call our office at (864) 598-9172 and schedule an in-person or phone appointment with any of our attorneys, usually within 24–48 hours. We believe this approach is much better than the endless game of phone tag played by most businesses today. Email is also an efficient way to communicate with us, but please
be advised that emails are not typically checked more than twice per day. If you need something quickly, don’t email — call our office and speak with one of our assistants, who will be happy to help you. Disclaimer: This publication is intended to educate the general public about family law issues. It is not intended to be legal advice. Every case is different. The information in this newsletter may be freely copied and distributed so long as the newsletter is copied in its entirety and proper credit is attributed to “The Stevens Firm, P.A. — Family Law Center (SCFamilyLaw.com).”
1 (864) 598-9172
Enjoy Your Family Time
By Taking a Break From Your Phone
Setting some time aside to be with family is important, but it can be difficult when everyone is always on their cellphones. Constant cellphone use has become a global problem, and the habit is hard to break because we rely on mobile devices heavily for work, school, and keeping in contact with friends and family. Luckily, there are plenty of apps that can reduce how often you’re on your phone and minimize distractions. Siempo After you install Siempo on your phone, it will ask which apps are likely to distract you. Once you select them, the app will move those apps away from the home screen and place the important ones, such as the messaging, contacts, email, and calendar apps, on the first screen. You can also designate times for specific apps to be used throughout the day. Stay Focused Stay Focused is like Siempo, but there are some significant differences. You can set times to access certain apps and put the most distracting ones on lock. Stay Focused also has a “strict mode” that prevents you from uninstalling it, so be sure to think carefully before activating the lockdown because you won’t have access to those specific apps until the timer runs out. Forest In the time that Forest takes control of your device for a set time limit, the app starts growing a tree. Once the tree is fully grown, your time is up, and it joins the other trees that were grown during Anytime you need legal advice or representation, you’ll most likely be asked to schedule an initial consultation with your prospective attorney. While consultations are simply the first step to determine whether or not that lawyer will take on your case, it serves as much more than a mere a meet and greet. For this reason, you need to arrive at the consultation as prepared possible with important questions at the ready. It may not be possible to gather every document or piece of information pertaining to your case, but try to organize your thoughts, concerns, issues, and expectations prior to the consultation. Once you’re sitting with your prospective lawyer, here are 10 great, informative questions you should be sure to ask.
other breaks. If you pick up your phone and try to access an app, Forest will send you a notification asking you if you want to kill your baby tree by giving up. Who says guilt isn’t a good motivator? Besides Apps Aside from using these apps, silencing your phone and putting it in another room, leaving it in your car if you’re out at dinner, or keeping it in your purse or back pocket during a social event can also reduce your screen time. Having your phone out of sight and out of reach will keep the temptation of pulling it out at bay. Spending time with your family is crucial, and with these apps and tips, you’ll enjoy each other’s company without too many screen distractions.
Your First Consultation Matters
6. What are your client
communication policies?
7. Will I be copied on all documents pertaining to my case?
8. How quickly will my
phone calls and/or emails be returned?
9. How long will my case take?
1. What is your hourly rate, and what is the hourly rate of your staff who may be working on my case?
10. Other than you, what people in your firm
2. What retainer will you require?
would work on my case?
3. Will you provide a written fee agreement regarding any fees or expenses for my case?
Who you choose to represent you in your family law case is important. Given all the attorneys available in the area, you’ll be able to determine who suits you and your case best by arriving to your consultation prepared and asking the right questions. At The Stevens Firm, we cater to each individual client’s needs in order to protect their future and their family’s future. Let us know how we can help you today!
4. What expenses or additional fees will be billed to me?
5. What makes your firm unique and different from other law firms?
2 www.SCFamilyLaw.com
Grilled Beef Ribs
Nothing feels more paleo-appropriate than digging into a giant rack of beef ribs. This largely hands-off recipe requires plenty of hands-on eating, making you feel like one of our cave-dwelling ancestors.
In Preparation for the June Pride Rally!
Ingredients
• 1 5-lb. rack of beef ribs • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
Many members of our Spartanburg community are preparing for the June Pride Rally and Black Pride event scheduled for Saturday, June 22, from 12:00–6:00 p.m. at Falls Park. So our team at The Stevens Firm think it’s the perfect time to talk about same-sex marriage benefits. Commonly referred to as gay marriage, same-sex marriage was recognized in South Carolina in 2014 following a Supreme Court ruling. While members of the LGBTQ-plus community and allies across the U.S. celebrated this ruling, there are still many same-sex couples who aren’t sure of the guidelines associated with filing for a marriage license, due to the youth of the laws involving it. This could cause same-sex couples to miss out on the benefits that being legally married can bring. In addition to the obvious benefit of being able to take the next step in a relationship that is publicly legitimized and acknowledged, same- sex marriage can also provide couples with several governmental advantages. People in a same-sex marriage can do the following: • Sponsor their husband or wife for immigration benefits. • File income taxes jointly. • Have joint parenting rights, such as access to their children’s school records. • Have next of kin status for emergency medical decisions. • Have family visitation rights, such as visiting a spouse in a hospital or prison. • Receive custodial rights to children, shared property, child support, and alimony after divorce. • Receive spousal benefits when an officer is killed in the line of duty. • Receive spousal Social Security payments. • Have immunity from testifying against his or her spouse. With the passing of the federal law allowing same-sex couples to marry, all couples who are able to obtain a legal marriage certificate are entitled to the same benefits and rights. Unfortunately, there is still a large number of South Carolinians who were and still are opposed to the ruling. Due to the controversy that still exists, any same-sex couple hoping to marry should consider giving our office a call to ensure their civil liberties are defended, and they are taking all necessary steps to Do You Know the Marriage Rights and Benefits for Same-Sex Couples?
Directions
1. Heat a charcoal, wood-burning, or gas grill to medium high. Once heated, move heat source to one side or turn off half of the burners to create an indirect heat zone. 2. Season ribs with salt and pepper and char on the hotter side of the grill, turning occasionally, for 12–15 minutes. Once charred, transfer to the other side of grill and cook until the thickest part of the rib reaches 130 F, about 2 1/2–3 hours. 3. Let meat rest for 15 minutes. If desired, serve alongside grilled veggies.
take a break
obtain their marriage license before saying, “I do!” Have questions? Give us a call today at 864-598-9172.
3 (864) 598-9172
THE Stevens Firm, P.A. Family Law Center
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
349 E. Main Street, Suite 200 Spartanburg, SC 29302
PAGE 1 Summer is Here PAGE 2 Take a Break From Your Smartphone Questions to Ask at Your First Consultation PAGE 3 Grilled Beef Ribs Marriage Rights & Benefits for Same-Sex Couples PAGE 4
‘Influence’ and the Psychology of Yes
‘Influence’
A Road Map to Closing Deals Business majors and longtime entrepreneurs will be very familiar with this work. And in an age when many shiny new theories on leadership and personal development come out every year, it’s refreshing to revisit a classic that has stood the test of time. Thirty-five years after its original publication, “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” should still be required reading for marketers, small-business owners, and anyone else looking to improve their negotiation skills. Written by Dr. Robert Cialdini, “Influence” explores why people say yes. A professor of business and psychology, Dr. Cialdini is uniquely qualified to tackle this question, combining scientific data with practical applications. “Influence” is still a subject of praise, with marketing research groups and journals of psychology lauding the book as a “proverbial gold mine.” You don’t have to get too far into “Influence” to see why. Dr. Cialdini lays out six “universal principles” of the human psyche. These include “Reciprocity,” our tendency to want to return perceived kindness or concessions; “Commitment and Consistency,” our tendency to cling to past decisions; and “Scarcity,” our tendency to assign value to things based on their rarity. While these may sound like surface level business concepts, the way Dr. Cialdini uses these principles as a launching point gives “Influence” value.
With each principle, the author dives into examples of how these psychological elements can be used by you or against you in any negotiation. Take “Commitment and Consistency” for example. If you are able to get a person to agree with you on several small points, you lay the groundwork for them to agree with you in the future. Conversely, you can be more alert when people try to use this tactic on you.
One of the most powerful results of reading “Influence” is that it helps you recognize behaviors you yourself were unaware of. Indeed, that’s the whole underlying thesis of Dr. Cialdini’s work: As social creatures, we all have habitual behaviors geared towards finding common ground with others. Once you are aware of these behaviors, you’ll begin to see conversations and negotiations in a whole new light.
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