THIS MONTH ON THE 'D e W itt L aw R eview '
The “DeWitt Law Review” airs every Sunday at 10 a.m. on WDBO 107.3 FM and 580 AM. It is always our goal to bring the listeners of Central Florida the latest legal news and create a forum where they can ask legal questions anonymously from the comfort of their own home without having to retain an attorney. If you have a legal question, leave a voicemail for us at 407-536-6737. To listen to this month’s episodes or any episode of the “DeWitt Law Review,” you can visit our website at DewittLaw.com, where you can download the podcast from Apple Podcasts or Spotify. We receive many legal questions from our listeners each month, and we wanted to share some of the interesting questions in hopes that you may also benefit from a little legal insight. Q: If I am injured, and the person at fault only has $10,000 in bodily injury insurance, can my own uninsured motorist (UM) insurance cover other things like lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering?
A DUTCH MAN’S QUEST TO CHANGE HIS LEGAL AGE WHAT IS AGE BUT A NUMBER?
In 2018, Dutch native Emile Ratelband was 69 years old. The thing was that the motivational speaker and founder of the Ratelband Research Institute didn’t want to be 69. So, he went to a Dutch court and petitioned for the right to change his legal age. His intention was to change the year of birth on his birth certificate — bumping it up by 20 years. As a result, all records would show him as 49.
Why did Ratelband want to change his age?
He told the court he didn’t feel like a man who was going on 70. He said he felt good — he felt like a man 20 years younger. He even said his doctors agreed and that they’d told him he had the body of someone younger. But there was another major reason Ratelband wanted to change his age. He said doing so would increase his overall happiness and would be helpful on dating apps. He would no longer have to deal with the ageism that came with being 69. Ratelband even went as far as to say he would be willing to delay his pension benefits another 20 years if need be. In an interview with Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, Ratelband said, “When I'm 69, I am limited. If I'm 49, then I can buy a new house, drive a different car. I can take up more work. When I'm on Tinder and it says I'm 69, I don't get an answer. When I'm 49, with the face I have, I will be in a luxurious position.” Interestingly enough, Ratelband’s request wasn’t dismissed outright by the court. The judge found merit in the argument and said that people desire to change things about themselves all the time, adding that maybe age was one of those things we should consider — “maybe” being the operative word. The court ultimately decided that “Ratelband is at liberty to feel 20 years younger than his real age and to act accordingly.” But the judge added that changing his legal documents would have “undesirable legal and societal implications.” The court added “[T]here are a variety of rights and duties related to age, such as the right to vote and the duty to attend school. If Mr. Ratelband's request was allowed, those age requirements would become meaningless.” Today, Ratelband is 71 and continues his battle to change his age. While he may have lost in his initial quest to legally change his age, according to NPR, he intends to appeal the decision.
A: Yes, uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage covers more than just medical bills. If you are injured in an accident, UM coverage essentially steps into the shoes of the at-fault party to provide coverage not only for your medical expenses but also for other damages such as lost wages or pain and suffering. UM coverage is extremely important in Florida, as there is no legal requirement for a driver to have bodily injury coverage. This means that if someone hits you and hurts you, they are not required to have insurance to cover the damage that they cause. This is where your UM coverage would help protect you. Q: My daughter wants to stay with me for an extended period of time, but this conflicts with my parenting plan. Her father is currently in agreement, but I am afraid he may change his mind later and try to hold me in contempt of our parenting plan. What should I do? A: Parents are always welcome to deviate from the parenting plan, if they both agree to the change. However, I always recommend getting the changes in writing through email or text if you are afraid that the other parent may change their mind later. Judges expect parents to work together when timesharing and co-parenting of their children. They also understand that circumstances change, which may require the parties to temporarily (by agreement) modify the parenting plan. However, if you and the other parent have a history of parenting disputes, it may be best to get any modifications in writing to protect yourself if you are ever dragged into court.
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