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Taking My Chances HOW CALCULATED RISKS BROUGHT ME TO BRUCE LAW
You’ve heard the saying: No risk, no reward. In many ways, it describes my entire career in law. Since the beginning, I’ve taken chances on myself to get where I wanted to be. And my chances and risks have ultimately brought me to Bruce Law Firm.
My name is Betzy Falgas, and I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I have always liked to analyze situations and have the gift of persuasion, so I gravitated toward law school after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. In Puerto Rico, there were three law school options, and I immediately knew I wanted to attend the prestigious state program. The only problem was that they admit about 200 students per year. But I had no interest in second best, so I only applied there and nowhere else. Thankfully, I was accepted. As I neared graduation, my husband and I began seriously talking about moving to Florida where we had family, and loved the culture, warm weather, and large Latino community. We happily took the plunge and have lived here and have been practicing law almost ever since. There were challenges to my early years of practice — three young children, my non- native language, and the “Great Recession,” to name a few.
My path eventually forced me to make a choice — either stay with a well-paid and established position in a commercial
I also love that Bruce Law Firm allows me to have a work-life balance and spend time with my husband, three daughters (now 12, 13, and 19), and black Labrador, Sasha. It is an honor to be a role model for my girls — having a family life, loving partner who treats me with respect, an awesome career, and otherwise living my Best Life. My oldest daughter is even majoring in psychology and considering law school. I’m helping her prepare for a challenging but rewarding road ahead. Whatever path she chooses, I hope she remembers what I’ve learned over the years: You must go out on a limb or two to get what you want. Take the risk, take the chance. The reward is sometimes so much better when you have had the challenge.
litigation boutique, or take a risk and a deep dive into a new field of law. Remember, no risk, no reward. I took the chance. I chose a new career path in the family law field, and I soon fell in love with helping my clients through the difficult divorce process and watching them become stronger people on the other side. One of the joys of my practice is that I get to help people start new and happier lives. I love working at a larger divorce and family law firm with multiple attorneys because we all support each other and share ideas. We collaborate with each other and follow a program created to help people through the divorce process. The firm has helped me with creative solutions for protecting my clients’ assets and interests, and I appreciate their time and dedication to obtaining the best outcome for our clients.
–Betzy Falgas
561-810-0170 • 1
Knowing Your Worth
The Divorce Appraisal Process
Besides child custody and support, the most contentious issue in any divorce usually surrounds the division of property. While it can be painful, the process is straightforward in many ways. Bank accounts, 401(k)s, loans, and credit card debts all have cold hard numbers attached. But other possessions can be more challenging to assign a price tag. Often, couples agree on the value of much of their property. When they must sell the family home and split the proceeds, the market decides how much the property is worth. Ex-spouses may also agree their home appliances are worth roughly the equivalent of the furniture and how to split them. But sometimes, one spouse keeps the house while the other receives an equal share of assets. So, both parties must understand what the home is worth to create an equitable division. That’s where an appraiser comes in. They will use data from recent property sales to determine the fair market value or what a buyer will likely pay for the property on the open market. Though it’s an inexact science — and the property’s value could dramatically increase or decrease in a few years — it’s the most equitable appraisal method available. People who own expensive personal property benefit from an appraisal process on additional items. Motor vehicles, jewelry, art, collectibles, and many other things can hold significant worth. Some rare items may require a specialty appraiser to determine an accurate value. While no one likes paying for this additional service, it often saves clients money in the long run. Having an impartial expert declare value can also reduce stress and conflict during a divorce. Finally, any business should always be subject to an appraisal before coming to a divorce agreement. Often, businesses are the only asset a couple owns that is worth more than their home, and the amount at stake can be considerable. Depending on the circumstances, businesses may be appraised using either fair market value or liquidation value. What types of appraisers will be involved in your divorce depends on your assets’ complexity and whether you and your ex can agree on their value. The attorneys at Bruce Law will always provide our clients with an honest assessment of their unique circumstances, and we welcome your questions throughout the process.
A Daily Dose of Gratitude Raising Thankful Children Most parents want their kids to view Thanksgiving as a meaningful event — not just an opportunity to indulge in turkey and mashed potatoes. Unfortunately, most kids’ eyes will glaze over when their parents launch into a lecture about thankfulness. You will likely find better success by emphasizing the value of gratitude all year long. “What do you say?” It’s a question we all ask our young children after someone does something nice for them. This practice instills good manners, but it shouldn’t be confused with teaching gratitude. Imparting the meaning behind the words “thank you” takes something more. If you want grateful children, you need to be grateful parents. Consider how you can incorporate gratitude more into your everyday life. Are you as thankful as you should be? Do you repay favors and write thank-you notes? Do you regularly talk about why you’re so fortunate or what you’re thankful for? Cultivating gratitude in your life sets a good example, and many studies show it benefits your mental health as well. Next, consider how you can encourage your child to reflect on who they’re grateful for. Acts of kindness and returning the favor to those who have been good to us can inspire kids to put their gratitude into action. Doing some yardwork, sharing a toy, or making a painting as a gift can help children understand how powerful it can be to outwardly show our gratitude for the people who are in our lives. Consistency is the most crucial factor, so try to find ways you can incorporate gratitude into your everyday routine. Children of any age can keep a gratitude journal with their parents’ help. Some families also use a gratitude jar where each family member can write what they’re grateful for on a slip of paper and add something different to the jar each week. It’s the perfect way to keep gratitude front and center.
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These lessons may not sink in immediately, but by cultivating these positive habits in our everyday lives, you will see a big difference in the long run.
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Children’s Health Care Costs Which Parent Pays?
Everyone knows children are expensive. But when you’re married to your child’s other parent, you’re usually on the same team. Most couples merge at least some of their finances, and you navigate questions about costs together. After a divorce, determining who will pay for what is a whole new ballgame, and one of the most significant expenses parents worry about is their children’s health care. Which parent is responsible for insurance and medical bills after divorce? The short answer, of course, is that all the details are laid out in the parents’ child support agreement and child support guidelines. If a parent has access to an employer-sponsored health care coverage and that parent has a “steady” job, then that parent will generally be required to carry the health care cost for the children by having it deducted from their paycheck. That parent then gets a credit for the payment on the child support guidelines, because they are having to pay something toward the children. When this happens, the courts typically increase the other parent’s child support payment to cover
the costs of the employer-sponsored insurance. Sometimes, a parent will purchase an affordable insurance plan on the private market. Other times, a child will be on a state-sponsored health plan.
Of course, health insurance rarely covers all costs. When your child visits the doctor, you often have out- of-pocket expenses like prescriptions, copays, deductibles, and coinsurance. The parents should ideally share these costs, and many co-parents privately agree on a solution. But the courts will get involved when necessary to ensure equitable cost-sharing. Note that equitable is not equal; the parent who makes more money will generally have more responsibility for the cost.
If your ex is not upholding their end of the child support agreement, Bruce Law may be able to help. Call our office today for a case review. We’ll help you understand your rights and determine the best path forward.
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Inspired by MomFoodie.com Roasted Pork Loin With Apples
Ingredients
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4 lbs pork loin
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3 garlic cloves
2 tsp garlic powder 2 tsp salt, divided 1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp olive oil 2 tsp cinnamon
8 apples
3 tbsp butter, softened
Jennifer Tirado
2 red onions
Directions
1. In a large bowl, season pork loin with garlic powder, 1 ½ tsp salt, and pepper, then cover and place in refrigerator for 30 minutes. 2. Preheat oven to 425 F. 3. Slice apples and onions, then chop garlic cloves. Season with brown sugar, olive oil, remaining salt, and cinnamon. 4. In a 9x13-inch baking dish, place a layer of apples and onions in the pan, put pork loin on top, then place remaining apples and onions around it. 5. Break butter into small pieces and place them on the pork loin and apples. Place dish in oven and let it bake for 15 minutes. 6. Reduce the heat to 350 F, then continue to bake for 60 minutes. 7. Remove dish and stir apples and onions. 8. Increase heat to 450 F, put dish in oven, and roast for an additional 8–10 minutes.
Amber Waring
561-810-0170 • 3
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Attorney Betzy Falgas Takes Her Chances page 1 A Daily Dose of Gratitude Do You Need an Appraiser? page 2 Splitting Child Health Care Costs Roasted Pork Loin With Apples page 3 Man Saves 5 From a Burning Home page 4
Right Place, Right Time LATE-NIGHT DRIVER BECOMES A SUDDEN HERO
Nicholas Bostic had a heated argument with his girlfriend one night, so he went out driving around to clear his head and relax. Little did he know he would become a hero that same night. During his drive, he witnessed a raging fire that had engulfed a family’s home. Bostic stopped his car and ran inside despite the flames. He immediately began yelling for anyone since no one appeared to be inside the house — not even emergency personnel. His cries woke up 18-year-old Seionna Barrett, the oldest of five children, and she gathered her siblings together to exit the home. Bostic ran to Barrett and her young siblings, and he helped her take the children outside. But Barrett then told Bostic that her 6-year-old sister wasn’t with them. Without a second thought, Bostic again entered the home, hoping to rescue the little girl. The fire continued to spread quickly, and Bostic described it as a “black lagoon” of smoke on the ground floor. He checked all of the bedrooms but couldn’t find the little girl. Then, as he approached a window to exit the home, he heard a child’s cry. Bostic then had an internal conversation with himself: He knew the child needed help, and although he was terrified to go back downstairs through the fire and smoke, he wouldn’t quit. After wrapping his shirt around his mouth, he ran through the home, following the girl’s cries for help. Once he found her, he picked her up, ran upstairs, and jumped out the window onto the lawn.
All of the children were safe and suffered no injuries. Bostic received first-degree burns and severe cuts on his arm. He was airlifted to the nearest hospital once first responders arrived at the scene. Bostic’s cousin created a GoFundMe to pay for Bostic’s medical bills, and it collected $556,000.
Today, Bostic is healthy and healing. He now has a new perspective on life and is looking forward to whatever his future might hold.
4 • BrucePA.com
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