All family law. All around Georgia. All around the world.
J uly 2019
W e ’ re in the L iberation B usiness Remove the Burdens That Weigh You Down
T he Fourth of July is a time to celebrate independence and remember how hard our Founding Fathers and the citizens of the United States fought for our freedom. During this time, I can’t help but think of the work we do here at the Manely Firm. We often say that we’re in the independence business because we help our clients take back the freedom they’ve lost by lifting some of their burdens. One way we do this is by guiding our clients through the difficult and emotionally draining process of divorce. Even though they may appear similar, each divorce is different. Sometimes, the situation can be dire and devastating, especially for individuals who had no plans for the marriage to end. However, for many others, it’s a liberating life event. No matter which side you’re on, it’s a truly horrible circumstance to be married to someone who you don’t want to be married to or to someone who doesn’t want to be married to you. If the divorce team focuses on helping rather than harming, the process of the divorce itself can improve lives. Old bridges can be spared and new bridges can be built. And after the divorce is over, the parties can feel lighter and happier because they get to live the life they desire. Many people will blossom post-divorce because it opens a whole new door for them. In some relationships, one person suppresses the other. Maybe one person wants to get into painting, but their spouse advises them against it for
whatever reason, and they never pursue the hobby. After they divorce, there’s no telling what the aspiring painter can do now that there’s no one to limit their potential. They get to fulfill their dreams because they don’t have a spouse holding them back. We’ve also handled thousands of divorces that involve children. While it’s never ideal for a child to witness their parents’ divorce, it’s often the best-case scenario, especially if the parents are constantly arguing and fostering a tense and negative environment in the household. A divorce can also give each parent the freedom to improve their relationship with their child because there’s no unhealthy marriage to distract them. After the divorce, each parent has the opportunity to be more involved in their kid’s life and take them to baseball games, encourage them to sign up for a ballet class, or give them the motivation to join a soccer team, for example. In these situations, we do everything possible to help our clients. Often, the first step to take is to recognize whether or not a divorce is necessary, and it’s one of the first areas we cover at the Manely Firm: We work with our client to make sure they are ready for a divorce. Once that threshold is crossed, our next goal is to ensure a better future for both parties and any children who are involved. Even though it can be an unpleasant process to go through, the results of a divorce can be extremely positive. On a larger scale, think of our history and the Revolutionary War, when America decided to break away from Great
Britain to gain freedom. It was difficult and, for many revolutionaries, sad to cut their ties with their birth country, but it led to a brighter future. Today, the United States is the greatest country in the world. Deciding to fight for your own freedom will open a new chapter in your life where you can find yourself and explore new activities to better your life overall. This year, make your best effort to recognize and celebrate the freedoms you have, enjoy, and deserve in your life. –Michael Manely
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Call for a Consultation: ( 866) 687-8561
S ummer S wimming S afety 3 Tips for Swimming in Open Water
NEVER SWIMALONE When you swim in virtually any body of water, having someone there to keep an eye on you can be a lifesaver: the more people, the better. Stick to bodies of water with a professional lifeguard on duty when possible, though that’s not always an option. When swimming in open bodies of water, have a “designated spotter” to keep an eye on the swimmers. This way, you’re
the spot is not a known diving location), don’t risk it. It may be okay to swim or wade, but jumping is out of the question. Along these same lines, be VERY careful around bodies of slow-moving or standing water. These can house dangerous microbes and other contaminants that can make you ill and potentially be deadly. WATCH FOR RIP CURRENTS These can occur at any beach without warning. They pull swimmers away from shore and are strong enough that even excellent swimmers struggle to get through them. In fact, rip currents are behind nearly 80% of beach rescues. Keep an eye on the foam at the surface of the water. If it seems to suddenly pull away from the beach, there’s a good chance a rip current is lurking beneath. If you find yourself in a rip current, it’s crucial to remain calm and avoid expending energy by swimming directly back to shore. Instead, try swimming parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current. time]. I knew I didn’t want to do that again, which is why I was surprised and happy to find a family law junior paralegal posting in my little town. I joined the team, and within a month, I was bumped up to paralegal.” Since day one, Melanie has been a wonderful addition to our team, doing everything and anything she can for our attorneys here at the Manely Firm and for each and every one of our clients. Melanie is dedicated to our cause in family law; she works tirelessly to secure the best results in every one of our cases. “What we do here is important,” Melanie says. “We help people who are in need. Many of our clients are in one of the worst moments in their lives, and they’re coming to us, so we can get their lives back on the right course. The best parts of my job are supporting our attorneys, helping our clients who are in these often devastating circumstances, and ensuring that [our clients] come out of it far better than when they first called our office.”
There’s nothing like taking a dip in a nearby pond, lake, or even the ocean. For many, it’s a summertime tradition. However, swimming in open bodies of water brings certain safety risks, as these environments are not nearly as controlled as public, club, or backyard pools. Everyone should follow these tips to have a fun and safe time cooling off under the summer sun.
prepared if anything bad happens. It’s also a great idea to keep flotation devices nearby, such as life jackets, life rings, foam boards, etc. KNOWWHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO Sometimes, it’s next to impossible to see what’s under the surface of the water. If you are unfamiliar with a body of water, don’t jump or dive in without knowing how deep it is. If you cannot confirm what is under the surface (and
M eet M elanie M ayo Our Commi tted Fami ly Law Paralegal
This month, we’re celebrating our hardworking legal paralegal, Melanie Mayo! Her fourth anniversary of working with us falls on Independence Day. All of us at the Manely Firm look forward to working with her for many more years, and we’d like to share a little more here about what makes Melanie such an incredible paralegal. “I’ve been a family law paralegal going on 26 years now, and I can’t imagine being in any other field,” Melanie says. Originally from Indiana, she moved to Georgia after she married in 1993. Shortly afterward, she started working as a receptionist for a local family law attorney, which had been in practice for over 40 years. “I really enjoyed the work there,” she remembers. “I was even promoted to legal secretary, and then later, [my boss] sent me back to school to become a paralegal. I loved it there, and I worked as his paralegal for the next 20 years until he retired.” After taking a few months off, Melanie decided to look for work again. “The whole time I was working with the other family law attorney, I had been driving to Atlanta, which took about an hour and a half [every
Thanks for everything you do, Melanie. Our attorneys and clients appreciate you.
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T he M any L anguages W e S peak
Helping People Across the Globe
The Manely Firm has helped clients across the globe and is constantly looking for ways to reach more people. One of the ways we reach people in the world is through our written and verbal communication. Between our eight attorneys, we speak over five different languages: Spanish, German, French, Russian, Korean, and, of course, English. As a firm that focuses on international family law, we know the importance of being able to speak to people from many different parts of the world. Over the past 30 years, we have served people from multiple countries and cultures, and we wouldn’t be able to do that if we weren’t meeting our clients at their level. Communicating and understanding where our international clients are coming from is absolutely critical for us. Many businesses insist clients conform to their particular universe, but that is not how we operate at the Manely Firm. Each one of our team members knows that it is imperative we understand the society and culture each of our clients lives in. Our team is continuously working with people who come from other continents and regions, including Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. If we’re approaching them with a limited American perspective, we won’t be able to communicate well enough to meet their needs. We know we need more than just language to understand the depths of the world’s diverse cultures. It’s for this reason that we educate ourselves as much as we can about the cultures of our clients through decades of dedication and research. Our team is incredibly sensitive to the importance of thorough and accurate communication and continues to do what is best for our clients, no matter what country they’re from or what language they speak.
J uicy L ucy S liders
I ngredients
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2 lbs. ground chuck beef, 20% lean 8 slices melting cheese (like American, Swiss, Muenster, or cheddar)
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16 small potato rolls, toasted
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Salt and pepper, to taste
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Your favorite burger accompaniments
D irections
1.
Divide beef into 16 evenly sized balls.
2.
Rip cheese into roughly equal pieces, creating 16 equal portions.
3.
Using your index finger, create a small indentation in each ball.
4. Fill indention with cheese and pinch meat around to seal. Then gently form balls into 3/4-inch- thick patties. Season patties.
5.
Meanwhile, heat a cast-iron skillet to medium-high.
6.
Lightly coat skillet with oil and cook patties in batches. Brown one side undisturbed, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until desired doneness, about 3 minutes for medium.
7.
Serve on toasted potato rolls with your favorite accompaniments.
Inspired by Bon Appétit Magazine
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211 Roswell St. NE, Marietta, GA 30060 (866) 687-8561 www.allfamilylaw.com
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We’re in the Liberation Business
3 Things Everyone Needs to Know Before Swimming in Open Water
Team Member Highlight
We Serve Our Clients, No Matter What Language They Speak
3 Camp Stoves for Your Next Adventure
C ooking and C amping 3 Stoves for Your Next Outdoor Adventure
Whether you’re daytripping, car camping, or outright backpacking, nothing makes the wilderness feel more like home than a hot meal. Many summer fire bans put a damper on classic campfire s’mores, but a quality propane stove will let you cook up some good grub in the great outdoors. Here are some of the best units to up your camp-cooking game. CAMP CHEF EVEREST This is the ultimate two burner experience. Reasonably portable for its size, this dual stovetop features best-in-class wind resistance and incredibly fast boil times. With a range that can accommodate large cook pots and finely tuned controls that make simmering a snap, you can make some incredible meals from just about anywhere. For those wishing they could just bring their actual stove along on the journey, the Camp Chef has you covered. MSR POCKET ROCKET DELUXE For the hunters and backpackers looking to minimize weight without sacrificing their morning coffee, the latest Pocket Rocket brings the heat.
MSR has managed to stack many convenient features onto this burner, and it still comes in under 3 ounces. Sure, there are lighter kits out there, but the Deluxe comes with a built-in pressure regulator for high altitudes, decent wind resistance, a push-button igniter, and excellent simmer control. Its fast boil times mean you can have multiple cups of joe prepped in under four minutes, no matter how remote your campsite. BIOLITEWOOD BURNING CAMPSTOVE One of the most innovative designs on the market, this strange little stove is sure to become a favorite of backwoods adventurers and car campers alike. Leave the propane tanks at home: BioLite burns twigs and sticks you can find right around your campsite, saving you weight and money. But the special feature of this stove is it can charge electronic devices. Using patented thermoelectric technology, the BioLite converts heat from the fire into electricity, allowing anything with a USB charger to top off its battery. As electronic devices become more and more common during camping trips, the added utility of this camp stove may soon prove invaluable.
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