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A Love Story What Matters Most How I Met My Wife, Jenny (Pt. 1)
THE Stevens Firm, P.A. Family Law Center
349 E. Main Street, Suite 200, Spartanburg, SC 29302 • www.SCFamilyLaw.com • (864) 598-9172 February 2018
T he year before Jenny and I met, we both experienced breakups. While it was a good thing our previous relationships ended when they did, the process was taxing, and we both individually swore off relationships for quite a while. Jenny was practicing in Charleston when a mutual friend of ours approached her about setting her up with someone. Although Jenny told her that she wasn’t ready to enter a new relationship, our friend brought it up nearly every time she saw her. Unbeknownst to Jenny, the mutual friend was also talking to me about a woman she wanted me to meet. When our friend first approached me, I told her that I was focusing on my practice and getting my life back together, and I didn’t have time for a relationship. I’d laugh it off when she broached the subject, but she was quite persistent, and I eventually caved under her pressure … and my natural curiosity. Finally, she told me all about Jenny. It turns out that Jenny knew who I was before she and I ever met; she just never knew I was “the guy” our friend wanted her to meet. When Jenny was in law school, she often read my blog as a resource for learning about the practice of family law. She was focused on starting her own family law practice and was apparently fond of my work. Even though we’d attended the same conferences in the past, we had never been introduced. However, once I learned who she
was, I did my own research and discovered that we were both going to be speaking at an upcoming conference, so I reached out to her and asked her to go to lunch with me that day. The day of the CLE finally arrived. After listening to Jenny’s presentation that morning, I was certain that I wanted to get to know her better. My original idea was to go to lunch to discuss an innovative family court program she was helping spearhead down in Charleston. During the lunch break, we walked to a nearby restaurant. Jenny was clearly nervous, and she tried to get me to review the materials about the court program that she’d brought to share with me. However, I kept finding a way to keep the conversation about topics that were more personal than professional in nature.
I told Jenny about my breakup, and she told me about hers. Eventually, I made a comment in passing about a friend of mine who wanted to set me up with a mutual attorney friend, hoping that Jenny might catch on that I was the guy our friend had been talking to her about. As with most worthwhile things, it wasn’t that easy. Jenny didn’t catch on to my hints, but our conversation continued to flow naturally throughout lunch. In fact, we got along so well that our lunch ended up running longer than we had planned, causing us to rush back to the conference. In our haste leaving the restaurant, I even left my credit card there — but more on that next time. Stay tuned next month to find out what happened when Jenny and I returned to the conference. In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful Valentine’s Day.
Ben 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 himmuch 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
Education in the Kitchen What Your Child Can Learn From Baking
for multiplication and division practice. With older kids, practice unit conversions by asking, for example, how many pints are in half a gallon. Following Directions Not unlike computer science, baking requires a strict order of operations. The wet and dry ingredients often need to be mixed separately and then folded together. It only takes one deviation from the instructions for a pastry to go from delicious to disgusting. Spending time in the kitchen, then, is a great way for kids to learn the importance of reading directions carefully and comprehending what they’ve just read. Cultural Understanding Cuisine is a fundamental part of every culture. Introducing your child to dishes from around the world will expand their horizons. Want your child to be a less picky eater? Involving them in the cooking process is the surest way to get them excited about trying new flavors and ingredients. Nutrition Now, you might not think that baking cookies will encourage greater nutritional awareness, but hear us out. Sugar is often buried within packaged foods. When you bake something at home, a child gets to see, firsthand, just how much sugar goes into certain sweets. Meanwhile, cooking savory dishes also allows them to learn what constitutes a balanced, healthy diet. spouses don’t. One unfortunate tactic during a divorce is when a spouse empties an account to deny their partner the chance to hire an attorney. In the case of selfish or malicious acts like this, a court is more likely to order the money to be returned. Unlikely to Be Reimbursed One instance where your spouse would not be required to reimburse you is if they can prove the funds were intended for them in the first place. For example, if a spouse received an inheritance, the court would likely rule that they would keep those funds. Adding money to an already complicated equation only makes it more convoluted. Knowing what you are and aren’t entitled to ahead of time will help you avoid poor financial situations in the future. Whether you’re getting divorced or know someone who’s going through a divorce, let us help. Don’t wait to find out what happens to your money. Start by contacting us for a consultation, and let us help protect what matters most to you.
With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you’re probably wracking your brain for the perfect recipe to bake for your loved one. There’s nothing wrong with store-bought chocolate, but there’s no topping the
personal touch of some homemade baked goods. If you have kids, baking alongside them can be just as rewarding as enjoying the fruits of your labor. As an added bonus, baking is a hands-on opportunity where your child can learn all sorts of important concepts. Here is a short list of some of the educational lessons hiding in your kitchen. Math Baking is a numbers game. Just take a look at any recipe, and you’ll recognize the importance of math in building a beautiful cake. Having children measure out ingredients helps them learn about fractions and ratios. You can also test your kids by doubling or halving a recipe
Can My Spouse Empty Our Bank Account? How to Know What’s Going to Happen to Your Money
One of the most stressful parts of a divorce is the fear of what’s going to happen to your money. The threat of your spouse clearing out your accounts can induce paranoia. This only adds to an already incredibly stressful environment, and it can leave some feeling vulnerable. If you find yourself worrying about your accounts like this, don’t. We have the
information to put you at ease. Rights to a Joint Account
When a bank account is titled jointly in both parties’ names, each of them has equal right to the money in that account. This means either account holder can clear out the funds without having the other person’s approval. This is the case with married couples, but it’s also the case when family members open joint accounts. This makes it crucial to know where your money is and how each account is titled. If you have your joint account cleared out, not all is lost. There is a chance you can have that money reimbursed to you in court. Likely to Be Reimbursed Family court is a court of equity. This means it expects both parties to act in good faith and has the ability to remedy situations where one or both
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Family Court Is Nothing Like the Movies We’ve all seen the Hollywood version of a trial: The bailiff orders everyone in the courtroom to rise, the judge takes the bench, the stone- faced jury files in, and the foreman hands the verdict to the clerk. Spoiler alert: Most of what is pictured on TV does not actually happen in a South Carolina family courtroom. Our family courts are courts of equity, which means that parties ask for remedies, not damages. Money and other property are certainly at issue in domestic litigation, but final decisions are made by judges, not juries. While most cases eventually settle, trials can happen in family court. So, what does a trial in family court look like? First, by the time your case reaches trial, a couple of things will have happened. Most cases have a temporary hearing soon after the case is filed. A temporary hearing is when a judge decides certain issues on a temporary basis (like custody, visitation, child support, or alimony). Those issues and any others held over by the court are still subject to a final hearing or trial.
Sweet and Zesty Detox Salad
Ingredients
• •
3 cups chopped kale leaves 2 cups chopped broccoli florets 2 cups chopped red cabbage 1 cup matchstick carrots 1 cup chopped cilantro 1/2 cup toasted slivered almonds 1/3 cup sliced green onions
• • • •
• • • • • • •
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon finely chopped ginger 1 tablespoon honey
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1 diced avocado
1 tablespoon white miso 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil Salt and pepper, to taste
For the Dressing: •
1 large carrot, roughly chopped
1. To make the salad, add all ingredients to a large bowl; toss to combine. 2. To make the dressing, add all ingredients to a blender or food processor. Pulse until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper or add extra honey for a sweeter taste. 3. Drizzle dressing over salad and serve immediately. Directions SUDOKU (Recipe inspired by GimmeSomeOven.com.)
By statute, all contested cases must be mediated before a final hearing can be requested. That means that the parties and their attorneys will attend mediation with a neutral third party and attempt to resolve some or all of the contested issues. Sometimes, these issues are too complicated or the parties’ positions are too far apart, and as a result, mediation just doesn’t work. In that event, your case will proceed to trial. Remember, only the judge hears evidence in family court. The parties testify, and if custody is an issue, a guardian ad litem will be appointed for your child to represent his or her best interests. If property division is an issue, evidence will be presented as to the values of the assets and debts, as well as to whom the property should be awarded. If a fault-based grounds for divorce has been alleged, evidence will be presented as to why the innocent party should be granted a divorce. Trials in family court typically last a day or so, and they are nothing like the movies. However, no two trials are alike. Our attorneys have tried many cases in family courts all across South Carolina, and we are here to help. Contact us today at 864-598-9172 to discuss your case.
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 New Beginnings: How I Met Jenny PAGE 2 Cook Your Way to Better Grades My Spouse Stole Our Money — Now What? PAGE 3 Whip Up This Winter Salad in a Flash! South Carolina Family Court Proceedings PAGE 4 Rosetta Phone: Apps for Learning a Second Language
The Rosetta Phone Language-Learning Apps for Everyday Life
of New York determined 22.5 hours of busuu Premium offered the same level of knowledge and experience as a semester in a college-level language course. Babble Using speech recognition technology, the Babble app really focuses on helping students get their pronunciation correct right from the start. Rather than overwhelming students with grammar rules, vocabulary comes first, with students learning grammar as they go. Babble offers more customization in its lesson plans, meaning you can focus on the vocabulary that’s relevant to you and your current needs.
It’s said the best way to learn a new language is to be fully immersed in another country. Unfortunately, most of us need to be at work on Monday. So, if taking an extended trip for an immersive language lesson is out of the question, consider one of these language-learning apps, perfect for learning around your 9-to-5. Duolingo Learn a new language on your own time with Duolingo. This app lets you select your lesson intensity based on how much time you’re able to dedicate to each session and can be adjusted at any time. Lessons can range from 5–25 minutes, meaning you can be learning a new language during your lunch break! Additionally, Duolingo blends video game aspects into the earning, awarding students with experience and providing support and encouragement as you advance through the lessons. busuu Along with writing and grammar exercises, as well as flashcards and quizzes, students can communicate with any of the 60 million other users across the globe through audio recordings. Users can get help with pronunciation and find answers to questions from native speakers with firsthand knowledge. An independent study conducted by City University
Whether you need to learn a new language for travel, work, or just for fun, apps like these can
help turn you into a real multilingual logophile.
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