Child support was created as a method for making sure that no one walks away from their financial responsibility toward their children. Unfortunately, the system is not perfect, and so-called deadbeat parents are able to get away with shirking their responsibility far too often. Additionally, there are certain rules about child support that many people are unaware of, and breaking one of these rules could result in the resolution of the support order. In other words, even if you believe that you are doing something that is in your child’s best interests, you could end up losing important financial assistance.

Four Things You Need to Know About Child Support

1. You Must Stay in the U.S. – Taking a vacation to another country is not an issue, but if you decide to move with your children outside of the U.S., you will no longer be able to collect child support. Although this might seem nonsensical when you consider that your location has no bearing on the needs of your children, it is a rule that is in place to simplify things for Friend of the Court.

2. You Still Need to Pay Even if You Lose Your Job – If you have been ordered to pay $430 a month in child support, you will still need to come up with this money even if you are unemployed. The only way that this can be altered is if you get a court approved child support modification order. Unfortunately, this is not common, so it is vital to remain employed. As expressed by one group of child supports attorneys in Riverside County, California, “The money involved in these payments is often used specifically for living expenses, which make the payments extremely important. A missed payment or reduced rate may directly affect the quality of life of your spouse or child, at least if the system is working.”

3. Child Support Does Not Always End at the Age of 18 – If a 16 or 17-year-old leaves home permanently, the child support order can be terminated. It is also possible to keep child support in place until the age of 22 if the child is attending school full-time or has a disability that keeps them from working.

4. Failure to Pay Does Not Eliminate the Parent’s Right to See their Children – Even if a parent has refused to pay child support for the past year, it is illegal to prevent them from seeing their children if they have court ordered visitation rights.

Because there are so many specific rules that you need to know about child support, it is important to discuss any questions that you have with a child support attorney. These specialized lawyers can also assist you if you need to file a case against a parent who has stopped making payments.

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Rachel Uchitel first found media attention by starting rumors about Tiger Woods’ infidelity when she was photographed entering his hotel in 2010. After that scandal began to settle down, Uchitel married Matt Hahn, and the two had a child together. However, only 18 months after their nuptials, Hahn has filed for divorce. According to the divorce filing, Uchitel subjected Hahn to inhumane and cruel treatment. Uchitel has not publicly responded to these allegations; instead, she has announced through a press statement that she wants to resolve the situation privately.

Although the press release did not specify any plans regarding the couple’s daughter, it is likely that the settlement will include child support for either Uchitel or Hahn. This will be determined based on income and who will have the child the majority of the time. Regardless of the level of notoriety that a couple achieves, their home state will apply the same basic child support guidelines, and this is important because it ensures that children who are the product of divorce will have financial assistance for food, shelter and clothing.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tammra/280705405/

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The salary packaging schedule

Once you have spoken to a Novated Lease consultant from your chosen provider, you will be sent an indicative quote or salary packaging schedule. In order to have a salary packaging schedule drawn up, you will need to provide basic information about the lease you wish to take out – type of vehicle, length of lease, your salary and the annual kilometres you plan to travel.

Once these details have been provided, you will be sent a salary packaging schedule outlining the cost of your monthly payments and breaking down fees and charges. Once you have agreed to the schedule, you and your employer must sign it and return it to your leasing provider, who will then be able to start getting your lease set up.

Finance approved & settling finance

The next step in setting up your Novated Lease is getting finance approval and settling the finance before the vehicle purchase can go ahead. This is typical of any car finance. Once your finance has cleared, your vehicle can be ordered. When the car is then in your possession, the lease repayments come are deducted from your salary by your employer in pre-tax dollars.

Delivery of vehicle

When your vehicle is ready for collection you will be notified by the novated lease provider, where you can then arrange to pick it up or have it delivered to you. Be sure to discuss with your provider any extra charges involved in having the car delivered to your home or work. Once your lease is underway, it is important to keep abreast with your account, including keeping up to date with scheduled maintenance and servicing, and making sure you keep your account is in credit.

Managing the lease

As with any method of vehicle finance, the process does not end with the delivery of your new car. Signing up is simply the beginning. Throughout the term of your lease it is crucial to carefully manage your account and ensure that your lease is running smoothly so you won’t have any shocks when the end of the lease term rolls around.  By keeping across all aspects of the sign up, and subsequently the management of your lease, you will be able to get the most out of Novated Leasing and all the savings it can offer.

To read more about this process and to see examples of novated lease, try this link.

This article was written by Rory Deegan, Online Marketing Executive at Novated by Fleetcare. You can find Rory on Google+!

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It is a beautiful day outside and along comes a jogger exercising to take advantage of such a fantastic day. Suddenly from out of nowhere comes a car speeding, loosing control. This car strikes the jogger, an instant kill. Suddenly the car leaves the scene of the crime at a very fast pace. A clear case of a hit-and-run crime scene. We see these kinds of reports daily on our local news stations. Hit-and-runs can cause death or serious injury. Often times, a passerby may be a witness to such an incident, and it is easy to panic and not remember what the important steps are to handling such an incident.

Dealing With A Hit-And-Run

If you are injured by a hit-and-run driver, it is going to be imperative to hire a personal injury attorney. Additionally, you should contact the police and seek medical attention immediately. Whether you are a victim or a witness, it is also a good idea to take photographs of the accident scene if you are physically capable of doing so. Asking witnesses if they would be willing to testify in court is a good way to begin building a solid case. Make sure that you tell the police anything that you can remember about the vehicle that hit you or witnessed, and be prepared for a potential insurance battle if the police are unable to discover the identity of the responsible driver.

Insurance Complications

Every state has different insurance guidelines. For example, North Carolina requires each driver to carry liability insurance to protect other drivers. Therefore, if you are unable to identify the person who hit you, it could be very difficult to receive compensation for your medical bills. This is one of the many reasons that hit-and-run drivers are so vilified by the media, and it can cause big legal complications for the driver if their identity is determined. It is important that, if you are a victim of such a crime, you contact a local personal injury law firm, such as Powers McCartan, PLLC for a North Carolina accident, with attorneys who are knowledgeable about such kinds of cases and are equipped to represent you as a client.

The Importance Of Working With An Experienced Lawyer

If the police find the driver who hit you, that driver will face legal consequences. However, a criminal case is not going to assist you with your medical bills, so you will need to file a civil lawsuit. An experienced hit-and-run attorney will provide you with the opportunity to collect a settlement because they have a full understanding of how the legal system works. Additionally, they will help you gather crucial evidence that will prove the extent of the negative impact that the accident has had on your life. In these cases, you might even be able to receive compensation for pain and suffering in addition to your medical expenses.

If you are a hit-and-run victim, you will need to start the legal process as soon as possible. After all, every state has a statute of limitations, and it is important to ensure that you do not let your legal rights lapse. By working with a lawyer from the beginning, you will have the best chance of building a timely case that will result in a fair settlement.

Legal writer Lisa Coleman shares the importance of actions a person should take if found to be victim of a hit-and-run crime. Powers McCartan, PLLC, a Charlotte, North Carolina based law firm, will aggressively defend any client who may be the victim of a hit and run collision.

Photo credits:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8842985@N03/4694356872/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/76029035@N02/6829381157/

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Harvey Abraham was convicted in February of killing an 11-year-old during a hit-and-run accident. During his hearing, Abraham expressed sorrow, but the judge was not persuaded to be lenient. In fact, she chided Abraham, and reminded him that everything could have turned out differently if he had not made the decision to flee the scene.

The deceased girl’s parents were present during the sentencing, and they were also unmoved by Abraham’s apology. The incident occurred more than four years ago, and the only bright spot of the day for the family was that the legal case was finally completed. Abraham received a sentence of six years in jail plus eight years of probation, and his teenage daughter cried out that he would be unable to attend her graduation after the verdict was read.

Hit-and-run cases are generally considered to be the product of a cowardly act, and this is one of the main reasons that judges are rarely lenient. After all, if hit-and-run drivers did not flee the scene, they might be able to get quicker assistance for their victims, and this could save lives.

Photo credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/8489692@N03/6771698125/

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A Lawyer Looks Out For Your Best Interests

A great lawyer will have your best interests at heart and will fight for you. It is important to realize that going through a divorce is extremely emotional, and when individuals are fraught with emotion during a difficult time, it can be hard to see clearly. Distinguishing what is best isn’t always easy. A good lawyer will be able to help you rationalize what is in your best interest, and what isn’t. For example, a lawyer can advise you on whether or not you should really be fighting for full custody of your children.

Lawyers Will Help You Get What You Want

Chances are you didn’t go to law school. Even if you think you’ve learned everything you need to know about the law from television shows like Law and Order, you still need to have a professional on your side. A lawyer is a knowledgeable, experienced professional in this field. They have been trained to argue in order to get you what you want. With a good lawyer fighting for you, you are far more likely to be happy with the outcome.

They Will Keep Things Amiable

Trying to calmly come to an agreement with someone who broke your heart or your trust is not easy. It’s easy for a debate to become heated and out of control. The team at Lawyer Guide explains that having a professional on your side will keep debates under control. While the encounter with your ex-spouse doesn’t need to be jovial, it does need to be amiable enough that a settlement can be agreed upon. A trained lawyer can be a helpful mediator.

They Can Even Keep Your Costs Down

With a trained professional on your side, the chances of you going to court are slim. You are far more likely to reach an agreement with your ex-spouse with two lawyers. However, without the guidance of a legal professional, the chances of going to court are much higher. Going to court will mean additional fees, which will add up for you. Having a lawyer on your side can make the whole process go a lot faster and smoother, and as a result, it could save you lots of money.

Going through a divorce is always going to be difficult for everyone involved. However, having a professional legal expert on your side will only make this difficult time easier. An experienced lawyer will walk you through all the paperwork, they will help you get what you want, and they can make sure encounters with your ex-spouse are amiable and productive.

The post Splitting Up: Why Finding a Great Divorce Lawyer is Critical appeared first on Living and Lifestyles.

Saving Money on Utilities

During the summer, it is difficult to keep heat from seeping into your home through windows and poor insulation. Even if you keep your blinds closed, the temperature in your home is still going to spike during the hottest part of the day, and this can become very expensive if you are running an air conditioner. However, if you have an awning in place, you will experience a dramatic reduction in the amount of heat that enters your home. For example, if you place yours outside of an eastern or western facing window, you can expect a heat reduction of up to 77 percent. This can reduce the heat in your home by 15 degrees, and that will have a major impact on your electric bill.

Aside from saving you money, the Seashell Awning is also a stylish option for your yard that provides protection from harsh UV rays. Installing at least one on your property is the perfect way to reduce energy expenses and protect your expensive art, decorations and furniture.

Photo courtesy of seashellawnings.com.au.

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Other energy reduction techniques include buying energy-efficient appliances, utilizing a programmable thermostat, fixing leaky window seals and adding more insulation. Each of these energy-saving solutions will require an initial investment, but they will quickly pay for themselves. When you consider the fact that many Americans struggle to pay for their energy costs, it makes good sense to take the necessary steps to reduce your consumption. As an added bonus, this will also make your home more eco-friendly as well.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gsi-r/5786146386/

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The driver will spend the next six to 12 years in prison for homicide by vehicle, and his insurance company will pay for $100,000 of the settlement. It is unclear at this time how much of the $15.6 million will be paid by Hofbräuhaus. The restaurant has also pledged to take steps to reduce customer intoxication. Cases like this one showcase the fact that servers and bartenders need to closely monitor their customers. After all, if someone serves an individual who is clearly intoxicated, they can be severely fined if an incident occurs.

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