Virtually all individuals and businesses at some point in time (and some on a regular basis) require the services of a law firm. Selecting the right law firm is critical. Here are some pointers that can help in making that important decision:
1. Trust. There is probably no other element in the attorney/client relationship that is more important than “trust.” You must feel a high level of trust in the attorney: trust that the attorney is competent; is honest; and has your best interests at heart. The trust factor goes both ways: the attorney must trust that the client will be truthful; will pay for services rendered; and will listen when the attorney explains the legal ramifications of the issues involved.
2. Competency. You must be confident that the attorney is competent and experienced in the area of the law that is involved in the representation.
Click here to read more »
Darlene Brown is my mother and the strongest person I know. She works two jobs, one as a full time cytotechnologist and part time as a cashier at Albertsons. She is supporting my father, my sister, and myself and is putting my sister and I through college. Never once has she asked for anything in return for the struggle she goes through every day. Both my father and I had major health problems requiring surgery in the past few years yet my mom was right there taking care of us and being a rock of strength the whole time. My mom would never admit to being the amazing woman she is because she simply thinks she’s doing what she should, not what she has to. She has influenced me in every way possible. She taught me integrity, compassion, determination, humility, and many other things through example; not just by telling what was right and wrong but showing me how to tell the difference myself. She is such a sweet, giving and deserving person I aspire every day to become a little more like my mom who inspires me so much. Please pick my mom, she is so much more deserving than I could ever hope to put in words.
Divorce and dissolution of marriage are two terms that many use interchangeably and without understanding the difference. In Florida, marriages are not terminated by divorce, but rather the union of marriage is dissolved. In Florida courts, those seeking to end a marriage file a “Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.” They do not ask for a divorce. Divorce is a legal term that requires a finding of fault. In order to divorce her husband, a wife would have to show misconduct or fault by the husband. In Florida, we have no fault divorce. This means that, although the court does have to make a finding that the marriage is “irretrievably broken,” neither party has to provide evidence that the marriage is ending because of someone’s fault or misconduct. A marriage may be found to be irretrievably broken because the parties can no longer effectively communicate or they have just given up trying. To terminate a marriage in Florida, neither spouse has to provide evidence to the court that would rise to the level of a legal determination of fault, such as adultery or abuse.
– Mary Hoftiezer, Esq., is a domestic law attorney with Bogin, Munns, & Munns, P.A., a full service law firm with offices in Orlando, Clermont, Kissimmee, Deltona, Daytona Beach, Ocala, Melbourne, Gainesville, and Leesburg, Florida. She welcomes questions and comments regarding the above and can be reached at mhoftiezer@boginmunns.com
Click here to read more »
Rulon Munns is featured in the January/February issue of Central Florida’s Lifestyle Magazine Executive Living (a supplement to Orlando Business Journal). Click here to learn more about Rulon Munns and his faith, family, and work.
Click here to read more »
