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Legal Guides
Mar
13
New office pictures
Filed Under ChristopherHedges.com | Leave a Comment
It’s always fun to move to a new place.
My new law office location: 1260 E. Summit St., Crown Point, Indiana 46307
Sign: Christopher C. Hedges, Attorney at Law
Conference room
Mar
8
Should video parenting time be allowed in Indiana?
Illinois allows video parenting time, according to Sam Hasler, publisher of the valuable Indiana Divorce and Family Law blog.
Take a look at Sam Hasler’s post and weigh in if you think video parenting time is a good or bad idea and whether it should be an option that is added to the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines.
Mar
7
Should social media have waited?
Filed Under social networking | 3 Comments
Lisa in a response to my earlier post about the social media networks buzzing over the shooting of 8 teens at a Gary skating rink raised points about social media reporting that need to be examined.
Writes Lisa:
While Social Media broke it was reported incorrectly that children had died…as a journalist our first job is to report the facts…not hearsay not rumors…so while you may honor Mr. Hodge…he didn’t get his facts straight before he went global and that is the wrong way to report something of this magnitude!! Emotionalism has no place in journalism. I give his reporting a thumbs down!
With the ability to publish news items easily and quickly goes much responsibility.
While I didn’t see anything on Twitter from Mr. Hodge saying people had died, there may have been others passing along that information or it may have appeared in other venues. My review of the social media reporting was limited to what was appearing on the #nwindiana #nwi hashtags from Gioperation aka Ryan Hodge on Twitter. I personally didn’t see anything that Lisa alleges on Twitter, but leave a comment with a link pointing to any posts so we can examine same in the comments below.
Let me know what are your thoughts on these various questions regarding media in this age of self-publication, or raise more thoughts of your own so that we can create a discussion that will lead to the betterment of the Northwest Indiana blogging community.
1. What weight should be given to news circulating through social media when the same news isn’t yet confirmed in the more established press?
2. Should there be civics education in our nation’s high schools regarding the media in general (print, TV, internet, blogs, Twitter, cell phone videos, text messaging, etc.), First Amendment issues, publishing in these times of self-publication?
3. What should have been done different by social media users and/or the traditional media outlets?
4. Compare and contrast the reporting regarding the Portage shooting and the Gary shooting. What were the similarities between coverage of the Portage and Gary incidents that you observed? What were the differences?
5. Should social media users have waited until word came from more established / professional media outlets before reporting about the incident?
Mar
7
Six things to do if you are thinking about divorce
Divorce is a difficult subject, but it is also common in today’s society where almost 50% of marriages fail. I’ve handled family law cases in Lake County, Indiana and these are some ideas that I find are valuable for clients.
The information in the post is geared to Lake County, Indiana courts, but it can be useful for people in other Indiana counties as the trend within the legal community is to move away from aggressive and conflict-oriented divorce cases and to a cooperative parenting model.
1. Think of your children first
Children are the top priority in Lake County, Indiana’s local rules of family law.
“In all family cases with children, the goal will be protecting the best interests of those children,” states local family law rule 2.
You should place your children above all other priorities. Divorce is rough for the parents. Just think about how tough it is for your kids. Spend extra time with them. Keep their life normal — as normal as you can during a divorce. Reassure them everything will be okay. Tell your children that you love them.
Do not use your children as counselors. Also, do not enlist your children to spy on the other spouse. Lake County provides excellent resources for parents involved in family law matters that can be of great assistance during these times.
2. Set up an appointment with an attorney right away
It’s never fun to have to hire a lawyer. But, you’ll want to meet with one right away so that you can discuss how to act in the best interests of your children as well as safeguard your interests.
Hiring a lawyer can actually help reduce some of the stress involved in a divorce by guiding you through the process, handling negotiations with the other attorney, and providing valuable counsel.
3. Make copies of household bills, other important paperwork, including pay stubs and make a list of household property
Lake County’s local rules require mandatory disclosure of financial information, so copying your financial records will save time and effort when it’s time to exchange financial documents. It also lets you and your lawyer see fully your family’s financial condition.
Make sure to copy your spouse’ pay stub, if you can. It will be helpful in determining child support, if children are involved. Make a list of any valuable or collectible items, since Lake County’s local family law rules require disclosure of these items. Having a list can prove beneficial if any of the valuable items cannot be located later during the divorce.
4. Review your budget and expenses
The court might make decisions about who pays what bills at certain points in the case. Knowing your family’s budget will help the court make decisions regarding family finances. Divorce is difficult on family finances. Knowing your financial condition is valuable in making plans for the future.
5. Do financial planning for the future
Save up some money so that you can pay for a lawyer and possibly court costs. Also, you’ll want to make sure that you can pay for rent or a mortgage during and after the divorce. Make plans for paying all of the necessities, such as utilities and groceries. You’ll want to make sure that you have a budget that meets your needs without the income your spouse might have brought into the household before the divorce.
6. Seek out family counseling, if needed
Divorce is a painful, difficult and stressful time.
Sometimes it is a good thing to have someone who can discuss how to solve personal issues and provide guidance during the divorce. While your lawyer can provide valuable legal assistance during this time, it is also helpful to have someone on your side who is trained in the psychological aspects. This is where a counsel can be extremely valuable for you and your children.
Please see my disclaimer in the sidebar to the left.
If you need help with a family law issue in Lake County, Indiana, feel free to contact me by email to set up an appointment at CHedges (at) nwindianalaw.com.
Christopher C. Hedges has been licensed as a lawyer in Indiana since 1996 and Illinois since 2005.
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