California state lawyer

Joseph Aldlin will turn 100 years old in April; he is currently the oldest practicing lawyer in the state of California. He has spent the last seventy-seven years practicing family law, and also handles corporate cases.

Aldlin began his education at the University of California at Los Angeles and graduated from Boalt Hall School of Law. He began his long career during the 1930s, at the time earning thirty dollars per week. Presently, he does not accept payment for any of his legal work and works to benefit children.

With Aldlin's remarkable age and perseverance, he is a model for all lawyers to keep practicing law and help as many clients as possible. His seventy-seven years of legal work is appreciated by all lawyers, and we should all strive to be as hard-working and passionate about law as he is.

Ex-Husbands and Ex-Wives Living Together After Divorce

Florida currently has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the United States. With that come couples who wish to divorce but do not have the financial means to do so. Because of Florida’s high unemployment rate, which is at a staggering twelve percent, many divorcing couples are allowing their homes to face foreclosure. Many other divorced couples cannot afford to live on their own and choose to live in the same house, living separate lives.

What these couples are doing is not healthy for the relationship between themselves and others, especially when children are involved. This kind of living arrangement places stress on divorcing couples and their children. As a result of increasing numbers of divorcing couples with financial issues, a few foreclosure law firms in Florida have expanded their services to include family law.

With the expansion of family law services to communities in Florida stricken with the ill effects of the recession, this will allow divorcing couples a means of parting amicably and with little resentment towards one another. What these law firms are doing will only impact its clientele in a positive way.

Lawyer’s Firm Empathizes With Female Clients

Terri Mestdagh has created Women to Women Family Law Practice in Canada, which targets women who end up overwhelmed in the legal arena. When dealing with divorce, separation, property division, co habilitation, and prenuptial agreements, women tend to be misinformed and vulnerable in the court system.

Mestdagh’s firm has helped many women, particularly those who go through the tough emotional pain and vulnerability when experiencing a separation and divorce. And although the name of the firm may not attract the male clientele, Mestdagh will not turn away male clients, She even has one who moved over with her from her former firm.

I believe this firm will help women feel more comfortable with a female lawyer than they would with a male lawyer. Despite its target market, it is great to see a firm dedicating itself to family law and catering to the needs of those who need more than just a lawyer.

Father Ordered to Keep Daughter from His Catholic Faith

A family law court in Chicago recently ordered Joseph Reyes not to expose his three-year-old daughter to his Catholic faith. He and his ex-wife decided to raise their three-year-old daughter in the mother’s Jewish faith. The mother asked for a temporary restraining order against Reyes that went beyond; the order kept the father from exposing his daughter to any other faith except the mother’s faith. Before the court order, Reyes had already had his daughter baptized.

As an attorney who specializes in family law, this order is quite unusual. However, when a family court, or any other court for that matter, issues an order, it should be strictly followed. But in the first place, family law courts should not issue orders based on the religious upbringings of children, or from preventing the non-custodial parent from exposing his child to the non-custodial parent’s faith.

The court’s order creates problems, due to the fact that it is based on two different religions that are extremely complex in their own ways. This order is too black-and-white for a situation that is too vague and complicated.

$2.8 Million Awarded to Murder Victim’s Family

Despite disheartening occurrences that plague a court case, it is always encouraging when justice is served. Former Cleveland firefighter, Terrance Hough Jr., was recently convicted of three counts of aggravated murder and is now serving life in prison with no chance for parole. He shot and killed his neighbor and his neighbor’s two friends. Two other people were shot, but fortunately they survived.

The family of one of the victims was awarded $2.8 million, but it is unlikely they will receive any money, as Hough has no income. Although the family will not receive any money, I believe Hough’s sentence gives closure to the families and friends of the victims. The thought of knowing their loved one’s murderer will be locked away in prison gives them some form of solace that Hough will not kill again.

Keith Barton, an attorney for one of the victim’s family, said, “This was never about the money, it was always about the principle.” And I agree; this case serves justice and teaches that it is unacceptable to kill innocent people, and those who do kill will be punished.

Your Facebook Status Could Get You A Divorce

With today’s technology and online social networking, infidelity among spouses is easier to catch more than ever. With than in mind, it is also easier to prove in court. Cell phones, emails, and the many social networking websites provide credible means for evidence.

Many married men and women cautiously spend time on social networking websites looking for new friends and relationships, leading to infidelity. Emails, text messages, and even instant message logs can be used as evidence in a divorce case. In some states, adultery is required for divorce; however, in others, grounds for divorce is not required.

Be careful of what you post online and who you email and send text messages to. A single status update on Facebook or flirtatious emails can ruin your marriage.

Police-Involved Shooting Leaves Suspect Dead

It is always frightening when police officers have to resort to firing their guns when in danger. Recently, Todd Ely White, from Spokane, Washington, shot at police officers when they arrived after a 911 call from his brother-in-law was dispatched.

The police officers were left with no choice but the shoot at White. One officer fired and hit White, where he fell to the ground, was restrained, and treated by paramedics. He later died at the hospital. Fortunately, no police officers or others were injured.

Police-involved shootings are, often times, a controversial topic. But in this situation, the police officers, directly in harm’s way, had no choice but to protect themselves and those around them. They did a heroic thing in preventing others from being hurt from a violent man.

The U.S. Economy and Court System in Trouble

Judges in Los Angeles County have noticed increases in family law, landlord-tenant, creditors’ collections, and similar cases, those of which are associated with high tension caused by the current state of the economy. With the economy in bad shape, even some lawyers are having to resort to suing their clients for not paying their fees. The guilty end up asking for community service, or even jail time, because they can’t pay their fines.

With the economy adversely affecting the public who are going through foreclosures and the like, it is also affecting employees and courtrooms. Some employees are facing layoffs, and some courtrooms are facing closures. As a result, I fear that these events will lead to injustice. The time it takes for civil lawsuits is expected to increase from sixteen months to almost five years. This means victims will suffer for a longer period of time.

Hopefully in the near future the economy will begin to strengthen and flourish, bringing money into people’s pockets, so they can afford to have their legal issues resolved and, most importantly, have justice served.

The Never-Ending Divorce

Divorce occasionally leads to a situation where both spouses have difficulty reaching an agreement. The disagreements are usually over division of property and other assets, child and spousal support, and particularly child custody. They can lead to a prolonged and long-drawn-out legal process, leaving both parties exhausted from each other and at a dead-end with the divorce process.

Two main reasons why divorces take so long to finalize is because of the overwhelming emotions from both spouses getting in the way of the process, and choosing the “wrong” lawyer. Some emotionally damaged spouses seek revenge in the legal form and want to make their spouse pay for what they did wrong. It also does not help when they choose a lawyer who makes the divorce lengthier by making the situation more litigious.

What I recommend to any couple seeking divorce is to be realistic and to consider what is most important, for the sake of your own self and those around you. Do not be vindictive, and choose a lawyer who will benefit both spouses and any children caught in the storm.

Polygamy, anyone?

In many other societies such as African tribes, polygamy is allowed and blessed by their communities. It is not uncommon to see one tribe leader with many wives, although it is in never seen in reverse. Even local laws protect these types of marriages.

Islam also allows and even promotes polygamy. In many communities in Asia and Africa where Islam is practiced, we see many cases of polygamous marriages. Do they have good lawyers?

Imagine what life in these United States would be like if such issues were allowed. At the end of any of the marriages, their would barely be any percentage of income left for the husband, and estates would have to be divided in more ways than just two. Then again, most of the countries where polygamy is practiced have a high mortality rate so the marriages do not last as long as they would in the US; but it is interesting to imagine such a difficult outcome such as a high profile multiple divorce.

'Homewreckers' Beware

A message to mistresses in North Carolina: Be careful when you “homewreck.” You may end up broke.

Cynthia Shackelford, a North Carolina resident, recently sued her ex-husband’s mistress, Anne Lundquist, claiming the mistress ruined her marriage. She used a law established more than two hundred years ago, the “alienation of affection” law, which can be brought against someone who is responsible for the failure of a marriage.

In other words, do not mess around with husbands or wives. You will be looking for trouble, particularly legal trouble. A spiteful ex-spouse, in a state with this law still enacted (there are currently only six states with such a law), may sue you. Oh, and did I mention the ex-wife won 9 million dollars?