#Forensic Accounting Courses Texas

[internationalrealestatenews]

[ad_1] After weeks of foreshadowing, StoryBuilt’s receiver has sued the failed developer’s former prime executives.  In his swimsuit, Stapleton Group managing director Mike Bergthold particulars a laundry listing of alleged misconduct by former CEO Anthony Siela, former CFO Ryan Diepenbrock and former COO Chad Shepler. Bergthold claims the executives “severely mismanaged” the corporate and a few of its joint ventures, “abdicating their responsibility of care and loyalty.” The receiver wrote that he has already found proof of misconduct throughout his work, a lot of which has been a forensic accounting of StoryBuilt’s books, and he expects to seek out extra throughout this lawsuit’s discovery course of.  The claims specified by the swimsuit are broad ranging and canopy plenty of StoryBuilt developments. They embody breaches of fiduciary responsibility, misuse of investor funds and unjust enrichment.  StoryBuilt was as soon as one in all Austin’s fastest-growing builders, ending over 50 residential developments and promoting or leasing over 1,500 houses. It immediately collapsed and entered receivership this summer season, and is now dealing with scrutiny from state and federal regulators together with the SEC, the IRS and the FBI.  A number of the lawsuit’s most startling claims focus on StoryBuilt’s fundraising.  In a single case, it's accused of elevating about $6.7 million from buyers to purchase a property it known as Dayton. StoryBuilt by no means purchased it, although, as a substitute commingling that mission’s cash with different funds not allotted for the mission, the swimsuit alleges. A small proportion of these funds had been spent on diligence and authorized charges, however they had been spent on unrelated tasks, in keeping with the lawsuit. No funds had been returned to buyers, the receiver claims. As of 2019, StoryBuilt may solely settle for cash from accredited buyers. However an audit of information from 2019 by 2022 confirmed that 320 of the agency’s buyers weren't accredited, the swimsuit alleges. In January 2023, the executives had been instructed that a “vital quantity” of its buyers weren't accredited, and that they'd carried out techniques that deliberately didn't confirm accreditation standing, in keeping with the swimsuit.  The executives had been allegedly instructed that might put them within the crosshairs of the SEC, however they took no motion to repair the difficulty. The corporate is now being investigated by the SEC and the Texas Securities Board.  The corporate can also be underneath scrutiny from the Division of Justice, the IRS’ felony investigation unit, the Division of Labor, the FBI, the Texas State Comptroller and the Texas Workforce Fee. These have required the receiver to supply “detailed info at giant value,” in keeping with the swimsuit. The lawsuit additionally consists of claims of mismanagement made by former three way partnership companions of StoryBuilt. At completely different tasks, Companions Group, IHP and Hearthstone Housing Companions all accused StoryBuilt executives of bungling their offers, to nice monetary loss.  IHP accused StoryBuilt of misusing funds earmarked for his or her three way partnership improvement, the Ellie Could condominiums in Austin, in keeping with the swimsuit. That made it unattainable to pay distributors, inflicting a mechanics lien to be filed in opposition to the property, the swimsuit alleges.  As a part of the event settlement within the three way partnership, StoryBuilt was to construct as much as 84 hooked up condos on the property. However StoryBuilt executives used $478,000 earmarked for the mission entity to cowl improvement prices at an adjoining property, in keeping with the lawsuit. Additionally they allegedly paid $544,000 in insurance coverage premiums for the opposite properties with the cash.  Hearthstone’s gripes occurred at George, a 116-home mission with single-family homes and townhomes at 2211 E.M. Franklin Avenue in Austin. StoryBuilt

was introduced on to handle the mission, however Hearthstone claimed the corporate went hundreds of thousands of dollars over finances, ran delayed and failed to truly develop the houses, in keeping with the swimsuit. It additionally allegedly misdirected over $1.5 million in consumers’ deposits and $1.2 million in development loans from Stearns Financial institution.  The issues acquired so unhealthy that Heartstone needed to rent third events to assist with day-to-day administration on the mission, in keeping with the lawsuit. Companions Group is a well-known presence within the StoryBuilt saga, having already slung mud on the receiver’s makes an attempt to dump the StoryBuilt portfolio. Companions now additionally alleges StoryBuilt defaulted on a number of improvement and finance-related ensures of their joint-venture agreements. These embody guarantees to take care of web value and liquidity minimums, in addition to delivering studies on the event course of, in keeping with the lawsuit.  Learn extra Because of this, StoryBuilt allegedly misplaced its proper to advertise distributions.  Companions additionally claimed that at Thornton, an condominium constructing at 2313 Thornton Street managed by StoryBuilt, the corporate leased items with out informing buyers or reporting any generated revenue. Siela and Shepler didn't reply to requests for remark, and Diepenbrock couldn't be reached. The previous executives haven't but responded to the lawsuit in court docket.  [ad_2] Supply hyperlink

[nklhuytang33]

Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Definition

What Is the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)?

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) is a professional organization dedicated to preventing, detecting, and combatting fraud and white-collar crime. It was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Austin, Texas, USA. The ACFE serves as a global resource for anti-fraud professionals and provides a wide range of educational, training, and certification programs for individuals working in the field of fraud examination and prevention.

Key aspects of the ACFE include:

Membership: The ACFE has a diverse membership base that includes professionals from various backgrounds, including fraud examiners, forensic accountants, auditors, investigators, law enforcement officials, lawyers, and more.

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) Certification: One of the most notable offerings of the ACFE is the CFE certification. Becoming a Certified Fraud Examiner demonstrates expertise in fraud examination and is highly regarded in the field. To earn the CFE credential, individuals must meet specific educational and professional requirements, pass a rigorous examination, and adhere to a strict code of ethics.

Training and Education: The ACFE offers a variety of educational resources, including conferences, seminars, webinars, and self-study programs. These resources help professionals stay up-to-date with the latest developments in fraud prevention, detection, and investigation.

Research and Publications: The ACFE conducts research on fraud-related topics and publishes valuable resources such as the Fraud Magazine, which features articles, case studies, and expert insights on fraud-related issues.

Networking: The organization facilitates networking opportunities for its members, allowing them to connect with other anti-fraud professionals and share knowledge and experiences.

Advocacy: The ACFE is involved in advocating for anti-fraud legislation and promoting best practices in fraud prevention and detection.

Overall, the ACFE plays a significant role in promoting ethical standards and professionalism in the field of fraud examination, and it provides a platform for individuals interested in combatting fraud to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Understanding the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)?

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) is a globally recognized professional organization dedicated to combating fraud and white-collar crime. Here is a more in-depth understanding of the ACFE:

Mission: The ACFE's mission is to reduce the incidence of fraud and white-collar crime by promoting a higher level of ethics and professionalism among its members and the broader business community. Its primary focus is on fraud prevention, detection, investigation, and education.

Membership: The ACFE has a diverse membership base that includes professionals from various fields, including fraud examiners, forensic accountants, internal and external auditors, investigators, attorneys, law enforcement personnel, and others involved in the anti-fraud profession.

Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) Credential: The ACFE offers the CFE certification, which is highly regarded in the field of fraud examination and prevention. To become a CFE, individuals must meet certain educational and professional requirements, pass a comprehensive examination, and adhere to a strict code of ethics. The CFE credential signifies expertise in fraud prevention, detection, and investigation.

Education and Training: The ACFE provides extensive educational resources and training opportunities for its members and the general public. These resources include conferences, seminars, webinars, self-study courses, and educational materials. The ACFE's training programs cover a wide range of topics related to fraud examination and prevention, forensic accounting, ethics, and legal issues.

Publications: The ACFE publishes various resources to disseminate knowledge about fraud-related matters. The "Fraud Magazine" is a notable publication that features articles, case studies, and expert insights on fraud prevention and detection techniques, real-world fraud cases, and emerging trends in the field.

Research and Advocacy: The ACFE conducts research on fraud-related topics and actively advocates for anti-fraud legislation and best practices. It contributes to the development of industry standards and guidelines related to fraud prevention and detection.

Networking: The ACFE offers opportunities for members to connect and collaborate with other anti-fraud professionals through local chapters, conferences, and events. Networking allows professionals to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in fraud examination.

Ethical Standards: The ACFE emphasizes the importance of ethics in the fight against fraud. Members are expected to adhere to a strict code of professional ethics that promotes integrity, objectivity, confidentiality, and professionalism in all their anti-fraud activities.

Overall, the ACFE plays a crucial role in promoting the highest ethical and professional standards in the field of fraud examination. It equips its members with the knowledge and tools needed to prevent, detect, and investigate fraud effectively, ultimately contributing to a safer and more transparent business environment.

Special Considerations

It seems you've mentioned "Special Considerations" without specifying a context or topic. Special considerations can be relevant in various situations and fields, so it would be helpful to know more details about what specific aspect or subject you are inquiring about.

If you could provide additional information or context, I would be happy to offer more detailed and relevant information or guidance on the topic of "Special Considerations." Please feel free to clarify your question, and I'll do my best to assist you.

Read more: https://computertricks.net/association-of-certified-fraud-examiners-definition/

[accpe]

The American Center for Continuing Professional Education offers affordable self-study CPE for CPAs, Forensic CPE, Ethics CPE, enrolled agents, tax preparers and students interested in furthering their education.

[leslie-lyman]

Les. These are hands down amazing. And you deserve special recognition for every single one.

Curious about them all. Don’t know which one is favorite… maybe politician learns about plants or new coworker causes dilemma for local chain smoker 😂

xoxo 😘

Okay, Skye, FIRST OF ALL:

You are the sweetest and kindest and most supportive friend and I love you and appreciate you so damn much.

I also keep telling people/myself I’m gonna do a big WIP post after SAMG is done to lay out all the things I have in the works, but then in the meantime I can’t resist dropping lil hints about them and talking about them anyway. 🙈

I cracked myself up with “politician learns about plants,” not gonna lie. This is a WIP only in that I have been marinating on the idea for like two weeks and yelling in some folks’ DMs about it. I have not actually written a word of it but I am extremely excited about the notion.

So have you ever seen this gif of Pedro from that time he was on one episode of Homeland for like six seconds as part of the congressional committee questioning some of the main characters in a hearing?

May I now present to you my idea:

Congressman. Marcus. Pike.

He’s progressive. He’s idealistic. He’s hot as fuck. And he just got elected as the new representative for Texas’s 27th district. He and Reader meet during a lunch break Marcus takes between votes and meetings at the US Botanic Gardens (which are right next to the Capitol). And he learns about plants (among other things). That’s literally all I got so far. 😂

And for “new coworker causes dilemma for local chain smoker,” the chain smoker is, of course, our beloved Javier Peña. He and Steve have a new third wheel attached to their team: forensic accountant Eleanor Hess. The problem is Ellie doesn’t do office hook-ups and Javier Peña knows he’s no one’s boyfriend material. Gee, I wonder what’s gonna happen???

[survey--s]

359.

How many people have you liked this year? Just one. How many pills do you take a day? None, for the most part, but when I’m on my period it can be 10-12 pills a day. Do you have any celebrity crushes? Bradley Jaden. If you could have one superpower, what would it be? The ability to always have the amount of money I want/need in my bank account. Do you put ketchup on top of your French fries or on the side? On the side, for sure.

Where did you last sleep other than your house? The hospital. Where did you get your last bruise from? Copper jumping up at me and accidentally hurting my leg. He was so timid a week ago and now he’s all over me wanting fuss lol. Is it okay to kiss people when you’re single? Of course - why on earth wouldn’t it be? Ever worn something of the opposite sex's clothing? Sure, I practically lived in Mike’s t-shirts and hoodies when we first started dating lol. Do you have a secret that no one knows but you? I suppose, but they’re not really a secret, more I just haven’t felt the need to tell anyone about certain things. Last CD you blasted through your car stereo? I haven’t ever played a CD in my car, I just connect my iPod. How many email accounts do you have? Just two that are in use, but I’m sure there are loads of old ones out there. Who is the best cook in your family? My aunt, for sure, but my mum is pretty good too. Which baby animal is your favorite? ALL the baby animals lol. Have you ever carved a pumpkin? Nope. My parents were very anti-Halloween so I never did stuff like carving pumpkins or trick or treating. When is the last time you went to a carnival? Uh, it would have been when I was at university, I think. Do you have a favorite glass, cup, or mug? My multi-coloured polka dot mug. What branch of science interests you the most? I’m not hugely interested in any kind of science, but maybe forensics or astronomy if I had to pick. Have you ever written anything longer than 10 pages? Sure, loads of times for university. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with via text? Uhh, I have no idea. I don’t tend to have deep conversations by text. Twitter or Tumblr? Tumblr. Twitter is just a cesspit. Have you ever been given a lapdance by an actual stripper? No. Favorite YouTuber? I don’t really get the appeal of watching random people on YouTube. Have you ever had a controlling boyfriend/girlfriend? Yes. Have you ever written a love letter to someone as a joke? Nope. Do you have any gay family members? Yeah, my dad’s sister is gay. Was your first kiss romantic? It was sweet, but I wouldn’t say any kiss between two 11yo’s can be romantic. What are you most likely to go to jail for? Hurting someone who hurt my dog. Who was the last person to sleep over at your house? Nobody has ever slept over at this house, lol. What would you think if you found out your ex was gay? One of ex’s has been in a relationship with another man for about three years now lol. I’m not entirely surprised tbh. How many people has your best friend had sex with? I don’t have a best friend. When was the last time you had a conversation with an ex? A few months ago. Are you currently “appearing offline” to anybody? Ha, I miss those days sometimes. What were you for Halloween last year? Nothing. Do you believe that karma can come back and slap you in the face? I don’t believe it’s karma necessarily, but your decisions can definitely come back and bite you, that’s for sure. Have you ever been to Texas? No, and I have absolutely no desire to go there either. Do your siblings text you? I don’t have any siblings but I occasionally text my sister-in-law.  Have you ever searched for your own house on Google Earth? Haha, of course. I think I’ve searched all my old houses on Google Earth. Did your last kiss end up with you and the person doing anything sexual? Nope. Who is your ex dating/talking to? As far as I know, he’s single.  Who did you last pinky promise with? Probably Amber, lol. Did you ever have to share a room with one of your siblings? No siblings. What happened at the last party you went to? I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I went to a party, lol. Have you ever completely misunderstood what somebody was saying? All the fucking time, lol. When was the last time you felt ill? What was wrong? This morning but I think it was just being tired and being out in the rain lol. I feel fine now so I’m going to assume it was nothing major. Who was your first best friend? Do you still speak to that person? Her name was Lucy, and no, we’ve not spoken since primary school. Are you wearing anything that was given to you as a gift? My wedding and engagement rings. What is your least favourite song, by your favourite artist? I don’t really know. What color is your jewelry box? Brown. Are you attracted to the last person you Facebook messaged? That’s my mother, lol. What is your brother/sister’s favorite food? ... Do you have any ice cream in your freezer? What flavour is it? We do. Clotted cream and I think some Ben & Jerry’s but I don’t know what flavours they are. In your life, who is the person that seems to understand you the most? Probably my husband. Are you afraid of losing the person you like right now? I mean, I don’t actively worry about it, but I’d be devastated if he died. Does anyone know your Facebook password? No.  Would you ever consider getting a piercing in your septum? The idea makes me wince, lol. I’m not really a big fan of septum piercings. Do you enjoy being outdoors? As long as the weather is good, yes. Gay marriage: love is love or a horrible stand against God? Love is love. I don’t really understand any other way of thinking. How many times have you been to a zoo? Load, I used to go all the time as a kid as our local zoo was only about half an hour away. What’re some unspeakable subjects for you? None of them are unspeakable, but there are some I avoid in company as it inevitably just leads to an argument.

[dailyunsolvedmysteries]

JFK wasn't assassinated by a lone gunman

The official account is that Lee Harvey Oswald was the sole assassin responsible for gunning down President John F. Kennedy in November of 1963. By 2019, no single death in history has been scrutinized more thoroughly from every conceivable angle than the JFK assassin. But, despite the findings of the Warren Commission—and scores of other forensic investigations—Americans continue to think otherwise.

1. The Grassy Knoll

The House of Representatives may be partially to blame for this enduring conspiracy theory. In 1976, the Select Committee on Assassinations, which reinvestigated JFK's killing as well as Martin Luther King Jr.'s, concluded that there was "probably" a second shooter on the "grassy knoll," a hill overlooking the site where Kennedy was assassinated in his motorcade.

2. The Umbrella Man

Why would someone carry an umbrella on a sunny day? Louie Steven Witt carried a black umbrella with him to Dealey Plaza on November 22, 1963, and was caught in the famed Zapruder film raising it into the air as Kennedy's car drove past. Some have claimed he was giving a signal; others think he could have shot a poison dart from the umbrella.

3. It was a mob hit

The Kennedys were no strangers to organized crime. In fact, some believe the mafia helped JFK steal the election in 1960 by securing votes in the key state of Illinois. However, another conspiracy theory has the political dynasty at odds with the mob.

This theory hinges on the fact that Kennedy was unsuccessful in overthrowing Fidel Castro in Cuba, meaning the mafia-run casinos remained shutdown, and that his brother, Robert Kennedy, was cracking down on the mob in his role as attorney general, pursuing a case against Jimmy Hoffa.

4. The government did it

Perhaps the most frightening theory in circulation is that the Kennedy assassination was an inside job. According to biographer Philip Shenon, that was Bobby's first thought. "Apparently Bobby Kennedy’s first suspicion was that it was some rogue element in the CIA," Philip Shenon told NBC News. However, after a meeting with CIA Director John McCone, Kennedy changed his mind.

The public was harder to sway. Of course, an organization that's shrouded in secrecy and has a motive (CIA leader's were notably angry with Kennedy over the Bay of Pigs Invasion), is always going to be suspect, but the organization maintains it had nothing to do with the crime.

5. Tampering with the evidence

Some researchers have alleged that various items of physical evidence have been tampered with, including the "single bullet" (also known as the "magic bullet" by some critics of official explanations), various bullet cartridges and fragments, the presidential limousine's windshield, the paper bag in which the Warren Commission said Oswald hid the rifle, the so-called "backyard" photos depicting Oswald holding the rifle, the Zapruder film, the photographs and radiographs obtained at Kennedy's autopsy, and the president's dead body itself.

6. Testimony of eyewitnesses

According to some assassination researchers, the grassy knoll was identified by most witnesses as the area from where shots were fired. In March 1965, Harold Feldman wrote that there were 121 witnesses to the assassination listed in the Warren Report, 51 of whom indicated that the shots that killed Kennedy came from the grassy knoll, while 32 said the shots originated from the Texas School Book Depository. In 1967, Josiah Thompson examined the statements of 64 witnesses and concluded that 33 of them thought that the shots emanated from the grassy knoll.

[bfnbear]

From the San Antonio Express-News; Texas. June 29, 1998.

Young actor clicks in third try

Deborah Martinez; Express-News Staff Writer

Chris Cardenas finally found his match in Jared Padalecki.

For the past two years, Cardenas has gone to the National Speech Tournament to compete in duet acting. Each time, the 1998 Madison High School graduate went with a different partner. Each time he placed in the top six.

When Cardenas, 17, teamed up with Padalecki, 15, and traveled to St. Louis last week, they were gunning for Cardenas' last shot at a national title.

The pair turned in a tear-jerking rendition of "Dominick and Eugene," a story about a man's paternal relationship with his mentally retarded brother, before a crowd of about 3,000.

The judges awarded them first place, giving the North East School District its first national championship in duo interpretation.

"It means a lot to finally win. It was my last chance," said Cardenas, who plans to go to Carnegie- Mellon University in the fall and major in theater. "It probably does mean more to me than it does to Jared because I have been trying for this the past three years."

The most harrowing moments for the pair came after their final performance. They had to sit through a three-hour award ceremony in which winners in their category were the last to be announced.

Although the partners were poised about their performance, the national title came as something of a surprise.

"I was pretty confident of the scene, and I was confident we would do well. But there's always that little question in the back of your mind," Padalecki said about the stiff competition with the 200- plus teams of duo interpreters.

With two years left in high school, Padalecki said his partnership with Cardenas will help him prepare for future competitions.

"I love the way Chris acts," Padalecki said. "I respect his work. Everything I see him do he's always really good in. All the rest of the audience is really enthralled by him.

"It was a good experience and an honor to be chosen to work with him."

Both actors attributed their success to their coach, Mike Harrison.

Cardenas said his and Padalecki's championship was an emotional climax to four years of hard work in which he sacrificed teen- age experiences such as his high school prom.

"When I look back at the last four years, it's more important than a prom," said Cardenas, who described as a relief the actual moment after he and Padalecki were announced champions.

"It was like a sigh of relief because you're like tense and you're holding your breath and all of a sudden you can exhale," Cardenas said. "After that, you just start freaking out."

Overall, North East had the best representation of any school district in the nation at the 67th annual tournament, sponsored by the National Forensic League, said Diana Schumacher, assistant to the district's fine arts director. The tournament included events ranging from debate to speech and drama.

For Churchill High School, Blake Walker took home a fourth place in humorous interpretation and Danny Lutman placed sixth in the original oratory category, while Aimee Gonzalez took 10th place in dramatic interpretation. High School student Justine Fisher was a triple winner, taking fourth place in extemporaneous speaking, eighth place in policy debate with partner Justin Freeman, and 10th place in the Phyllis Flory Barton Debate Speakers Awards category.

From the San Antonio Express-News; Texas. August 11, 1999.

Teen trades ranch work for appearance on TV

Jeanette McNamee; Express-News Staff Writer

When Hollywood came calling for aspiring actor Jared Padalecki, the Madison High School senior was working on a ranch in Blanco, far from the bright lights of a television or movie studio.

Padalecki, 17, of San Antonio was one of two teens selected nationwide as a winner of Seventeen Magazine and Fox-TV's "Claim to Fame Contest." Patricia Pendleton of Putnam, Conn., was the second winner.

A tall, Matt Damon look-alike, Padalecki won an expense-paid trip to Santa Monica, Calif., to appear as a presenter on the 1999 Teen Choice Awards. The show was taped Aug. 1 and will be aired locally 7-9 p.m. Thursday on KABB- TV.

Winning the contest meant a welcome break for Padalecki from a couple of hot weeks spent building fences, digging holes and cutting trees on a Blanco ranch owned by Spurs chairman Peter Holt.

Padalecki was one of approximately 20,000 teens nationwide who entered the contest by submitting a videotape of themselves to their local Planet Hollywood restaurant. Each contestant had 30 seconds to tell why he or she would be a good presenter. That was not a problem for Padalecki, who had been in numerous speech tournaments and taken drama classes since he was in the sixth grade.

He and his parents, Jerry and Sherri Padalecki, flew to California on July 29 for a five-day stay. Although the show was taped in Santa Monica, they stayed in Beverly Hills.

The Teen Choice Awards recognizes popular teen stars in film, television, music, sports and fashion as chosen by teens across the country who completed ballots found in Seventeen magazine's June and July issues or accessed the magazine's web site to vote for their favorites.

An estimated 1,000 teens were on hand for the filming of the show.

"I thought I was just going to sit backstage and maybe just go on stage a couple of times," Padalecki said. "But, actually, they let me help backstage. They also had me handing awards (which looked like surfboards) to presenters and even sometimes giving them to the people who won."

"They introduced me on the show, too. I don't know if they're going to keep it or if they're going to cut it."

He got to meet such celebrities as Freddie Prinze Jr., Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lopez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Brandy and Tara Lipinski.

But the most important part of the trip for the outgoing, personable Padalecki was the chance to meet agents such as Rich Beddingfield, manager/agent for Freddie Prinze Jr.

"We're going to keep in touch, and he (Beddingfield) is going to try and send me some audition material," a hopeful Padalecki said. "It's kind of tough living in San Antonio when the main acting cities, of course, are New York and L.A. So, instead of flying you back and forth, they send you the material and ask you to put yourself on tape and then you send the tape back to them, and they review it."

His parents are very supportive of his acting aspirations, he said.

"But it's a pretty tough business in acting, and they want me to have something as a backup. But if it all works out, they'd be ecstatic."

He's hopeful the audition tapes he sends to Beddingfield will lead to appearances in some TV shows or movies.

His mother said she and her husband share their son's enthusiasm for his acting goals.

"We think it's wonderful," she said. "He's been interested in it (acting) a long time. He was always a ham when he was little."

She is a teacher at [...] High School and Jerry Padalecki is an accountant with [...] Corp.

After graduating from Madison High School, Padalecki hopes to find acting roles in Los Angeles.

"I want to see how this next year in high school goes before deciding on college," he said. "If something happens during the year, like I get to be on a TV show or I send an audition tape and they like me and want to put me in a movie, then I'll go into acting. If I can do it, there's nothing else I want to do in the world."

If he finds acting jobs in L.A., he might attend the University of California at Los Angeles to major in theater or communications.

"Or, if this doesn't work out, I'll probably go to the University of Texas at Austin and major in engineering or computer science."

Padalecki has taken speech and drama classes for several years, first at Wood Middle School and then at Madison, where he's won awards in speech and drama competition.

He praises Madison's drama teacher, Mike Harrison.

"Mr. Harrison always told me I was real talented. But he also said it helps what you do in your lifetime. It helps the experiences you have and the way you see things," Padalecki said.

In addition to his success in drama and speech, he is an all-around 'A' student and a National Merit Scholar. He takes honors classes and is in the gifted and talented program at Madison. He also enjoys basketball and football.

His brother Jeff, 20, is a student at St. Mary's University, and his sister Megan, 14, is a freshman at Madison.

Forgot the link. Oops

[femnet]

*This is coming from the perspective of an American, but I believe that many things will cross over.

For the past four years, I’ve done everything I could to look amazing on a college application. I’ve known pretty much all my life that to go to college without crippling debt, I would have to pay for it with scholarships and grants. The problem with this was that my dreams were bigger than my wallet. I wanted to go to schools that were out of state and even out of the country. Some of my top choices were private, which made them even more expensive. Just before Thanksgiving break during my sophomore year, I was given a wake-up call that made me understand what I really needed to look at in my college choices.

Cost of Attendance- Is it realistic?

As I mentioned before, the biggest issue for me (and for most people) was the cost. My top choice for college was New York University, which is not only out of state but also private. I had never really looked at schools in Texas very much because I’ve always wanted to get out, but after a talk with one of my teachers during sophomore year, I realized that I needed to look closer to home and be more realistic.

It did break my heart to give up on my dreams. However, I quickly realized that there was a school for me that, as my friend once called it, is “the NYU of Texas.” The great thing about this school is that it’s both in state and public. They also give out a lot of financial aid, as I found out when my brother started applying there.

I sent in my application at the start of November 2018 and I got in immediately. They were quick to give me all the aid that I needed and by the time all of my aid goes through, I will have my first year of college fully covered.

The lesson here is that even if you think there is no other school like your top choice, sometimes you can find one that still fits your ideal school and your wallet. As ridiculous as some costs might be, there are options for those of us that aren’t well off.

Financial Aid- Are they generous?

If you’re in a similar financial situation, it’s very important that you research the aid that your top choices give out. Their website may not give a whole lot of information on exactly how much they’ll give out, so I suggest talking to some students that are going to your top choice schools currently. The best information I got about financial aid came from my brother who goes to the same school that I’ll be attending this fall.

One important factor in financial aid consideration is the standards of each school. For example, Harvard is an Ivy League school. If you barely make it into Harvard, they probably aren’t going to give you much financial aid, or at least in merit awards. However, if you also get into a public, non-Ivy school with those same grades and test scores, they are going to give you a lot because you are an above average student for their school.

I’m in the top ten percent of my school and my scores are all great. However, at some of the more prestigious school in Texas like Rice and the University of Texas, it’s unlikely that I’ll get a lot of aid because to them I’m average or below average. At the school I’ll be attending, I’m a top priority student.

Majors, Programs, & Courses- Do they have what you need?

By the time you start applying for college, you hopefully at least have majors narrowed down. While it’s not mandatory for you to know exactly what you want to study, it definitely helps and makes the application process much easier. If you have an idea of what you want to study, you need to make sure that your possible schools have what you need to be successful in that field. Here’s a list of questions you can ask to determine whether each school has the right majors and/or courses for you:

Is this an accredited institution?

If it isn’t, TAKE IT OFF YOUR LIST!

Does it have the major(s) that I’m considering?

If it doesn’t, TAKE IT OFF YOUR LIST!

Do the courses within this(these) major(s) interest me?

If they don’t, TAKE IT OFF YOUR LIST!

Are these courses relevant to my future career and will they prepare me for success?

If they don’t, TAKE IT OFF YOUR LIST!

Are there any courses you need that are missing from this school’s program(s)?

EX. If you are studying biology to go into forensic science but they don’t have forensic science classes, you may want to reconsider going to this school.

Within the major(s) I’m considering, do they have concentrations that will better prepare me for a career?

EX. I want to be a writer so I’m majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing.

Has(have) the program(s) I’m interested in won any awards from outside institutions and/or publications?

Does this school have accelerated programs for the major(s) that I’m interested in?

EX. Accelerated BBA in Accounting and MBA in Accounting program- you get both in only five years.

Do the departments that have the majors I’m interested in give out scholarships that are separate from the school?

EX. I applied for scholarships from my school but also from the English department.

If you have college credits from dual credit or AP classes, does this school accept those credits?

If it doesn’t, TAKE IT OFF YOUR LIST!

Of course, there may be other things you deem fit to ask, but this list gives you a good starting point. If you can’t find the information you need online, call, email, or visit the school. Make sure you take the time to get all of the information you need from EVERY school that you’re considering.

The Campus- Are you comfortable there?

No matter what school you choose, you’re going to be spending a lot of time on campus. It’s critical that you go and spend time on each campus so that you can get a feel for what your campus life would be like if you go there. Of course, this can be complicated depending on the location of your options.

If you’re like I was when I first started looking at colleges, it’s pretty pricy to visit some schools. While it’s not ideal to apply to a school without being able to see the campus, there are many options for you to get a look at campus life, such as the following

Watch online campus tours via the school’s website

Contact students from the schools you’re interested in and ask them about their campus experiences

Read reviews from students that include information about the campus and what it offers or doesn’t offer

If you’ll be living on campus, make sure to check out any information you can find on the various housing options and dining halls

You may be able to find other methods to get campus life information, but this is a good starting point.

If you are able to visit campuses, you may want to ask yourself these questions:

Is this campus nice to look at?

If not, TAKE IT OFF YOUR LIST!

Is this campus too big or too small for you?

If so, CONSIDER TAKING IT OFF YOUR LIST!

Are there good places to study, both outside and inside?

If you’ll be living on campus, is the available housing comfortable and convenient?

Look at the size, furniture provided, bathroom situation, suites, etc.

If not, TAKE IT OFF YOUR LIST!

What amenities do the on-campus housing options have?

EX. Full kitchen, laundry rooms, lounge, study rooms, etc.

Does this school have a student union? If so, what does it offer?

EX. A book store, restaurants, financial services office, admissions office, coffee shop, etc.)

Do the dining halls and restaurants on campus offer food that you enjoy?

If you’re vegan or vegetarian, do they have food options that fit your needs?

Does this school host many events on campus?

Ask a few students!

EX. Job fairs, concerts, sports games, etc.

Does this school have a rec center and/or gym?

Is the campus easy to navigate?

What does the parking situation look like?

Keep in mind that parking at most universities is just not great.

I’ve visited many different college campuses in Texas and I can tell you that even some schools that were well known and prestigious had campuses that I hated. When I visited Texas A&M, I was particularly let down. The campus was basically a concrete jungle. Everything was brown, gray, and maroon. There were few trees and the campus was so large that I knew I would have to run between classes, drive myself, or learn to ride a bike. The campus of the university I ended up choosing was a complete 180. The campus was beautiful- filled with trees, flowers, beautiful buildings, and definitely the perfect size. When I visited the campus for the first time, I immediately felt comfortable. I LOVE spending time there and I take every opportunity I can to go back.

Off-Campus- What is the surrounding area like?

Even though you’ll probably be spending most of your time on campus, it’s also important to check out what’s off campus. For a time, I considered going to another university because they and a full BFA Creative Writing degree program and that was exactly what I wanted. However, there was NOTHING off campus. It was pretty much a ghost town as soon as you stepped off the grounds. I compromised with my university for a BA English with a concentration in Creative Writing instead so that I could have a better college experience both on and off campus.

Here are some things you’ll want to look for off-campus:

For fun:

Cool restaurants

Cinemas

Clubs/Bars

Parks

Other cool hangout spots

For Adulting:

Banks

Book stores

Hospitals/Other medical services

Possible job opportunities

Whatever you feel is necessary

Extracurricular Activities- How can you get involved?

Being involved in clubs, organizations, and other extracurricular activities is a critical part of anyone’s college experience. Participating in these activities allows you to meet new people, gain experience that you can use in your career and personal life, and put something on your resume that shows how involved you are.

Usually, schools will have lists and descriptions of the various extracurricular activities they offer on their websites. Here you can find a link to an article about how extracurriculars can shape and improve your college experience and better prepare you for your career. It also includes examples of various extracurriculars that you can join. There’s pretty much something for everybody, no matter your interests.

Physical & Mental Health Services- Can you get the care you need?

College is a major adjustment, especially for people with physical or mental health care needs. I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression for a very long time, so I understand the concern when it comes to finding a college that has the care you need. Many schools offer health care services on campus, but they are usually hard to get into. Off-campus you’ll have to do a lot of research to see what’s available and find a location that’s convenient for you. This is much easier in bigger cities than in small towns for obvious reasons.

If you’re able to visit campuses, stop by any mental/physical health centers you can find to get more information about their services. If you can’t, check online or even call to find out more. Usually, there’s a consultation appointment first to figure out what care plan is right for you and then you’ll go from there.

If there isn’t anything on campus or you can’t get in soon, search the web to see what’s available off campus. If you’re in a mid-sized city or larger it shouldn’t be too difficult to find something that’s convenient or at least available to you. If you need to, ask students on campus where they go for the care they need. (Of course, make sure not to be too invasive when talking to them about their health.)

Disability Accommodations- Is this campus accessible?

I’ll say right off the bat that the only firsthand experience I have with disability accommodation is when I started the process of registering my cat as an ESA with my university for my anxiety. However, I do know that disability accommodation is a necessary program for any university. Most universities should have a department for disability accommodation that handles all concerns and needs of students.

When looking at a university, make sure to find out where this department is located, what they do to accommodate your specific disability/disabilities, and if anything extra is needed for you to comfortably attend classes there. If you can’t find anything about this or there genuinely is nothing like that at one of your choices, it’s probably time to knock that one off your list.

Diversity- Is the student body diverse?

As an LGBT+ student, diversity and inclusion are very important to me. Also, my goal as a writer is to write stories that give minorities and women the representation that they deserve. In this sense, diversity is relevant both to me personally and my career. When I started looking at colleges this was definitely one of the first things that I looked at. I found out that my university is one of the only schools in Texas that offers LGBT studies as an area of study. They have several programs and organizations for LGBT+ students and are very LGBT+ friendly overall. If you look at practically any major there, you’ll see that their courses are geared towards preparing students for the diverse world that we live in. Some of the other schools I looked at were the exact opposite.

Maybe you didn’t think that this was an important point to look at before, but diversity in a university opens a lot of new doors. It allows you to meet people from all backgrounds and be exposed to several new cultures.

I think this is definitely enough for y’all to get started on, so I’ll go ahead and end it here. If you have any suggestions on what I could add and/or change about this guide, please leave a comment or shoot us a message in our contact page and I’d be happy to accept them!

[accpe]

Continuing Professional Education for CPAs Texas|ACCPE

Our best Continuing Professional Education for CPAs Texas are available through a number of means providing more than 40 CPE hours per year but we have different approaches to how many you need to complete each year of the reporting period. We have 1-year accounting periods and also 2 or 3 year periods based on your requirements. Our procedure is for you to keep your CPA license active while practicing public accounting, but can change status if you shift focus to other areas of accounting.

[insatiabletc]

This is Armani Dante Morgan, from Dallas Texas. 

Since 2017, at least five trans women of color have been murdered in Dallas, Texas. We will be doing profiles on the five we are aware of: Muhlaysia Booker, Shade Schuler, Chynal Lindsey, Brittany White, and Armani Dante Morgan.

 Who was Armani?

Since Muhlaysia Booker’s murder in 2019, Armani’s name has been brought up as an example of the growing number of trans women who have been murdered in Dallas, and many speculate whether she was murdered by Muhlaysia’s killer, Kendrell Levar Lyles. The same details are always provided:

●      Armani went missing in 2017

●      Armani’s body was found skeletonized in a field not very far from where she lived

●      The police think Armani could have been murdered by Lyles

What the media has yet to report is what her job was, her relationship with her family was, anything about the friends and community that miss her, and any of the little tidbits that make up a person. Who was she outside of this one act of violence? In an interview with The Daily Beast [1], Armani’s aunt said:

“All of the…[recent] transgender deaths and assaults have gotten the media attention that those cases deserve but unfortunately, Armani’s did not receive any media attention at all at the time Armani’s badly decomposed remains were unexpectedly discovered.”

This appears to be largely true. We could not find any news articles from 2017 reporting on Armani’s disappearance and murder, other than a page from the Charley Project[2]. Beyond this Daily Beast article, we could find no other information about Armani.

We tried looking for an obituary or a funeral announcement, news articles, press releases, anything, and came up empty. We did find an old social media profile for Armani, but the only two items posted were profile pictures from 2014. Through that media page we did find one person who knew her, but unfortunately the last post made on the friend’s account was made in July 2017, right after they heard the news about Armani’s death. Since then there has been no activity on that profile. So, as it stands, we know next to nothing about who Armani was.

But we do know that she was a person, and because of that she is deserving of our attention and concern about how her murder is resolved. We should scrutinize why the media now deems her murder worth reporting, while reporting nothing of substance about her.

 Armani’s Timeline

While not much is known about Armani-the-person, thanks to the Daily Beast, we do have an idea of the interactions she had before she disappeared and after she was found.

5/31/2017 – an “acquaintance” (a woman who is not Lyles) and her daughter shot into Armani’s apartment, which she shared with her mom. When Armani ran outside to see who was shooting, the “acquaintance” and the daughter attacked Armani and filmed the assault.  

6/3/2017 – the same “acquaintance” attacks Armani again. Armani’s aunt said the “acquaintance” accused Armani of stealing money.

6/3/2017 – later that night, Armani goes missing.

6/22/2017 – Armani’s family reports her missing

7/23/2017 – Armani’s skull (and later the rest of her skeletonized remains) is found in a field by her home.

7/?/2017 – Armani’s family hears about the remains found near their home and ask for DNA analysis to see if the body is Armani. The medical examiner does so and confirms Armani’s identity.

?/?/2017 – Medical examiners say they cannot determine the cause of death but think it is likely a drug overdose.

6/?/2019 – in light of the murder of Muhlaysia Booker (and the subsequent media attention of the murders of Shade Schuler, Chynal Lindsey, and Brittany White) the police decide to investigate her death further.

 Who is the Acquaintance?

Obviously the first thing that jumps out in that timeline is the unnamed acquaintance. We couldn’t dig up any information on who she is, but it is surprising that after 4 attacks by this person (the Daily Beast article, that we pull a great deal of our information from, only details 3 attacks, but states there are 4 in total) the police lean toward Armani’s death being a result of a drug overdose. The Daily Beast says the police interviewed the acquaintance, but there is nothing after that. Did she have an airtight alibi for AFTER she attacked Armani the same night she died? We know it’s not impossible that Armani was attacked by two completely separate individuals in one day (as you will see with Muhlaysia Booker’s case), one leading to death.  We also know that there is the possibility that Police do think she is a suspect but they do not have enough evidence to charge her. But why suggest a drug overdose as the cause of death?

Drug Overdoses and Skeletonized Remains

So, obviously we are not forensic pathologists, medical examiners, or anything remotely close. Take all of our scientific interpretations with a huge grain of salt.

We were curious about how long it takes for a body to skeletonize, and whether you can determine drug OD from skeletonized remains. First, your body can skeletonize surprisingly quickly it seems! A body can turn into a skeleton within three weeks. This, of course, is entirely dependent on external environmental factors, like weather, humidity, etc. Armani’s body becoming skeletonized between 6/3 and 7/22 does seem in the realm of possibility.

As for a drug overdose, we wish we knew more about Armani. Did Armani take drugs (no judgement if so)? Medical examiners, beyond physical data obtained from a body, can also use family and personal history to help determine cause of death. Did the medical examiner in this case lean towards a drug overdose before or after Armani’s family was notified? What we’re getting at is whether there were significant amounts of drugs in her system to indicate a likely drug overdose, or whether the medical examiner heard from Armani’s family that she did drugs and those compounds were found in her skeletal remains, or whether it was a mix of the two scenarios.

Another question begs to be asked: how reliable are post-mortem toxicology tests done on skeletonized remains? We had a hard time finding an answer to that specific question, but we did find out that blood tests are the only way to certify a drug overdose[3]. So again, we wonder what factors indicated to the medical examiner that Armani died of a drug overdose.

We can speculate, however, that it is likely that there were no obvious gunshot wounds on the available remains (also, was her entire skeleton present?), otherwise that would have been a clearer sign of foul play.

Kendrell Levar Lyles

Now that Muhlaysia Booker’s killer, Lyles, has been apprehended, people have begun to wonder if he is responsible for any other murders of trans women in the Dallas area. If you look up the case, you will see repeated over and over again that he is also being charged with the murders of two unnamed individuals and speculation that he could be responsible for the murders of Shade Schuler, Chynal Lindsey (after initial news articles suggesting a possible link to Lyles, a different person has become the prime suspect and is being charged with her murder), Brittany White, and Armani.

We  were able to find the names of his alleged other victims and they are Leticia Grant (as far as we currently know a cis-gendered woman of color), and Kenneth Cichocki (as far as we currently know a cis-gendered white man).[4]

The general timeline we have for Lyles’ activities is:

5/18/2019 – Muhlaysia Booker is seen getting into a car matching Lyles’s and is later found critically wounded by a gunshot. Police later figure out that he kept her phone with him in his car after the murder.

5/23/2019 – Lyles shot and killed Kenneth Cichocki. It was later discovered that Kenneth and Lyles were communicating via Facebook right up until he was shot. It is unclear whether this was done via the Facebook Messenger app on their phones, but if Kenneth was messaging Lyles from the parking lot he was murdered in, it would make sense that it was via cell phone.

5/22/2019 – tip comes into the police about Lyles from a witness

5/24/2019 – Lyles shot and killed Leticia Grant. After 2 unnamed witnesses came forward, police learned that Lyles and Leticia had been in contact via telephone before her murder.

6/5/2019 – Lyles is arrested

A couple of things stand out initially:

●      All three victims were shot

●      All three victims were killed in a timespan of 7 days

●      All three victims had some kind of phone (or in Kenneth’s case, Facebook) interaction with Lyles shortly before their murders

●      This is not shown in the timeline above, but we were able to find out Lyles’ address and from that determined that all three murders occurred within 15 to 30 minutes driving distance of Lyles’ home.

Can these factors help us (or really, investigators) judge the likelihood that Lyles murdered Armani? Let’s break it down into another bullet-point list by factor:

●      Literal Timeline: Armani was murdered in 2017, while his other three victims were all killed within 7 days. (One thing that is interesting to note, is that the 3 victims he is being charged for all occurred in mid to late May. Armani was murdered in early June.) For this to mean anything to us (and investigators) we would need to be able to tell if Lyles is a serial killer or a spree killer. The main difference between the two seems to boil down to motive and timespan. As of right now, we do not know enough about Lyles to determine whether his motives/life align with someone who would kill in 2017 and then kill again in 2019 (and truly, we have no way of knowing if there are other victims). One thing that would suggest that perhaps Lyles is not a serial killer, but rather an unfocused spree killer, is that he confessed to different witnesses about at least one of the murders, and in Kenneth’s case, had another person in the car when he “went out to use the bathroom” and shot Kenneth (the witness was able to hear the gunshots from Lyles’ car). Would someone so careless about his murders in 2019 have been able to keep quiet about a murder in 2017? But, if he was responsible for Armani’s death, maybe he did confess it to someone but that witness never came forward.

●      Murder Weapon: Lyles used a gun in the three murders he is being charged for. As we saw earlier, the medical examiner in Armani’s case thought the cause of death to be a drug overdose. This implies that there were no obvious signs of a gunshot. We know Leticia was shot in the head, but we do not know where Muhlaysia and Kenneth were shot (and both survived long enough to be transported to a hospital, which implies it may not have been as lethal a shot as one to the head). But, maybe Armani was shot in a way that the wound caused her death but went through the body without hitting any bones. Assuming the investigators on the scene who recovered Armani’s body were thorough, we can suspect that there was no physical evidence of a gunshot onsite (shell casings, broken up bits of a bullet, etc). This is not concrete evidence either way, but something to consider.

●      Phone: Did investigators recover Armani’s phone? Was there any evidence of contact between Lyles and Armani before her death? Did Armani reach out to the Facebook account that Kenneth was in contact with? This seems to be the most concrete way investigators have linked Lyles to his victims.

●      Distance from his home: Armani’s home is within 18-22 minutes driving time from Lyles’ home. HOWEVER. Using Google Maps, we determined that from the top to the bottom of Dallas takes about 30 minutes driving time, and from West to East is also about 30 minutes driving time. So, in reality, the physical distance from Lyles’ home may be meaningless. All this really tells us is that Lyles stayed in his same city when committing murder, not that Armani’s location had any special connection to Lyles.

The Media

We have to say, none of this is especially compelling evidence. Our suspicion is that the media leapt upon the idea that Lyles is a serial killer targeting trans women in the Dallas area. They speculated that he was connected to Chynal Lindsay’s death, when later someone completely unrelated was charged with her murder. Look at this headline:

It seems relatively innocuous for the media to speculate about a serial killer, especially if that information comes from the police – these types of crimes are wildly popular in our culture, and popularity sells papers/subscriptions/gets attention. Why wouldn’t the media leap on this? Why are we riled up about it? Consider: if the public views a serial killer responsible for the deaths of trans women in Dallas, will they think that means there isn’t an epidemic of violence occurring against tans and gender-non-conforming individuals in this area, but instead just one crazy guy. If the public believes these crimes are the work of one serial killer, why have any policies protecting this group of people? If people are led to believe that these murders are not a systemic issue (they are) then they may be less willing to listen when activists say we need legal protections for this group.

Remember, police have now charged someone completely different with Chynal’s murder. Further, we initially came across Armani’s story because the BBC[5] reported that “an unidentified trans woman in 2017…was found in the same lake as Chynal” in the course of their report on her murder. We wanted to know more about this “unidentified trans woman” and scoured news articles about bodies that were found in White Rock Lake in 2017. We found an article[6] that said in November 2017 an unidentified body was found in in the lake, but as far as we were able to determine, there was no follow up on who that body was, so we cannot say if the person was trans. Realistically, there are 2 scenarios:

The BBC conflated Armani and the     unidentified person in White Rock Lake. (We looked up the place Armani’s     remains were found relative to White Rock Lake, and there is a 26 minute     driving distance between the two, so it seems unlikely that someone     confused the field as part of the park surrounding the lake.)

The BBC did not     conflate Armani with someone else, and there really is another trans     victim in Dallas from 2017. In this case, who is this victim and why     aren’t we hearing about them?

This matters because scenarios one and two both lead to the same place: that trans women are being killed and left in a specific geographic location, giving implied evidence to the serial killer theory.

And beyond that, our justice system isn’t tracking data about trans women who have been murdered! As we’ve covered before, agencies like the Human Rights Campaign, that are doing the crucial data tracking on violent attacks and murders on trans and LGBTQ folks, are often forced to partially rely on media coverage to help them capture these victims in their data sets. When the media messes up, it could compromise data collection, which in turn can impact state level policy.

As time passes and we learn the reality of who is responsible for each of these murders, the damage will already be done. How often do you follow each new development of a murder case, even if its local? How often do you find out your initial assumptions (fed by the media) were wrong? We know we would be susceptible to seeing a headline of “serial killer in Dallas targeting trans women” and having that stick.

Media matters because we don’t all have the bandwidth to interrogate every bit of news we consume. We can’t all spend hours researching and digging up court documents and cross referencing. Trans women, and especially trans women of color, ARE being targeted, this is undeniable, the evidence is there. But not by the same people. They are being targeted by a variety of individuals who are raised in a society that says hurting trans people (or LGBTQ people in general, or people of color in general) is ok. It is insidious.

Also ask yourself why the police would want to suggest there is a serial killer responsible for cold cases of murdered trans women. Is it because they believe it likely? Or, is it because they want to close those cases? Does it look different in FBI data collection to say a serial killer is targeting trans people rather than many cases perpetrated by different people? Could that mask true gender-based hate crimes (and remember, Texas has no laws protecting people on the basis of gender identity)? We do not know the answers to these questions.  

We ask you, reader, to think about what information is missing when you read the news. Not all news is wrong, and we don’t want you to leave thinking the point of this article is “fake news!” We should always interrogate and critically think about what information is presented to us. When it comes to these specific issues, the media has historically done a disservice to the LGBTQ community.

This is not the last you will hear from us on Kendrell Lyles or Dallas.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, we are happy the police are reopening Armani’s case for investigation, as well as other cold cases like Shade Schuler’s murder. Even if it is in the pursuit of a serial killer, hopefully it will lead to real closure and real difference. All of these women deserve justice and we deeply hope that this justice will come. We also hope that there will come a day when trans women of color are not targeted for violence and can live in peace. Please consider donating to local or national organizations that help bring visibility to these issues!

We hope that you will begin to question and critically analyze the media you consume.

Want to Learn More about Missing and Murdered Trans Women of Color? Here are some great sources that we have come across:

·        The Trans Obituaries Project: Honoring the Trans Women of Color Lost in 2019 (USA - obituaries written by Raquel Willis, illustrations done by Jacob Stead): https://www.out.com/print/2019/11/20/trans-obituaries-project-honoring-trans-women-color-lost-2019#media-gallery-media-1

·        The Human Rights Campaign: https://www.hrc.org/blog/topic/transgender

·        GLAAD put out a great article on how to write about trans folks who have been victims of crime: https://www.glaad.org/publications/transgendervictimsofcrim

·        Trans Women of Color Collective https://www.twocc.us/ This is a great resource and a reminder that trans women of color exist outside the violence they experience.

 [1] https://www.thedailybeast.com/dallas-police-investigating-death-of-transgender-woman-armani-dante-morgan

[2] http://charleyproject.org/case/armani-dante-morgan

[3] https://www.captodayonline.com/drug-overdose-deaths-and-toxicology-tests-lets-talk/

[4] We found these names in both news articles and court documents. If they had not already been printed by the media we would not include them here.

[5] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48525458

[6] https://dfw.cbslocal.com/2017/11/21/body-found-floating-white-rock s-creek/

[photographasdocumentspring14blog]

Essay by Michael Almereyda, Filmmaker

Cinema is a matter of what’s in the frame and what’s out. —Martin Scorsese

We should be blessed if we lived in the present always, and took advantage of every accident that befell us, like the grass which confesses the influence of the slightest dew that falls on it. —Henry David Thoreau, Walden

In Cameraperson (2016), Kirsten Johnson has made a buoyant film about the weight of the world.

She lays out her process in a paragraph presented up front. What we’re about to see, she explains, has been patched together from material she has shot as a cinematographer for films directed by other people, in the course of a career spanning twenty-five years. “I ask you to see it as my memoir,” Johnson insists.

A memoir, yes, but one that is scant on autobiographical facts. You have to turn elsewhere to learn that Johnson studied painting and literature in the late 1980s at Brown University, where she had a political awakening, stirred by the anti-apartheid movement roiling the campus. Upon graduation, making an uncommon move, she transplanted herself to Senegal and interned there on a film written by the great Ousmane Sembène. In 1991, she was the first American to enroll at La Fémis, the French national film school, where she entered the camera department and discovered a vocation. She landed early cinematography jobs in France and Brazil.

Evolving from this global trajectory, Cameraperson is a nonchronological collage of raw and repurposed footage: forty-four distinct episodes (by my count) made up of sounds and images gathered for (but generally not appearing in) twenty-four separate projects. Most of the episodes are bridged by breaks of black frames, during which anticipatory sounds prepare for oncoming images. Locations are identified by title cards, and eleven people are given names and job descriptions, ranging from “Jacques Derrida / French philosopher”—a quick cameo, as the famous man impishly holds forth on a Manhattan street—to “Aisha Bukar / nurse, midwife,” a more substantial, recurring presence, granting us access to a natal unit in a Nigerian hospital, where the film arrives at one of its most harrowing sequences. We get scraps from high-profile documentaries—Laura Poitras’s The Oath and Citizenfour, on which Johnson served as a principal shooter, and Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, for which she received an “additional camera operator” credit—but most of the movies cannibalized here are not especially well-known, and Johnson accomplishes her most probing portraiture by focusing on people encountered as strangers. Her inclusion, at regular intervals, of her own home-video footage confirms an impression of inspired and intimate rummaging. (This is a memoir that blurs the line between professional and private experience.) Ultimately, like a lavish quilt, or a bird’s nest, the film subsumes its source material on the way to becoming a complete and organic new thing.

More often than not, Johnson’s work takes her to places stamped by violence, death, and destruction, sites of collective grief and dread. Even if the worst of the mayhem has occurred in the past, she’s there to absorb and collect the residue, talking to survivors, bearing witness. Johnson supplies a few grace notes, musical interludes, flashes of scenic splendor, but for a film made by a cinematographer, there are bracingly few images that are merely pretty or picturesque. People are plainly what Johnson cares about most, and in this film she candidly prizes and examines her ability to use her camera to get close to whoever is in the frame. “Gettin’ close to everybody,” she murmurs, disarmingly, to an initially wary man in a Brooklyn boxing gym. The man smiles and relaxes, as if Johnson has cast a spell. She coaxes equivalent looks of complicity and acceptance from a boy in Kabul whose left eye has been blinded in a bomb blast; from an elegantly wizened Muslim woman in Bosnia and Herzegovina who, with a tight, tart smile, denies that the Serbs’ campaign of mass rape ever affected her family; and from her own mother, diminished by Alzheimer’s, regarding Johnson—and Johnson’s camera—with a mix of tenderness and fright.

The film has been crafted with self-reflexive knowingness. Shots that feature fumbling and reframing are integrated the way a confident painter builds a picture around bare canvas, loose brushwork, spattered drips. And there’s a steady pressing of a central nerve, a nagging question implicit in the most searching documentaries as well as the most trivial: At what point does the camera’s scrutiny become exploitative, invasive, voyeuristic, damaging? The question hovers throughout the film, despite Johnson’s evident gift for putting people at ease, respecting the pressure and pain of true confession. In sequence after sequence, she invites and captures intimacy, even or especially when her subjects don’t want their faces shown. (In these cases, Johnson’s camera follows their uneasy hands, and we see Scorsese’s axiom at work; what’s not in the frame adds eloquence to what is.)

As a self-portrait, Cameraperson is intriguingly elliptical, oblique. Early on, we see Johnson’s striding shadow, her camera rising from her shoulder like a jagged branch, an extension of her body, but in the course of the film she appears full-on only briefly, near the end. She doesn’t spell out a credo, or spill any outright confessions of her own. (In an overconfiding age, this may account for a good deal of the film’s power.) But Johnson’s overheard voice—a quick, open, guileless voice, quintessentially American—is there from the start, behind the lens, giggling and almost giddy. When her camera catches lightning slicing down from a wash of blue-gray Missouri clouds, she gasps, then stays steady and silent enough to take in the emptiness—a crash of thunder, its echo, a defiantly serene bird—then Johnson sneezes, twice, jostling the frame, undercutting any self-important claim to authority as the film’s title comes up.

Soon after, in Sarajevo, speaking offhandedly to an unseen collaborator, the cameraperson sketches her MO, talking like a teenager: “I always try to have some kind of relationship with people, like I’ll look them in the eye like ‘You see me shooting you, don’t you?’”

She shows us her twin toddlers in her Manhattan home (without giving a glimpse of a significant other) and spends time with her parents, inevitable augurs of mortality. Johnson’s father, on a casual walk, cheerfully displays a dead bird to the grandkids, while images of Johnson’s mother give way to shots of a container holding her ashes. (For the latter, Johnson keeps rearranging objects in the frame, adjusting the composition, as if trying to come to terms with the unadjustable limit of her mother’s life.)

In interviews, Johnson has expressed guilt and self-reproach about photographing her afflicted mother against her wishes. Yet, as she must know, some of her film’s most poignant moments emerge from this betrayal. How could Johnson resist recording her mother’s stunned face, trying to hold on to an identity slipping away before her eyes? Circling back to Scorsese, we can recognize that Johnson is confronting a larger fact: human presences are always fragile, fleeting, on their way to being out of the frame.

*****

You can entangle across time. You can entangle into the future, into the past. You can entangle through space. That’s what quantum entanglement means. It means that there’s another underlying layer of nature that we haven’t discovered yet. —Dr. Eric W. Davis, in Cameraperson

At some point in the editing process, Johnson seems to have taken her cue from the astrophysicist quoted above, riffing on the notion that we’re all entangled; time and space can’t always be taken literally; recorded reality can be reorganized to comply with memory and imagination. By this logic, less scientific than intuitive, people and places in Johnson’s memoir become entangled in occasional shared chapters, tethered by free-associational edits. The harsh wind in Wyoming, flashing through tall grass on the Johnson family ranch, makes Johnson’s mother stagger, wince, and seem to dwindle into a Giacometti figurine. With the grace of a cut, the same wind sweeps through a yellow hillside in Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the rural village where a Muslim family has returned to their farm while contending with memories of genocide and war.

Similar associative links and leaps flicker throughout the film, but, halfway in, there’s a sequence that’s starkly explicit in its insistence on interconnectedness. Johnson serves up a series of landscapes where historic atrocities have occurred, now mute and tranquil crime scenes, mundane places conjoined by invisible carnage and, for the most part, a shared look of dreary ordinariness. The sequence includes sites of mass execution, torture, and rape, plus forensic shots of the drab interior of a pickup truck identified as the vehicle that dragged James Byrd Jr. to his death in the otherwise unremarkable town of Jasper, Texas. In this stretch, Johnson expresses a sustained note of anguish, like a war correspondent admitting to a case of secondhand PTSD, but she’s stoic about it, and, as her film offers a range of locations and perspectives, she’s irrepressibly alert to the bigger picture—a picture that includes antic dancing in Uganda, a woman embracing a fierce and humiliated young boxer after a lost match in Brooklyn, the flow of life around a roadside market in Liberia. It’s fair to say the “wonderful” God hailed by nine-year-old Kirsten in a preserved handwritten poem—“Your love never ends! / And my love to you will never end!”—has been displaced, in the grown cameraperson’s mind and eye, by a pantheistic understanding of the world, a sense of immanence and mystery that competes with evidence of unrelenting bad news. And so Johnson counterbalances bitter and abject scenes with proofs of compassion, consolation, even joy. And it’s no fluke that many of the film’s brighter moments involve children.

*****

Down with bourgeois fairy-tale scenarios . . . Long live life as it is! —Dziga Vertov

Cameraperson has been showered with sympathetic and insightful reviews, and hailed as a film without precedent. It doesn’t diminish Johnson’s work—its integrity, freshness, and force—to recognize that antecedents do exist. Dziga Vertov, the pioneering Soviet director of newsreels and kaleidoscopic documentary features, would not be spinning in his grave to consider his legacy extended and fulfilled in Johnson’s audacious and self-aware doc/essay/travelogue/memoir. Indeed, Cameraperson would make a provocative double bill with Vertov’s equally unclassifiable Man with a Movie Camera (1929), a dazzling chronicle of urban life channeled dusk to dawn through the lens of an itinerant cameraman, a tale told without intertitles or narration. (Vertov’s spectacular “day” was in fact filmed in four cities over a period of three years.) Man with a Movie Camera’s propulsive editing and hyper-aestheticized photography don’t jibe with Johnson’s levelheaded approach, but her anchoring ambition is aligned with Vertov’s: to record and elevate common experience, to uphold film as a reflection of reality rather than an escape from it, and, further, to create movies that open idealistically outward, providing a means for people to see their lives valued, honored, and in effect returned to them, even as they become part of a larger collective story.

In Chris Marker’s Sans Soleil (1983), we can find another singular, self-defining, soaring hybrid “documentary” experiment, a collage of fragmentary episodes candidly jigsawed together from a cinematographer’s accumulated outtakes. Marker uses magisterial narration to explicate his images, to question them, to expand their reach, constructing a philosophical inquiry into the nature of seeing, memory, time, consciousness; but strip away the voice-over and you can still take in Marker’s generous regard for the people he encounters, respect for their vulnerability, their otherness, their unique place within a vast human family.

All the same, Vertov and Marker, assigning their authentic, unstaged images to fictional cameramen, avoid the level of personal risk embraced by Johnson, who unabashedly (if incompletely) reveals her history, her unmistakable self, as the source of every frame. By the time we catch sight of her in Cameraperson, we can be forgiven for presuming to know her. She aims the camera at herself, standing beside her unsteady mother, sharing the older woman’s worried smile, and her eyes look haunted. The image emerges within a flashback, an editorial surprise, and it suggests that Johnson would agree with a primary Marker aphorism: “Being a photographer means not only to look but to sustain the gaze of others.” The gaze of others, we can see, carries a corresponding weight.

*****

I said to the wanting-creature inside me: What is this river you want to cross? —Kabir

Voyeurism is related to cinema as lust is related to love. You can separate them—you can try to separate them—but to what end? The urge to look, to see and share private experience—whether displays of intimacy, acts of violence, the urgent facts of another person’s pain—is seldom pure and simple. How do we, filmmakers and film viewers, transcend voyeurism? How can a filmmaker’s craft and conscience elevate images from voyeurism to revelation?

Cameraperson reaches a kind of climax back in Foča, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the place Johnson visits most within the braided strands of the film’s structure. She documents her return five years after her initial journey, with music from the resulting 2011 film, an episode of the PBS series Women, War & Peace, brimming over into Cameraperson, the movie we’re watching while the gathered family watches themselves on a laptop screen. Johnson, of course, records this rapt audience, their charged attention, then the rich homemade meal that follows, coffee, a cigarette. The Möbius-strip circuit of giving and taking and giving back—the process of seeing, sharing, and accepting—brings Cameraperson to an ideal summit of reconciliation, peace, hope for the future. “We hope someday she can come back with her son and daughter,” a woman tells Johnson’s translator, “to see how peasants live.” Exactly the response Vertov was hectically hungering for.

One of the film’s most arresting and resonant images, for this viewer, occurs earlier in Foča, when an unnamed Muslim woman lifts a bowl high above her head, confidently spilling berries into another bowl held below her waist. The free-falling fruit makes an ecstatic blur, and the next cut shows the berries as they’ve landed and settled, as if artfully prearranged: a ready-made bouquet of whorled color—red, black, white, yellow—an instant metaphor for plenitude and renewal, raw experience transformed into poetry.

“Wow,” says the woman behind the camera. “It’s like magic.”

Yes—wow—it is.

Michael Almereyda’s documentary films include This So-Called Disaster, William Eggleston in the Real World, Paradise, and the forthcoming Escapes.

I have copied this essay from the site linked above.

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Evidence Used After a Truck Accident

It is important to begin collecting evidence promptly after a serious injury accident involving a commercial truck such as a tractor-trailer or semi-truck. A truck accident attorney at Michael P. Fleming & Associates in Houston, TX, can gather evidence that supports a personal injury claim seeking compensation for your injuries and other losses caused by the negligence of a truck driver or trucking company.

There may be multiple parties at fault in a truck accident, making these accidents more complicated to investigate. There’s a variety of evidence to obtain and analyze to determine the cause of an accident and the potential liability. For the best results, you want your lawyer to get access to this evidence as soon as possible, so it does not degrade or get discarded.

What Evidence Can Be Recovered After A Truck Accident?

The evidence we compile as part of a truck accident investigation includes the police reports, which may include a citation against the trucker and witness statements describing the accident. We collect physical evidence from the accident scene and we seek medical records detailing your injuries from the accident and your course of treatment. We also seek videotape from nearby security cameras that may have captured the accident.

In a commercial truck accident, there is additional evidence that would not typically be available in a passenger car accident. For example, truck drivers are required by law to record their driving activity in a log. The logs can show long a trucker has been behind the wheel and may help establish that a driver had disregarded hours of service restrictions and was exhausted from too many hours of driving.

We might suspect a trucker of drowsy driving or falling asleep behind the wheel after an accident in which there was no evidence of braking or swerving to avoid a collision. In addition to the lack of skid marks at the accident scene, we’d want to review as we explore additional sources of evidence including:

Event data recorder (EDR) download. The data recorder in a commercial truck is like the “black box” we hear about after large plane crashes. The EDR records a variety of information about the truck’s operations just before a crash, including speed, braking, acceleration, direction (any side-to-side “pitch” or cab-trailer rotational “yaw”) and more. The data from the EDR can provide useful evidence in an injury claim.

Safety sensors. Today’s commercial trucks have radar devices that track the vehicle’s movements and trigger an automated corrective response when needed. A safety sensor would be activated if a truck drifted out of its lane, for example. These systems alert the driver’s dispatcher to the potential problem, and this information is recorded, potentially for use in training and/or performance reviews / discipline.

Dashboard cameras (“dashcams”). Some trucking companies have begun to install cameras in truck cabs to monitor their drivers. This footage is recorded, as well. Footage might show a trucker nodding off, yawning repeatedly, distracted, or engaged in other non-driving and/or dangerous activity.

Security cameras. We may be able to find security cameras outside of retail establishments, business offices or warehouses near the crash scene. We routinely canvass the area surrounding an accident site to obtain any surveillance video that may have recorded the truck accident.

In addition, the trucker and/or the trucking company may have been cited after the accident or previously by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for violating its regulations. These records may indicate a specific relevant violation and/or a trend of negligent or reckless behavior.

Who is Responsible For Collecting Evidence After a Truck Accident?

Some evidence, such as police reports and FMCSA citations, is readily available. Some, like vehicle damage, is destined to be destroyed (through repair or junking the vehicle) and needs to be examined quickly. A lot of evidence is in the hands of the trucking company and must be preserved.

A motor carrier is required by federal and state regulations to maintain many records and to keep them for varying lengths of time. To obtain evidence from a motor carrier, we must contact the company with a “spoliation letter,” which alerts them to a pending claim and demands that the company preserve the records. If a claim becomes a lawsuit, we enter into a process called “discovery,” in which the court requires a good faith exchange of information. If we believe a trucking company is withholding certain information, we may seek a court order compelling them to produce it.

In some cases, we will work with an accident reconstruction expert to determine how and why the accident occurred. This consulting forensic engineer may cite additional information to seek from the trucking company, a truck manufacturer or another party to complete their portion of the investigation.

You will need a knowledgeable attorney to contact the truck company, demand evidence and complete a thorough investigation. An attorney at Michael P. Fleming & Associates will spend the time necessary investigating the accident to answer questions relevant to your truck accident injury claim.

How is Fault Determined In A Truck Accident?

After we have gathered the relevant evidence, we can usually get a good picture of how a truck accident happened and who is at fault.

In Texas, a personal injury claim needs to show:

The existence of a legal duty of safety that all drivers owe one another.

The defendant’s breach of that duty through negligence or recklessness.

The injuries that you suffered as a result of the at-fault party’s negligence.

In the end, we must be able to demonstrate that the actions of the truck driver or trucking company are the cause of your injuries.

This may be simple cause-and-effect: the truck failed to stop, causing it to run a red light and hit your vehicle, which caused your injuries. It may require establishing “proximate cause,” meaning the defendant’s action – crashing a truck into the rear of a car behind you – is the most relevant action in the “chain of causation” that led to the pile-up that injured you.

Once we have a solid case, we can issue a demand for compensation to the defendant’s insurance company. Our demand will take into account all of your losses for medical expenses, lost income and pain and suffering. Most cases are settled through negotiations without a trial. But if we must go to court, we will do so with a persuasive case built upon solid evidence.

In court, a jury will determine who is at fault for the truck accident. If multiple parties are at fault, under Texas comparable negligence rules, the jury will assign a proportion of the blame as a percentage to each party at fault.

Any compensation you are awarded at trial would be reduced by the amount of blame assigned to you by the jury. So, for example, if the jury awarded you $100,000 but said you were 10 percent responsible for the crash, you would receive $90,000 in damages.

As your attorneys, we would seek to mitigate the impact of any factual evidence as to your fault. Our aim is to obtain the maximum compensation available for the injuries and losses you have unjustly suffered.

The post Evidence Used After a Truck Accident appeared first on Michael P. Fleming & Associates, P.C..

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Local Divorce Attorney

Legally referred to as dissolution of marriage in many states, a divorce is the termination of a marriage by a legal proceeding or in a court. Divorces are generally categorized as contested or uncontested. In a contested divorce, the parties cannot agree on at least one issue, while in an uncontested divorce, the parties agree to all terms. A legal separation, which many states still offer, only terminates the right of cohabitation, but not the legal status of the marriage itself.

Filing for Divorce

After retaining an experienced divorce attorney, the spouse seeking divorce prepares a petition for divorce and files it with the court in the state in which he or she lives. Each state has its own residency requirement for how long a spouse must live within the state before being eligible to file for divorce. See our article on filing divorce papers for links to each state’s forms.

Grounds for Divorce

Each state has its own statutory grounds for divorce. Grounds are typically classified as fault or no-fault. Some states offer both as available grounds, while other states have done away with fault divorces altogether; New York is the only state that still does not offer a no-fault divorce option. • Fault: A fault divorce requires particular wrongdoing by one of the spouses, followed by evidentiary proceedings to prove the wrongdoing. Each state defines via statute what grounds can constitute a basis for finding fault in that state. Common grounds include adultery, extended imprisonment, or cruel treatment or abuse.

• No-Fault: In a no-fault divorce, neither party must prove the other engaged in wrongdoing. A spouse can be granted a no-fault divorce based merely on the marriage being irretrievably broken or the parties having irreconcilable differences.

What is a Divorce Lawyer?

Divorce lawyers are attorneys that specialize in family law. While simple divorces may not call for an experienced lawyer, many situations arise where competent representation is needed. This is especially true when there is a high level of anger and animosity preventing the couple from coming to an agreement on their own, and in cases in which there has been spousal or child abuse, substance abuse, and major property disputes. A divorce lawyer is able to explain the process, rules, and laws involved in the client’s family law matter, and will make sure all of the necessary documents are completed and filed with the court. The laws governing divorce and other family law matters vary by state, a divorce lawyer should be sought in the jurisdiction where the divorce will be filed.

Duties of a Divorce Lawyer

The duties of a divorce lawyer vary depending on the specifics of the case. In general, however, an attorney is responsible for helping the client throughout the process, from the first meeting, to settling matters after the divorce is finalized. A divorce attorney provides:

• Advice on how to deal with marital property, bank accounts, credit cards, and other marital assets • Assurance of the progress made concerning disputes, court proceedings, and the stages of the divorce proceeding • Preparation and court filing of all paperwork involved, such as the summons and complaint, motions, and custody papers, as well as preparation of the final divorce and custody orders • An intermediary to deal with conflicts during the divorce process, such as custody disputes, and arguments over property • Representation at all court hearings

Divorce without a Lawyer

Depending on the state you live in, it might not even be necessary to hire a lawyer to facilitate your divorce. For example, in Texas, if both spouses are in full agreement about all the terms of the divorce, including child custody and child support and the division of property and debt, then a divorce can be granted without a trial. However, even in this circumstance, one of the spouses must first file an original petition for divorce with the Family Law District Court to have a divorce granted. You may wish to contract an attorney to help you file this document to ensure it is done correctly.

Other Free Divorce Resources

There are a number of other free divorce resources available to you. • Free Divorce Worksheet: Some websites offer free online divorce worksheets by state. This worksheet will help you collect all the information you will need to hand to your lawyer to help you finalize your divorce. • Free Personal Legal Forms: You can find free personal legal forms, including child visitation letters, online. • Bar Associations: State and local bar associations often publish guides to commonly encountered legal situations, such as getting a divorce and writing a will. Check with your local bar association for more information.

Factors to Consider when Choosing a Divorce Attorney

When choosing a lawyer, divorcing spouses should consider each attorney’s experience, availability, track record and success. People preparing for divorce often face various concerns, from minimizing their financial losses to preserving their relationships with their kids. Amidst all of these worries, many people overlook the importance of finding the right divorce attorney. However, choosing a qualified and attentive representative is a critical first step to ensuring that the divorce goes well. Spouses who don’t know where to start should consider looking for the following qualities when selecting an attorney.

• Relevant experience: Spouses should focus on finding attorneys who primarily practice family law and have local experience. Divorce laws vary significantly by state; for example, unlike most states, Arkansas requires spouses to establish fault for the divorce or live separately for 18 months. To ensure best results, a divorce attorney should have detailed knowledge and experience with these distinct laws. As an added benefit, The Huffington Post notes that attorneys with local experience will also be more familiar with local family law judges. As a result, these attorneys are usually better equipped to prepare strategically for any necessary litigation over alimony requests, property division or child custody arrangements.

• Focus and availability: Divorcing spouses should use their initial meetings with prospective attorneys to assess how available and engaged each attorney is. Spouses may want to consider the attorney’s caseload and the level of attention that the attorney provides during the consultation. An attorney who seems distracted might not dedicate adequate attention to the case later. Spouses should also evaluate how easy reaching and communication with each attorney will be.

• Quality of assistance: An attorney’s associates and support staff often perform essential duties over the course of a divorce case. Many divorcing spouses may even work largely with these members of the firm. Therefore, before making any commitments, spouses may want to request an opportunity to meet these individuals and assess whether working with them will be feasible. Spouses also evaluate whether a divorce attorney is prepared to work with other experts who provide crucial insights during a divorce. For instance, during marital property division, the assistance of forensic accountants and business valuators might be necessary. Spouses may benefit from choosing attorneys who routinely collaborate with these professionals.

• Accuracy and honesty: According to CNBC, spouses should take note if an attorney makes guarantees or seems to simply be saying what the spouse wants to hear. Ideally, divorcing spouses should hire attorneys who can evaluate the situation accurately and honestly. To find the best representative, spouses should meet with multiple lawyers and request assessments of the case. This can help spouses determine whether any attorneys are being unrealistic or making unlikely promises.

• Success in litigation: A divorce attorney’s record of success in litigated divorce cases is also an important factor to weigh. This is true even for spouses who hope to reach a settlement outside of court, since litigation is almost always a possibility. Spouses should learn how much time an attorney dedicates to litigation and how that litigation typically ends. People who consider all of these factors should be better prepared to find the right attorney. Although making the optimal choice will require extra time, divorcing spouses should remember that the outcome of the divorce will likely have life-changing impacts. This makes finding the right representation more than worth the effort.

How Much Does a Divorce Cost?

The national average cost of divorce is about $15,000 per person. The cost includes attorneys’ fees, court costs, and the cost of hiring outside experts like a tax adviser, child custody evaluator, or real estate appraiser. The time involved is what often determines the cost. For instance, the average divorce takes between four months and 11 months. And if a trial is necessary, it can take more than a year.

What Factors Impact the Cost Of Divorce?

Just like whether to divorce or not, the average cost is not an easy question to answer. The costs depend on a variety of factors – whether or not you or your spouse agree on specific things, and if you or your spouse require or want to use an attorney. Factors affecting the average cost include: • If the divorce is contested or uncontested • The hourly rate of lawyers versus a retainer fee • Location where the divorce is being filed, and the local filing fees • Child custody • Child custody evaluation • Alimony • Mediation

What if the Agreement is Mutual?

The more factors or issues unresolved by the person filing for divorce and the other party, such as custody or care of children or maintenance of property, or other shared assets such as investments, pensions, financial support, the more likely it is to cost the person filing for divorce. The more major issues resolved by both parties, the less it is likely to cost. If you and your spouse agree on major issues, regardless of how many there are, you can file an uncontested divorce – the least expensive – which could cost you even under $500 if you write and file your own divorce papers. All states charge their own fees for filing for divorce, even an uncontested filing, so a precise cost isn’t predictable. Some states also will grant the filer a waiver on the filing fees based on income. For an uncontested divorce, if the state where you file has a mandatory waiting period, once that period is up the divorce decree is final. An uncontested divorce is the least expensive, and the most straightforward, because no lawyers or mediators are needed to help both parties agree to the terms.

The Average Cost of a Divorce without a Lawyer

The minimum charge on a divorce is the filing fee. Filing fees can range from around $210, the lowest, in Wyoming, to $1,535 in California. If you’re using a lawyer, these fees are usually part of the lawyer’s retainer. Very few couples can agree on, identify, and amicably split assets in a divorce without a lawyer. If you don’t have children, have few assets – if you entered the marriage owning your own cars and rented your home, for instance – and agree no spousal support is required of either party because, perhaps, the marriage was short, you can do it yourself online. At least one person in a couple will have to file a legal petition for dissolution of marriage with the clerk of a local county court. As noted, each court charges a filing fee. The average is $300, but can be closer to $500 in some states, like California.

When you file a divorce petition, you also need to serve the case, or papers, to your spouse. In the case of a divorce, the papers can be served either in person or by mail. In the case of an online, “do-it-yourself” divorce, the person who first filed the petition with the court usually submits the petition and a summons to the local sheriff’s department for the papers to be served by law enforcement personnel or arranges for a private process server to deliver the petition – a signature from the other party indicating they either agree to the terms or wish to contest it. A private process server to serve divorce papers usually costs about $50. Some states, like California, provide resources online for filing for divorce, including forms for responding to a divorce filing. State websites sometimes even include resources for filing online for an annulment, requesting support, or to change or end an order for spousal or child support.

The Average Cost of a Divorce with a Lawyer

If there are significant assets to divide, or child custody, child support or alimony to decide, both parties usually benefit by hiring their own attorney. Using a lawyer, of course, increases the cost for either party. With a lawyer, your divorce could cost you a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on how much time of the lawyer’s you are billed. Lawyer fees, billed by the hour, can range from several hundred dollars an hour to more than $500. For some lawyers, a 15-minute consulting phone call, or emailing, could cost you half a billable hour. And a half-hour could cost you a billable hour. Lawyers charge for phone calls, emails, text messages, court preparation, depositions (questioning others on the record), discovery (getting information from your spouse’s lawyer related to your case), paper preparation and review, and research. Lawyers charge an average of about $1,000 for an uncontested divorce. In states with a higher standard of living, such as California or New York, lawyers can charge an average of $3,500-$5,000 to help you complete an uncontested divorce. A contested divorce — in which major issues like division of assets and child custody or support, or even actually divorcing, can’t be agreed on — can cost from an average $2,500 up to several thousand dollars or more. In a contested divorce, the issues may ultimately have to be hashed out in front of a judge. A divorce that has to go to trial can cost couples as much as $20,000 on average to complete, with at least $15,000 going to attorneys’ fees, according to some lawyers.

Settling a case out of court can cost closer to $15,000.

Most lawyers charge a flat fee or retainer to help with a divorce, but in general family law attorneys charge an average between $250-$350 per hour, though some might charge as much as $650 or more an hour to help clients through a complicated or difficult divorce, like one in which couples have their own businesses or other more complex shared assets. A retainer should cover most of the court fees, filing fees, and the lawyers’ time to meet in person, correspond with you by email or phone or text, and to appear at court hearings or other proceedings in person.

A contested divorce with children requiring lawyers to help work out custody details will cost more because of the lawyer’s time involved than an uncontested one. Generally, the more time a child spends with one parent, the less in child support that parent has to pay. But in a contested divorce where no agreement can be reached on child custody or a schedule, the court can require a child custody evaluation be done by a trained psychologist who interviews each parent. The psychologist also talks to the kids, and observes the kids at home with each parent. If the child custody evaluator works for the county, the evaluation will cost an average of $1,000-$2,500. If a private evaluator is used, the charge might be $10,000 or more.

Alimony determination can also take a lot of time and increase the cost to the couple. You can cut costs by using a lawyer for only part of your case: also called ‘limited scope representation.’ You could have your lawyer just review documents, or negotiate with your lawyer what you will or won’t pay for, such as agreeing to use the lawyer to prepare and review documents but not to charge you for phone calls or emails. A hearing or trial will also naturally increase your costs. Trials sometimes incur costs to you for several expert witnesses, and the cost of going to trail alone often results in divorce cases being settled out of court. For that reason, family law judges in most states assigned to contested divorce cases require couples to do everything they can to reach a settlement agreement and avoid a trial, because a trial costs not only the couple divorcing but also the city and state where the divorce is proceeding. If children are involved, yours together or even separately, costs increase with agreements having to be reached or adjudicated regarding child support, custody, and visitation. Without such issues, a divorce between two people in agreement can save both parties expense. That is why an uncontested divorce is the least expensive. If you and your spouse agree on the major issues of the divorce, you can write your own agreement. Your only cost then would be filing fees, serving papers, and the cost of divorce papers themselves if you get them online. Online companies will charge for preparing divorce papers, but they may also have lawyers review them for you. Some courts will give you a divorce packet for free; some states will have them available for free on their website as well. Besides an uncontested divorce, a way to save money and avoid a trial would be to use mediation of a collaborative divorce.

In mediation, you and your spouse avoid trial be mediating with a neutral third party, a mediator. Because it involves a third party, usually a professional mediator, attorney-mediator, or former commissioner or judge, mediation can still wind up costing between a few thousand and $10,000 dollars, on average, depending on how long the mediation takes and how much is involved. Mediation usually costs an average of $100-$300 an hour. Even a collaborative divorce is cheaper than going to trial. In a collaborative divorce, both parties retain attorneys. You, your spouse, and your attorneys meet to hash out contested parts of the divorce. If you and your spouse ultimately reach agreements, while the attorneys will be an expense, the cost of litigation will be saved.

How Long Does the Average Divorce Case Take?

Another pressing question about divorce is how long the process takes, from filing the petition to a settlement or final court judgment. In our survey, the overall average duration of divorce was a year. Here again, the picture was worse for those who went to trial. For readers who went to trial on at least one issue, it took an average of 18 months to complete the process—and even longer if they had to resolve two or more issues. Bringing Down Divorce Costs: Uncontested Divorces, Mediation, and

Consulting Attorneys

Beyond doing everything you can to avoid a trial, our survey results pointed to some other possibilities for lowering the cost of divorce. • Uncontested divorce: Nearly a third (30%) of readers said they had no major contested issues in their divorces, and their costs were much lower than the overall average: $4,100, on average, including attorneys’ fees. They also got through the process more quickly—an average of eight months. Many of these readers may have been eligible to take advantage of a streamlined divorce process known as an “uncontested divorce” or a “summary dissolution,” which is available in many states for couples who meet specific requirements. • Mediation or collaborative divorce: Some couples turn to collaborative divorce or mediation in an attempt to reach a settlement agreement. Neither of these alternatives work for everyone, but they could save you money. Nearly a third of the readers in our survey tried mediation; on average, they spent $970 on mediation costs, although half spent $500 or less. • Consulting attorneys: If you can’t afford to hire a full-scope divorce attorney, it’s still wise to seek out legal advice or help at some point along the way—especially to make sure that your rights are protected in any settlement. You might be able to hire a consulting attorney for specific tasks, such as helping you understand and complete divorce forms, preparing for mediation, drafting or reviewing a proposed settlement agreement, or representing you in court appearances. In our survey, only one in 10 readers said they had hired a consulting lawyer in their divorce. But those readers typically saved a lot of money on attorneys’ fees; the average total fees for consulting attorneys were $4,600, and the median total was $3,000.

Free Consultation with Divorce Lawyer in Utah

If you have a question about divorce law or if you need to start or defend against a divorce case in Utah call Ascent Law at (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Ascent Law LLC 8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C West Jordan, Utah 84088 United States Telephone: (801) 676-5506

Ascent Law LLC

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from Criminal Defense Lawyer West Jordan Utah - Blog http://criminaldefenselawyerwestjordanutah.weebly.com/blog/local-divorce-attorney

[orbemnews]

25 Years Later: Arlington Police Renews Public Curiosity In Amber Hagerman Case As Search For Suspect Continues ARLINGTON, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – It was 25 years in the past Wednesday when Amber Hagerman was kidnapped in Arlington. With the crime nonetheless unsolved the Arlington Police Division appeared to resume the general public’s curiosity surrounding her abduction and subsequent homicide on January 13, 1996. The crime led to the event of the Amber Alert System, which is now used worldwide to ship public alerts about lacking kids at risk. DOWNLOAD THE CBS 11 APP FOR THE LATEST BREAKING LOCAL NEWS Amber, who was 9 years previous on the time, was taken from the car parking zone of an deserted grocery retailer as she rode her bicycle. Witnesses later reported {that a} white or Hispanic man, driving a black pickup, kidnapped her. Right here is essentially the most up to date suspect and automobile description info: Suspect: White or Hispanic male, 20s to 30s (as of 1996), below 6’ tall, medium construct, brown or black hair Car: Black Nineteen Eighties or Nineteen Nineties full dimension, fleet aspect pickup truck, quick wheel base, single cab, rear window was clear, no sliding window, no chrome (strong black in shade), no striping, truck was in good situation with no seen harm It wasn’t till 4 days after she went lacking that Amber’s physique was found in a creek about 4 miles from the place she was taken. Now, 25 years after the crime, Amber’s killer remains to be on the unfastened. With the main focus nonetheless on discovering the individual accountable for the homicide, Arlington police gathered on the website of the kidnapping, 1600 E. Abram Road, to launch new images and maps of the scene the evening Amber was kidnapped. (Credit score: Arlington Police Division) (Credit score: Arlington Police Division) “I miss her daily and she or he’s simply so lively and I wish to know why. Why her? She was solely somewhat lady,” Amber’s mom Donna Williams mentioned at Wednesday’s press convention. “We stay dedicated with the utmost resolve to deliver Amber’s assassin to justice,” mentioned Assistant Police Chief Kevin Kolbye. “Our detectives imagine that somebody nonetheless has information of this horrific crime.” Officers imagine somebody, someplace is aware of one thing in regards to the abduction and homicide. Arlington police Sgt. Ben Lopez mentioned throughout press convention that there might be extra witnesses who have been within the space however haven’t spoken out. “It’s attainable that there have been different witnesses who noticed what occurred however have been fearful about coming ahead. With it being a Saturday afternoon that was good and a laundromat being proper subsequent door to the kidnapping, we have been involved that there might be those that have been there on the laundromat who might have been undocumented and dwelling on this nation illegally.” “We spent lots of time placing out fliers and speaking to the group to guarantee them that if there’s a witness or witnesses who’ve that concern we aren’t in any respect in pursuing any type of deportation or any curiosity of their undocumented standing,” Lopez added. Investigators in Arlington are additionally hopeful new DNA know-how may result in a break within the case. As quickly as February, police mentioned they plan to submit proof to a lab that can use a brand new course of to attempt to develop a DNA profile that might result in a suspect. Investigators mentioned the proof, which they might not describe, has been reviewed a number of instances for the reason that homicide, together with by the FBI. They cautioned there’s not a lot proof, and that is solely an try. Nevertheless, new methods in creating DNA profiles have led to a break in chilly circumstances over the previous 12 months, together with the 1974 homicide of Carla Walker in Fort Price. Othram, a forensics lab within the Woodlands, was in a position to develop a DNA and use family tree to steer investigators towards a suspect in that case. A devoted tip line has been arrange for the general public to offer any info, irrespective of how insignificant: 817-575-8823. Oak Farms Dairy can be providing a $10,000 reward for info resulting in an arrest and conviction within the case. “To Amber’s killer, I’m asking you in the present day please flip your self in. Give Amber justice. Amber wants justice, deeply wants justice,” Williams mentioned. “And to anybody who has seen or heard something about Amber’s case, please come ahead.” MORE FROM CBSDFW Supply hyperlink #Amber #amberalert #amberalertsystem #amberhagerman #Arlington #arlingtonpolice #Case #child #childabduction #continues #Hagerman #interest #killer #Police #public #Renews #Search #Suspect #Years

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Local Divorce Attorney

Legally referred to as dissolution of marriage in many states, a divorce is the termination of a marriage by a legal proceeding or in a court. Divorces are generally categorized as contested or uncontested. In a contested divorce, the parties cannot agree on at least one issue, while in an uncontested divorce, the parties agree to all terms. A legal separation, which many states still offer, only terminates the right of cohabitation, but not the legal status of the marriage itself.

Filing for Divorce

After retaining an experienced divorce attorney, the spouse seeking divorce prepares a petition for divorce and files it with the court in the state in which he or she lives. Each state has its own residency requirement for how long a spouse must live within the state before being eligible to file for divorce. See our article on filing divorce papers for links to each state’s forms.

Grounds for Divorce

Each state has its own statutory grounds for divorce. Grounds are typically classified as fault or no-fault. Some states offer both as available grounds, while other states have done away with fault divorces altogether; New York is the only state that still does not offer a no-fault divorce option. • Fault: A fault divorce requires particular wrongdoing by one of the spouses, followed by evidentiary proceedings to prove the wrongdoing. Each state defines via statute what grounds can constitute a basis for finding fault in that state. Common grounds include adultery, extended imprisonment, or cruel treatment or abuse.

• No-Fault: In a no-fault divorce, neither party must prove the other engaged in wrongdoing. A spouse can be granted a no-fault divorce based merely on the marriage being irretrievably broken or the parties having irreconcilable differences.

What is a Divorce Lawyer?

Divorce lawyers are attorneys that specialize in family law. While simple divorces may not call for an experienced lawyer, many situations arise where competent representation is needed. This is especially true when there is a high level of anger and animosity preventing the couple from coming to an agreement on their own, and in cases in which there has been spousal or child abuse, substance abuse, and major property disputes. A divorce lawyer is able to explain the process, rules, and laws involved in the client’s family law matter, and will make sure all of the necessary documents are completed and filed with the court. The laws governing divorce and other family law matters vary by state, a divorce lawyer should be sought in the jurisdiction where the divorce will be filed.

Duties of a Divorce Lawyer

The duties of a divorce lawyer vary depending on the specifics of the case. In general, however, an attorney is responsible for helping the client throughout the process, from the first meeting, to settling matters after the divorce is finalized. A divorce attorney provides:

• Advice on how to deal with marital property, bank accounts, credit cards, and other marital assets • Assurance of the progress made concerning disputes, court proceedings, and the stages of the divorce proceeding • Preparation and court filing of all paperwork involved, such as the summons and complaint, motions, and custody papers, as well as preparation of the final divorce and custody orders • An intermediary to deal with conflicts during the divorce process, such as custody disputes, and arguments over property • Representation at all court hearings

Divorce without a Lawyer

Depending on the state you live in, it might not even be necessary to hire a lawyer to facilitate your divorce. For example, in Texas, if both spouses are in full agreement about all the terms of the divorce, including child custody and child support and the division of property and debt, then a divorce can be granted without a trial. However, even in this circumstance, one of the spouses must first file an original petition for divorce with the Family Law District Court to have a divorce granted. You may wish to contract an attorney to help you file this document to ensure it is done correctly.

Other Free Divorce Resources

There are a number of other free divorce resources available to you. • Free Divorce Worksheet: Some websites offer free online divorce worksheets by state. This worksheet will help you collect all the information you will need to hand to your lawyer to help you finalize your divorce. • Free Personal Legal Forms: You can find free personal legal forms, including child visitation letters, online. • Bar Associations: State and local bar associations often publish guides to commonly encountered legal situations, such as getting a divorce and writing a will. Check with your local bar association for more information.

Factors to Consider when Choosing a Divorce Attorney

When choosing a lawyer, divorcing spouses should consider each attorney’s experience, availability, track record and success. People preparing for divorce often face various concerns, from minimizing their financial losses to preserving their relationships with their kids. Amidst all of these worries, many people overlook the importance of finding the right divorce attorney. However, choosing a qualified and attentive representative is a critical first step to ensuring that the divorce goes well. Spouses who don’t know where to start should consider looking for the following qualities when selecting an attorney.

• Relevant experience: Spouses should focus on finding attorneys who primarily practice family law and have local experience. Divorce laws vary significantly by state; for example, unlike most states, Arkansas requires spouses to establish fault for the divorce or live separately for 18 months. To ensure best results, a divorce attorney should have detailed knowledge and experience with these distinct laws. As an added benefit, The Huffington Post notes that attorneys with local experience will also be more familiar with local family law judges. As a result, these attorneys are usually better equipped to prepare strategically for any necessary litigation over alimony requests, property division or child custody arrangements.

• Focus and availability: Divorcing spouses should use their initial meetings with prospective attorneys to assess how available and engaged each attorney is. Spouses may want to consider the attorney’s caseload and the level of attention that the attorney provides during the consultation. An attorney who seems distracted might not dedicate adequate attention to the case later. Spouses should also evaluate how easy reaching and communication with each attorney will be.

• Quality of assistance: An attorney’s associates and support staff often perform essential duties over the course of a divorce case. Many divorcing spouses may even work largely with these members of the firm. Therefore, before making any commitments, spouses may want to request an opportunity to meet these individuals and assess whether working with them will be feasible. Spouses also evaluate whether a divorce attorney is prepared to work with other experts who provide crucial insights during a divorce. For instance, during marital property division, the assistance of forensic accountants and business valuators might be necessary. Spouses may benefit from choosing attorneys who routinely collaborate with these professionals.

• Accuracy and honesty: According to CNBC, spouses should take note if an attorney makes guarantees or seems to simply be saying what the spouse wants to hear. Ideally, divorcing spouses should hire attorneys who can evaluate the situation accurately and honestly. To find the best representative, spouses should meet with multiple lawyers and request assessments of the case. This can help spouses determine whether any attorneys are being unrealistic or making unlikely promises.

• Success in litigation: A divorce attorney’s record of success in litigated divorce cases is also an important factor to weigh. This is true even for spouses who hope to reach a settlement outside of court, since litigation is almost always a possibility. Spouses should learn how much time an attorney dedicates to litigation and how that litigation typically ends. People who consider all of these factors should be better prepared to find the right attorney. Although making the optimal choice will require extra time, divorcing spouses should remember that the outcome of the divorce will likely have life-changing impacts. This makes finding the right representation more than worth the effort.

How Much Does a Divorce Cost?

The national average cost of divorce is about $15,000 per person. The cost includes attorneys’ fees, court costs, and the cost of hiring outside experts like a tax adviser, child custody evaluator, or real estate appraiser. The time involved is what often determines the cost. For instance, the average divorce takes between four months and 11 months. And if a trial is necessary, it can take more than a year.

What Factors Impact the Cost Of Divorce?

Just like whether to divorce or not, the average cost is not an easy question to answer. The costs depend on a variety of factors – whether or not you or your spouse agree on specific things, and if you or your spouse require or want to use an attorney. Factors affecting the average cost include: • If the divorce is contested or uncontested • The hourly rate of lawyers versus a retainer fee • Location where the divorce is being filed, and the local filing fees • Child custody • Child custody evaluation • Alimony • Mediation

What if the Agreement is Mutual?

The more factors or issues unresolved by the person filing for divorce and the other party, such as custody or care of children or maintenance of property, or other shared assets such as investments, pensions, financial support, the more likely it is to cost the person filing for divorce. The more major issues resolved by both parties, the less it is likely to cost. If you and your spouse agree on major issues, regardless of how many there are, you can file an uncontested divorce – the least expensive – which could cost you even under $500 if you write and file your own divorce papers. All states charge their own fees for filing for divorce, even an uncontested filing, so a precise cost isn’t predictable. Some states also will grant the filer a waiver on the filing fees based on income. For an uncontested divorce, if the state where you file has a mandatory waiting period, once that period is up the divorce decree is final. An uncontested divorce is the least expensive, and the most straightforward, because no lawyers or mediators are needed to help both parties agree to the terms.

The Average Cost of a Divorce without a Lawyer

The minimum charge on a divorce is the filing fee. Filing fees can range from around $210, the lowest, in Wyoming, to $1,535 in California. If you’re using a lawyer, these fees are usually part of the lawyer’s retainer. Very few couples can agree on, identify, and amicably split assets in a divorce without a lawyer. If you don’t have children, have few assets – if you entered the marriage owning your own cars and rented your home, for instance – and agree no spousal support is required of either party because, perhaps, the marriage was short, you can do it yourself online. At least one person in a couple will have to file a legal petition for dissolution of marriage with the clerk of a local county court. As noted, each court charges a filing fee. The average is $300, but can be closer to $500 in some states, like California.

When you file a divorce petition, you also need to serve the case, or papers, to your spouse. In the case of a divorce, the papers can be served either in person or by mail. In the case of an online, “do-it-yourself” divorce, the person who first filed the petition with the court usually submits the petition and a summons to the local sheriff’s department for the papers to be served by law enforcement personnel or arranges for a private process server to deliver the petition – a signature from the other party indicating they either agree to the terms or wish to contest it. A private process server to serve divorce papers usually costs about $50. Some states, like California, provide resources online for filing for divorce, including forms for responding to a divorce filing. State websites sometimes even include resources for filing online for an annulment, requesting support, or to change or end an order for spousal or child support.

The Average Cost of a Divorce with a Lawyer

If there are significant assets to divide, or child custody, child support or alimony to decide, both parties usually benefit by hiring their own attorney. Using a lawyer, of course, increases the cost for either party. With a lawyer, your divorce could cost you a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on how much time of the lawyer’s you are billed. Lawyer fees, billed by the hour, can range from several hundred dollars an hour to more than $500. For some lawyers, a 15-minute consulting phone call, or emailing, could cost you half a billable hour. And a half-hour could cost you a billable hour. Lawyers charge for phone calls, emails, text messages, court preparation, depositions (questioning others on the record), discovery (getting information from your spouse’s lawyer related to your case), paper preparation and review, and research. Lawyers charge an average of about $1,000 for an uncontested divorce. In states with a higher standard of living, such as California or New York, lawyers can charge an average of $3,500-$5,000 to help you complete an uncontested divorce. A contested divorce — in which major issues like division of assets and child custody or support, or even actually divorcing, can’t be agreed on — can cost from an average $2,500 up to several thousand dollars or more. In a contested divorce, the issues may ultimately have to be hashed out in front of a judge. A divorce that has to go to trial can cost couples as much as $20,000 on average to complete, with at least $15,000 going to attorneys’ fees, according to some lawyers.

Settling a case out of court can cost closer to $15,000.

Most lawyers charge a flat fee or retainer to help with a divorce, but in general family law attorneys charge an average between $250-$350 per hour, though some might charge as much as $650 or more an hour to help clients through a complicated or difficult divorce, like one in which couples have their own businesses or other more complex shared assets. A retainer should cover most of the court fees, filing fees, and the lawyers’ time to meet in person, correspond with you by email or phone or text, and to appear at court hearings or other proceedings in person.

A contested divorce with children requiring lawyers to help work out custody details will cost more because of the lawyer’s time involved than an uncontested one. Generally, the more time a child spends with one parent, the less in child support that parent has to pay. But in a contested divorce where no agreement can be reached on child custody or a schedule, the court can require a child custody evaluation be done by a trained psychologist who interviews each parent. The psychologist also talks to the kids, and observes the kids at home with each parent. If the child custody evaluator works for the county, the evaluation will cost an average of $1,000-$2,500. If a private evaluator is used, the charge might be $10,000 or more.

Alimony determination can also take a lot of time and increase the cost to the couple. You can cut costs by using a lawyer for only part of your case: also called ‘limited scope representation.’ You could have your lawyer just review documents, or negotiate with your lawyer what you will or won’t pay for, such as agreeing to use the lawyer to prepare and review documents but not to charge you for phone calls or emails. A hearing or trial will also naturally increase your costs. Trials sometimes incur costs to you for several expert witnesses, and the cost of going to trail alone often results in divorce cases being settled out of court. For that reason, family law judges in most states assigned to contested divorce cases require couples to do everything they can to reach a settlement agreement and avoid a trial, because a trial costs not only the couple divorcing but also the city and state where the divorce is proceeding. If children are involved, yours together or even separately, costs increase with agreements having to be reached or adjudicated regarding child support, custody, and visitation. Without such issues, a divorce between two people in agreement can save both parties expense. That is why an uncontested divorce is the least expensive. If you and your spouse agree on the major issues of the divorce, you can write your own agreement. Your only cost then would be filing fees, serving papers, and the cost of divorce papers themselves if you get them online. Online companies will charge for preparing divorce papers, but they may also have lawyers review them for you. Some courts will give you a divorce packet for free; some states will have them available for free on their website as well. Besides an uncontested divorce, a way to save money and avoid a trial would be to use mediation of a collaborative divorce.

In mediation, you and your spouse avoid trial be mediating with a neutral third party, a mediator. Because it involves a third party, usually a professional mediator, attorney-mediator, or former commissioner or judge, mediation can still wind up costing between a few thousand and $10,000 dollars, on average, depending on how long the mediation takes and how much is involved. Mediation usually costs an average of $100-$300 an hour. Even a collaborative divorce is cheaper than going to trial. In a collaborative divorce, both parties retain attorneys. You, your spouse, and your attorneys meet to hash out contested parts of the divorce. If you and your spouse ultimately reach agreements, while the attorneys will be an expense, the cost of litigation will be saved.

How Long Does the Average Divorce Case Take?

Another pressing question about divorce is how long the process takes, from filing the petition to a settlement or final court judgment. In our survey, the overall average duration of divorce was a year. Here again, the picture was worse for those who went to trial. For readers who went to trial on at least one issue, it took an average of 18 months to complete the process—and even longer if they had to resolve two or more issues. Bringing Down Divorce Costs: Uncontested Divorces, Mediation, and

Consulting Attorneys

Beyond doing everything you can to avoid a trial, our survey results pointed to some other possibilities for lowering the cost of divorce. • Uncontested divorce: Nearly a third (30%) of readers said they had no major contested issues in their divorces, and their costs were much lower than the overall average: $4,100, on average, including attorneys’ fees. They also got through the process more quickly—an average of eight months. Many of these readers may have been eligible to take advantage of a streamlined divorce process known as an “uncontested divorce” or a “summary dissolution,” which is available in many states for couples who meet specific requirements. • Mediation or collaborative divorce: Some couples turn to collaborative divorce or mediation in an attempt to reach a settlement agreement. Neither of these alternatives work for everyone, but they could save you money. Nearly a third of the readers in our survey tried mediation; on average, they spent $970 on mediation costs, although half spent $500 or less. • Consulting attorneys: If you can’t afford to hire a full-scope divorce attorney, it’s still wise to seek out legal advice or help at some point along the way—especially to make sure that your rights are protected in any settlement. You might be able to hire a consulting attorney for specific tasks, such as helping you understand and complete divorce forms, preparing for mediation, drafting or reviewing a proposed settlement agreement, or representing you in court appearances. In our survey, only one in 10 readers said they had hired a consulting lawyer in their divorce. But those readers typically saved a lot of money on attorneys’ fees; the average total fees for consulting attorneys were $4,600, and the median total was $3,000.

Free Consultation with Divorce Lawyer in Utah

If you have a question about divorce law or if you need to start or defend against a divorce case in Utah call Ascent Law at (801) 676-5506. We want to help you.

Ascent Law LLC 8833 S. Redwood Road, Suite C West Jordan, Utah 84088 United States Telephone: (801) 676-5506

Ascent Law LLC

4.9 stars – based on 67 reviews

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from Michael Anderson https://www.ascentlawfirm.com/local-divorce-attorney/ from Divorce Lawyer Nelson Farms Utah https://divorcelawyernelsonfarmsutah.tumblr.com/post/618871899842281472