Featured Articles

Hulk of Burning Press Conference Love

March 16, 2009 19:27

So a post divorce hearing press conference called by the lawyer for Hulk Hogan’s wife turns into a verbal cage match when Hulk crashes it. TMZ (natch) has the video.  My question: who comes off better, Hulk or the yipping, yapping lawyer? Surely someone did not expect the media-loving Mr....

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This Blog For Hire… and thank you, readers!

May 08, 2009 18:35

I have been amazed by the increasing numbers of readers of this site.   We now get about 30,000 hits per month.  Wow!  But due to a significant change in my career path, this blog and its connected website are for sale.   If you would like to take over either or both, contact me via...

How to be a Good Client

May 04, 2009 19:47

The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article entitled “How to Help Patients Be Good.” The premise is that “bad” patients get lower quality medical care.  The article cited a recent study on the topic and quoted doctors with anecdotes.  Although I have no studies to cite,...

Family Love Letter: Estate Plan You Can Do Yourself

April 30, 2009 14:15

Whether you have a million dollars or just two nickels to rub together, there is one estate planning task you can do TODAY which will make things so much easier on your loved ones later. Put together a family love letter. What is a family love letter? It is a compilation of key information....

Ingredients of a Good Lawyer Blog

April 28, 2009 17:34

Since this blog began in 2007, I’ve spent some time reading lawyer blogs from throughout the United States and England. Here’s what I think makes a good one: (1) Lawyers writing like people. Some of the worst blogs I have seen are written like little law review papers that...

Newly Separated Self Help

April 19, 2009 12:47

Particularly at the beginning of divorce cases, right after the parties have separated, folks express to me that they are in the kind of pain that is typical with a significant, negative lifestyle change. They built their life around a marriage. They had habits.  Then poof! And all of that is...

Favorite Pleadings Questions

April 13, 2009 02:40

Modern legal pleadings are more streamlined and straightforward than ever (you should see the pre-1900 stuff,  all of which read like The Canterbury Tales to me) but some quirks remain and they often raise client eyebrows and questions. A “pleading” is a document your lawyer files with...

Confessions: Good for the Soul, Lousy for Your Court Case

April 05, 2009 11:05

A man who apparently committed a murder in Tennessee some years ago confessed to the crime recently after having a stroke. He thought his death was near and he wanted to cleanse his soul. Fortunately (unfortunately?) for him, he recovered. Now he faces the death penalty. The equivalent divorce...

Don’t write on your will…. and 5 other estate plan tips

April 02, 2009 13:51

I have recently had an influx of clients seeking wills and trusts.    As I work with folks on these important documents, I find that education is an important part of the process.  Wills and inheritances have been the subject of many made-for-tv movies so there are lots of questions and...

Domestic Violence: From Hollywood to Your Town

March 29, 2009 18:08

Domestic violence continues to be in the news, mostly due to talk about Tappahannock’s own Chris Brown and his girlfriend, Rihanna.   Why did he allegedly assault her?  Was there another woman?  Are they on or off?  And so on. The big picture is that domestic violence is as common as a sad...