If you take your chances with an online class, you may be out the cost of the tuition, you won’t be considered “in compliance”, and you’ll have to take the classes again (and pay the fee) for a State-approved course.

For more information, see: Parenting Education Programs

Read: Cheshire Case Illustrates Jury Picking Problems

So far, only one juror has been selected.

An article in today’s Hartford Courant discusses the type of jurors that the defense and prosecution will be seeking. It comes as no surprise that their criteria differs sharply.

Read: Picking The Hayes Jury: Prosecution, Defense Have Different Criteria

[Source: courant.com]

Unlike traditional court-based divorce (litigation), the participants in a collaborative divorce are empowered to make their own decisions rather than to rely on a judge to do so. The divorcing spouses and their collaborative team work together to form an agreement based upon the individual needs and interests of the couple (and their children, if they have any).

The participants sign an agreement stating that they will not litigate the case in court. They agree to share all information required to facilitate the process and don’t hide information from anyone in the process. If one of the participants breaks the agreement and takes the case to court, the collaborative lawyers and other professionals are discharged from the case and will not participate in the litigation.
Collaborative divorce is usually less expensive than traditional divorce for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, because the process takes place outside the courtroom, the spouses do not incur fees for multiple court battles (which often require hours of waiting around in the hallway waiting for your case to be called). When assets need to be properly valued, the participants work with a neutral financial professional (who is also collaboratively trained). By sharing this professional resource, the participants pay a much lower fee and the process is often expedited.

There is an enormous emotional component to every divorce which can often cause one or both of the spouses to feel considerable anxiety. The collaborative approach recognizes this basic human element and factors it in to the process. When needed, a neutral coach works with the couple to help them with the emotional aspects of difficult issues and helps to promote productive communication.
The participants are represented by separate lawyers who are there to advise them about the complicated legal issues. However, unlike traditional divorce, a lawyer is not there to try to convince a judge to give his or her client exactly what that client wants – without regard for the needs and interests of the couple (and their children). The collaborative lawyer’s job is to refocus the participants on their common goals, which include being able to meet future financial needs, to have well-adjusted children, and to be able to move forward with as little disruption and trauma as possible.

Collaborative divorce may not be suitable for all couples. However, a candid discussion with a collaboratively-trained attorney will help you decide if the process is right for you.
For more information, visit Collaborative Divorce Professionals.

“Most tax advisers thought that Congress would extend the estate tax before it was due to expire at the end of last year. But while the House did act, the Senate did not. So what few predicted would happen did happen: the tax is gone for one year but set to be revived in 2011 at a higher rate and a lower exemption, unless Congress acts. It’s the first time since 1916 that rich Americans can contemplate dying without one last tax.”

This will be a different year for estate planning than in years past.

Read: A Bizarre Year for the Estate Tax Will Require Extra Planning

[Thanks to North Carolina Estate Planning Blog]

Lack of Estate Tax in 2010: Now Cheaper to Die?
With Taxes Gone, Will Death Be At A Premium?

[Source: ABC News]

Don’t Die Today – Tomorrow There Will be No Estate Tax

[Source: North Carolina Estate Planning Blog]

Beating the estate tax to death
With estate tax set to end this year, retroactive lawmaking in 2010 is likely

[Source: Market Watch]

Parents who are engaged in the divorce process should take a few moments to view the video released by the Connecticut Judicial Branch called “Putting Children First.” The video features Superior Court Judge Elaine Gordon, who handled custody disputes as an attorney and now hears those difficult cases as a judge. Some of the statistics reported in the video may be shocking.

The video is available on DVD by calling the External Affairs Division at 860-757-2270.

Watch: Putting Children First
(This link will take you to the Judicial Branch website. Click on the link for the video and it will open on your computer screen in a media player such as Windows Media Player, which you must have installed on your system).

All information required on Judicial Branch Superior Court Family and Family Support Magistrate Court forms that constitutes personally identifying information as defined by Connecticut Practice Book section 4-7(a) is deemed by this order to be within the section 4-7(b) exception to redaction requirements as information “…otherwise required by law or ordered by the court.”

The text of Connecticut Practice Book section 4-7, which also becomes effective on January 1, 2010, states:

(a) As used in this section, personal identifying information means an individual’s date of birth, mother’s maiden name, motor vehicle operator’s license number, Social Security number, other government-issued identification number, health insurance identification number, or any financial account number, security code or personal identification number (PIN ). For purposes of this section, a person’s name is specifically excluded from this definition of personal identifying information.

(b) Persons who file documents with the court shall not include personal identifying information, and if any such personal identifying information is present, shall redact it from any documents filed with the court, whether filed in electronic or in paper format, unless otherwise required by law or ordered by the court.

(c) The responsibility for omitting or redacting personal identifying information rests solely with the person filing the document. The court or the clerk of the court need not review any filed document for compliance with this rule.

[Source: Connecticut Judicial Branch website]

The premise of the program is that people often make one mistake that leaves them with a criminal record and then go on to live exemplary lives. The program hopes to assist qualified applicants in obtaining a pardon and clearing their records.

Read: An Offer To Help Erase Mistakes Of The Past

[Source: Connecticut Law Tribune]

At present, Connecticut is the state in New England that bans liquor sales on Sundays. It is joined by 13 other states.

Read: Issue Of Sunday Alcohol Sales Rises Again In Legislature

[Source: Hartford Courant]