Groshek Law Blog

The juvenile justice system exists in part to protect minors who make questionable legal decisions from lifelong consequences related to those mistakes. The focus on these programs is generally to minimize the penalties for minors. Juvenile justice is usually about rehabilitation, not punishment, but that doesn't mean that juvenile convictions aren't a serious matter.

Given that the consequences for juvenile justice convictions may seem less serious than the penalties associated with adult criminal charges, some adults with children facing criminal charges may mistakenly think that they don't need to take their child's pending juvenile charges as seriously as adult criminal offenses.

No one looks forward to starting the divorce process, but if your marriage is on the rocks, you may begin to think about what the future will bring. It's important to pay attention to the many signs of impending divorce, as these may give you the time you need to save your relationship.

Here are five signs that often lead couples to divorce:

• You are often unhappy: When you're in a good marriage, it has the power to lift your mood. However, as the years go by, you may find that this is no longer the case. If you and your partner no longer see eye-to-eye, there's a chance your unhappiness will lead to divorce.
• You argue more often and about more things: Every married couple has disagreements and gets into arguments. If this has turned into an everyday occurrence, assess what's happening to decide if there's any way to fix the problem.
• You try to avoid your partner: Maybe you stay at work after hours so you don't have to face your partner at home. Or maybe you always find excuses to hang out with your friends instead of your spouse. If you're seeking reasons to avoid your partner, instead of spending time together, it may be a sign that your marriage isn't healthy.
• Your loved ones are asking questions: If your family and friends notice a problem with your marriage, they may bring it to your attention. Furthermore, if they urge you to get a divorce, there may be something going on that you've yet to see.
• Your gut is telling you to flee: Sometimes, you get a feeling deep down inside that you need to make a change. If your instincts are telling you to get out of your marriage, it may be time to take drastic action or be prepared to listen to your gut.

Creating and maintaining a strong estate plan is an important priority for just about every adult in America, regardless of how much personal property a person possesses. However, for those who have significant estates or those with substantial debt with which they do not wish to trouble their beneficiaries, a strong estate plan is essential.

In most instances, the heart of an estate plan is the creator's last will. While it is arguably better to have an outdated will than no will at all, those who do not regularly review their wills and update them may generate costly problems. When it comes time to read the will and disperse the creator's estate according to the wishes laid out in the document, a will that has not received regular review and updates may cause serious complications, ultimately draining the value of the estate and potentially causing conflict between beneficiaries.

A trust is a common estate planning tool that enables the creator of the trust to dedicate the use of assets to a beneficiary by designating a trustee to manage the arrangement. The trustee controls the assets in the trust and ensures that they are given to the beneficiary in the way that the creator or "trustor" directed prior to their death.

There are many types of trusts. Each has a different purpose and different implications for everyone involved. Understanding the basics regarding trusts can help make sure that people creating estate plans are making the best choices to accomplish their goals.