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Child Support: 5 Key Things Every Parent Should Know

 by: Detra D. Davis

There is no magic solution to getting issues surrounding child support resolved. Most parents know that when dealing with the bureaucracy tied to the child support system persistence, persistence, persistence is the key that opens the door. In fact, it is the only thing that will open any door when it comes to getting a resolution to a problem. You cannot count on pencil pushers, or all too patient white collar “Friend of the Court” workers to help. They are overworked, underpaid, wrapped in a sea of paperwork, antiquated computer programs, and red tape that barely allows them to move from point “A” to point “B”. So what’s a parent to do?

1. If your relationship even remotely appears to be on the rocks and children are involved start collecting information on your partner. This is advice for both men and women. Don’t fool yourself gentlemen; you too can become a custodial parent seeking child support from your partner. It may not be the norm, but it is a reality. Don’t sneak around, and don’t feel as though you are going behind someone’s back. You have to do what is in the best interest of your children and yourself. Begin collecting bank account numbers, list of licenses, locations of stock/bond papers, money markets and past work/address history. Gather as much as you can.

2. Keep impeccable records. Write the names, addresses, phone and fax numbers to everyone you talk to concerning your child support case. You must hold people accountable and this is one way to do it. Don’t ever be afraid to ask a judge or referee, attorney or the child support worker of your case who they report to at the end of the day. This will send a clear message that they will be held accountable for every word that comes out of their mouth so it better be in your best interest.

3. Parents who were married at the time of conception may not have an issue filing for a child support order and often times your divorce attorney will cover this matter in your initial interview. However if the parents are not married, establishing paternity is essential if you expect to receive child support. Paternity means fatherhood. Establishing paternity provides the child/children with a legal father.

4. Child support equals survival. Break-ups are never easy for the parents or the children. It often means that the emotional and financial standard of living for all parties will suffer. Parents must understand that child support is paid for the well being of the child and the parent caring for that child. Money is a powerful tool in this society and can be used as a weapon when it comes to child support. The duty to pay child support and the right to visit are two different issues. They are not connected in the law. In the eyes of the court the child is entitled to contact with both parents. If non-support is an issue, begin documenting the visitation and during your next visit with the judge or referee assigned to your case mention the fact that support has stopped. If you don’t have an upcoming court visit, write the judge or referee assigned to your case. You can also inform your child support worker if you have one assigned, but write the judge and request a hearing to address the matter immediately.

5. There is power in the pen, or in the keyboard, depending on how you choose to communicate with the people associated with your child support case. Always, always leave a paper trail. If you send a letter, ask the postal worker to give you a confirmation, it will at least let you know when the letter has arrived. Calling child support workers or trying to get in touch with “Friend of the Court” staff is as impossible as willing the “mega millions lottery.” Parent must continue to write or, drop off letters to their workers/judges, and get the name of the person you leave the letter with, along with a phone number, This is great advice for any situation, if you think someone is giving you a bogus phone number, use your cell phone or a pay phone and call the number before you leave the location. If the number is not valid go back, ask to speak to a supervisor and let them know; and take the information to court with you so it can become part of the court record. If you truly have a problem getting child support issues addressed, write your legislators and your governor, weekly if needed. The squeaky wheel get the oil, and nothing ventured, nothing gained.

About The Author

Detra D. Davis is a Consultant, and technical writer with over 20 years of experience. She writes technical and operational manuals, and works as Parent Educator teaching workshops on the importance of establishing paternity and paying child support. Detra may be reached at 313-446-0896, at www.supportingourchildren.com or by mail at J. Davis & Associates Publishing, P. O. Box 44782, Detroit, MI 48244-0782, Attention: Detra D. Davis.

Source: http://www.365articles.com

Tips for getting your movie career launched

 by: Bas de Baar

Hollywood helps those who help themselves! In you want to get your movie career fast tracked then here are three common sense tips to help you on your way.

1. Borrow the Boy Scout’s Motto: Be Prepared.

Once you start the ball rolling you never know when you’re going to get a casting call. When that call comes there isn’t going to be any time to get all of the basics covered so get them out of the way right now.

Get your portfolio in order. Have plenty of copies of your PROFESSIONALLY done publicity photo’s on hand.

Have all of your stage and screen credits listed even if it’s only summer stock and school performances.

List any special skills you have, such as dancing, juggling, yodelling, foreign languages, anything which might catch a casting director’s eye.

List any union memberships such as SAG, AEA or AFTRA.

Build a web site that contains everything that’s included in your portfolio and make sure that there is contact information available. If you have an agent then list the agent’s contact information instead of yours. If you stink at building web sites then pay a pro to do it for you. Hire a copywriter as well if you have no writing talent. Register your name, if possible, and make that your domain name.

2. Stay Connected

Join local theater groups, read the trades looking for casting calls, hang out where other actors hang out so you can stay on top of the local gossip and happenings. Sometimes you can pick up a valuable tip or hear about a film crew that’s coming to do some local shooting. I know a girl who landed an extra role in Robert Dinero’s ‘Meet the Parents’ by “accidentally” showing up at the train station in Oyster Bay, NY where a scene was being shot. She picked up that juicy tip at an actor’s workshop she attended.

3. Make your own luck

The harder and smarter that you work the luckier you get. Remember my friend from ‘Meet the Parents’? What’s the chances that she’d have that screen credit if she didn’t go out of her way to “get lucky”.

If you live in Podunk, and no one ever films in Podunk, then move somewhere where they do film.

If your state or city has an agency that works with movie companies to help scout locations and strip away red tape, call them and see if they have a mailing list or any other way of finding out IN ADVANCE when a film crew will be shooting. SHOW UP on shooting days. Don’t make a pest of yourself but be “noticeable”. Hey, you might just get noticed. If you have enough advanced notice then find out who the casting director is and fire off a copy of your portfolio. Sure, it’s likely to get “filed” but you never know when yours will show up and be the right thing at the right time.

If you look like someone famous then make that work for you. Now, I don’t mean that you kind of resemble Julia Roberts if only you lost 60 pounds, got a cut and dye, and had your teeth capped. But if people come up to you in restaurants and ask for your autograph then you could have an instant ticket to the movies!

Get a recent publicity photo of Ms. Roberts and take it to the hair salon. Have your stylist cut, style and color your hair to exactly match the style and color in the photo. Then make your way to the local boutique and buy something to wear which matches as closely as possible what Ms. Roberts is wearing in the photo and then get a professional photographer to shoot you in the exact same pose.

Now, take the real photo of Julia and your own and fire it off to her agent, your agent, any agent you can find. Send it to casting directors, heck, send it to the local and national newspapers. Write a letter asking: Can you tell which one is the real Julia Roberts? Might not work for you; but I’ll tell you this — It doesn’t have any chance of working at all if you don’t at least try it.

The road to Hollywood can be long an never ending, or it could be the next exit on your journey through this world. The fun thing is: You never know!

For more info: http://www.TalentInternet.com

About The Author

Bas de Baar is editor of www.TalentInternet.com, a site with everything about movie and modeling auditions.

For more info: http://www.TalentInternet.com.

Source: http://www.365articles.com

Train Your Dog To Be Your Frisbee Playing Buddy

 by: Heather Wallace

On the surface playing Frisbee with your dog may seem like just a bit of fun, but this activity actually holds other benefits as well.

1. Certain breeds are accustomed to an active lifestyle, so, when they are forced to remain idle, they tend to create interesting diversions to entertain themselves. Unfortunately, their idea of fun may be something that you consider to be destructive behavior. Playing Frisbee with your dog may help to curb some of your dog’s destructive behavior by giving your pup an outlet for all of his pent-up energy.

2. Playing Frisbee will also provide both you and your dog with a bit of exercise. This is a great way to help your pet keep in tiptop condition.

Herding dogs are more adept at fetching a Frisbee, but other breeds can certainly be taught. There are even different discs on the market that are suited to different types of dogs. If you want to begin training at an early age, then you should look into purchasing a miniature disc for your puppy as a regular-size disc would be much too large for his tiny mouth.

Frisbee. It’s What’s For Dinner

Your first step toward molding your dog into a Frisbee-catching-master should be to replace his regular food dish with a Frisbee. Flip the disc over and serve up some chow, but be sure to remove the disc as soon as your dog has finished eating. The last thing that you want is for the Frisbee to become a chew toy. Your dog, who will come to associate the disc with supper, will gladly chase after it when you start tossing his “food dish” through the air.

Didn’t Your Mother Tell You Not to Play Indoors?

Well, for this next step you are going to have to go against mom’s advice. Take a seat on the floor and start rolling the Frisbee a few feet along the ground. Next, encourage your dog to chase after the disc. If your dog obeys, then be sure to provide ample praise. If your dog doesn’t go for the disc don’t become discouraged. Never become angry or frustrated with your dog during his learning experience. It is vital to the process that your dog view this as the greatest fun that the two of you could ever share. Just keep trying. He’ll get it eventually.

From Fetching….

Now you are going to teach your dog to return the disc to you. Play your usual game of roll the Frisbee, but this time call your dog’s name and tell him to come back to you with the disc. Even if the dog returns with out being told, this step must not be skipped as it teaches your dog to retrieve the Frisbee. There are additional steps that you might need to try if your dog doesn’t bring the disc back to you when called.

1. Tempt your dog to return by offering another Frisbee in exchange for the one he’s got. After you have rolled the first Frisbee and your dog has picked it up, call his name, tell him to bring the Frisbee to you, and show him that you have another disc. Your dog will most probably come running for the other Frisbee. Roll the second disc and repeat this process.

2. If your dog proves to be a little stubborn, then you may have to resort to using a training lead of about 30 feet. After you have rolled the first Frisbee and your dog has picked it up, call his name, tell him to bring the Frisbee to you, and then gently pull him back toward you. If your dog drops the disc while being reeled-in, then stop pulling him toward you. Get up, retrieve the Frisbee yourself, and begin the rolling process over again.

….To Catching

When your dog has mastered bringing the Frisbee back to you without the offer of another disc or the aid of a lead, then it is time to move outdoors as he is now ready to begin learning to catch the Frisbee. Care needs to be taken at this point that you do not actually throw the Frisbee at your dog. Some dogs may not try to catch the Frisbee and will, instead, be hit by the disc. This will cause them to become fearful of the disc and then training them to play with it will become a very difficult task.

Stand a few feet away from your dog and toss the Frisbee into the air. While doing this say “Catch”. Repeat this process until your dog completes the task. Be patient as this process may take months for your dog to accomplish. When your dog finally manages to catch the disc be sure to provide a reward and a lot of praise.

You are now ready to move onto the next and final step. If you are right-handed, then take a position on your dog’s right. Those who are left-handed should simply reverse their position in relation to their dog. From this position throw the Frisbee a short distance in front of you. When you dog becomes adept at catching these short throws, then you can progress to throws of a greater distance.

Congratulations! You now have a Frisbee catching buddy. Take your playmate out to the park and show off his new skills. Don’t surprised if the two of you draw a crowd of very impressed onlookers.

About The Author

Heather Wallace is a writer whose work has been published in national, regional, and online publications. Additionally, she has written articles as a newspaper correspondent. Visit http://www.fetchingsites.com/SitStay.html to learn how to turn a bad dog into the perfect pooch in record time. Also, sign-up for a free weekly newsletter jam-packed with dog obedience training tips.

Source: http://www.365articles.com