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What does zero tolerance mean for underage drivers?
Like many other states, Virginia uses zero-tolerance laws when it comes to underage drivers. These are any drivers who are 21 years old or younger, meaning there is generally a gap of about five years in which a driver could fit into this age group.
When looking at zero-tolerance laws, they referred to this driver's blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Most drivers are held to a standard of 0.08%. But zero tolerance means that a positive test could lead to a drunk driving arrest, even if that driver is well below the 0.08% limit.
Why is this done?
The general reason for this is that those who are under 21 are not allowed to drink in the first place. They shouldn't even be able to buy alcohol, and they certainly cannot possess it illegally. If it is found in their system, since they've already broken this law, then it exposes them to the potential for drunk driving allegations.
Could this be problematic?
There are some potential problems with zero-tolerance laws. For one thing, the driver may not actually feel that impairment at all.
2 mistakes that can hurt your child custody case
Divorce, in and of itself, is often a difficult process. The process becomes more challenging when kids are involved and the parents cannot seem to agree on the child's post-divorce living arrangements.
It is not uncommon for each parent to do everything in their power to get a custody order that favors them. In the process, they might end up making costly mistakes that could significantly derail their custody case. Here are some of these mistakes:
Taking your fights online
Social media can be a great platform for interacting with family and friends and sharing your mind with the world. However, when you have any legal matter on your hands, it is important that you are mindful of your social media activity.
Taking to social media to express your dissatisfaction with your spouse can only hurt your custody case. Do not disparage, mock or threaten your spouse. In fact, you are better off avoiding social media altogether during your divorce process.
Tips to keep your divorce from becoming a drama
If you watch American soaps or Latin American novelas, you will have seen many divorces become long, drawn-out dramas. While they make for great television, they are best avoided in real life because they're stressful, damaging and expensive.
The best kind of divorce is actually rather boring. They involve two people sitting down and discussing things in a civil manner, without dragging up the past or flinging mud at each other in court.
Focus on the solution rather than the problem
You cannot change the past. If your marriage has reached a point where it is no longer working then ending it is typically best for both people and any children involved. It can sometimes be hard for both parties to see this right now of course.
There are various issues you need to resolve to end your marriage:
- If you have children you need to think about where they will live, how much time they will spend with each parent and how you will split paying to raise them.
Reasons to mediate your divorce
Divorce is difficult no matter what the circumstances. It can be especially difficult if children are involved. Going through a divorce via the court system can be a lengthy, adversarial process that often leaves the parties exhausted and resentful of the other.
However, going through the court system is not the only option for going through a divorce. Mediation, a form of alternative dispute resolution, is an alternative that works for many people, is cost-effective and efficient, and you can still bring your attorneys with you.
What is mediation?
Mediation is a process that brings together the divorcing parties, their attorneys (if they choose to), and a trained mediator who is a neutral third-party tasked with facilitating a structured conversation between the parties.
Mediations can take place with everyone in the same room or in separate rooms, in-person or virtually, and the mediator will help the parties come up with solutions that work for both of them.
Vital tips to help you manage stress during your divorce
Going through a divorce will automatically increase your stress level because it's such a major life change. It's up to you to find ways that you can bring it back down some.
Every situation is different, so one of the first things you need to do is to determine where your stress is coming from. Once you do that, you can take proactive steps to reduce stress.
Acknowledge your emotions
Accept that it's normal to feel a wide range of emotions during a divorce and give yourself permission to experience them without judgment. Share your feelings with friends, family or a support group, and let them help you through this challenging time. Ensure that you are getting enough sleep, eating well and exercising regularly to maintain your physical and mental health.
Set realistic expectations
Understand that divorce is a process, and it will take time to adjust to your new reality. Instead of dwelling on the things you can't change, concentrate on the aspects you can influence, such as your own reactions and decisions. Take the time to set a budget so you know what you can realistically handle financially.
How to keep informed as your immigration application progresses
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) usually notifies applicants about updates in their application status in two ways. First, an update is posted on an applicant's online account. Then, most of the time, confirmation of this update is sent to the applicant via the U.S. Postal Service.
It is critically important to understand how to check application updates online. All too often, time-sensitive information gets lost in the mail or is delayed by the Postal Service. As a result, applicants may find that they miss requests for information, notifications about appointments or other consequential updates to their application status until it is too late to address them.
Checking your application status online
To stay informed about the status of your case, log in to the USCIS case status portal by heading over to USCIS.gov. Once you're on the site, you'll need to enter your case receipt number, which is 13 characters long. It should appear on all of your notices from USCIS. It begins with three letters, followed by 10 numbers.
Divorce later in life is becoming more common
For young couples in the United States, divorce is becoming less common year after year. A big part of the reason for this is simply that people are waiting longer to get married. Your odds of divorce are far higher if you get married at 23 instead of 33, for example, so people waiting longer makes their relationships a bit more stable.
However, for those who are 50 years old and older, divorce rates are just going up. These are often referred to as gray divorce cases. This age group is the only one with a rising divorce rate.
Why does it happen?
There are a lot of reasons for these changes. Couples becoming empty-nesters will often spur divorce, for example. Couples will sometimes drift apart over time, as well. On top of that, a lot of the negative stigmas and perceptions about divorce have changed, so older couples may feel free to get a divorce in 2023 in a way that they haven't felt before.
3 possible defenses to assault charges
Assault charges carry heavy penalties in Maryland. You risk years in prison if convicted, depending on the nature of your charges and the circumstances of your offense. For instance, assault in the first degree carries up to 25 years in prison.
Therefore, it helps to mount a formidable defense against such charges to avoid the potential legal consequences. Beloware some common defenses to violent crimes like assault and battery.
Self-defense
Everyone has a right of self-defense, and you can legally use force to protect yourself, your property or others from imminent harm. However, for your self-defense claim to stand, the threat to your life or safety must have been in immediate or imminent danger, and the magnitude of your response must have been relative to the threat.
Consent
You may use consent in your defense if an individual voluntarily consented to a particular act on which your charges are based.
Why does the right attorney matter for a high asset divorce?
You're clearly headed for a divorce, and you know you need representation – but you may not realize the advantages of choosing an attorney who has successfully handled high asset cases in the past.
Divorce is rarely a simple, easy process – and that process gets even more complex when there's a lot to lose. Here's where experience can make all the difference:
When determining what counts as marital property
Both Maryland and Virginia are equitable distribution states, which means that the court focuses on dividing the marital property fairly, not equally. However, you can't even start to divide the marital estate until you've defined it – and that isn't always easy.
Prenuptial and postnuptial agreements may come into play, and couples may have inadvertently commingled their private funds, so you need someone who is experienced to help you have realistic financial expectations as you move forward.
While determining the value of various assets that can be divided
You also need someone who can help you better understand the choices you have so that you make sound financial decisions – and that starts with understanding the true value of different assets both before and after taxes.
Contractor defense: Steps to take if you don't get paid
One of the most frustrating things about working as a contractor is the clients who don't pay. They might claim that they can't afford it or raise a dispute with you about the quality of the work that you don't feel is justified.
You deserve to be paid what you're owed for the work you've done — so here are some steps you can take to make things happen:
1. Talk to the client and try to negotiate
Maybe your client is waiting on payment from a third party before they can pay your invoice. If your invoice is late and you have a good relationship with the client that you'd like to protect, try talking to them and see if you can arrange a date for payment that is satisfactory to you. That way, you can preserve the long-term relationship.
2. Go back to your contract
As an independent contractor, federal laws that protect employees, unfortunately, do not cover you. The most powerful weapon you have in your arsenal is your contract, and it's where you should always start when facing a payment dispute. If your client ignores you or refuses to pay, you can use the contract as a means to take legal action. Review its terms to make sure you've complied with any dispute resolution procedures and for clarity on how to proceed.
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