Tax Tips for 2015

By Joseph E. Balmer   |   December 5th, 2015

What You Can Do To Minimize Your Tax Burden For 2015

It’s now the time of year to consider what you can do to minimize your tax burden for 2015. Following are some of the tax tips you may want to consider to reduce the amount due to Uncle Sam next April.

  1. Make your charitable deductions before the end of year.  Generally, you can deduct charitable contributions up to fifty percent of your adjusted gross income.  Get rid of those unused items and receive a tax deduction.
  2. Remember that you can gift up to $14,000 per year to each individual with it being exempt from any gift tax reporting requirements to the IRS (or actual gift tax if you have exhausted all of your lifetime gift tax exemption).  If you are planning to make any large gifts, at least make a gift of $14,000 before the end of December to take advantage of this gift tax exemption.
… View Full Article → “Tax Tips for 2015”

Thanksgiving: What Happens When College Students Return Home For The Holidays?

By Guest Contributor Scott Hall   |   November 21st, 2015

Parents and College Students Can Find Ways to Peacefully Coexist During Thanksgiving and the Holidays!

Call it a clash of cultures. Thousands of college students will soon travel home for Thanksgiving, in their minds, returning as independent adults, but still children in the eyes of their parents, says Scott Hall, a family studies professor at Ball State.

“When college students return home for their first Thanksgiving after having been away at school, they might feel like they are caught between two worlds: echoes of childhood dependency, and nearby adult-like independence,” Hall says. “It is easy to feel the tugs of long-established patterns of home life once stepping back into the family system only recently left behind. Such patterns (to the college students) suddenly feel threatening to the ‘new me’ that has been emerging at school.”

He says parents might similarly feel stuck between two worlds: the long-established guardian role versus the recently evolving, remote support staff.… View Full Article → “Thanksgiving: What Happens When College Students Return Home For The Holidays?”

Ohio Domestic Relations and Juvenile Forms Translated in Five Languages

By Robert "Chip" Mues   |   November 14th, 2015

Ohio Supreme Court Translates Domestic Relations and Juvenile Standardized Forms into Spanish, Russian, French, Chinese, and Arabic For Public Download

Over the years, the U.S. Department of Justice has fashioned several consent decrees with several states and has negotiated with them to meet their obligation to provide language access.  Ohio has been active for years in supporting the rights of people in the court system whose English ability is limited.

Last month, the Ohio Supreme Court expanded these services and translated more than two dozen domestic relations and juvenile forms in five additional languages.  The translated forms allow parties with limited English to have a better understanding of court cases involving children and families.

The forms  are now also available in the most used languages in Ohio, including Spanish, Russian, French, Chinese, and Arabic.  When individuals need a domestic relations form in one of these languages, they can click on “Select Another Language.”  … View Full Article → “Ohio Domestic Relations and Juvenile Forms Translated in Five Languages”

Relationship Issues: The Reasons People Fall Out of Love In Marriage

By Anne Shale   |   November 7th, 2015

Numerous Factors Lead To The Demise Of A Marriage Or Relationship According to Author

Will The Dynamics of A Relationship Doom A Marriage? A Review of an Article Published by Healthy Peoples

I was intrigued by an article entitled “Twelve Biggest Reasons People Fall Out of Love” and determined to read/review the article and provide my input to the reasons cited by the author.

  1. The “honeymoon phase” of a romantic relationship is characterized by excitement, lust, sexual intimacy, and a general feeling that “this is it”! However, over time……this “honeymoon phase” does come to an end. The parties may think that if the excitement and lust have gone….is the relationship over? Has it ended? There must be a realization by the parties that the “love” has not evaporated or left….but, that the “honeymoon phase” of the relationship has run its course and is over. This does not mean that the marriage is doomed!!
… View Full Article → “Relationship Issues: The Reasons People Fall Out of Love In Marriage”

Estate Planning Tips for Same-Sex Couples

By Joseph E. Balmer   |   October 31st, 2015

Statutory Protections In Estate Planning Now Available To Surviving Spouses Of Same-Sex Marriages

Now that the institution of marriage has been sanctioned for same-sex couples, estate planning options and benefits that have not been available before can now be utilized to protect and provide for spouses in same-sex marriages.

Surviving spouses have always been provided certain statutory rights to a deceased spouse’s estate so that they are not completely disinherited.  A surviving spouse is entitled to a “family allowance,” usually the first $40,000 of the deceased spouse’s estate.  The surviving spouse is also entitled to the first two automobiles of the deceased spouse, unless specifically bequeathed to someone else.  The surviving spouse may live in the marital residence rent-free for one year.  The surviving spouse has the option to purchase the marital residence.  The surviving spouse can elect to take against the will.  These are just some of the statutory protections now available to surviving spouses of same-sex marriages.… View Full Article → “Estate Planning Tips for Same-Sex Couples”

Domestic Violence Within Military Families Probable Says Study

By Robert "Chip" Mues   |   October 24th, 2015

Recent Study Reveals That Combat Assignments Increase the Probability of Domestic Violence and Child Abuse By Military Members

A recent study published by The Review of Economics and Statistics concludes that combat assignments increase the probability of intimate partner domestic violence and child abuse by active-duty military members.  Resul Cesur of the University of Connecticut Finance Department and Joseph J. Sabia of San Diego State University Department of Economics, claim to have produced the first study to consider the effect of war service on domestic violence.  While they admit that several studies exist which explore the effect of war and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder on violent crime in general, they assert that none exist which focus specifically domestic violence. To access the complete study click here.

In their research, the authors looked at the effect of assigning servicemen of identical rank and occupation to combat deployments vs. non-combat deployments. The results indicated that active-duty members who served in combat zones had an increased probability of subsequent domestic violence, as compared to those who were assigned to non-combat areas.  … View Full Article → “Domestic Violence Within Military Families Probable Says Study”

Fathers: 5 Ways American Fatherhood is Changing

By Robert "Chip" Mues   |   October 17th, 2015

Pew Research Statistical Findings Show Fathers Taking Active Role In Home Life

Kim Parker, Director of Social Trends Research at Pew Research Center, published a very interesting article on June 15, 2015, in their “Fact Tank” about the changing role of fatherhood in today’s society. Some of the statistical findings were surprising in my mind.

“Today, fathers who live with their children are taking a more active role  in caring for them and helping out around the house. And the ranks of stay-at-home fathers  and single fathers have grown significantly in recent decades. At the same time, more and more children are growing up without a father in the home ”, Parker said.

Here are 5 of the findings she made from reviewing the Pew Research Center reports:

  1. Fewer dads are their family’s sole breadwinner. Among married couples with children under age 18, dual-income households are now the dominant arrangement (60%).
… View Full Article → “Fathers: 5 Ways American Fatherhood is Changing”
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