LegalEase – November 2021

November 24, 2021

From Our Computers to Yours

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is already here!  We always look forward to this time of year.  As difficult as it may be to say goodbye to summer, Fall is always so beautiful here.  And Thanksgiving motivates us to remember all that we have to be thankful for.

We are thankful for You!  Thank you for the confidence you place in us by choosing us as your attorneys.  Thank you for trusting us enough to recommend us to your family and friends.  And thank you for reading our newsletter and giving us your feedback!

This issue of LegalEase includes:

  • Participating in Virtual (Remote) Court Hearings
  • Believe It or Don’t
  • Q&A

Josh, Sheila, and I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Your Attorneys,

Steve Bienstock
Senior Partner

PARTICIPATING IN VIRTUAL (REMOTE) COURT HEARINGS

Do you have a virtual Court hearing coming up?  Are you wondering how that works?

Even though the Courts are now holding most hearings in-person, certain hearings are still being held virtually, usually by Zoom or WebEx.  If you are getting ready to participate in your first virtual Court hearing, the following tips will help you, not only for the Court hearing, but for videoconferencing in general, e.g., business meetings, telehealth appointments, etc.)

Prior to any virtual Court hearing, we meet with our clients (usually by phone) to prepare them for the upcoming hearing.  After the hearing, we talk to them again to make sure they understand what happened and to see if they have any questions.

Preparing for the Hearing:

  • Remember this is a Court proceeding.  Wear Court-appropriate clothing.
  • Use a high-quality microphone, headset, or earpods/earbuds with microphones.
  • Ensure you have a stable internet connection.
  • Participate from a space with no background noise or echo. This is especially important if you are at home, and there are children and/or pets around.
  • Test microphone volume before the proceeding begins.
  • Stay put once the connection is established.  If you move to another location, the stability of your connection could change.

During the Hearing:

  • If participating by phone, do not use speakerphone.
  • Mute yourself when not talking.
  • Speak slowly and clearly.  Do not speak over or interrupt others.
  • Make verbal responses.  Do not nod or shake your head to answer questions.
  • Be careful what you say.  Assume everyone can hear you.

After the Hearing:

  • Be sure you are completely disconnected from the call.

BELIEVE IT OR DON’T

Animals

  • The Lollipop was named after one of the most famous racehorses in the early 1900s:  Lolly Pop.
  • Animals that lay eggs don’t have belly buttons.
  • Seahorses do not have stomachs.
  • Ostriches are the only bird in the world with just two toes on each foot.
  • Snails can sleep for up to three years.
  • At birth, a Dalmatian is always pure white.
  • Some dinosaurs were as small as chickens.
  • For every person on earth, there are roughly 170 million insects.
  • Clams can live for more than 400 years.
  • A group of pandas is called an “embarrassment”.
  • It’s estimated that a billion birds die each year from flying into glass.
  • Magellanic penguins always return to the same mate after solo journeys of 200,000 miles.

Q&A

Q.  I am planning to file for divorce and have questions about how property will be split.  Is it true that property that I paid for with my own money is considered martial property?
        A. In Maryland, if the property was acquired during the marriage, no matter who paid for it, it is presumed marital property.  Property includes not just tangible things like houses, furniture, artwork, and cars, but also bank accounts, stock, pension funds, and retirement accounts. There are exceptions, though.  For example, property received by one spouse during marriage as a gift or inheritance may be considered non-marital property. 

Q.  My husband and I are having marital problems.  How do I know if the issues are grounds for divorce?
        A. Grounds for divorce include–but are not limited to–separation, adultery, desertion, conviction of a crime, cruelty or excessively vicious conduct to a party or child, or insanity.  Mutual consent is now also grounds for divorce.

Do you have a question for us?
Are there any topics you would like to hear more about? 
Email us at info@BienstockLegal.com !