Being positive. Before I get started on this, I want to address toxic positivity. The definition seems to be no matter the circumstances, a person maintains a positive attitude. The pushback is being positive all the time overrides emotions somehow lessening them. I think the pushback is well intended, but misplaced because: “Toxic” is […]

  Now that you have mastered speaking with kindness and listening with kindness, it is time to tackle what I think is the most difficult tenet: holding a boundary. There are many different ways to describe holding a boundary, and the definition that works for you should be the one you follow. For me, it […]

  Last time we addressed five tenets and how they can improve communication. The idea is using the tenets to shape how you communicate with someone and help focus the issue, and possibly avoid confrontation. To recap, the tenets are: Speaking/listening with kindness Holding your boundaries Being positive Being honest Showing grace I am not […]

  Warning: this might not be a legal article. I don’t have any letters after my name (Ph.D., etc.) that give the following any scholarly weight. Granted, I took nine whole hours of psychology in college, but that was (gulp) 30 years ago and I don’t think I aced the classes. But, contrary to some […]

Okay, so maybe broken is too strong. But, when a parenting plan is no longer in a child’s best interest, something must be done. When it comes to children, nothing is ever final. Parents change, children change, situations change, and modifications happen. At the same time, children usually do best with stability. But what if […]

Most cases do not go to trial. Chances are your case will settle, either through discussions between you and the other party, or more likely your attorneys, or through other formal means. So, let’s assume you do not want to go to trial, and incur the time, expense, and stress a trial will ultimately cost. […]

Sometimes lawyers tell clients to “forget what you may have seen in the movies; your trial will be nothing like that”. Maybe, but there will be a courtroom, a Judge, an opposing attorney, witnesses, exhibits, etc., just like the movies. True, a Joe Pesci-esque character will not likely come into court with a leather coat […]

Now that you understand the language, we need to talk about procedure. There seems to be two schools of thought on procedure: 1) the rule of law is sacrosanct and must be followed strictly upon pain of death; or 2) as long as everyone comes to the courthouse on the same day and at roughly […]

After deciding on a lawyer, and having the attorney decide on you, the next most important step is to understand the process. Your understanding of the process, and avoiding the “Oh, I did not know that was an option” conversation, is crucial. If you do not understand the process, then you might not be able […]

I thought it might be helpful to know how lawyers go about picking clients. Or, at least how we go about it. Understanding the beginning of the process might help prepare you for when you must make a personal, and potentially expensive, decision while under considerable stress. There is no one way to select clients. […]

Picking a lawyer is like picking a watermelon: most watermelons look the same, most sound similar, but until you cut into one you never know if you have a good one. Not that you should cut into a lawyer. We tend not to like it when that happens. What I mean is that until you […]

I do not remember a time I did not want to be a lawyer. Practicing law is all I ever wanted to do, and feel privileged that I am able to do it and to write articles like this. Please understand I do not consider myself an expert by any means; that is why they […]

Starting on July 1, 2020 and continuing for 40 days Ward Potter will be highlighting the things that make our community such a great place to live and raise a family. We want to share with you the small businesses, non-profits, and little-known treasures that we think are the secret to our strong and vibrant […]

The 3rd Annual Show Pride in Your Ride Car Show was an unforgettable evening! With the support of our guests and donors we raised over $2400 for OK Elementary School and Black Traditional Elementary! Special thanks to the following businesses who donated wonderful items for the raffle or provided support of our event: Hereford House, […]