First, Do No Harm

A medical doctor’s job is to restore our health. We present symptoms, the doctor makes an evaluation, prescribes a plan of treatment and, if the ailment falls outside of the doctor’s expertise, the doctor refers the patient to other professionals. The medical doctor’s creed is first and foremost to "do no harm."

Attorneys go to school for a long time. At the end of that journey, we earn a Juris Doctorate. We are doctors of the law. I believe our creed should be the same. Our vow should be first and foremost to “do no harm." I see a divorce attorney’s job as one in which the attorney protects the client’s legal interests while facilitating the healing of the family. It is not necessarily to fight for what the client wants. It is to educate the Client on how the law impacts the client’s wants and desired outcome of the case. It is to diagnose the legal issues verses the emotional issues and help the client deal with each appropriately. It is to maneuver and strategize to achieve the best results on the legal issues and to refer the client to other trained professionals for the emotional problems. Our job is to give clients the tools to solve problems and put their children above their own emotional process. Our job is to be the coordinators of healing. At a bare minimum, our job is not to destroy families. We should “first, do no harm.” We are the trauma center for families in crisis. It is an opportunity to help people change their lives and learn to productively handle conflict.

A good Family Law Attorney believes in families and marriage. We believe that, whenever possible, we should attempt to facilitate growth and healing within the family unit and the individual client. We endeavor to give the Client peace that the legal process is handled with efficiency and excellence so that the Client can focus on healing through the process. We are very privileged to serve our Clients and live by the Doctor’s creed.

-Attorney Joy Ragan

Back to School Tips for Parents

Summer break will be over soon and the transition to going back to school can be challenging. Here are some tips for parents to make the back-to-school transition a whole lot easier!

1. Meet the New Teacher
For kids, one of the biggest back-to-school fears is “Will I like my new teacher?” Breaking the ice early on is one of the best ways to calm everyone’s fears. Take advantage of your school’s open house or back-to-school night.

2. Tour the School
Familiarizing your child with his/her environment will help them avoid a nervous stomach on the first day. Together you can meet your child's teacher, find their desk, or explore the playground.

3. Connect with Friends
A familiar friend can make all the difference when heading back to school. You might try calling parents from last year’s class and finding out which children are in your child’s class this year. Refresh these relationships before school starts by scheduling a play date or a school carpool.

4. Ease Into the Routine
Switching from a summer to a school schedule can be stressful to everyone in the household. Avoid first-day-of-school mayhem by practicing your routine a few days in advance. Set the alarm clock, go through your morning rituals, and get in the car or to the bus stop on time.

5. Tool Up

Obtain the class supply list and take a special shopping trip with your child. Having the right tools will help them feel prepared. While keeping basic needs in mind, allow for a couple of splurges like a cool notebook or a favorite-colored pen. These simple pleasures make going back to school a lot more fun.

Credit: pbs.org

We wanted to send a big CONGRATS to Attorney Tom Marks for being nominated and recognized as one of the "10 Best" Attorneys for the State of Florida by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys! Way to go, Tom!