Legal Questions? / Legal Answers!
About This Website
"As some of you know, I work for an organization
that offers programs that help parents understand
their children and more important, how to
cope with the everyday stress it takes to
be a parent. I walked by a Parenting Group
Meeting one night and over heard a Father
saying how he has done "everything I
can to see my kids, but my ex just won't
allow it" A long time ago, I was in
that same situation. see: "About Me." That one phrase made me realize how important
it was for me to really get behind my blog
and get it on the net. Both my family and
friends have benefited from the knowledge
I have on the legal aspects of child support,
dealing with D. H. H. S., evictions, legal
rights of individuals and filing legal paperwork.
I want to share this information with all
that may want it.
My Blog will deal with the following topics:
- How to make out and file the Parental Rights and Responsibilities paperwork, so you can have regular visitation
- How to make out and file a Motion To Modify your child support
- How to write a request asking the Dept. of
Human Services for a hearing to discuss your
back child support.
** I once filed for a child support hearing with D.H.S. After we were through I had shown that $4.000.00 of tax returns and garnished wages had not been subtracted from my child support balance.
I Also Will Blog On Your Legal Rights.
Some of the topics will be:
- So You Just Been Pulled Over, Now What?
- Your Right To Remain Silent. KEEP YOUR MOUTH
SHUT!
- Probable Cause To Search
- What To Expect If Your Arrested.
- Your Bail Conditions.
- Filing A Motion To Reduce Bail.
- Your First Court Appearance.
- Pleading Guilty Or Not Guilty.
- Asking For Discovery.
- Applying For A State Provided Attorney.
- Can the State Prove It's Case Against You?
- The Plea Bargain.
- Jail Time Probation Or Fine?
- Probation Questions & Answers.
- The "power" of the Police - What
can they really offer you when arrested?
- The "power" Of The District Attorney.
What can they really offer you?
- The "power" of the Judge. The most
important person in the Court Room.
- So your on Probation. What does that mean
to you and those around you.
- Domestic Violence. - This Important Charge
Is Important To Understand.
- Protection From Abuse.
Small Claims
- How To File Paperwork To Sue Somebody
- How To Make Out & Serve Someone A Summons.
- How To Fight (with good cause) an Eviction From Your Housing Authority Or Section 8.
So who am I that would know all this legal
info? Am I an Attorney? No ...I am not. In
fact, my own legal experience is based on
my desire to know, learn. ..And Do!
I have won apt evictions in court.
I have won child support situations in court.
I have filed for Continuances.
I have filed for Guardianship for myself
and others and have won.
I have used "Discovery "to get
a lighter sentence or fine for family and
friends.
I have filed for child custody on behalf
of my son and won.
I have helped to win a couple of Protection
From Abuse cases for friends.
I have even won a few traffic cases, of which
I was always not guilty of :-)
Back in 1976 - 1978 I attended S.M.V.T.I.
which is now S.M.T.C. In South Portland,
Maine. I enrolled in Law Enforcement Tech
as my course of interest. I always wanted
to be a Police Officer. Then in 1977, while
going to night school with local Police Officers
and Fire Department personal, I obtained
a job with Zayre's Department Stores. I picked
up shoplifters for 21 years and went on to
become a Loss Prevention Manager, But my
early years with Zayre's made me realize...
I didn't want to be a Police Officer any
longer. I now was dealing with the City Police
on a regular basis, and going to court as
a "witness" for bad check writers
and shoplifters. I saw allot of "wrong"
being done by the Police to those I had arrested.
People make mistakes. Not everyone is a criminal.
I learned that early. I also hoped that one
day I would be that one Cop who would "give
you a break." I again learned early
that, I couldn't be that kind of Cop. I would
no doubt, follow in their shoes. Their reasons
are their own for doing what they do, ..for
acting how they do to people. I didn't want
to be like them.
But I also wanted to learn the Law. And I
did. Well, some of it....
My family and friends are always telling
me I should have been a Lawyer.
Maybe.
But that's allot of night school combined
with allot of daytime work hours. I had my
oldest son in 1975. He also kept me very
busy.
I was also a State of Maine Foster Parent
for 12 years. Several children came and went
through my doors. And believe it or not,
I did not always agree with the D.H.H.S.
Worker on what was best for the children
and their parents. Visiting your children
for an hour a week in a 12 x 12 room at D.H.H.S.
is not the best visitation situation. I could
never understand why Deering Oaks Park wasn't
an allowed visiting location. Back then,
I felt that many parents were just set up
to fail. In fact, of the 14 foster children
we had through the 12 years as licensed foster
parents, only two were ever reunified with
one of their parents. As you can imagine,
my occasional fight for the children's rights,
also brought me some struggles with D.H.H.S.
but I also gained some legal experience as
well.
BTW... I am happy to say that situation no
longer exists for parents and children. I
was very fortunate to find work at Youth Alternatives Ingraham. They are a non-profit organization that
caters to children in Foster Care and helps
parents with parental programs, and parental
visits. Where Mom and Dad and the kids can
make a meal together in the Family Kitchen,
or play some games in the playroom, or use
the playground outside. I am very proud of
this organization I am associated with and
what they do for both kids and adults. I
have always felt that reunification should
always be the goal. So don't they. They give
you the tools to succeed in regaining your
children, the rest is up to you!
As a Loss Prevention Manager I also enjoyed
what I was doing! I think we can all agree.When
your good at what you do, you like what you
do.
I was catching Store Managers shoplifting,
Asst. Managers shoplifting. I knew the "regular
shoplifters" by name.
"Pick out that one in 7 that walks in
the door. How good are you?" I was pretty
good. I knew when people were acting on impulse,
when kids were doing something stupid, ...
or when you came in with every intention
of filling a cart and running out the door.
I went on to train Loss Prevention Managers
for several Area Department Stores and that
opportunity was very rewarding.
So there are my reasons for not being a Police
Officer, or a Lawyer. ( Did I need some?)
Anyway, enough about me.
I do not suggest I know it all here! Lets
be right up front. "Only A Fool Hires Himself For His Own Attorney."
I hope to be able to give you the tools to
start what needs to be started. To give you
the answers to some of your questions. I
may know quite a bit, but I will also be
relying on information from Law Sites, State
of Maine Sites, and all the legal documents
I have collected over the years.
I'll give you all the information I know,
but remember.... Your Attorney is the one you should always
rely on.
My Final Thought
"I would ask you to please remember, my knowledge is from helping others and doing the work involved to help them with their cases. I am NOT a Lawyer. I really enjoy exploring all the angles of any legal situation one finds themselves in. I also enjoy helping those that have been wronged or just have given up. When I help others it fuels my desire to learn more. I hope this website helps you to understand how and where to seek help. How to involve yourself with your Attorney and help him with your case. Hopefully you will learn a thing or two that helps you in your own struggles. To me, some of the laws seems simple. Almost common sense. I always start at the end and work my way back. What is the worst thing that could happen to you? Spending time in jail? Paying a fine? Having to report to a Probation Officer? Go to the end. That is where you start. Once you know what the end result might be, mandatory sentence, maximum fine, terms of probation... It makes it a bit easier to focus on what needs to be done and what you can live with as far as a plea agreement"
I do not have a comment board on this site as yet. My intention was to blog this information but I quickly realized that this information would be no good in segments. I believe everything needs to be available at once. By Sept. 2011, I should be finished.
If you would like to comment feel free to e-mail me at s-tracy@hotmail.com