Divorce is NEVER the First Option!

As of 2017, the United States has at least one divorce every 13 seconds, placing our country sixth in the world for highest divorce rate. While Alabama’s numbers have been on the decline, marriages are constantly at risk of becoming another expensive statistic in the divorce rate. One of the prospective reasons for these outrageous numbers is that couples are not accurately assessing the state of their marriage and choose to end the marriage too early. One essential way to preventing this scenario is for the couple’s divorce attorney to commit to avoiding divorce at all cost, seeking a solution to the couple’s problem instead. It is absolutely the attorney’s duty to evaluate the situation and make every attempt to help the couple work the marriage out. Of course, it goes without saying that if the marriage has become abusive in any way, or if the couple has already been separated for some years, then a divorce is about the only option available. However, if the couple is simply just “drifting apart”, there may be room for reconciliation.

While divorce can be an extremely emotional time for both parties, it is the attorney’s job to be the “voice of reason” in the case. A good divorce attorney will consider components of the case such as any children involved, the reason for the divorce, the mental state of both parties, etc. before recommending the best approach to solving the problem at hand. It is important to remember that other steps - such as couple’s counseling - should be taken before completely “calling it quits” on a marriage. A good attorney will be able to determine the root of the problem and offer suggestions aside from divorce that the couple could consider. If the couple is struggling to stay connected emotionally and physically, there may be help found in a marriage counselor or a marital education program that would allow the couples to improve in areas such as marital functioning, couple problem solving, arguing strategies, learning forgiveness, and maintaining a “fun relationship” with each other. An attorney has a moral duty to suggest these alternative measures in order to ensure the couple is not making a mistake by hastily deciding to split up.

If divorce does become the best option for the couple, there are several variables that they should walk through with their attorney to make the divorce process run smoothly. The couple’s financial standing, the style of divorce they find best suited for them, and how the divorce will effect the additional family members are all extremely important considerations before signing any papers. Looking at these different categories will allow for the couple to get a better grip on what they are up against in the divorce and decide if alternative routes are possible. In the end, if divorce is the only option on the table, a divorce attorney should do everything in their power to allow for a prompt and cordial separation, all the while encouraging the most beneficial options for the family.

 

This article was written by Emily Atwell, a legal assistant and chief intern at the Reid Law Firm. She is an English major concentrating in linguistics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who will be graduating this spring. Originally from Dothan, Alabama, Emily enjoys working with children with disabilities, spending time with her family, and exploring all the wonderful places Birmingham has to offer.

Will the Opioid Crisis Continue to Devastate Alabama Families?

LEGAL QUESTIONS?
PLEASE TEXT REID LAW FIRM AT (205) 913-7406 OR E-MAIL reidfirm@gmail.com

Last week, in what was advertised as a landmark speech, President Trump announced his plans to declare the national opioid epidemic a national public health emergency. He declared that “it is time to liberate our communities from the scourge of addiction.” However, is the Trump administration doing enough to fight this epidemic?

The statistics present an overwhelmingly grim picture of our nation’s dependence on opioids. According to the White House[i], in 2016, more than two million Americans had an addiction to prescription or illicit opioids. Since 2000, 300,000 Americans have died from opioid overdoses, and 52,404 died in 2015 alone. It is estimated that overdose deaths in 2016 exceeded 64,000 - a rate of 175 deaths a day This startling statistic is more than the number of Americans killed during the Vietnam War. Needless to say, we have a problem and something needs to be done.

Don’t get me wrong, the actions of the Trump administration are a good start. The public health emergency designation will mobilize each department within the administration to use its available resources to fight the epidemic. As a result, this action will expand access to telemedicine services, and allow the Department of Health and Human Services to easily appoint specialists needed to respond to the public health emergency. The action also allows the Department of Labor to issue dislocated worker grants to workers who have been affected by the opioid crisis, as well as shifts resources within the HIV/AIDS programs to help those eligible for those programs receive substance abuse treatment.

Many have praised the President for officially bringing attention to the opioid crisis and placing the full force of the federal government behind fighting this epidemic. However, the epidemic needs more than just a good start. In order to fight the opioid crisis, we need a full on attack, and that is where the President’s plans fall short.

President Trump could have declared the crisis a full-on national emergency, which would have immediately freed up billions of dollars for emergency response, addiction treatment, and efforts to curtail the illegal distribution of opioids across the U.S. This more comprehensive approach (recommended by the President’s own opioids commission) would mimic the response efforts during natural disasters, and put more money where the President’s mouth is[ii]. Currently, the public health emergency designation does little to provide funding to adequately respond to the crisis. In fact, Forbes recently reported that the declaration sets aside a mere $57,000 for response efforts[iii].

Trump also announced that the administration would produce “really big, really great advertising” aimed at promoting awareness of the epidemic and the harmful effects of opioids to the younger generations, reminiscent of the Reagan-era “Just Say No” programs. The President is on to something – the fact that it will take a culture change to truly fight this epidemic. Advertising is an effective way to bring about this change (think the ban on cigarette commercials), but it must be done right. Today, such a campaign would need to be conducted with empathy and care, and not the harsh “doom and gloom” we typically prescribe for addicts.

It is unclear who in President Trump’s administration would lead the response to the epidemic. The President was forced to withdraw his nominee for head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Representative Tom Marino, after it broke that Marino had helped drug wholesalers collude against the DEA. In addition,Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price was forced to step down because of his use of private jets.

The most success so far in the fight against the opioid epidemic seems to be coming at the state level. In Alabama, state leaders such as Attorney General Steve Marshall and Governor Kay Ivey have done an excellent job in curtailing the effects of the crisis in a state that has one of the highest opioid prescription rates in the nation. Marshall has joined several other state attorneys general to investigate the sale and marketing of opioids by wholesalers, while Ivey’s opioid council is expected to present solutions to the epidemic in the forms of legislation, policy, and community action

America’s opioid epidemic must be stopped before it spins hopelessly out of control – if it hasn’t already. While President Trump’s public health emergency declaration was a good start, it falls short of the increased funding, strong leadership, and a change in culture that are truly needed to combat this crisis. Governor Chris Christie, chairman of the President’s opioids commission recently said, “I still have not seen the passion for this epidemic that I saw in the AIDS epidemic.” Until that passion is evident from the President down to the smallest community leaders, this epidemic will continue to wreak havoc on America.

 

This article was co-written by Daniel Bruce and Chris Reid. Daniel is studying Political Science and Economics at Auburn University. Chris is a general practice attorney in Birmingham, and a regular guest host on the Scott Beason Show, a conservative radio show in Alabama. He also contributes to his own column on Newsmax.

 

[i] https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/10/26/president-donald-j-trump-taking-action-drug-addiction-and-opioid-crisis

[ii] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/26/opinion/opioids-trump-emergency.html

[iii] https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2017/10/30/trump-declaring-opioid-crisis-an-emergency-makes-57000-available/#fce16fe7f33

 

Have a legal question or need to schedule an appointment?

Please e-mail me at reidfirm@gmail.com
cc: Ciara.reidlawalabama@gmail.com and nick.reidlawalabama@gmail.com  
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CHECK OUT WWW.REIDLAWALABAMA.COM .
You can text us 24/7 at 205-913-7406

The Risks to avoid on Halloween!

LEGAL QUESTIONS?
PLEASE TEXT REID LAW FIRM AT (205) 913-7406 OR E-MAIL reidfirm@gmail.com

Holidays bring out the best and the worst in our society. Its great to celebrate the holidays have a drink with friends but the biggest issues come up due high levels of intoxication. Halloween is no different, in fact, this particular holiday holds the record for highest child pedestrian fatality. While superstition and creativity follow Halloween around, parents should err on the side of caution while performing their holiday activities.

Most deaths that occur on Halloween involve a pedestrian-car fatality; statistically children are twice as likely to be hit by a car on Halloween than any other night of the year. According to USA Today, over a 20-year time period, 1990-2010, 115 pedestrians under the age of 18 were killed. In addition to pedestrian fatalities, you can find many people being arrested for a number of other issues: drunk driving, disorderly conduct and other criminal violations. According to USA Today, crime-related insurance claims increase more than 24 percent on Halloween. Athens, Ohio, proved their stereotype as a party town for Halloween, in 2015 Athens police arrested nearly 40 people on alcohol intoxication. The same year, Ohio University police gave 69 citations and jailed 18 people for similar circumstances.

With all the excitement of a holiday such as Halloween, often times pedestrian related accidents occur anywhere between the hours of 4pm -10 pm, as the sun is beginning to set and drivers have a more difficult time seeing pedestrians. According to US News, 26% of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween in 2013 involved a drunk driver and between 2009-2013, 43% of all motor vehicle deaths occurring on Halloween night also involved a drunk driver. Therefore, all children should be led by their parents while crossing the street. Halloween is also a big time for falls to occur as kids are running from house to house with their loose-fitting costumes in tow. Parents have their hands full on Halloween, not only candy but mainly to be on guard for all possible threats that such a night brings. Go out tonight and have fun and make some good memories with friends and family but please be careful and if you’re driving exercise extreme caution tonight and go much slower through neighborhoods

Holidays should be a time of celebration and excitement, exercising caution with all activities is highly recommended for a night such as Halloween. Be safe and have a Happy Halloween! If you have any legal issues that arise tonight please Text us 24/7 at 205-913-7406 or email us at reidfirm@gmail.com.

 


https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-strangest-crimes-at-2016s-halloween

https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/10/29/why-halloween-is-dangerous-for-kids

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/28/halloween-kids-pedestrian-deaths/1652807/

Have a legal question or need to schedule an appointment?

Please e-mail me at reidfirm@gmail.com
cc: Ciara.reidlawalabama@gmail.com and nick.reidlawalabama@gmail.com  
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CHECK OUT WWW.REIDLAWALABAMA.COM .
You can text us 24/7 at 205-913-7406

Is it possible to get a DUI or drug charge dismissed in Alabama?

Is it possible to get a DUI or drug charge dismissed in Alabama?

If you are arrested for possession of drugs, or for a DUI, a pretrial diversion may be for you. By the definition of the Office of the United States Attorneys, pretrial diversion (PTD) “is an alternative to prosecution which seeks to divert certain offenders from traditional criminal justice procession into a program of supervision and services administered by the U.S. Probation Service.”  Pre-trial diversion benefits both  the public and the offender.

No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of the legal services performed by other lawyers.