With Your Family in Mind

Jared Client, age 45, was divorced. He shared custody of his two daughters, age 10 and 12, with his ex-wife. (She was a loving mother, but Jared didn’t trust her with money. Her well-developed talent for spending was not matched with a talent for budgeting or saving. Jared was still paying off...

The oldest of America’s 75 million baby boomers are turning 70 this year.  This means the IRS will soon be requiring them to start cashing out their tax-deferred retirement savings accounts.  How you handle these withdrawals can have a profound effect on your own retirement and on what you...

 Bitter are the tears of a child: Sweeten them. Deep are the thoughts of a child: Quiet them. Sharp is the grief of a child: Take it from him. Soft is the heart of a child: Do not harden it. –Pamela Glenconner Does divorce traumatize children? The answer depends on two factors: the child’s...

 Time, again, for my annual sharing of an important message. Holidays are a wonderful time of the year, and frequently they are the one or two times a year we are able to spend time with parents or other aging loved ones. If we do see them daily, sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees,...

On Veteran’s Day, Americans remember the men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces and honor those who lost their lives serving and fighting for our freedom. But lives and health were not just lost on foreign soil.  We now know that toxic contaminations from hazardous chemicals...

 Have you ever thought of becoming a foster parent or wanted to adopt a child in need of permanency? Koinonia Family Services is now serving the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys, and is looking for families who want to provide safe, caring, and nurturing homes for children who are in need...

 For most of us, checkups are a regular part of life. Dental visits, auto maintenance appointments and even glances in the bathroom mirror all help us monitor performance and catch potential problems and assure that all is – or will be – well. What’s true of teeth, engines and grooming is also...

 Many children are willing to voluntarily care for a parent or loved one without any promise of compensation. But the person providing care for a loved one usually makes significant sacrifices. For example, giving up a job and employment benefits. A formal agreement among family members can...

One of the most difficult aspects of crafting a parenting plan for child visitation is addressing the holidays. Parents can create a holiday schedule detailing which parent will spend time with their children on certain holidays and other special occasions, such as Mother’s Day, Father’s Day,...

Drugs and alcohol play a large role in many custody fights. Sometimes they involve DUI’s and sometimes they involve casual, social drinking.  Assuming that we are not dealing with the issue of drug or alcohol abuse, custody orders are commonly drafted to permit a parent to drink so long as the...

The Friends of the Santa Clarita Public Library is inviting the community to roll up their sleeves and build gingerbread houses for submission into the fourth annual Gingerbread House Contest.  Submissions must be dropped off on Friday, December 2 between 3 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the Valencia...

The City of Santa Clarita, along with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station and the Domestic Violence Center of Santa Clarita Valley, have joined the Zonta Club of Santa Clarita in an important campaign aimed toward bringing awareness to domestic violence in the community. As part of the...

 It is with a heavy heart we share the passing of our friend and partner, David Rickett.  David was not only a founding partner of The Reape-Rickett Law Firm, but a member of the Reape-Rickett family. A lifelong resident of the Santa Clarita Valley, David earned his Associate of Arts Degree...

 Have you ever thought of becoming a foster parent or wanted to adopt a child in need of permanency? Koinonia Family Services is now serving the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys, and is looking for families who want to provide safe, caring, and nurturing homes for children who are in need...

 The holiday season is almost upon us! This is the time of year where we get together with our extended families and connect over shared memories, holiday feasts and festive activities. These events are great opportunities to spend time with our senior loved ones and learn more about their life...

The first holidays after a divorce means a flood of memories from previous holidays and/or the traditions you shared. Consider this my free advice. It’s okay to feel sad, even mad, you are human after all. A suggestion I usually make is to try on your first single Thanksgiving to try and make...

 The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret. – Henny Youngman At a friend’s 25th wedding anniversary party, the Husband was asked for the secret of his long-term marriage. His answer? Peer pressure. They’re no longer married. In an online musical card from Llerrah, the secret to a long and...

 College of Canyons has received an Outstanding Achievement Award by the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) for attaining a placement rate of 100 percent of its graduates from the Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Operator Program offered through the CNC Fast Track. The award was...