Style & Living

Some of the most complex cases we handle at our firm, Wisselman Harounian & Associates, involve “premeditated divorce planning.” These are cases where one spouse undermines his or her unsuspecting partner by hiding away assets for months and even years before the proceedings start.  Usually, this individual has more control over the income and assets of the family and is the main financial decision maker, whereas, the unsuspecting spouse is “in the dark” about the party’s financial circumstances.

One of the most important ways we can leave a legacy for our loved ones is by drafting the appropriate testamentary documents. An individual can designate who should receive his or her assets when he/she dies by signing a Last Will and Testament and making specific “bequests,” or gifts, therein. When an individual dies, the will must be admitted to the court for approval before the assets can be distributed.  This process is called “probate.”  The Court “proves” the will and ensures that everything was done properly. 

Recap: Yonah went to the Freedom School; he was helping men learn the information they needed to be able to vote when a neighbor came in wielding an ax and threatening everyone there.

The Jewish religion has commonly accepted divorce as a fact of life, even if it is a very unfortunate one. The Jewish community generally maintains that Shalom Bayit, domestic peace and harmony, is the most desirable state, and it’s better for a couple to divorce than to remain together in a state of bitterness and strife.

This year, National Women’s Health Week begins on Mother’s Day, May 12, and continues through May 18. During Women’s Health Week, all women are encouraged to be as healthy as possible and to be aware of conditions that disproportionately affect women.

What went wrong at this year’s “A Different Pesach Program” and who saved the day? Last year, Ben Atkin, the owner of A Different Pesach Program, ran two Pesach programs. This year, he combined the two into one and planned to have 1,000 guests. He hired an operations manager so he would not need to be on site. Ben put deposits on 120 homes, advertised extensively, and, as Pesach grew near, he was in the unenviable position of having about only half the guests he expected and a fraction of what he had last year. The reservations he was expecting just did not come through in the numbers he expected. Financially, the program was no longer feasible but it was also very late to cancel. Where would his guests go? Many were flying in and had already purchased tickets. Some money was already lost on canceling homes that were not needed, advertising dollars could not be recouped, and food was already being prepared by the truckload. All of the homes were paid for, except about $900 was still due on each of 11 homes.