Purdue PA250 Full Course Latest 2020 JULY

PA250 Family Law

Unit 1 Discussion

DQ1 Discussion Overview

Discussions are an important component of your course work and will solidify your learning of the topics in each unit. Please refer to the Discussion Rubric under Grading Rubrics for grading information.

When posting to the Discussion Board:

Communications must always be professional and civil. All posting must be done in a collaborative environment.

The goal of discussion is a free exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the freedom to disagree with one another in a respectful and thoughtful way.

Reread messages and posts before sending them to ensure that your contributions are positive and diplomatic in tone and content.

Topic 1: Requirements for Marriage

Go to Divorcelawinfo.com’s Marriage Law Center, click on “Marriage License Laws,” and then click on your state. This will bring up the basic requirements of marriage in your state. Keep the information handy for this week’s Seminar.

Next, visit the following websites for links and resources focusing on marriage and family law:

Common Law Marriage

Marriage Age of Consent Law

Family Law

Finally, post your response to the following:

What are the requirements for marriage in your state?

When was the last time the marriage laws were changed? What were some of the changes?

Discussions are an important component of your course work and will solidify your learning of the topics in each unit. Please refer to the Discussion Rubric under Grading Rubrics for grading information.

When posting to the Discussion Board:

Communications must be professional and civil at all times. All posting must be done in a collaborative environment.

The goal of discussion is a free exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the freedom to disagree with one another in a respectful and thoughtful way.

Reread messages and posts before sending them to ensure that your contributions are positive and diplomatic in tone and content.

DQ2 Topic 2: What three questions might you ask a prospective client wanting to know about marriage in light of your research in your state? Be sure to indicate what types of questions you might ask in order to share some of the research you have found.

PA250 Family Law

Unit 2 Discussion

Topic: Alimony

Research the laws of your state regarding alimony or maintenance awards. When is a spouse eligible for alimony? Does the court follow a certain test or use certain criteria? Explain your answer.

Jett and Harper are seriously considering having a premarital agreement. The Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (UPAA) indicates that the parties should be able to create and agree to a premarital agreement with a few restrictions. The courts frown upon placing either party into financial peril. Read the facts of this week’s assignment and determine whether an agreement giving everything to either Jett or Harper would be in compliance with the UPAA. Explain why or why not.

 

PA250 Family Law

Unit 3 Discussion

Discussion Overview

Discussions are an important component of your course work and will solidify your learning of the topics in each unit. Please refer to the Discussion Rubric under Grading Rubrics for grading information.

When posting to the Discussion Board:

Communications must always be professional and civil. All posting must be done in a collaborative environment.

The goal of discussion is a free exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the freedom to disagree with one another in a respectful and thoughtful way.

Reread messages and posts before sending them to ensure that your contributions are positive and diplomatic in tone and content.

Topic: Marriage Rates

Many theorize why marriage rates are dropping, especially among millennials. One theory is that these individuals want a solid economic foundation before marrying. Further, “In contrast to the patterns of the past, when adults in all socio-economic groups married at roughly the same rate, marriage today is more prevalent among those with higher incomes and more education, according to the Pew research.” Please read the following article and provide a substantive opinion or example why you do or do not agree with the author.

 

PA250 Family Law

Unit 4 Discussion

Discussion Overview

Discussions are an important component of your course work and will solidify your learning of the topics in each unit. Please refer to the Discussion Rubric under Grading Rubrics for grading information.

When posting to the Discussion Board:

Communications must always be professional and civil. All posting must be done in a collaborative environment.

The goal of discussion is a free exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the freedom to disagree with one another in a respectful and thoughtful way.

Reread messages and posts before sending them to ensure that your contributions are positive and diplomatic in tone and content.

Topic: Rules of Professional Conduct

Review Rule 1.7 Conflict of Interest: Current Clients from the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct.

Now, go to the Discussion Board and post your response to the following scenario:

As you will learn in this week’s assignment, the clients, Jett Obeejebos and Harper Awezon, are very frugal with their money. They want the law firm you are working for to review a prenuptial agreement they have drafted. The two have been squabbling more than usual over financial dealings, and they want your firm to represent both of them if one or the other breaches their prenuptial agreement. What ethical concerns are raised by this scenario?

 

PA250 Family Law

Unit 5 Discussion

Discussion Overview

Discussions are an important component of your course work and will solidify your learning of the topics in each unit. Please refer to the Discussion Rubric under Grading Rubrics for grading information.

When posting to the Discussion Board:

Communications must always be professional and civil. All posting must be done in a collaborative environment.

The goal of discussion is a free exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the freedom to disagree with one another in a respectful and thoughtful way.

Reread messages and posts before sending them to ensure that your contributions are positive and diplomatic in tone and content.

Topic: Domestic Violence and Filing Fees for Protective Orders

Harper has been known to have a temper from time to time and has thrown things at Jett when frustrated. Recently she threw a Waterford crystal lamp at him. It bruised the left side of his face. He wants to know more about protective orders. Since he travels so much, he would like to know about your state’s laws in the event the couple moves there or he moves by himself.

Review information about protection orders.

For a sample of a state domestic violence statute, go to the Wisconsin State Law Library’s domestic abuse resources.

Conduct some research on the internet to find your state’s domestic violence statute. Then, go to the Discussion Board and cite your state’s domestic violence statute. Explain the requirements for obtaining a temporary restraining order or protective order under this statute.

Also, discuss the issue of filing fees for a protective order. Does your state require a filing fee? Is the elimination or reduction of filing fees important in domestic violence cases?

If you find a good website explaining domestic violence protection orders in your state, post the address of the website for the other students.

 

PA250 Family Law

Unit 6 Discussion

Discussion Overview

Discussions are an important component of your course work and will solidify your learning of the topics in each unit. Please refer to the Discussion Rubric under Grading Rubrics for grading information.

When posting to the Discussion Board:

Communications must always be professional and civil. All posting must be done in a collaborative environment.

The goal of discussion is a free exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the freedom to disagree with one another in a respectful and thoughtful way.

Reread messages and posts before sending them to ensure that your contributions are positive and diplomatic in tone and content.

Topic: Custody and Support Arrangements: Is a Pet Like a Child?

Many people treat their pets like family members. In fact, the courts have now been asked to consider the best interests of animals, arguing that they are more like dependents than personal property. Because of the special relationship people have with their pets, the courts are having to decide custody, access, and visitation.

Compare and contrast a new law that was passed in California, AB2274, allowing the courts to take into consideration “the care of the pet animal” in cases of marital dissolution or legal separation to child support.

Do you think both are similar in terms of determining amounts needed for support as well as enforcement of support orders?

Do you think there are effective methods and procedures to combat nonpayment of child and/or pet support?

How effective are these methods? Please provide examples to support your position.

What impact does nonpayment of child and/or support have on a family, on both the custodial parent and child(ren)/pets?

Child Support Enforcement

The following articles at the Office of Child Support Enforcement website provide a good overview of the child support enforcement system

Child Support Handbook. Retrieved from https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/programs/css/child_support_handbook_with_toc.pdf

How to Get Child Support. Retrieved from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/css/resource/how-to-get-child-support.

Child Support Websites and General Contact Information. Retrieved from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/css/resource/state-and-tribal-child-support-agency-contacts

Click on the “clickable image map” and choose your state to see a description of local child support enforcement programs.

 

PA250 Family Law

Unit 7 Discussion

Discussion Overview

Discussions are an important component of your course work and will solidify your learning of the topics in each unit. Please refer to the Discussion Rubric under Grading Rubrics for grading information.

When posting to the Discussion Board:

Communications must always be professional and civil. All posting must be done in a collaborative environment.

The goal of discussion is a free exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the freedom to disagree with one another in a respectful and thoughtful way.

Reread messages and posts before sending them to ensure that your contributions are positive and diplomatic in tone and content.

Topic: Approaches to Settlement and the Use of Paralegals

As you know, Jett and Harper’s main concern is their beloved dog, Express. They have often referred to her as their baby. They both want the best for their Labrachon. Review the links below and discuss your opinion on the paralegal’s role in the divorce mediation/settlement process, as well as how the paralegal can be more effective in the entire divorce process, especially considering newer areas of legal decisions surrounding pet custody and support. Keep in mind that pets become attached to their owners, and courts often apply the best interest of the pet in cases involving custody and support of their furry family member.

Go to the website of Adam J. Berner, Esq. and read about divorce mediation and its benefits. Then, click on the “Collaborative Law” topic under the “Services” tab and read about the collaborative law process.

Also, read the article entitled “An Overview of Divorce Mediation, For Family Law Paralegals.”

Now go to the Discussion Board and respond to the following:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of mediation and collaborative law in divorce cases?

How can the paralegal maximize his or her role in the divorce mediation/settlement process, as well as be more effective in the entire divorce process?

 

PA250 Family Law

Unit 8 Discussion

Discussion Overview

Discussions are an important component of your course work and will solidify your learning of the topics in each unit. Please refer to the Discussion Rubric under Grading Rubrics for grading information.

When posting to the Discussion Board:

Communications must always be professional and civil. All posting must be done in a collaborative environment.

The goal of discussion is a free exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the freedom to disagree with one another in a respectful and thoughtful way.

Reread messages and posts before sending them to ensure that your contributions are positive and diplomatic in tone and content.

Parental Kidnapping/Dognapping

A rather unusual situation is taking place with Jett and Harper. In this unit, Jett is filing for divorce from Harper. The couple have no children, but they do have a loving dog, Express. Harper has decided to take Express without Jett’s knowledge to a cabin an hour north of where the couple lives so she can think and regroup. Read the articles below and research dognapping cases that may help should the court need to decide if Harper does not return with Express. Compare how the courts view kidnapping cases against how they have begun to view dognapping cases.

Read the article “Daughters Stand by Father After His Sentencing” by Alexis Chiu. It tells the story of the Fagan parental kidnapping case that was headline news back in 1998 when Stephen Fagan was arrested for kidnapping his daughters and keeping them in Palm Beach, Florida, for almost 20 years. He took the children to Florida in violation of the custody orders when the children were only 2 and 5 years old, telling them that their mother had died in a car accident.

Also, read an editorial about this case, titled “The Father Was Always There for Them” by Ellen Goodman.

Now go to the discussion and respond to the following:

Do you agree with the editorial? Whether you agree or not, what about the editorial struck you?

If you had been the judge in this case, how would you have ruled?

Would you have given the same punishment? Lighter? Stiffer? Why?

 

 

 

PA250 Family Law

Unit 9 Discussion

Discussion Overview

Discussions are an important component of your course work and will solidify your learning of the topics in each unit. Please refer to the Discussion Rubric under Grading Rubrics for grading information.

When posting to the Discussion Board:

Communications must always be professional and civil. All posting must be done in a collaborative environment.

The goal of discussion is a free exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the freedom to disagree with one another in a respectful and thoughtful way.

Reread messages and posts before sending them to ensure that your contributions are positive and diplomatic in tone and content.

Topic: Baby M

Go to Westlaw.

Once in Westlaw, click on the “Law” tab at the top left. Then, in the “Find” section under “Shortcuts” on the left-hand side of the page, enter the citation 537 A.2d 1227.

This will bring you to In the Matter of Baby M, the landmark case decided by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 1988, dealing with the enforceability of a surrogacy contract.

Read it to answer the questions below. You should also use it to prepare for the Unit 8 Seminar.

Also, for a little more background of the Baby M case at the earlier trial stage, read the Baby M, in Re summary at the Free Legal Dictionary.

After reading the Baby M case and the summary, post your responses to the following questions:

Explain what the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled as to the enforceability of the surrogacy contract, and sum up its reasons for its ruling. Do you agree with this ruling? Why or why not?

How did the New Jersey Supreme Court rule with regard to custody of Baby M? What was the court’s rationale? Do you agree with the custody ruling? Why or why not?

 

PA250 Family Law

Unit 10 Discussion

Discussion Overview

Discussions are an important component of your course work and will solidify your learning of the topics in each unit. Please refer to the Discussion Rubric under Grading Rubrics for grading information.

When posting to the Discussion Board:

Communications must always be professional and civil. All posting must be done in a collaborative environment.

The goal of discussion is a free exchange of ideas and viewpoints with the freedom to disagree with one another in a respectful and thoughtful way.

Reread messages and posts before sending them to ensure that your contributions are positive and diplomatic in tone and content.

Topic: Reflective Summary

As you complete your work in this course, reflect on the outcomes as well as your personal goals for the course. This is the time for you to determine what areas of legal studies interest you and why. This is not intended to be a mere recap of the course. The emphasis here is on what you have personally learned and how it has affected your professional goals. Discussing what you have learned during the term not only will help you better process the information but also will help you enhance each other’s learning experience. Please reflect on the previous units and post a brief essay that addresses the following questions:

What have you learned from your discussions and collaborations with your fellow students?

In what specific ways can you use the knowledge you have gained in this course in your chosen profession? What are your strengths and opportunities for growth in this area?

What questions or concerns do you have about what you have studied?

What areas of the subject would you like to continue to explore and why?

Course Reflection

Post your thoughts responding to the course reflection questions above. A thoughtful response will get you full points for this discussion.

 

PA250 Family Law

Unit 2 Assignment

Short Paper: Prenuptial Agreements

Course Outcomes addressed in this assignment:

PA250-1: Explain the initial client interview process including the essential information that must be obtained and the potential emotional aspects involved.

GEL-1.02: Demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of original materials in Standard English.

GEL-5.01: Identify examples of human expression in society and culture.

Instructions

Author and private pilot Jett Obeejebos met financial advisor Harper Awezon on a business trip to meet with his publisher. Harper was a new advisor who had been assigned to help negotiate and draft his publishing contracts. After observing how she always looked out for his best interests and made him laugh, he fell in love with her.

One day, Harper came up with the idea of creating a pet transportation service for pets traveling solo to meet their owners or traveling with their owners by plane, train, or ship. The business would be called AweMyPet. Jett thought it was a terrific idea and encouraged Harper to pursue it.

The new business took shape swiftly, with earnings over $3 million in the first 4 months. The couple was ecstatic. Because he was a private pilot, Jett helped Harper save money on the initial domestic pet delivery flights.

Jett loved Harper so much that 6 months after meeting her, he asked for her hand in marriage. She said, “Yes!” Jett was very proud of Harper, and she was appreciative of Jett’s support and constant encouragement. Harper, however, had so much to do with her new business venture that she told Jett she needed to be engaged for at least a year.

He agreed. Both Jett and Harper were so happy about their engagement that they went out and celebrated by buying a Labrachon. They named her Express, as they felt it would symbolize or express their love for one another.

The couple has consulted your supervising attorney, Del Ivery, and asked if the law firm could prepare a prenuptial agreement for Harper and Jett.

Jett and Harper have provided the following information for you:

Dear Del:

We have combined our homes and have agreed that what we have together is ours, not his, not hers. We own a Labrachon named Express who is unaltered. In other words, she can still have puppies. We are thinking about breeding her in the future as she is so smart and doesn’t shed. Jett saw her and insisted we get her to celebrate an expression of our love. He and Express are inseparable. However, Express does cuddle with Harper if Jett is out of town. She’s kind of a fickle dog. Harper’s family helped contribute to the startup of AweMyPet in the amount of $500,000. Jett’s saved the company a lot of money by being its initial private pilot and has a lofty 401K with current value set at about $825,000. We want something that will protect his 401K and also the monies earned after we get married, plus any interest on investments, which we both agree should be Harper’s, since the company was her initial idea. Let us know if you need any additional information.

Best,

Harper and Jett

Your Assignment

You are to create five additional questions for Jett and Harper and explain why they are important to the creation of their prenuptial agreement.

Perform simple researchon the issue of premarital agreements. When conducting searches in Westlaw, remember to narrow your database and jurisdictional searches by choosing your state in the “Select a State” pull-down menus.

Locate your state’s statuteregarding prenuptial agreements. Conduct your research using databases available in the Library, as well as other online resources.

Include the citationof your state’s statute.

In performing your research, look for the following concepts: Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (see Appendix A in your textbook), legal requirements for a valid prenuptial agreement, and factors that invalidate a prenuptial agreement.

Answer the following questions:

What are the legal requirements of a valid prenuptial agreement in your jurisdiction, and what factors can invalidate one? How do the requirements today compare with what was required in the past in your state? (criterion 3)

What are the advantages and disadvantages of prenuptial agreements?

What is the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act, and has your state adopted it?

Should prenuptial agreements be compulsory? Do they improve marital relationships? (criterion 5)

Are prenuptial agreements recognized and utilized in other countries? Find two countries that allow prenuptial agreements and discuss similarities and differences with what you learned about prenuptial agreements in your jurisdiction. (criterion 1, criterion 4)

What kind of clause should be placed in the prenuptial agreement regarding any animals the couple has?

Checklist Before Submitting Your Assignment

Read the questions and what is being asked of you twice.

Structure your assignment in memorandum form.

Example:

Del Ivery, your supervising attorney, wants you to draft a memorandum with the specifics as follows:

(Place in Memo Format as follows)

Date:

To: Del Ivery, Supervising Attorney

From: (Your Name)

Re: Questions on Prenuptial Agreements and Requirements for Prenuptial Agreements

Organize your memorandum with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Note: Your memorandum length of 2–3 pages is separate from the title page and reference page.

In your introduction, indicate that your memorandum will include the following:

Which five questions you would ask the clients in order to draft a prenuptial agreement, based on your research

An analysis on prenuptial agreements, including:

the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act

requirements of a valid prenuptial agreement

whether a prenuptial agreement should be compulsory or not

Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of a prenuptial agreement

Make sure your discussion follows the order of topics listed in your introduction.

Keep all font color consistent throughout. If a blue hyperlink appears, remove it by hovering over it and right clicking. A vertical dropdown menu will appear. Click on Remove Hyperlink.

Avoid the use of first person (I, me, or my).

Use bolded headings to differentiate topic areas.

Provide in-text citations. If a reference is listed in your reference page, make sure it is displayed within your submission where you retrieved information from.

Provide hanging indents where needed.

Double space throughout your submission, including throughout your reference page. Note: This includes between your references.

Your reference page should be separate from the body of your submission.

Use Times New Roman size 12 font.

Provide an APA-formatted title page.

Directions for Submitting Your Assignment:

Please label your projects username-project-unit#.doc. For example, a student named Tina Allen would name her file TAllen-FamilyLaw-Unit2.doc. Submit your assignment to the Unit 2 Assignment Dropbox by the end of the unit.

 

PA250 Family Law

Unit 4 Assignment

PA250

Unit 4 Assignment

Short Paper: Suggestions for modifying a prenuptial agreement.

Course Outcomes addressed in this assignment:

PA250-2: Identify requirements and usefulness of the prenuptial agreement.

GEL-1.02: Demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of materials in Standard English.

GEL-8.02: Apply Critical Thinking to use principles of sound reasoning.

 Your supervising attorney, Del Ivery, has met once again with clients Jett Obeejebos and Harper Awezon. Despite both being able to afford an attorney, these clients took it upon themselves to prepare their own prenuptial agreement. They now want your firm to review it. Further, Harper still does not truly want a prenuptial agreement, but she wants to know exactly what benefit one could provide. They also want to know if the prenuptial agreement would be valid if one of them moved to another state.

Del Ivery has provided you with the facts about this client again (from Unit 2) and left a note on your desk with the task you are to prepare.

Your Assignment:

Dear Paralegal:

Please prepare a 2-page memorandum (excluding the APA-formatted title page and APA-formatted reference page) that details your research regarding the following:

Using your state’s laws, please review the prenuptial agreement prepared by Jett and Harper, making sure that the provisions they have included are valid. If any provisions are not valid, please explain why.

Within your memorandum, make sure you detail what is needed for the agreement to be valid, citing all necessary state laws as well as whether the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act would apply.

Be sure to discuss the usefulness of a premarital agreement.

Do not forget to address whether the prenuptial agreement would be valid if one or both moved to a different state.

Facts about the clients to help you with your review:

We have combined our homes and have agreed that what we have together is ours, not his, not hers. We own a Labrachon named Express who is unaltered. In other words, she can still have puppies. We are thinking about breeding her in the future as she is so smart and doesn’t shed. Jett saw her and insisted we get her to celebrate an expression of our love. He and Express are inseparable. However, Express does cuddle with Harper if Jett is out of town. She’s kind of a fickle dog. Harper’s family helped contribute to the startup of AweMyPet in the amount of $500,000. Jett saved the company a lot of money by being its initial private pilot and has a 401K with current value set at about $825,000. We want something that will protect his 401K and also the monies earned after we get married, plus any interest on investments, which both agree should be Harper’s, since the company was her initial idea.

New facts about the clients you should know:

Jett has revealed that a few pilot friends of his enjoy alcohol, and over Harper’s protests, he likes to have them visit. Harper is very close to her mother, Endora, and eventually wants her to live in the couple’s granny quarters on their property. Jett tolerates Endora but does not seem open to the living arrangement Harper has in mind.

Jett Obeejebos and Harper Awezon’s rough draft of the prenuptial agreement they have created: 

In the interest of fairness and protecting one another’s hard-earned assets, and for a more peaceful life, Jett Obeejebos and Harper Awezon do hereby create the following prenuptial agreement:

In the event of a divorce, both parties agree to share custody of their beloved pet Labrachon named Express. Express will stay with Jett half of the time and the other half with Harper.

Both parties agree to waive any alimony rights, as we feel that each can make a living on his/her own.

Jett agrees to not bring any of his coworkers who drink to the couple’s home. In exchange, Harper agrees to not allow her mother to visit or live in the granny quarters on their property located at 2 Doors Down Lane in Anywhere, USA.

The parties both agree that whatever money each has made prior to their marriage is that party’s separate property. Any money Harper makes after she marries Jett will be solely hers. Any money Jett makes will be divided, with 75% being his and 25% towards their marriage in an effort to continue helping Harper’s new business AweMyPet be a success.

Checklist Before Submitting Your Assignment

Read the question and what is being asked of you twice.

Structure your assignment in memorandum form.

Example:

(Place in Memo Format as follows)

Date:

To: Del Ivery, Supervising Attorney

From: (Your Name)

Re: Review and Usefulness of Jett Obeejebos and Harper Awezon Prenuptial Agreement      

Organize your memorandum with an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Note: Your memorandum length of 2–3 pages is separate from the title page and reference page.

In your introduction, indicate that your memorandum will include the following:

The requirements for prenuptial agreements in your state

A discussion regarding the validity of Jett and Harper’s self-created prenuptial agreement and suggestions for making the couple’s agreement valid

Further, a discussion of the usefulness of prenuptial agreements and their validity in different states should the couple relocate

Make sure your discussion follows the order of topics l