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Globe and Mail
21-07-2025
- General
- Globe and Mail
Estate Planning Attorney Stephanie Himel-Nelson of Jennifer Porter Law Featured in News Segment Highlighting Importance of Estate Planning for Families
In a recent WTKR News 3 segment, estate planning attorney Stephanie Himel-Nelson of Jennifer Porter Law emphasized the critical importance of early estate planning for families. The segment spotlighted Virginia Beach resident and firm client Danyiele Peterson, who turned to estate planning after experiencing firsthand the complications of managing a loved one's estate without proper legal preparation. Himel-Nelson's appearance underscored how early action can spare families from unnecessary stress and financial burdens during difficult times. As an estate planning attorney at Jennifer Porter Law, Himel-Nelson explained that most people don't realize how significantly estate planning can affect their family's well-being. 'Only about 30% of people have done any form of estate planning,' she noted, pointing to a widespread lack of preparation. Peterson's experience highlighted this gap. After her father passed away without a will or trust, she was faced with a process of sorting through assets during an emotionally taxing time. To avoid the same challenges for her own family, she established a trust with Himel-Nelson's assistance that clearly defines her medical and legal wishes, including who should make decisions on her behalf. The segment captured a growing awareness in Virginia Beach around estate planning and its impact. Estate planning attorney Stephanie Himel-Nelson of Jennifer Porter Law provided practical insight into the planning process, explaining how she guides clients through their various options. 'This is what a will might look like for an individual, this is what a trust might look like, and also, here's what happens when no planning is done,' she said. Without legal documents like wills and powers of attorney, the state decides how assets are distributed, which can lead to complications, especially in blended families or those with unique needs. Stephanie Himel-Nelson outlined the tangible benefits of estate planning: control, protection, and cost savings. 'The first benefit is that it keeps individuals in control, not the state. The second – it allows for protection of the family and the individual during a vulnerable time. And then finally, it can save the family a great deal of time, money, and stress,' she said. Her practical approach resonates with families seeking clarity, not complexity, during some of life's most uncertain moments. Beyond creating a will or a trust, Himel-Nelson urged residents to review and update their estate plans regularly. 'Look at your powers of attorney for health and finances. Are those agents still available?' she asked. Many individuals designate their parents for these roles, but aging parents may pass away or become unable to serve, making it vital to have backup decision-makers identified in the plan. The story also touched on the legal fallback when no estate plan exists. If the state steps in, a legal hierarchy determines how assets are distributed: beginning with a spouse and possibly children, and extending outward to parents, siblings, and other relatives. This default system may not reflect a person's actual wishes, particularly in blended families, and it often leaves families with more questions than answers. The local feature served as both a wake-up call and a helpful guide for Virginia Beach residents considering estate planning. Himel-Nelson's message is consistent: planning now can prevent hardship later. Whether it's drafting a will, creating a trust, or assigning powers of attorney, these decisions can make a lasting difference for loved ones during moments of vulnerability. Families who want to stay in control of their legacy, reduce burdens on loved ones, and ensure their personal wishes are honored can take a proactive step by speaking with an estate planning attorney. Stephanie Himel-Nelson continues to advocate for greater awareness and encourages regular reviews of existing documents to keep them up to date with life changes. About Jennifer Porter Law: Jennifer Porter Law is a Virginia-based law firm serving individuals and families with a focus on estate planning and related legal matters. The firm is committed to providing clients with thoughtful, practical solutions that reflect their values and priorities. Jennifer Porter Law offers compassionate, knowledgeable support to clients looking to secure their legacy and protect their loved ones through careful legal planning. About Stephanie Himel-Nelson, Esq.: Stephanie Himel-Nelson is the principal estate planning attorney at Jennifer Porter Law with over two decades of legal experience. She earned her law degree from George Washington University School of Law and is licensed to practice in Virginia and Washington, D.C. Himel-Nelson takes a practical approach to estate planning, guiding families through the differences between wills, trusts, and the consequences of having no plan at all. She is dedicated to making estate planning accessible and understandable for families throughout Virginia Beach and the surrounding areas. Embeds: Youtube Video: GMB: Email and website Email: jennifer@ Website: Media Contact Company Name: Jennifer Porter Law, PLLC Contact Person: Jennifer Porter Email: Send Email Phone: (571) 532-9070 Address: 8001 Braddock Rd Suite 102 City: Springfield State: Virginia 22151 Country: United States Website:
The Guardian
14-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Zohran Mamdani's campaign proposes free childcare. Is it finally a winning policy?
Maggie Stockdale hadn't given much thought to childcare before welcoming her first child last year. But once she learned the high price of full-time daycare tuition in Brooklyn, New York, she knew she had to find another solution. Now, her care duties are split between Stockdale's parents, who relocated from Wisconsin to help out, and her husband, who cut his hours down to part time and arranged with his employer to let him bring their 10-month-old to work several days a week. 'You feel fragile,' said Stockdale, lamenting that so many families have to choose between financial stability and their child's wellbeing. So when Zohran Mamdani campaigned on a platform of affordability, proposing free childcare for children aged six weeks and older, it made her feel that the pain she and other parents had experienced had not gone unnoticed. Mamdani, the 33-year-old state assemblymember who won the Democratic primary for New York City mayor last month, has put forth a variety of kid- and family-focused ideas, including distributing baby baskets containing formula and postpartum supplies to new parents, building up mental health infrastructure in schools and closing off high-traffic streets adjacent to school zones. But what's garnered the most attention is his promise of free childcare, a system he plans to fund by raising taxes on corporations and the city's richest residents. As he told supporters in his victory speech: 'We have won because New Yorkers have stood up for a city they can afford. A city where they can do more than just struggle … where childcare doesn't cost more than [college].' For Stockdale, seeing these policies at the center of a major political campaign has underscored how childcare affordability is not only a core concern for voters – but also a winning issue. 'It's got so much support,' said Stockdale, also an organizer with the advocacy group New Yorkers United for Childcare. 'People have started to realize that this should be a key component of any candidate's platform.' In many ways, Mamdani's platform responds to the surge of activism that New York has seen in favor of making childcare a public good – activism that first emerged at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when the importance and fragility of the country's childcare system was laid bare. Since then, elected officials have begun to take the issue seriously, explained Allison Lew, senior organizer with New Yorkers United for Child Care. A report released from the New York City comptroller's office this year shows the average cost of center-based care across the five boroughs was $26,000 a year, and that to afford the cost of care for a two-year-old in New York City, a family would need to earn $334,000 annually. 'People are draining their savings, going into debt, borrowing on their 401ks [retirement funds],' said Lew. 'You have to be wealthy in order for childcare to not be an issue.' For many would-be parents, the inaccessibility is affecting their family-planning decisions, causing them to delay having kids or to only have one child, despite wanting more. 'We would love to have another, but financially, we don't know if we can afford it,' said Nancy Keith, who is raising a 15-month-old in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn. Keith says that she and her husband waited until they were in their late 30s, and more settled in their career, to have a child. Even still, they need financial assistance from their parents to afford the $26,000 a year they pay for childcare. Should Mamdani win the mayoral election in November and make his childcare vision a reality, these challenges could become things of the past, experts say. Most immediately, parents and childcare workers alike would experience improved financial security. Families would see thousands more dollars in their bank accounts every month, while childcare workers would be paid salaries and receive benefits at parity with New York public school employees. Gregory Brender, chief policy and innovation officer at the Day Care Council of New York, explains that pay parity has been a priority for the provider network for decades, making it a relief to finally see it be a legislative priority. 'Early childhood education depends on a talented and educated workforce, and they need to be compensated appropriately,' he said. These family-focused policies would also improve equity in the city, as more parents – especially women – would be able to remain in the workforce. And in making the city more affordable for everyone, families from diverse backgrounds with a range of incomes would be able to remain in their communities. Down the line, such policies would also bolster the city's economy. Collectively, New Yorkers spend as much as $15bn on childcare every year. And in 2022, families not being able to afford childcare cost the city $23bn between lost tax revenues and workplace departures as parents were forced to drop out of the workforce. 'We just cannot afford to not have universal childcare,' Lew said. Universal childcare isn't cheap. But the city has the money, said Justin Brannan, a New York City councilmember representing parts of Brooklyn and chair of the city's committee on finance. 'We have been stuck in this cycle of false austerity where we are supposed to believe that we have to choose between little and even less, and it's just not true,' Brannan said, noting that the city's budget totals almost $116bn (universal childcare would cost $12bn per year). 'We just need to do a better job of spending our money,' he said. Implementing such a system may not be as simple as carving out room in the budget, however. Some facets of the plan – like raising taxes – need to be approved by the state legislature and the governor. Kathy Hochul, the New York governor, has already said she will not raise income taxes. Mamdani has acknowledged these challenges, saying in an interview with Morning Edition, 'Any mayor that has an ambition that meets the scale of the crisis of the people that they're seeking to represent will have to work with [the state].' Still, the ideas have momentum. New York has been a pioneer in accessible childcare infrastructure for several years, including universal preschool for three- and four-year-olds (known as pre-K and 3-K). And although many doubted Bill de Blasio's ability to pull off his promise of universal preschool when he ran for mayor more than a decade ago, the program is now a national model. Before that, the city instituted a voucher program that enabled low-income families to access childcare for children aged six weeks to 15 years – although seats are limited. As a result of those developments, advocates like Lew say some degree of publicly funded childcare is now a 'non-negotiable' for many New Yorkers. Mamdani says his campaign promises to build on those past successes. 'These platform planks are rooted in very recent New York City history,' he said in an interview with the Nation. 'Universal childcare is something that many candidates are in support of because of the success of universal pre-K.' New York isn't alone in its quest for solutions to the nationwide childcare crisis. In 2022, New Mexico made childcare free for most families. That same year, Washington DC raised childcare workers' wages through a tax on the district's wealthiest residents. And in 2023, Vermont guaranteed financial support for childcare for all families with incomes below 575% of the federal poverty level – amounting to 90% of families in the state. Hailey Gibbs, associate director of early childhood policy at the Center for American Progress, said it's an issue that crosses the political aisle. 'Folks, regardless of what state they represent or how far they sit in the political extremes, understand that the lack is meaningful,' she said. 'It's a unifying issue,' echoed Karen Schulman, senior director of state childcare policy at the National Women's Law Center, pointing out that even staunchly Republican states like Alabama, Georgia and Montana have created early childhood education funds. But Mamdani's campaign is the first in the country to put children and childcare front and center – and win, at least at the primary level. 'That's pretty bold for the US,' Gibbs said.
Khaleej Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Sharjah to set up new family court and alimony fund
Sharjah has approved the creation of a new Family Court to specifically handle family-related cases and support family wellbeing. The Judicial Inspection Department will draft new regulations to strengthen family stability. A new committee will also be formed to manage and protect funds that belong to children and others in similar situations. This committee will develop a financial plan to ensure that these funds are handled wisely and protected, always keeping the best interests of the children in mind. They will also provide the Council with regular updates on their activities. In addition, the Judicial Council on Wednesday announced a special alimony support fund to help individuals, especially women and children, receive urgent financial support when the responsible party (like a husband or father) cannot pay due to legal or financial reasons. This initiative aims to provide better support and fairness for families in the emirate. The money given out by the fund will eventually be collected from the person who is supposed to pay the alimony. Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Chairman of the Judicial Council, chaired the meeting on Wednesday. During the meeting, several important topics were discussed as part of the ongoing efforts to make the legal system better, improve the efficiency of the courts, and ensure social support for families.
BBC News
07-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Free therapy helps Dorset parents 'argue in a better way'
Free therapy helps parents 'argue in a better way' About one in six children in Dorset are affected by parental conflict The authority said the project would run for a limited time, ending in April 2026. The SIPCo (Support for Inter-Parental Communication) programme, which includes intensive counselling, is delivered over 10 weeks. Dorset Council said the project aims to help parents learn techniques to better deal with conflict, which has an impact on children. Families in Dorset are being offered free relationship therapy to help them "argue in a better way". The programme is open to all types of families, whether they are living together or separated. Elaine Robertson, pastoral lead at Emmanuel Middle School, said: "It is helping families to resolve parental conflict and helping them understand the impact that parental conflict can have on their children." Programme manager Michael Taylor said: "Parental conflict is something many parents feel scared to admit but, what we do know, in Dorset, it impacts a significant number of our children - approximately one in six. "I would say to families in that situation that you are not alone - what we want to do is support you." Children's services councillor, Claire Sutton, said: "Arguments are a part of normal family life, but we know that children struggle to thrive in a home where their parents or carers are arguing all the time or where the conflict is never resolved. "The family does not need to be involved with children's services to take part in the programme so I would encourage any parents, or their partners, who are experiencing parental conflict challenges to reach out to the team." The programme is available to parents of children up to 18 years old, or 25 years old for young people with special education needs and disabilities.
