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Blended Family Parenting The Do's and Don'ts

Webinar

Date: September 25, 2020
Time: 12:00pm PDT

View Recorded Webinar

Description:

Forming a new, blended family comes with great challenges and great rewards. Having realistic expectations is important for parents wanting to start a blended family. We'll explore elements that successful blended families have in common and how to address attitudes and behaviors that lead to conflict. In collaboration with Custody Queens.

Speakers

 

Moderator: Dayn A. Holstrom, CFLS, Managing Partner and Family Law Attorney, Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC

Dayn A. Holstrom, CFLS, Managing Partner and Family Law Attorney, Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLCDayn Holstrom has distinguished himself and his team as the number one family law firm in Orange County, Riverside, and San Bernardino. His highly experienced attorneys and support staff are exceedingly knowledgeable and support all of their clients with the heart and determination to see your case through.

His commitment to excellence is evident throughout his numerous lifetime achievements. While attending Western State University College of Law, he received the American Jurisprudence Award for the highest achievement in a specific subject 17 times, he was Editor in Chief of the Western State University Law Review and Director of the School’s Don Program for tutoring other students. Dayn was Valedictorian and graduated summa cum laude with the highest GPA in the history of the school.

Fast forward 30 years, Dayn has built a powerhouse of a firm serving Family Law clients throughout California.  Mr. Holstrom is exceptionally experienced and well thought of by the local bar associations and judiciary in the communities in which he practices: Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County. He has served as a Judge Pro Tem and he has been voted “Best Lawyers” by Inland Empire Magazine, OC Metro Magazine and has been consistently rated 10.0 of 10.0 by Avvo.

While not in the office, Dayn enjoys flying, spending time with his kids (3 are lawyers-or soon to be), and 4 grandkids.

Kristen A. Holstrom - Assistant Managing Partner, Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), Family Law Attorney

Kristen A. Holstrom - Assistant Managing Partner, Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), Family Law AttorneyKristen Holstrom is the Managing Attorney and Founder of Custody Queens, a subdivision of Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC. As a Certified Family Law Specialist, Kristen focuses on education in legal matters and litigation in complex custody cases.  She is well respected and active within the community, sits on several boards, and has received many accolades and awards including being a three time recipient of the Super Lawyers Rising Star Award. Most recently, she was named the Top 50 Women Rising Star award, and the Top 100 Up-and-Coming Southern California Rising Star list, which is reserved for the top one percent of attorneys in practice under ten years. Kristen’s passion is, and always has been helping children and families navigate through the emotional and difficult times.

As a mother of three young children, Kristen truly understands the hard work, complexity, and joy of raising children. Kristen’s vast legal knowledge and personal experience provides her with a truly unique perspective on family dynamics, effective communication between co-parents, and family law. Kristen focuses on the uniqueness of each case, rather than the “one size fits all” approach and applies real life experience to all aspects of family law cases. Kristen is deeply valued by her clients for her creative legal strategy, aggressive nature, and unwavering loyalty. Kristen is also a radio personality on the Custody Queens radio show on Go Country 105, Saturdays at 8:30 AM.

Stephen Nixon, Attorney and Founder TalkingParents.com

Stephen Nixon, Attorney and Founder TalkingParents.comStephen Nixon graduated from the Florida State University College of Law in 2007. After law school, Stephen served as an Assistant State Attorney for Florida’s First Judicial Circuit. He then went on to co-found The Nixon Law Firm where he practiced family law.

As an attorney, Stephen saw firsthand how poor communication and a lack of accountability caused considerable problems for his clients. The inability to compile an accurate and complete record of interactions between parents led directly to increased legal bills, wasted time in court, and an unhealthy co-parenting environment. He saw the need for a service that would allow parents to keep a single, complete, and unalterable record of all communications and interactions between them. He also saw the need for a service that allowed parents involved in domestic violence situations to communicate regarding their children without sharing their actual contact information or location. These realizations led him to create TalkingParents, which launched in 2010. Since that time, TalkingParents has added many new features and expanded its user base across the U.S. and around the world.

Benjamin Heldfond, Co-Author & Founder, Our Happy Divorce. owner of Heldfond Holdings, LLC

Benjamin Heldfond, Co-Author & Founder, Our Happy Divorce. owner of Heldfond Holdings, LLCBen is the Co-Author of “Our Happy Divorce”, a book Ben and his Ex-Wife Nikki DeBartolo, wrote about their journey through divorce and how it brought them closer together. Ben intimately understand the detriment divorce can cause in the lives of children. The example of his parents’ divorce instilled in him a deep commitment to doing better by his own kids.

Ben’s the owner of Heldfond Holdings, LLC a holding company that invests in a wide variety of companies. Everything from real estate, private equity, and venture capital. Some of them he has an active role either through an advisor or the board of directors. Heldfond Holdings currently holds approximately 20 companies.

Ben began his real estate career in 1999 with a focus on commercial real estate as Vice President, Diversified Assets at DeBartolo Holdings, LLC, Tampa, Florida. He played an integral part in the company’s real estate development acquisitions and diversified investing transactions as well as taking an active role in the Tampa Bay community through the various DeBartolo Family Foundation philanthropic programs. Ben is a founding board member of the Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate High School, a charter school that helps underprivileged children.

Ben graduated from The University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science degree in African American History and Business Administration. Since then he has been involved with several non-profit organizations; many focused on addiction/alcoholism including: Facing Addiction w/NCADD, Road Recovery, Phoenix House, Young People in Recovery and American Cancer Society Tampa CEO Council with a focus on Governance, Finance and Strategic Planning.

Ben is an avid golfer, sports enthusiast and co-host for a local radio show, 102.5 the Bone. He resides in South Tampa with his wife, Nadia; his 16-year old son, Asher; his 6-year-old daughter Isabella, and his 4-year-old son Jackson

Dr. Erin Grimes, Psy.D, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Erin Grimes, Psy.D, Licensed Clinical PsychologistErin Grimes earned her B.A. at UCLA in 2001 and her Psy.D. at California School of Professional Psychology in 2008. She has practiced and taught in the Department of Psychiatry at UCSD from 2007-2014. She has also worked in private practice for the past 12 years treating families, couples, and individuals. Erin sees patients in La Jolla and Solana Beach and offers consultation services for families considering divorce.

Erin's treatment approach includes cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) to offer clients effective and quick ways to change behavior and use more adaptive thinking styles to approach life challenges and stress. She also uses existential psychotherapy approaches to help enhance self-awareness, insight, develop empathy, and confidence in one’s personal relationships and professional settings. Both approaches integrate mindfulness exercises such as breathing, meditating, and self-care through healthy lifestyle choices as a way to improve psychological health and well-being.

Personally, she is passionate about being a mother of two children and participating in her community. Through these life experiences, she has gained an understanding of the joys and struggles that accompany marriage and parenthood, which has supported her ability to empathize with the challenges her clients endure. Her own journey of life, personal growth, and development helped her to work with clients in their experiences.

Naja Hall, Author and Founder, Blended and Black, VIP Stepmom.com

Naja Hall, Author and Founder, Blended and Black, VIP Stepmom.comNaja Hall was born and raised in Memphis, TN and has called Harlem, New York City home since 2007. She is the founder of the largest blended family community for millennials, Blended and Black. She also runs VIPStepmom.com, a community for stepmothers. As a means to stay close to her comedy writing roots, Naja produces her passion project Dating Debacles.

She earned an undergraduate degree from The University of Tennessee in Family and Consumer Sciences and went on to attend The University of North Texas where she worked on an MBA in International Business. While in Dallas, TX she began her career as a corporate Buyer. One day while gazing out of her cushy office window, she noticed her colleagues, seemingly in a single filed lined, in the same dark suit, walking into a workday of monotony. It was then that she hopped on her glittery broomstick, flew away, and never looked back!

“If I could have one super-power, I would love to be able to teleport. That way, I could have cheese eggs, bacon and grits with my Grandma in Memphis every morning, go for a mid-day swim in Antigua, have lunch in Rome with perfect strangers and be home in time for dinner with my Husband in Manhattan.”

Helpful Resources

Talking Parents
Helping Co-Parents Communicate Effectively
TalkingParents.com

Our Happy Divorce
One Powerful Story of Two Parents’ Happy Divorce
OurHappyDivorce.com

Restore & Grow
Therapy & Testing
ErinGrimesTherapy.com

Custody Queens
(833) 622-0001
help@custodyqueens.com
www.CustodyQueens.com

Blended and Black
A Community for Millennials in Stepfamilies
BlendedandBlack.com

VIP Stepmom
Every Stepmom needs a Tribe
VIPStepmom.com

Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC
Southern California Family Law Attorneys specializing in Divorce, Estate Planning & Appellate Law
www.HBPLaw.com

Divorce 101: Understanding Marriage Dissolution

Webinar

Date: August 10, 2020
Time: 2:00pm-3:15pm PDT

View Recorded Webinar

Description:

Knowledge is power when it comes to a divorce. Divorce 101 provides you with a strong starting point no matter where you are in the process. Gain valuable insights from a panel of experts regarding financial concerns before and after your divorce, emotional care for you and your children, and what to expect from family courts in southern California. In collaboration with Custody Queens.

Speakers

Moderator: Carrie Block, CFLS, Partner and Family Law Attorney, Holstrom, Block & Parke

Carrie Block, CFLS, Partner and Family Law Attorney, Holstrom, Block & ParkeCarrie Block is the managing partner at the Orange County office of matrimonial law firm Holstrom, Block & Parke. With more than 25 years’ experience in top-tier family law firms, Carrie is an expert in all areas of family law, including divorce, custody, child support, spousal support, paternity and premarital rights. Her practice at HBP focuses on high asset family divorce, collaborative divorce and mediation in Orange County.

Carrie helps clients achieve the legal outcomes they seek with compassion and sensitivity. She prides herself on being available for her clients while guiding them through the difficult transition of divorce so that they can move forward into a brighter future.

Ms. Block specializes in representing clients in agreed-upon divorces, post-judgment modifications, enforcement of existing orders and premarital agreements. As a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) expert, she is highly qualified to resolve unique issues that 401(k)’s, pensions and benefits present in divorce. Carrie’s expertise allows her to complete QDROs without outside experts, allowing difficult negotiations regarding retirement funds to be completed earlier in the divorce process.

She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1990 and earned her Juris Doctor degree from Loyola Law School in 1993.

Carrie was awarded the status of California Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) by the California Board of Legal Specialization. Only a small percentage of all California family law attorneys achieve “Certified Specialist” status. To be certified by the State Bar of California, Block passed a rigorous exam and demonstrated a high level of experience and achievement in the area of family law.

Psychologist: Janice L. Moody, Ph.D., LCSW

Janice L. Moody, Ph.D., LCSWJanice Moody lives by the philosophy that “developing strong relationships is the foundation of life”while demonstrating this both personally and professionally.

Janice received her education through various venues, completing her Associate Degree at Riverside Community College, and Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Human Development, and Master of Social Work from California State University, San Bernardino. She achieved her PhD in Psychology from North Central University.

She is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi as well as the Golden Key International Honour Society. She is licensed through the State of California Board of Behavioral Sciences and is a member of the National Association of Social Workers.

Janice’s certifications include Clinical Trauma through the International Association of Trauma Professionals, Anger Management through Anger Management Treatment Professionals, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

She has been employed through The Children's Service Center of Riverside, The Corona Vet Center, Inland Southern California Psychotherapy Association, and has volunteered for the City of Corona's Trauma Intervention Program (TIP).

Janice continues to provide individual, family, and group services to those in her community in a private, confidential, and professional therapeutic environment. She is on the Riverside County Courts provider list delivering services for Co-Parenting Counseling, Anger-Management, Psychotherapy, and Parenting.

She has knowledge and experience in the areas of children affected by divorce, step-family adjustment, post and current relationship and marriage issues, victims of trauma, crisis resolution, anger management, parenting children with special needs, stress management, and depression and anxiety.

Janice has spent the last 2 decades using her personal and professional experiences to help children, adolescents, and adults build awareness, gain understanding, and establish change through numerous therapeutic methods, including cognitive behavioral, family systems, play and art, solution focused, and insight oriented therapies.

In her personal life, Janice and her husband furnished a licensed family foster home from 1997 through 2019 while adopting and providing legal guardianship for several children, bringing their total to 11. Her experiences have resulted in an extensive background in blended families, foster care, adoption, and parenting special needs children, while coordinating with school systems for those in special circumstances.

Janice is currently in private practice in Corona where she enjoys spending time with her ever-growing family.

Matthew Bogosian, CFLS, Family Law Attorney, Holstrom, Block & Parke

Matthew Bogosian, CFLS, Family Law Attorney, Holstrom, Block & ParkeMatthew (Matt) Bogosian has practiced family law exclusively throughout his legal career. Matt graduated magna cum laude from the University of California at Los Angeles, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics with Departmental Honors. After being inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa academic honors society, Matt attended Pepperdine University School of Law in Malibu where he earned a Juris Doctor and a Certificate in Dispute Resolution at the world renowned Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution. In law school, Matt received the American Jurisprudence Award in Negotiation and Settlement Advocacy, earned Honors in Trial Practice, and won the Appellate Advocacy Invitational. His elective courses of study included Family Law, Advanced Family Law, Community Property and Divorce Mediation.

During and after law school, Matt clerked for Family Law Commissioner Bobbi Tillmon of the Los Angeles Superior Court and volunteered in the Family Law Pro Bono Clinic of the Ventura County Superior Court. In addition, Matt served as legal research assistant to Beverly Hills celebrity divorce attorneys Robert S. Kaufman and Arlene Colman-Schwimmer where he assisted in high profile cases and the division of complex estates.

Upon his admission to the State Bar of California, Matt practiced family law at the Los Angeles office of global law firm Morrison & Foerster, LLP. During his two years at the firm, Matt served as lead counsel on a successful Petition for Writ of Mandate to the California Court of Appeal, obtaining the reversal of an erroneous child custody jurisdiction ruling made by the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Matt spent an additional three years practicing family law at Nordman, Cormany, Hair & Compton in Ventura County before embarking on a successful independent law practice with offices in Calabasas, Beverly Hills and Long Beach. Having appeared in family law matters from San Francisco to San Diego, as well as having handled dozens of inter-state and international family law matters, Matt’s breadth of knowledge and experience has no geographic limits.

Since 2010, Matt has been Certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization. From 2015-2016, Matt served as an Adjunct Professor of Divorce Mediation at his alma mater, Pepperdine University School of Law. Matt has also been a court-appointed mediator by the Ventura County Superior Court and has served as a private divorce mediator in hundreds of family law matters. As lead trial and appellate counsel in the partially published opinion, In re Marriage of Bonvino (2015) 241 Cal.App.4th 1411, Matt not only had an award of sanctions upheld on appeal but was so successful at the trial court level that the California Court of Appeal felt compelled to change community property law to prevent such windfalls in the future.

Since 2016, Matt has been selected to Southern California SuperLawyers, a designation given to the top 5 percent of Southern California attorneys. Going a step further, Matt is recognized as among the Nation’s Top One Percent by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. Matt is AV Rated Pre-Eminent by the Peer Review Ratings Agency Martindale-Hubbell, achieving the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.

Having been a child of divorce in a heart-wrenching move-away and having experienced divorce firsthand as an adult, Matt blends his extraordinary skills with personal experience and compassion for each client. Matt customizes his services to each case, creating a strategy for resolution to achieve optimal results in the most efficient manner possible. His dispute resolution background enables him to devise creative solutions, to achieve settlement where prior negotiations have broken down, and to pursue aggressive litigation and discovery methods when necessary to achieve equitable results for the client.

Chad Willardson, CFF, Founder, Pacific Capital

Chad Willardson, CFF, Founder, Pacific CapitalChad Willardson is a Certified Financial Fiduciary® and the Founder of Pacific Capital, a financial advisory business in Southern California primarily serving families and entrepreneurs. Prior to starting Pacific Capital in 2011, he spent 9 years at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management after earning his economics degree from Brigham Young University. Chad’s been named a 5-Star Wealth Manager every year since 2012, which is awarded to less than 3% of Advisors in the U.S. Chad was featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, INC., Financial Advisor magazine, and Entrepreneur magazine.

Chad currently serves as the Elected City Treasurer of Corona, managing the $350 million dollar city investment portfolio. Chad also served as the Vice Chairman of the Citizen Oversight Committee for the $396 million CNUSD bond. He spent 2 years as a service volunteer living in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Belarus. Chad earned the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America and has volunteered locally in this organization for over 15 years. In 2012, he earned the White House Volunteer Service Award. Chad and his wife were married in San Diego in 2001 and are blessed with five children, two girls and three boys. In his personal time, he enjoys playing sports, especially basketball, snow skiing, golf and spending family time at the beach.

Don Mowery, Real Estate Broker and a Certified Residential Appraiser

Don Mowery, Real Estate Broker and a Certified Residential AppraiserI get it, practically everyone you know today has a real estate license. Most people assume that since an agent has a license, they have the experience and knowledge to help you buy or sell a home in today’s market. They don’t realize until it is too late, that they may have chosen the wrong agent.

Hi, my name is Don Mowery, and I am both a Real Estate Broker and a Certified Residential Appraiser, here in the Inland Empire and serve the counties of San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Orange. I have been helping people, just like you, to solve their real estate challenges. Whether you are buying your first home, selling your current home to downsize, or need a property valuation, my team and I can help!

As you can see from my reviews I have sold thousands of homes and appraised even more! This experience matched with my education from the California State Polytechnic University of Pomona, my certifications as a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist, a Real Estate Collaboration Specialist-Divorce, and a Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource, combined with my 30 years of experience, give you advantages that you cannot find with other agents.

If you or someone you know need a REAL, bottom-line approach without any fluff or false promises, I can advise you on all the options, so that you can choose the best solution for your particular challenge.

Helpful Resources

Pacific Capital
Call:  (844) 777-8777
Email: service@pacificcapital.com
Visit: www.PacificCapital.com

The Mowery Group
Call:  (951) 363-2314
Email: don@donmowery.com
Visit: www.DonMowery.com

Janice L. Moody, Ph.D., LCSW
Call:  (951) 529-1610
Email: janice5378@aol.com

Custody Queens
Call:  (833) 622-0001
Email: help@custodyqueens.com
Visit: www.CustodyQueens.com

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