James Kent Law - LTD

Elvis Presley wasn’t just loved by his fans. He wasn’t just The King on stage; he was also a man with a family. His life was a classic rags-to-riches story; but as money accumulated, it seemed that he and his family were yet again on a sudden spiraling descent, only this time it was more on the emotional than financial side.

Good or bad, there was no denying that Elvis was and still is among the most famous men who ever lived. And the only way to understand his ways is to take a peak at the various chapters of his family life.

Early Family Life

Elvis’ family came from a long line of German, French, Scottish and Cherokee descent. Vernon Presley, his father, was a sharecropper and a truck driver who hailed from Fulton, Mississippi. Gladys Love Smith, his mother, was a sewing machine operator who came from Pontotoc County, in Mississippi. Elvis’ family started when his parents married on June 17, 1933.

Elvis Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. He had a twin named Jesse Garon who was stillborn. Having only one child, Elvis’ family lived just a little over the poverty line. The family attended a church called Assembly of God located in East Tupelo.

Although Elvis’ family wasn’t considered dirt poor, it is said that they lost their home when they weren’t able to pay the money they borrowed to build it. The eviction came at a time when his father was serving a prison sentence due to forgery of a check for only $8. The sentence was for eight months; even so, this incident left a big mark on the Elvis’ family.

Elvis’ Family At Graceland

At the age of 13, Elvis’ family moved to Memphis. It was in the latter part of the 1940’s but life here wasn’t much different from when they were in Mississippi. They lived in a public housing unit.

Only when Elvis’ career surged, which wouldn’t happen for yet another nine years, did the family start to live comfortably. At age 22, Elvis had acquired enough money to buy a mansion from a doctor for $100,000.

Married Life

In May 1967, Elvis married Priscilla Ann Beaulieu in Las Vegas, Nevada. They had a daughter, Lisa Marie, who was born in 1968. The couple separated on February of 1972 and they shared custody of little Lisa. Eventually in 1973, Elvis and Priscilla were granted a divorce.

Since we had the kids for Valentine\’s Day this year and it fell on a Saturday, we decided to take everyone out to a fancy restaurant for dinner. We rarely go out to eat for anything more expensive than pizza or burgers, but I have always felt that it is good experience for children to learn how to conduct themselves in a fine dining establishment and is worth the extra cost to have the  opportunity to practice their manners.I can still remember my 13th birthday when my parents took me out to dinner to a five star French restaurant. There were three tuxedoed waiters to each table with linen napkins slung over their arms. I ordered Esgargot and Roast Duck a L\’orange. It was splendid. I wanted my children to have the same memories and they were excited to go. All of them except Mark that is, who was in a panic about having to wear a suit and a tie.  He was also worried he would not like the food since the last time we dined out we had Thai and he hated it. I assured him there would be steak and potatoes which made him happy so he begrudginly took off his  ACDC t-shirt to dress up.

The day  before I took the girls shopping for the dressy clothes they needed. Eva wanted a dress and all three girls needed shoes. They wanted high heels. Shopping for the dress was fun. Shopping for the shoes was torture. Everything Cheryl tried on looked like something a cocktail waitress in a Vegas casino would wear. She didn\’t quite get why I wouldn\’t let her wear gold lame four inch heels.  After hours of searching and coming up empty-handed, we decided to make due with the flats at home.

Our reservations were at 5:30. Kind of early, but the only one we could get on Valentine\’s Day. Everyone was ready by 4:30 so we could take pictures. We also had to pick up Pop Pop, Paul\’s dad, who came with us. \”Pop Pop is not dressed up\”, the kids whispered accusingly in my ear like he had committed a crime. \”Why did we have to dress up and he didn\’t?\” \”Because Pop Pop is 88 and can wear whatever he damn well pleases.\” I hissed back.

The restaurant was lovely. We sat at a table by the window with a view of the ocean. The lights were romantically dimmed and everyone and everything looked beautiful. Then the waiter put the prix fixe menu in front of me and I almost choked on the prices. Paul and I looked at each other, our eyes widened and mouths agape. Yikes. There was no turning back now so we decided to go for it. The children ordered  filet mignon and lobster tails and all the soda they could drink. They learned which fork to use first (always begin with the one on the outside and work your way in) and which bread plate was theirs (the one on the left). The food was delicious, the atmosphere perfection, but the greatest gift was the conversation. The children talked about their memories as a family. Cheryl said to Eva, \”Remember when we first met and we didn\’t like each other?\” They both chuckled at the ridiculousness of it now considering that they are best friends. We planned our upcoming ski trip and summer vacation. We were a family. As we got up to leave the woman sitting with the group at the table behind us called Paul over to tell him, \”You have the most beautiful family I have ever seen. \” We beamed.

For more blended family stories go to: www.shwanda.com

It’s a dark and stormy night. This married couple, with a crying kid, is not getting along. The father starts shaking the baby to get it to be quiet. Mother sees, gasps, and slaps father. Father breaks some glass and gets his gun, aims at mother and shoots her. Police fly to the scene and cause a car accident on the way, massive injuries. Yep, family law, criminal law, and injury law sometimes intersect! Hopefully your problems are not this severe, but whether they are or not, The Wright Law Offices wants to be there for you. Las Vegas Divorce, Personal Injury, and Criminal Law Firm available to clients 24/7 in emergencies. We want to be be there for our clients when they need us. Even non-clients can e-mail us to schedule a consultation at a time and place that suits their needs. E-mail: aw@wrightlawnv.com

DISCLAIMER: The following is NOT legal advice, nor is it a substitute for legal advice. If you are in Family Court you will need legal advice, so please see a lawyer.

Do you know how the most effective divorced dads prepare for Family Court? Consider the following…

Going to family court can be a roll of the dice. But, if you’re experienced with the game, you’ll know the difference between good and bad bets. The same principle that keeps you from losing your shirt in Vegas, will keep you out of trouble in Family Court.

The most important thing a divorced dad can do when it come to being prepared for Family Court is to know what goes on there before his case comes before a judge. If you’re not familiar with Family Court–the building, the facilities and the judges–you’re doing yourself a great disservice. Go and watch Family Court. Many dads go to Family Court just to “get it over and done with.” They overlook a crucial concept.

The problems you face with the breakdown of your relationship did not happen overnight. It took time to arrive at the point where you ended up in Family Court. You will need to face these facts:

1. You will be “stuck” in the Family Courts for an indeterminate period of time.

2. It’s the only game in town

3. You MUST “play” according to their rules.

4. You must play well.

Learn your courthouse, its staff and the judges. Learn how things work in Family Court. Learn whether the paperwork you want to file “upsets” certain clerks and how each particular judge decides things.

When divorced dads understand these principles, they can begin to position themselves well. It’s like watching a ballgame. Study winning teams for strategy. Get a sense of how the referee calls the game.

Just go into family court and watch other cases. You can find and attend open motion hearings that occur each week in family court. You would be surprised that after a day of watching the same judge, you can predict with about 90% accuracy how that judge will rule. As you watch people do the same things, you learn why people lose. If nothing else, you’ll learn when to sit down and shut up.

Learn from other people’s successes and avoid their mistakes. Watch how the people who win their cases handle themselves. Take your cues from there.

Your judge will be making the ultimate decision concerning you and your kids. You have to learn how they “call the game”. Learn how to “read” the reactions of your judge and be perceptive enough to see when what you are doing is working for you or working against you and adjust accordingly.

Watching court proceedings is also the quickest way to find a good lawyer. By watching who seems to be in Family Court a lot and who seems to have a good understanding of how to help fathers, you may find the lawyer you need.

Remember this: It’s no longer about you, it’s about your kids – make the effort. Be better than the good Dad you claim to be. That’s the quickest and least expensive path to success in these matters.

During my divorce, I wished for a divorce roadmap. That’s why we created a weekly telewebcast, to help men like yourself.

If you’ve lost in Family Court, don’t give up. There is always hope. You’ve likely lost because you didn’t understand that winning requires effectively “waging peace” for your children.

If you base your game plan and strategies upon those of successful fathers, you will improve your chances of success immeasurably. You need help from dads who have done what you are trying to do.