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♦ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 29, 2007 8A New Yean signals start of new child custody rules Dear Readers, When the New Year rolls around, significant new rules for child custody cases will apply to new fil ings. This comes on the heels of major recent child sup port changes, with which we are all still struggling! Some of what has been enacted is helpful, but the parenting plans are a nightmare. Changes to child elections of custody have been long overdue. Currently, a child who turns 11 years old has the right to talk to a judge about custody; once the child turns 14 years old, the child has virtually an unfettered and absolute right to choose between the parents. And, the mere fact of a child reaching these ages can be a triggering “change of circumstances” permitting a switch in physical custody. New Year's resolution: I will lead leaders It’s time for your annu al New Year’s resolu tions. Will it be the same old broken ones from past years? Lose weight. Spend less. Exercise. Spend more time with the family. Clean the garage. I suggest you give seri ous consideration to a major change you could easily make in your approach to work. This resolution could give your organization bet ter results while making life more enjoyable, both for you and for those over whom you have authority! “Not possible,” you say? “Ah, very possible!” says I. Consider this idea. How would your behaviors be dif ferent if, in the coming year, you were leading leaders instead of leading followers? No, I’m not suggesting you fire everyone on your staff and hire all new employ ees. I’m asking you to think about how you limit your self when you presume that you are the leader and the people over whom you have authority are your “follow ers” - that these people “work for you.” What if you started working for them instead? That is, you work to give them direction and to empower them to make decisions consistent with a clearly described vision of what the organization could be? We humans naturally think in terms of opposites. There are followers and there are leaders. You are a leader, so it is natural that those people who look to you for directioil would be con sidered followers, right? But just for the time it takes to read this (and maybe a few minutes lon ger), think about how your behaviors would be different if you gave direction to and collaborated with “leaders.” I warn you, I’m going to mess with your mind a little bit here. But that’s because most of the genuine barri- All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp-$11"/ Catfish-$10" Friday 8. Saturday - spm -10 pm green dertw 1-75 Exit 136 • 907*8877 mm HUM . MB TjmnßfEpwmEJmy;- m ■■■ LI yu ire p^jpßilu)Ns * SL. Mbf* < -*' ent Mb jH§f tSpeciol Color, Cut & Style : Wjf s2o°° OFF Reg. s7s°° Now S 5 PUcLier 919-4122 Hairdressers i Bell St., Perry, GA receive ILnn Dukr« 922-0727 ownership with KKtVieson. W.R., GA your rent. I have a child- W If i " n benefit of my clients, but I hated f ° liru, f Jim Rockefeller SO. Why? Th e “Law” man First, it puts the child smack-dab in the middle of a custody fight. Second, you can have situ ations with a child flipping back and forth on custody, depending on which parent is the most generous, the most lenient, or with whom the child is not angry. Giving a teenager this type of absolute authority is just a recipe for disaster. The new law fixes the “flip flop” potential created by t election rights. No longer will the mere fact of a child ers to your ' improve- j « ment are in your i *Jr mind, not ifHufeKgflrf? in your HB work- jpjKy place! : \-0: W °, U | d Dennis Hooper you dele- Leaders Bu iidi£ gate more? Leaders Would you share information more free ly? Would you work harder to understand their perspec tives? Would you seek feed back more often? Why would you (or any one) want to do such a thing? How about for great er freedom? If you were to AFTER CHRISTMAS time Large Selection Of Sofas 1/2 OFF Choose from our select group of brand name sofas, many styles and fabrics! . Large Selection Of Chairs 1/2 OFF Select styles to choose from - all quality name brand occasional chairs, just right for your home! Large Selection Of Dinettes 1/2 OFF Choose from our select group of styles - formal, informal, Colonial, contemporary or traditional! Large Selection Of Bedrooms 1/2 OFF Choose from our select beautiful famous name groups available in many styes! ksuOT. {luiritivo • Callcvy “Quality For Those Who Care” k Since 1984 ml turning 11 be a basis for a change in physical custo dy; though a child turning 14 may still trigger such a change. Even so, a 14-year-old will have a “presumptive” right of election, to be honored only if a judge determines the selection is in the child’s “best interests.” Moreover, this selection can be made only once every two years. Thus, the indiscrimi nate veto power a 14-year-old has been able to wield will soon be eliminated. Yet the biggest changes will be the new “parenting plan” requirements. They are designed to be an “account ing” setting forth the precise specifics, in almost mind boggling detail, for custody rights, responsibilities, and visitation. They are new to Georgia but have been empower your direct reports over the next year, would they make decisions on their own that they now seek from you? Would that free you up with more time for higher valued activities? Keep in mind that you’d have to give them proper guidance. You’d have to release responsibility to them gradually, as they showed they were able to handle it. But if you intentionally developed their skills and judgment over the next year ... hmmm. So what would be required to make this mental para digm shift? Just because you started thinking differently, J/2sale Large Selection Of Rediners 1/2 OFF Choose from our select group of famous name recliners - many styles and fabrics! Large Selection Of Odds & Ends 1/2 OFF Choose from our select group of accessories and accent pieces ready to beautify your home! Large Selection Of Living Rooms 1/2 OFF Choose from our select group in a wide selection of styles. Sofas, loveseats, chairs, sectionals! Large Selection Of Occasional Tables 1/2 OFF Choose from our select group of elegant occasional tables, cocktails, commodes in all styles & finishes! OPINION Check out 8B for our other regular columnists used for years in many other states. My understanding is that our judges are trying to come up with a format to comply with the law, but the draft form is already 10 pages long! Speaking as a family law attorney, I am not looking forward to parenting plans. As a practical matter, I do not envy our judges when dealing with unsophisticated “pro se” litigants. Between work sheets and parenting plans, it will be virtually impossible for attorneys to quote “sim ple” low-cost divorce fees for less fortunate families; cus tody agreements will be a drafting hassle. Things will it wouldn’t make them any more competent. Or more committed. Or more moti vated. On the other hand, you’ve read that people tend to respond the way you treat them. Are some of your direct reports frustrated because you treat them like children? How would you know? Would a couple of them who you trust be will ing to give you some straight feedback? Think back to some of your previous bosses. How would you have responded if there had been a step-change increase in the responsibility you were given? Would you Houston Mall 923-0075 ♦ 6 Months - Same As Cash ♦ Terms To Suit Your Budget ♦ All Items Subject To Prior Sale ♦ Locally Owned f ♦ Decorator Service Available Store Hours: Mon-Frl 10-7; Sat 10-6 be particularly tricky when the parties cannot agree, with each party submitting their own plan and a judge trying to choose between the competing terms. Custody hearings may also have to change. Currently, a judge decides both custody and visitation simultane ously. However, if both par ties are required to submit detailed visitation plans, I’m not sure how a judge can rule on everything in a sin gle hearing - first you decide custody, then you consider parenting plans. As you can see, some of what the legislature has done is a welcome change; have taken advantage of the opportunity, or would you have jumped at the chance to show what you could do? Make no mistake - the transition won’t be. easy. In the short-term, it will be more work for you. For a period of time, you’ll be tempted to give up and go Assessing Your Leadership Skills -SBS/person Now is your opportu nity to save on the finest home furnishings. Savings in every department. Sale is for a limited time only, all sales final - as is. Does not include prior sales. r 6 MONTHS SAME AS CASH Furniture makes a house i home... YOUR HOME is your best INVESTMENT! Create a warm, comfortable and secure feeling to please your entire fami ly. Quality Home Furnishings will last and make yotjr home a better place in which to live, reflecting your individual personality and Good taste. EASEL Display a priced painting or print. Perfectly sized for alcove or corner. In carton. Retail $69 95 SALE $ 29 95 <db 4 WAYS TO SAY “CHARGE IT” terms 09 BFI 5 2,000 INSTANT CREDIT You may qualify for $2,000 INSTANT CREDIT if you haw a valid _ AM ERIC AN EXPRESS CARD, MASTERCARD, VISA or DISCOVER; HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL parenting plans, however, may prove to be quite the headache! It is a shame there are not more lawyers serving in Atlanta to think through these consequences. Georgia citizens with children will soon be paying even more money to hire attorneys for divorces; a hidden “tax increase” for Georgia’s fami lies courtesy of our elected officials. Locdl attorney Jim Rockefeller owns the Rockefeller Law Center and is a former Houston County Chief Assistant District Attorney, and a former Miami Prosecutor. E-mail confidential legal questions to ajr@rockefellerlawcenter. com. Visit www.rockefeller lawcenter.com for Frequently Asked Questions and Jim’s blog, The Rockefeller Report. back to the way things were. But if you stick with it, 2008 could be a great year! Dennis Hooper helps lead ers make the transition described in today’s article. To talk with someone mak ing this transition, contact Dennis at 478-988-0237 or dhooper2@juno.com. F. 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