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The practice of California estate planning often includes the creation of wills for distribution of property after the testator has deceased. Within many California wills, estate planning attorneys are asked to include a clause entitled a no contest clause, in which the testator attempts to discourage litigation to contest the will after he or she is deceased. In such no contest clauses, any beneficiary of the will faces possible disinheritance if that beneficiary attempts to pursue litigation in dispute of the provisions of the will. Often, this occurs when a family member feels as if he or she did not get a fair share.

There are, however, exceptions to the enforceability to no contest clauses in California courts, particularly for instances in which the contestant has reason to believe that the document or instrument was forged. If forgery is indeed suspected, the contestant must have reasonable grounds on which to file the dispute. If the dispute is filed, and enough proof is present within the claim, the contestant does not face any danger of being disinherited according to provisions of the no contest clause that is a part of the will.

Additionally, if the contestant believes that the person who drafted the will, the person who gave instructions to the drafter of the will, or the person who witnessed the will is entitled to receive any benefit from the provisions of the will, the contestant can dispute such gifts without danger of disinheritance triggered by the no contest clause. Such situations are deemed by California courts to be exclusions to the standard no contest clause that is written. If in doubt, a contestant can file a petition for declaratory relief under California Probate Code 21320 to determine if the reason for contest violates, or is excluded from, any part of the no contest clause.

If you have additional questions concerning including a no contest clause in your California will, or if you would like further information concerning the limits and exclusions of such a clause, an experienced California estate lawyer will be able to counsel you regarding your best course of action. California estate law is undergoing constant change, and no contest clauses are currently being questioned by California legislations as to their validity and usefulness. A qualified estate attorney with experience in drafting and litigating California wills can offer you the most recent information regarding this topic, and any other topics in estate planning you might need to discuss.

Kevin Von Tungeln is the Managing Partner of EstatePlanningSpecialists.com and Thompson Von Tungeln, P.C. Kevin practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, wills, and trust administration. Visit www.EstatePlanningSpecialists.com or www.linkedin.com/in/kevintungeln.

The number of families who are choosing to homeschool their children rather than sending them to traditional public or private schools has exploded in the last twenty years. The specific reasons for this choice vary widely, but a 2003 survey sheds light on why homeschooling has become so popular. There are between 1 and 2 million children being taught at home; of these, the majority is choosing this option for religious reasons. Parents have been concerned that religion has been pushed out of largely secularized classrooms, and many disagree with the public schools’ emphasis on Darwinism and other controversial topics which are at odds with Christian theology.
72% of homeschooling parents are teaching their own children in order to be able to provide religious and moral instruction themselves.

There are many different approaches to Christian homeschooling and each family must decide which is best for its own particular situation. A family may try several different methods before deciding on one or a combination of several which meets its individual spiritual and educational goals.

– Teaching with a biblical focus helps children develop a personal relationship with God through studying His word on a daily basis. The ultimate desire of Christians should be for their children to have a heart of wisdom, and a significant amount of time spent studying the Bible is a means toward that end.

– Textbook curricula have graded textbooks in each subject, with teachers’ manuals for parental use. It should be noted that textbooks don’t work with all students, and this method is most often not used with exclusivity.

– A “learning style” approach emphasizes that each child learns differently. There are innovative learners whose learning needs to connect with individual experience and have meaning in their personal lives. Analytic learners are fascinated with facts and figures, and focus on concepts and processes. Common sense learners are hand-on students who need to get in there and figure out how things work and why. Dynamic learners are extremely adept in taking learning into their own hands; any kind of independent study works great for these kids, and they enjoy discovering concepts through game playing.

The bible describes how everyone has been given different gifts and talents, and parents should always exercise good judgment in deciding what is best for their children. The results of good homeschooling are beginning to show in society: homeschool graduates are regularly outperforming their public-schooled peers on standardized tests, they are active in their communities and involved in civic affairs.
Christian homeschooling is a great alternative for religious families who want to help their children get a solid education and foster their faith as well.

For more information on how you can give your child a solid Christian homeschooling experience, please visit Heritage Homeschool (http://heritagehomeschool.com/). Art Gib is a freelance writer.

A mini-album is exactly what it sounds like, a scrapbooking album designed only to celebrate one memory or a few memories. While most scrappers search for Christmas scrapbooking ideas that “leap off the page”, perhaps it is better for scrappers to abandon the idea of the page altogether. When most scrappers think of Christmas scrapbooking, many images come to mind that are rather conventional.

The images you portray are much of what actually make up a good part of your holiday memories, and often depict a true representation of your family and friendships. The Christmas scrapbooking mini-book should use Christmas colors, including red and green patterns. Journaling is another important part of your holiday scrapbook.

Choose carefully, and have fun creating your holiday scrapbook. However, holiday scrapbooking ideas do not require a great leap of imagination. You can use pictures of your child sitting on Santa’s lap, photos of people opening presents, and images of everyone around the Christmas tree.

It is good to have pages showing pictures of your family celebrating the holiday, along with some text such as journaling precisely how your family personally celebrates the holiday and what it means to them. Urge others whose images are included in the holiday scrapbook to write down their memories and ideas. You can find various patterns in your local supply stores, or shop on the Internet to find, view, and purchase paper patterns. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing then how can you ever go against someone who does.

Make a system that works for you and will help you keep track of christmas cards. Since most photo card companies use 4 x 6 inch photos to produce your cards, trim a standard 12 x 12 inch scrapbooking page to 12 inches wide by 8 inches high as your background for your layout. There are also numerous web sites with pictures of holiday scrapbook pages that others have used, along with other paper pattern tips and ideas. For more interesting photo Christmas cards, try taking some candid photos of your kids doing things they enjoy.

With a little prepared pattern and some paper, along with some lettering, a mini-book is a snap to assemble. Encourage those around you to take part, and to continue the tradition.

While not everyone chooses to do this, it is a good way to keep track of the memories that go along with the photos. Or pose them with props that reflect their interests or accomplishments. Since the idea is to compile your own memories into your own personal album, it is important that you choose them carefully. One of the key ingredients of a holiday scrapbook is your photos. The more, the merrier. Even though the Christmas scrapbooking mini-album takes a lot of creativity, it is practically made for mass production. You can also choose different patterns for different types of images, and mix and match as you desire.

The use of colors can be important, and traditional Christmas colors such as red and green might seem the obvious choice for holiday scrapbooking ideas. Combine items where there aren’t enough to fill up one whole page, but be sure to keep it all in order.

Decide on striking images in attractive settings that will make the viewer stop to look at and admire them. The same rule applies to a Kwanzaa page, and it demonstrates holiday scrapbooking ideas where the scrapper’s family can showcase the meaning of the holiday and how the scrapper celebrates it.

If you liked these ideas, then look at these scrapbook christmas cards for more!

Because of constipation in pregnancy, many women experience bloating and even pain. Another consequence is hemorrhoids, which are also painful. Commonly experienced by pregnant women, constipation in pregnancy is caused by normal transformations of the pregnant woman’s body. However, pregnant women need not suffer. Home remedies and other natural approaches are effective in relieving constipation in pregnancy.

What Causes Constipation in Pregnancy?

The level of progesterone increases sharply during pregnancy, causing constipation. Progesterone causes the woman’s muscles to relax, in preparation for labor. The intestines also relax and slow down. The result? Constipation.

Although causing much discomfort, this slowing down of the intestines is actually important during pregnant. It allows the pregnant woman’s intestines to absorb vitamins, minerals and other vital nutrients from foods. This is the body’s way of assuring that the growing fetus will get all the nutrients its needs for proper growth and development.

The relaxation of the digestive system also allows the pregnant female’s body to absorb more water. Because of her increased blood volume, the pregnant woman needs more water.

Iron, which all prenatal vitamins contain, also causes constipation in pregnancy.

What Natural Remedies Can Relieve Constipation in Pregnancy?

1. Drink more than 8 glasses of clean water daily. Refer to your doctor to determine how much water your body needs. There is a formula based on your weight.
2. Eat more high-fiber foods. These include fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Good choices are green, leafy vegetables, unsweetened prunes or prune juice, apple juice, and old-fashioned oatmeal. Try to eat a little of these foods every day.
3. Engage in regular exercise. Walking is effective in stimulating the digestive system. There are also yoga poses that are good for digestion. Consult a certified yoga instruction about yoga poses that are safe during pregnancy and can effectively ease constipation.
4. Switch to a different brand of prenatal supplements that contain a form of iron that doesn’t cause constipation. Calcium and magnesium also help relieve constipation. Inquire with your doctor about the best prenatal supplements for you.
5. Consult with a homeopathic doctor about homeopathic remedies that treat constipation in pregnancy.

Although normal, constipation in pregnancy causes much discomfort and inconvenience. Fortunately, it is easily remedied by safe and effective home remedies and other natural treatments. Pregnant women should never take drugs to alleviate constipation. The natural remedies described above are sure to provide relief.

Alexis Rodrigo is a certified childbirth educator and runs an information website on natural parenting. To learn more natural ways to relieve pains in pregnancy, go to http://www.naturalmomsblog.com

There are so many articles about Christmas, so I decided why not go the full distance and create one for the New Year as well. New Year is very much a time of celebration and should be just as jubilant Christmas.

But New Year has more global domination, as even poorer countries celebrate the occasion. So once again I ask the question what is the best choice? To stay at home or go abroad? Let’s take a look at the positives of both.

Let’s first look at the benefits of staying at home for the New Year.

The Parties
A great aspect about spending the New Year in the UK is the parties. Whether you are looking for a lively event, a live concert, or a quiet meal, than you can rest assured that you will find exactly what you are looking for.

The TV
Yet again I have to mention the TV, because TV really does not get any better than New Years day. Whether you are looking for a musical, great movie or a catch up on the soaps than New Years is definitely one not to miss.

Food
The part that I mainly look forward to at New Year is the food; there is nothing better than eating some delicious festive food. Even if you are going out for a meal, I would be surprised if the restaurant does not rustle up something unique.

Let’s now turn our attention to spending New Year abroad and look at a selection of benefits.

Traditions
I think a major benefit of going away for New Year is to get to see how in fact other countries celebrate. Every country does things differently so it would be absolutely amazing to get a taste of different cultures.

Weather
A main benefit for Christmas was that the weather was cold and snowy, but the same cannot be said for the New Year. The reason I say this is simply because of the fact that a lot of people tend to go out for New Year celebrations, therefore they do not want it ruined by cold snaps of weather. Therefore I recommend in visiting a warm country to get the most out of your celebrations.

Taking all of the above into consideration, I personally feel that spending New Year abroad is a better alternative. There is nothing better than spending a lovely Christmas with the family in the UK and then flying off to another country to see in the New Year celebrations.

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