New Mexico Family Law Practice for Paralegals
DISCLAIMER
Before undertaking any on-demand effort, you should review the rules of your licensing/certifying entity.
It’s your responsibility to determine whether this on-demand course meets your continuing education requirements.
You must take and pass a quiz to receive credit. You can take the quiz as many times as needed and there is no time limit on the quiz.
Once the quiz is completed, you will be asked to download your certificate.
**Any on-demand programs that qualify for AIA or LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
**AIA credit is not available in USB format.
Streamable MP4/PDF
You will receive an automated email letting you know when your On-Demand package is available approximately 3 business days after the date of the live event or the date of your order, whichever is later. This email will contain links to the video recording, materials, and program quiz.
To track your purchase, you will need to create an account on the website using the email address used for your registration.
For AIA requirements only, the on-demand recording will have occasional question prompts that will not allow the video to progress unless they are answered, and you will not be able to skip forward while watching the video.
Please note, if you attempt to resume watching the video on a separate device, your progress will not be saved.
Click the link which appears at the end of the video to be taken to the course quiz.
You will have unlimited access to the on-demand video recording, and it will never expire.
**Any streamable on-demand programs that qualify for AIA or LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
USB MP4/PDF
HalfMoon will mail these materials via USPS.
USB orders ship approximately 3 business days after the program takes place or after the order is placed, whichever date is later. Please allow an additional 7-10 business days for shipping.
The link to the quiz will be available in a PDF in your USB drive marked QUIZ.
HalfMoon will contact you and issue a full refund if the product you ordered is not available. However, refunds will not be issued if completion certificates are requested.
Please contact HalfMoon Education if you have any questions during the process of taking this course. (715) 835-5900 or qchapman@halfmoonseminars.org
**Any USB on-demand programs that qualify for LACES credit will require an additional 2 business weeks for processing.
**AIA credit is not available in USB format.
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed before the date of the webinar.
Please log into the webinar 15 – 30 minutes before start time.
Friday, April 14, 2023
8:30 am – 4:00 pm MDT (including a 30-min. break)
Agenda:
Assisting with Family Law Case Intake
Presented by: Sheryl L. Saavedra
- Performing conflicts checks
- Assisting with initial client interview
- Preparing engagement letter, opening file
- Collecting information
Working With Divorce Clients and Opposing Counsel
Presented by: Kimberly L. Padilla
- Establishing and maintaining good communication with clients
- Methods of communication and contents of communications
- Guidelines for responding to client communications
- Working with difficult clients
- Working with the courts and opposing counsel
- Maintaining professionalism
Obtaining and Evaluating Financial Information
Presented by: Dynette C. Palomares
- Identifying relevant information on assets, debts, income and expenses
- Obtaining financial information
- Using financial information questionnaires
- Using interrogatories, requests for production, deposition testimony, private investigators
- Valuing assets
- Evaluating the information you have obtained
- Working with accountants and financial experts
- Preparing financial statements
Assisting with Child Custody and Visitation Issues
Presented by: Laura Horton
- Recent developments in New Mexico custody law
- Obtaining relevant information
- Client interview, custody questionnaires, authorizations for disclosure, formal discovery
- Working with guardian-ad-litem
- Working with experts
- Drafting and reviewing parenting plans
Preparing Marital Settlement Agreements
Presented by: Elizabeth A. Ashton
- Assisting with different types of agreements
- Property agreements
- Child-related agreements
- Support agreements
Handling Ethical Issues in Family Law Practice
- Complying with rules of professional responsibility and ethics guidelines for attorneys and paralegals
- Avoiding conflicts of interest
- Maintaining client confidentiality
- Avoiding the unauthorized practice of law
- Working with the secretive or dishonest client
- Handling allegations of abuse or neglect
- Zealous (vs. over-zealous) representation
- Fee agreements, retainers, and collection of unpaid fees
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.
GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 7 – 10 or Mac OSX Mavericks (10.9) – macOS Catalina (10.15)
Web Browser:
The two most recent version of the following browsers:
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer v11 (or later) with Flash enabled
Internet connection: Minimum of 1Mbps Hardware: 2GB RAM or more
For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com
Credits
Paralegals
6.5 CLE Hours (Includes 1.0 Ethics Hour)
Continuing Education Credit Information
This webinar is open to the public and offers 6.5 CLE hours to paralegals. Paralegal certification is not required to participate in this webinar.
The National Association of Legal Assistants has approved this course for 6.5 total CLE hours, which includes 5.5 substantive CLE hours and 1.0 legal ethics CLE hour.
This course has been submitted to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations (NFPA) for accreditation, which is currently pending.
Visit this course listing at www.halfmoonseminars.org for updates on pending credits. Completion certificates will be awarded to participants who complete this event, respond to prompts and earn a passing score (80%) on the quiz that follows the presentation (multiple attempts allowed).
Speakers
Elizabeth A. Ashton
Attorney at Pregenzer, Baysinger, Wideman & Sale, PC in AlbuquerqueElizabeth A. Ashton is an experienced attorney with expertise in divorce and family law. Prior to practicing family law, she was an Assistant Attorney General at the Office of the New Mexico Attorney General where she honed her skills in communicating arguments effectively to obtain positive outcomes for her clients. She understands that cases involving families are unique—clients and families are struggling with extremely stressful and emotional situations while trying to understand and work through the legal system. Elizabeth earned her BBA in Management from the University of Oklahoma, her Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, and is a member of the NM State Bar Family Law Section.
Laura Horton
Attorney with Leigh & Dougherty, P.C. in AlbuquerqueLaura Horton is an experienced trial attorney with a background in accounting and finance. She practices exclusively in divorce and family law throughout the entire state of New Mexico. Laura is accomplished in resolving cases through a wide-range of available methods, whether it’s an uncontested, amicable matter, negotiation with other attorneys, formal mediation, or litigating matters before the court when necessary. Ms. Horton handles divorce, child custody, property and retirement division, spousal support, domestic violence, and kinship guardianship cases. She sits on the boards of the Domestic Violence Resource Center and the New Mexico Women’s Bar Association.
Kimberly L. Padilla
Partner at Larkin & Padilla Family Law in AlbuquerqueKimberly Padilla’s legal practice focuses on issues involving family relationships, including adoption, divorce, and child custody. Ms. Padilla received her J.D. degree from The University of New Mexico School of Law. Prior to Larkin & Padilla, she served as an associate attorney at Atencio Law Office, an attorney with Wolf & Fox, PC, and an attorney with New Mexico Legal Group, P.C.
Dynette C. Palomares
Partner at Roybal-Mack & Cordova, PC in AlbuquerqueDynette C. Palomares joined the firm after working as a criminal prosecutor at the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office where she prosecuted domestic violence cases. She has extensive experience in working with the Children, Youth & Families Department in child abuse and neglect proceedings. She works in the firm’s family law department where she focuses on outcomes for families and children. She understands that the litigation will end, but the family must continue to function after the case.
Sheryl L. Saavedra
Attorney with Peak Legal Group, LLC in AlbuquerqueMs. Saavedra devotes her practice to helping clients through the various issues of Family Law, including complex and high asset divorces, custody, parentage, child support, prenuptial agreements, adoptions, kinship guardianships and Guardian ad Litem representation of minor children. Sheryl obtained her law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1994. She has concentrated over 27 years of law practice primarily in the area of Family Law. Sheryl joined Peak Legal Group, LLC in 2019 after beginning her Albuquerque law practice with a local Albuquerque law family law firm in 2017. Formerly, Sheryl owned and operated a successful private family law practice in Roswell, NM for over 10 years. In addition to spending a considerable part of her early years in practice representing parents in the State of New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department’s abuse and neglect system, Sheryl also served as the Chaves County Guardian ad Litem representing over 100 children in foster care for several years.