Great to google 'what I don't know about going to court' (and here are a few ideas...)

 Can a POA (Power of Attorney) represent someone in certain legal actions such as seeking a protective or restraining order? That question came up and I thought the answer would be obvious...but it's not. Every state varies (maybe in what they grant and why..whether for a civil or criminal order of protection.) Who can seek relief from the court with a short-term order of a few weeks versus a longer period of time, usually a year, is something also worth googling.

Okay to go to court or call for more information if they have clerks or a support center, a legal library and even a regular library may have some helpful information. I would say it could take hours, days and weeks to learn what one needs, so why wouldn't we be teaching some basics about how to Begin to find some answers and options (yes, such as mediation in the court or beforehand and how one can withdraw a motion for a restraining order before or just before seeking it if that is in one's control and desirable.)

What about getting a continuance (delaying the court date for various permissible reasons such as obtaining legal advice or getting an attorney. There is a website called nolo.com and legalzoom.com. Also there's justanswer.com (which may have a free trial but be sure to set an alarm to cancel if you don't want to pay the fees for keeping it on a subscription basis...just like any Free Trial...maybe put things on a special calendar about paying bills and cancelling items one does not really use or need or even want still.

I will put this in park so you can start more research (and I'll head to bed at a decent hour having listened to my nightly 'deep sleep' 10 minute sounds of gentle beeps from braintime.com I have a free trial offer on this blog if you zoom through the titles...likely from the new year or every few months. I'll seek to repost that soon too...Okay ciao for now and happy learning legal-ease!

I actually saw Sam Waterston and Meryl Streep who shared a few choice words about agreeing to co-chair a lovely gala in Lakeville CT for The Lakeville Journal which is celebrating 125 years of weekly news of six towns in the northwest corner of CT (and there's a tie to NYC since many have second homes up this way...)

Plus other parts of the MA/NY CT "Many Connect" Tri-Corner area benefit and enjoy the hills and quiet of the section of CT where the Housatonic River flows quietly then over Falls and along the scenic Route 7 though woods then opens up in New Milford and heads on down to the Sound in Westport.

Okay so with the likes of Sam playing attorney Jack McCoy we can all watch a few episodes on television of one crime or another court matter being handled during a trial. Learning about mediation...and tough choices, such as Meryl portrayed in Sophie's Choice about which of her two chldren to save when forced to choose gives many the chills just realizing that was something people were facing..and still face in war or dire situations but hopefully in courts could be handled wisely now.

Sadly that isn't a given and many say there is much to be desired and investigated among the systems that were meant to serve and protect people. With many elders and people needing extra help with care, the overflow of stress or confusion (organic or due to conflict and other concerns...) can swamp the courts and police when really the medical and social service systems should be fine tuning reasonable ways to assess and address those needs.

Let's see if we can take a few giant steps with common sense and voluntary learning early and often about what might crop up and merit our reasonable efforts early on to prevent more serious problems and even disaster! Thanks and 'you know who you are' needing these words to wisdom and encouragement... Every day and life is a gift so let's not take any of that for granted!