Apr
13
2023

Essential Tools For The Home

Recently, I have received many emails asking; “What are some tools that I should, and will, need for DIY and home improvement projects.” Well, I decided to make a list of essential tools for the home. Tools that every homeowner should have around, for any project or regular maintenance.

List of 22: (no particular order)

1. Hammer-It has a pretty obvious purpose. Driving and pulling nails. Also, combined with a piece of wood for padding, it is also perfect for knocking things into place in tight places and tightly together.

2. Nail Set-If your going to be using a hammer and driving a number of types of nails you will need a nail set to sink the nail heads under the surface of the wood. This is especially important with trim and finish work. Later you can putty, and hide them completely.

3. Flat Bar-A flat bar is basically a multi-nail-pulling-tool. It is a must have for any demolition work you may need to do before you begin your DIY project. Also, it is a great tool to use as a lever for lifting heavy objects or giving you the leverage you need in tight places. (Ex. lifting appliances to adjust its feet for level or reacheing a nail that you can’t get at with a hammer)

4. Cats Paw- Dig, pry and try as you might. Sometimes, you need a tool to pull nails that have been sunken below the surface of the wood. You won’t be able to pull these nails without a cats paw and hammer to dig down and under the nail head to pull out the nail.

5. 2ft Level- When you’re going to build anything or remodel anything, you’re going to need to make sure your work is level and plumb. You would hate to finish a beautiful job and find out its a few inches out of level and a complete eye sore.

6. Torpedo Level-Even the most basic of household tasks may require a small “torpedo” level. From hanging pictures and mirrors, to towel racks and toilet paper dispensers. No one wants to have to tilt their head to get a good look at that beautiful smile of yours!

7. Crescent Wrench- There are many types of bolts and fittings that require many sizes of wrenches. Having one crescent wrench can save you a lot of hassling. Although there are some instances where a crescent wrench will not hold tight enough to break free a bolt or fitting. For most other instances, they are exactly what you’ll need.

8. Channel Locks- Now, there are also times when you may have a rounded bolt, or maybe a fitting you don’t need to torque down crazy tight. That is where the channel lock pliers come in. They grip tight with their teeth backward facing and with various size options they are an essential tool for the home.

9. Dikes- These may be one of the most versatile tools in your arsenal. From pulling nails to stripping wire, as well as cutting hard materials, a pair of dikes are worth their salt.

10. Vice Grips- Also, another very versatile tool. You can use vice grips to pinch together metal for a weld or grip a stripped out bolt, tight enough, to be able to usually remove it. Vice grips come in many different sizes

11. Needle Nose Pliers- Sometimes, you won’t be able to get a big pair of pliers in an area where you’ll need the gripping power of one. From reaching into tight places with the tight grip of a pair of pliers, to its own small cutter toward the base of the working end, you’ll want to have these in your set.

12. Framing Square- You won’t be able to get a thing done without knowing whether or not, your work or your cuts and angles, are square or correct. There are many types of useful squares, but as a basic tool for angles, stairs, checking for square, and marking your cut lines square, the framing square is versatile enough to be the only square you’ll need.

13. Speed Square- This tool may not be as large or as versatile as the framing square, but its uses are helpful in many situations. If you need to make many cuts quickly, on 2×8 material or smaller, you can work much faster with the speed square. You can just slap it up on the board and the build in fence allows you to only worry about making sure it’s tight and your line is drawn where you have made your measured mark.

14. Chisel Set- Chisels come in handy quite often. When you need to cut away a small amount of material or set in hinges or hardware into a door. You may need to cut away something up underneath an obstacle where a utility knife won’t reach. An assortment of chisels, even simply the ones shown, can be a valuable tool to own.

15. Multi Driver- With so many types of screw heads around the home, it can be hard to tell whether or not, you will need a flat head or hex head, a #1 phillips or a larger #3 phillips. You can cut out the guess work with a multi driver, or 6-in-1 screwdriver. It becomes both small and large, phillips and flat head as well as a 1/4 and 5/16 inch drivers.

16. Assorted Driver Tips- Being a homeowner or professional alike, it’s not always as simple as a flat, phillip or hex head screw. Many times, they require star bits and allen keys. Sometimes screws are square or have a slot for a triangle. This is when an assortment of driver tips, in combination with a multi driver, comes in perfectly.

17. Hand Saw- Some jobs require a small cut, or a delicate one. You can’t always just bust out the power tools for simple or tight/delicate cut. Also, when using power tools for cutting, you may run into breakage and need to cut off a few splinters for a perfect cut. Anyone, and everyone, that is planning on, or is involved with DIY or home improvement, needs to have a hand saw at the ready.

18. “C” Clamp- Many jobs around the house or around the shop require some clamping. Although, clamps come in many forms; a generic, practical and must have clamp is the “C” Clamp

19. Allen Keys- From furniture to small electronics, various sizes of allen keys are another essential tool for the home. Make sure you pick up metric and standard sizes. It can be hard to determine, until you start trying different sizes, whether or not the size you need is one or the other.

20. Caulking Gun- Maybe you need to finish a job off with clean lines of caulking. Maybe you need to use construction adhesive on an application. Or, maybe you need to seal something off. You’re going to need a caulking gun to apply various types of sealant and adhesives.

21. Cordless Power Drill- Last, but certainly not the least! I know, I know, this isn’t a simple hand tool, like the rest listed. But, that doesn’t take away from its basic necessity around the house. From drilling holes to slapping in a driver bit for quickly securing and removing screws, a cordless power drill can save you time, energy, trouble and frustration with the pull of a trigger.

22. Assortment of Drill Bits- Many projects and home improvements will require drilling and pre-drilling for screws. Get yourself one set of bits, and as long as your careful and use them correctly, you’ll have them for years to come.

This is my list of essential tools for the home. This list covers all the basic to somewhat advanced tools that you will need for most DIY and home improvement projects. You don’t need to go out and buy all of these tools right this second. But, when you get to a project where you need any of these tools, you can rest assured, that purchasing any of these essential tool for the home, will be an investment that will pay off, time and time again.

And once you start to get yourself some tools you may want to get in their and get your hands dirty!

For a great list and deal on thousands of unique and quality plans on everything around the home, check out my blog barkerenterprisesllc.com and see Ted’s Woodworking!

Apr
13
2023

California Divorce Overview – Basics About Divorce Laws

California Divorce Overview

California is a ‘no-fault’ divorce state, which means that when a spouse requests a divorce, they will not need to specify a reason or prove wrong-doing on part of the other. From time of initial filing, the soonest a divorce can be finalized is 6 months.

No-fault does not mean no disagreements, though. If you foresee that there may be disagreements regarding how the family assets are going to be handled, or how the kids will be cared for, get professional advice immediately.

Even if you both agree on how to separate your lives, it is important to have the agreement reviewed by a professional. An advisor who has been involved in many divorces can help you spot weaknesses in the agreement and will help ensure that the final agreement is strong and will last for many, many years.

Residency Requirements

To file for divorce you must have lived in California for at least six months and be a resident of the county in which you file for at least three months. If the other party lives in another state they have the right to demand that the case be heard in their state. And most likely they are going to request just that. Keep that in mind when consulting with an attorney, you will most likely need one that is located in the state in which the case is going to be heard.

Grounds for Divorce

To obtain a divorce in California a spouse may file on one of two grounds: Irreconcilable differences and incurable insanity. ‘Irreconcilable differences’ basically means that the applicant believes the marriage cannot be saved.

Because California is a no-fault state, the party filing for dissolution is not required to state why they wish a divorce and they are not required to provide any documentation regarding their reasoning. In fact, the court will not consider any data having to do with why the divorce is being requested or why it should be denied. The simple fact of a request for a divorce by either party is considered sufficient grounds to grant it.

If you and your spouse have no assets or children, then filing for a divorce can be done with little or no professional assistance and little cost. If there are material assets or if there is any disagreement about how the assets of the marriage are to be divided, or if there are kids involved, then professional legal assistance is very important.

Role of the Court

The court has established a process and a procedure for divorce. The steps are as follows:

  • The party that initially files for a divorce is called the ‘petitioner’. The papers they file with the court are called a ‘dissolution of marriage’ or dissolution for short. These papers simply describe that a divorce is desired.
  • The other party is then officially presented with the dissolution documents, a process which is called ‘service of process’. The receiving party is referred to as the ‘respondent’. The date of service establishes the start of a 6 month period which California courts require as a minimum time to grant a divorce.
  • The respondent has 30 days from time of service to file an answer with the court. If the respondent does not file an answer, the court will record a ‘default’ and simply grant the divorce when the 6 month waiting period is complete. This is often called a ‘no contest’ divorce and is common practice when there were no assets to divide and no children. If you have been served divorce papers and if there are assets to divide or children involved you must take action within 30 days or you will lose important rights.
  • When the respondent files an answer, this starts the process of ‘discovery’ in which the parties each have a chance to describe to the court the assets they feel should be involved in the divorce, present their wishes regarding its distribution and also present their wishes regarding the custody of the children.
  • In cases where the parties can agree between themselves regarding the assets, their distribution and custody of children, the time and expense of a divorce is greatly reduced. If you are involved in a divorce and there are assets or children involved, it is important that you secure professional help. A professional will help you establish an agreement that is in your best interests and which takes into account the well established standards regarding asset distribution and custody.
  • If the applicant and respondent do not agree regarding the assets involved in the divorce, their division or on custody matters, then it is up to the parties (through their attorneys) to present evidence to support their wishes and it is up to the court to make a decision based on the evidence presented. A contested divorce in California that involves modest assets can take between one and three years to resolve.

Division of Property

California courts will, to the extent practicable, divide “community property” equally. Community property is what the couple earned (assets minus debts) from the time of the marriage to the date of their separation.

Community property can be divided unequally by mutual agreement. For example, one person may assume all the family debt in exchange for another benefit such as keeping a retirement account. In rare instances, the court may find compelling reasons to divide contested community property unequally. For example, if the court feels that one party is in need of more support that the other, it may award that party a higher share of the marital property.

Prenuptial Agreements

A written agreement made prior to a marriage that describes the distribution of assets should there be a divorce is called a prenuptial agreement.

Agreements made in writing by both parties regarding distribution of assets either before or during the marriage will be held valid and enforceable by the court unless either party can prove that the agreement was made under duress.

Child Custody

Custody and visitation issues top the list of concerns for couples involved in a divorce. For many years to come the now ex-spouses must continue to plan their lives together and negotiate the dozens of choices that come up when raising children. Judges will go to great lengths to get the two parties to make their own decisions and solve their own conflicts.

It is typical practice to establish one parent as having primary custody. That parent is referred to as the ‘custodial parent’. The other parent is referred to as the non-custodial parent. Regardless of the schedule, in most cases the parents are required to make important child care and upbringing decisions together.

In California, any couple which cannot agree on custody or a visitation schedule is obligated to participate in and complete a counseling program prior to their disagreement being taken up by the court.

Judges that are forced to make custody and visitation decisions will base their rulings on evidence provided by the spouses and by professionals, such as psychologists, family service representatives or doctors. The judge will also take into account any history of child abuse, drug or alcohol addictions and any protective orders that may have been issued to help determine what is in the best interest of the child. However, the courts in California tend to grant joint custody, where the parents share in the day to day care and in making decisions regarding upbringing.

Based on the above factors, most spouses come to an agreement regarding custody and visitation schedule for their children rather than depend upon a judge to decree what is best. This is an area where professional legal assistance is a must.

Child Support

Child support is paid by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent to help support the children. This is normally continued until they reach the age of 18. As with Custody, the court will support mutual agreement that the spouses may be able to make.

If the parties cannot decide upon a support amount and payment frequency, child support is set by the court and will be calculated based on the California State Guidelines and on any data that the parties may present. The State Guidelines are designed to be fair and equitable to the parents and more importantly, be in the best interest of the children.

You can calculate the child support amount for your case by either contacting an attorney, who has access to a support calculator, or by going to the County Clerk and requesting the official forms upon which you can calculate the amount likely to be set, if left to a judge. This is vital data for you to have before you discuss support with your spouse.

Child Support Modification

California law allows either party to apply for a change in child support payments. The law requires that before a support change will be considered by the court, a material change in the status of the parties or the children must have occurred. This can include a change in the financial status of either party (for better or worse) or a change in the needs of the children such as education costs or an illness.

Spousal Support

Spousal support (alimony) can be established in a prenuptial agreement, it can be mutually agreed upon by the parties and presented to the court during discovery, or if no agreement can be reached the court will consider the facts as presented and award it based on the financial status of each of the parties and the nature of the lifestyle enjoyed by the couple during the marriage.

There are several forms of spousal support. The first is temporary maintenance, which is paid during the trial or proceedings and before the divorce is finalized. There is rehabilitative maintenance, most often done in short marriages ( less than 10 years) where one spouse pays for the other to complete an education or training program. And lastly, permanent maintenance, where the court sets a support amount to be paid on a long term basis.

In determining spousal support, fault can play a role. However, only the fault of the party seeking maintenance is considered, not the party who would pay. Special needs, such as a disability, are considered in determining maintenance.

The needs of one spouse and the ability of the other to pay are the primary factors in determining support amounts. Since most spouses work, spousal support (if necessary at all), is usually for finite period of time and modest amount. Spousal support in California can continue for an indefinite period, and it may be increased or decreased if there is a change in either party’s circumstances.