Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Understanding Free Public Divorce Records Online

By Andrea Wilf

Divorce is very much a part of American society. The filing of their records is an official routine and legislations are in place to ensure that. They are governed by State laws and it's mandatory that they are made available as a public amenity by the authorities. Public Divorce Records can typically be requested free of charge from State repositories. Needless to say, they are subject to guidelines and procedures as the information derived through them are inherently personal and private in nature.

The records are useful to people in different ways. For example, they are required as proof of single-status as eligibility to apply for a marriage license by those who were married before. They also feature extensively in background checks and verification of personal particulars for employment screening and other official purposes but the greatest impetus by far for their retrieval has to be to check out an individual's marital past by a romantic partner.

If you know the particular county at which the Final Decree of the divorce was granted, the whole process of obtaining the associated information is much easier. You may have to visit the office physically especially if waiting time is an issue. Mail, telephone, fax and increasingly the online option over the internet are typically also offered. The standard information on divorce records comprises the names and ages of the couple, date and place of marriage and divorce, filing number, asset division, settlement, children and their custody and visitation arrangement, reason for divorce and other pertinent information. If there were multiple divorces, searches at State repositories will produce all of them as long as they were granted within the same state.

Divorce Public Records can generally also be requested from the appointed central State agency in person, mail, telephone, fax and online over the internet. The fees are usually nominal as they are charged to cover only the administrative and other overhead costs but not for the records per se. As is characteristic of government outfits, waiting time is involved ranging from same-day to several months depending on the mode of request, queue and the particular office involved.

With the advent of computerization and the internet, public records can now be readily found online and divorce records are no exception. There are basically two versions namely the free and fee-based. Free sources are mainly governmental facilities but procedures and waiting time have to be contended with. Besides, they're often far from being plug-and-play so touch-up is usually necessary. Free divorce records from private websites are best avoided given their notoriety of virus and malware. By and large, the wisdom is in going with fee-based providers as their professional standards are often necessary for official purposes.

Divorce record search is within reach of just about anyone who so desires these days. It used to be exclusive to professional practitioners or government officials. Nowadays, more searches are actually conducted for private reasons than in official undertakings. Commercial record providers have definitely given the practice a big boost. Operating primarily online over the internet, they are convenient, low-cost, 24/7 and practically instant. Most of all, they can be 100% discreet.

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History of Wholesale Handbags

By Benedict Perez

Wholesale Handbags have gone though a long marvelous stories and reasons why they are sold as such. Many of these handbags are works of art designed by famous fashion makers. Times change and so does the fashion trends. Bags, shoes, clothes go out of style and businessmen have to find ways to stay away from losses. The immediate solution is offering on wholesale their wares to make a return of their investments.

Sometime in the 1900s, the outside appearance of handbags has become important as their inside look. These gears are not just functional accessories but have become fashion statements. Most designers are always inspired to make elegant bags to suit or convey every fashion trend through the century. The handbag is one of the most essential accessories especially for the twentieth century woman.

It is very rare for a woman not to be in love with things like bags, shoes, clothes or jewelries. These are beautiful expressions of a womans personality. These things can make any womans statement and conveys to people what she is and how she is. Shoes and bags are designed to suit every females sense of individuality for fashion is, in reality, conceived because of women. All these items are also womens favorite items aside from clothes and fashion accessories.

It is always a best idea to give bags as gifts especially when they are personalized. They can always make a smile up to the ears! Every woman loves to be lavished with pretty things though how simple she is. Bags are the most common thing that can please any female because of their functions.

Wholesale Handbags are perfect gift ideas for showers, birthdays, weddings or any occasion. You can choose the totes for these are the most versatile and very functional. The recipients will always remember you every time they use the bags. So, if you want to be always remembered, give something very practical and useful like personalized totes.

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Ladies Handbags - Are You Holding A Counterfeit?

By Ashlynn Mario

Knock-off purses are handbags that are meant to imitate the popular and highly expensive designer handbags. Knockoffs come in two recognized forms. Some supposed "designer" handbags are actually total rip-offs of an original product. They are mass-produced purposeful imitations that are created using cut-rate materials. Others are well thought-out "designer-inspired." They solely mimic the famed look of authentic designer bags made by Christian Dior, Kate Spade, Prada and others but never claim to actually be the authentic article. These products will avoid using proprietary tags and logos. Thus they are meant to be the cheap alternatives that customers desire from a designer handbag but without having a designer budget.

Counterfeit handbags, on the other hand, are sold externally of traditional stores. The sellers often use roadside markets, flea markets and online auctions. Unscrupulous sellers of these counterfeit handbags hope that you'll be won over by the guarantee of a lower price and thus will not look suspiciously at their shoddy products.

Buying online can be particularly difficult, unless you?re sure that you?re buying from someone you can trust. If you really want a designer bag from an online auction site, be sure to go over the seller's feedback with care.

One way you can tell the difference between an authentic bag from a designer label and one that's a fake is that the real bags will be carefully photographed so you can see the whole bag, inside and out. Counterfeit bags are often poorly photographed, and shown in a group. You're also unlikely to find authenticity tags on a fake designer bag, unless the seller is trying to hoodwink you into believing it's the real thing.

Designer bags use good materials, not inexpensive vinyl, and good construction. If you see low quality stitching or other telltale details, you may be looking at a fake. Make sure the seller is using a picture that represents the kind of bag you want to own.

Further, pay for your authentic designer bag using a credit card, so that if you are ripped off, you have a means of recourse such as a charge back should your bag be found to be a counterfeit. Remember that sellers who sell outside of the United States will be more difficult if you are seeking either a refund or a charge back. Also, if you deal with a seller outside of the United States, longer shipping times are often part of a plan to have you overextended on complaint times, or to ask for a refund or charge back.

Designer-inspired bags, not counterfeit bags, are sometimes also referred to as designer replica handbags. These will let you own the latest hot design for a much less expenditure. These bags will be available in online stores, as well as many discount retailers. However, at least you then know what you are buying and you know what you are going to receive, as opposed to counterfeit bags.

Many women however, frugally save their spare change for months on end, assuming that they are "worth it" and deserve the quality of authentic designer bags, which will serve them for a long time, and be carried with pride.

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10 Good Reasons To Have A Fall Wedding

By Nafeesah Abdullah

Getting married in this day and age has its ups and downs, but with the restriction of finances more and more brides are looking at getting married in the fall. Not only does the autumn season provide a stellar setting giving the fact that it's not too hot or too cold, but puts the weather at being just right. Not to mention the fact that it also saves a good deal of money because it's during the traditional off-season period which is typically from September to February. Many brides are looking to cut corners without cutting off too much to lower the cost of making the big day really special. Here are 10 reasons you should consider a fall wedding of your own:

1) Season-The weather is typically warmer during the late summer and early fall period usually around August through mid-September. This is the last period of warm, comfortable weather before it starts getting colder outside. Usually late summer towards the early part of the fall is the most prominent weather wise to get decent weather that's not too hot and depending on what part of the country you're from can determine how weather will be during the late summer and early fall period when the wedding off-season starts.

2) Traveling-The best time to travel is during the off-peak travel season because by this time many people have concluded their summer plans and the children have returned to school. Not to mention that it's cheaper to get fares for bus, train, and plane to go somewhere. Most of the traveling time should be booked right when the off-season starts since fares go down in late August when not a lot of people are likely to travel and it's best to book before the first major holiday of the off-season which is Thanksgiving where fares are likely to increase due to the high number of people traveling at that time. Plus a lot of honeymoon package deals are inexpensive when booked in the fall and winter months versus the spring and summer when prices are up.

3) Date availability-The wedding off-season is the perfect time to get the most available dates for the fall and even those planning weddings in the spring and summer to book the venue as far in advance to get the cheapest rate. Most places jack up the price during the peak wedding season and the best way to get the price that fits your budget without blowing the bank is to book during the off-season.

4) Attire-Most bridal salons are good with post-wedding season sales and this is the perfect time for brides to get the dress of their dreams since many stores will have an over-abundance of gowns in stock. This is the time for brides to get that dream dress for half-off the regular price. The fact that so many new brides pay full price for their gowns, and attire for their wedding party. The best time to get your stuff is when the peak wedding season ends and stores start marking their inventory down to half or almost full off to get rid of their supply of gowns and accessories.

5) Invitations and announcements-Most companies will increase the price of ordering invitations and if you do it in the off-season you'll get a markdown if the company is having a sale to drum up extra business. If you get in touch with companies around the end of the wedding season and inquire about any sales or discounts for ordering invitations you can snag a good deal.

6) Food-Catering companies charge a premium for certain items like seafood, fruits, vegetables, and even meats. Some common food items are seasonal and anything that's brought in during the off-season will be a lot cheaper because it's in less demand which makes shipping a lot more inexpensive for catering companies to fill their orders when catering weddings or events.

7) More availability for bands and DJs-Most bands and DJs are booked solid through the peak wedding season, but when you catch them during the off-season when they're taking advance bookings for the fall and next peak wedding season you can get the most out of their open dates. It's advised to stick to someone who's had prior experience in performing at events because it's easier to work with someone who's done events like proms and weddings to be able to charge you a fair price. Someone who's inexperienced may charge more than what is usually charged and they won't be that good.

8) Off-season pricing for flowers-Some varieties of flowers are much cheaper when ordered for a fall wedding or in advance for spring and summer weddings. Not only do you get a good deal, but you pay less when you order for a fall or spring wedding when the peak wedding season starts well in advance.

9) You're less likely to get late gifts-Spring and summer weddings tend to have at times gifts that are belated since many people who are not able to attend will send a gift late. The advantage of a fall wedding eliminates the belated gifts because you'll likely get them more on time since more people will attend the wedding instead of declining the invitation because of vacation or other plans.

10) Registries are less backed up-The peak wedding season can cause a back-up for many store registries with new brides registering their wedding, but fall weddings can actually make registries easier to navigate. This is because by this time stores that may have sold out of items for their online registries where you can send the gift to the couple or have it sent to you and you'll personally bring it to the wedding. It's aggravating when you're trying to navigate an online wedding registry and the system is overrun with people viewing other registry lists and slowing down the system. Fall weddings tend to lower the number of people that log on since the majority of the weddings booked are during the peak season between March and August. This is the best time to register your list if you're a fall bride or planning one for next year so people have time to look and select the items and not deal with a crowded server.

These are the ten reasons you should have a fall wedding and for some of you who are planning weddings for next Spring should also take light of some of these ideas as well. This so that you will have the perfect day and not have to deal with the hoopla that many Spring and summer weddings tend to bring. It's ideal to really take into consideration that time is of the essence and dates do book fast and you want to get the best time and deals as possible which is essential for many brides who have to cut corners in the budget especially with the economy being the way it is. Many brides can't afford lavish summer and spring weddings like they used to so many are optioning for the fall as a prime time to tie the knot. Fall is not only a nice time, but you can score some seriously fabulous deals from the gown to the catering and save yourself some serious change in the end.

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Wedding Planning 101: The Wedding Day Emergency Kit

By April Rondeau

You've been planning your wedding for months or even years. You have gone over every detail with excruciating precision-there are calendars, lists, and timelines coming out of your ears. You are dressed in your gorgeous white gown and step out of the limo, ready to make your grand entrance.

Riiiiiiiip! One of your lovely bridesmaids has her heel caught in your train, which is now short some lace trimming. Before you start to cry, reach for the emergency kit that you brought along for just this reason. See, you really CAN be prepared for anything!

1. Needles, small scissors, and thread to match groomsmen, bride, groom, and bridesmaids attire. For any tears, pulls, or even last-minute tailoring. You really just never know.

2. Mole-skin and/or band aids. For blisters from painful shoes, paper cuts from handing out programs, or even a hangnail gone awry. Bring lots of them.

3. Stain remover, e.g. Tide to Go. Be prepared for dirt, wine, even baby spit-up if there's a little tyke around.

4. Clean cloths to wipe said stains.

5. Static cling spray. You really don't need the bridesmaids' dresses clinging to the backs of their legs, do you?

6. Tissues. Someone is going to cry. It might be you.

7. Q-tips. After you cry, you want some precision touch-up work that only a good cotton swab can provide.

8. Lipstick, foundation, powder, mascara, et cetera. A redo might be needed if you really bawl your eyes out.

9. Straws. If you've paid someone to do your makeup, you don't want to smudge it all around on a glass. Straws protect the lipstick, and make it nearly impossible to dribble that mimosa on your bridal whites.

10. Brush/comb. If it's windy, this is a necessity.

11. Painkillers. You don't want to be explaining to your new hubby that you have a headache on your wedding night.

12. Travel toothbrush and dental floss. These photos will last a lifetime, the lettuce in your teeth doesn't have to.

13. Clear nail polish. A run in your stockings doesn't need to be cause for crisis with this classic remedy. But bring an extra pair of 'hose just in case.

14. Nail polish. Don't fret over a chip in your manicure. Just touch it up and move on. Make sure it's the same shade, though!

15. Emory board. A snag in your nails could cause snags in your nylons, dress, flower girl's hair, et cetera, all day long. Get rid of it, pronto.

16. Perfume or body spray. After dancing all night, you might need to freshen up. Bring some clear deodorant, too, while you're at it!

17. Hair spray. Again, just in case. Shellack that 'do!

18. Bobby pins. Hair ties. Anything you use to decorate your hair-bring extras!

19. Antacids. Nerves do funny things to tummies. Antacids can help get you down the aisle in one piece. For that matter, if you get upset stomachs, bring some Imodium, too. The last thing you want is to feel the need to make a run for the toilet during your heartfelt vows.

20. Your vows,written down. You might think you'll be fine repeating after the officiant, but it will calm you down to be able to read them before the big walk down the aisle. Kind of like flash cards for a test.

And there you have it. An emergency kit to get you through just about anything that might go wrong on your wedding day. Unless crazy Uncle Jimmy gets tipsy and decides to make a long, slurring speech about how he thought you'd never get hitched. Ain't nothing going to save the day then.

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Making The Most Of Online Wedding Registries

By Sabah Karimi

Wedding couples often face the difficult task of 're-gifting' and 'de-gifting' after the big day's chaos is over. In order to combat this sometimes awkward event, wedding registries have provided one way to ensure that wedding guests know what a couple wants most, or may need as a newlywed.

Wedding registries are an important part of wedding planning and wedding organization, and require a couple's time and effort to create the most productive wish list. Wish lists for your wedding seem to be never ending; from making catering plans, to booking hotel reservations, the thousands of tasks before the big day can be overwhelming! Making sure your guests know what gifts to buy has traditionally been left in the hands of a few key department stores. Couples simply tell their relatives, friends, and acquaintances where they've set up a registry, and the potential guests can browse and select specific gifts where they can be confident will be well-received.

Traditional wedding registries have gained speed with convenience and internet capabilities, making it easy for couples to point and select the items they need. Finding that perfect glass vase and adding it to your wish list can be as fun as window shopping. At least guests and wedding participants can come to the event with more confidence than a 'blind' gift, that will either be duplicated or returned. Since today's social etiquette generally frowns upon the 're-gifting' process, couples can turn some to new and exciting options available online.

Online wedding registries that serve as a portal and individual site from a specific store or line of goods are a great idea to coordinate your wish list. Sites such as TheBigDay.com offer couples the ability to make a comprehensive list of complete 'gifts' that can include the honeymoon trip itself, big-ticket items such as cars or vacations, or even down payments on the first home! TheBigDay.com allows wedding guests to register and submit their 'donation' towards any of a couple's particular choices. Instead of saving up for that trip to Maui, the couple would simply list it on their wish list portion of the site, place a value on it, and have guests apply their gifts towards the final item. By using this strategy, both the wedding couple and the guest will know where their gift is going, and the couple can arrange for a formal thank-you card to be sent to the gift-giver as proof of the gift contribution. It's similar to donating for a cause, and TheBigDay.com offers discounts and packages to couples who use the service and book their complete vacation or honeymoon through the site. TheBigDay.com is free to register and use, and even provides the couple with an '@thebigday.com' e-mail address to direct wedding participant contributions to one easy place. It makes it easy for several guests to pitch in for one larger group gift, and also offers options on different price structures. Not much of a heavy spender? That's fine too, since couples can organize their wish list in increments of $10-$25 ranges, making it simple to target a wide range of products.

Sites such as TheKnot.com offer a starting place for many couples, with partner sites including Target and exclusive boutiques that offer one-of-a-kind gifts. TheKnot.com is a great place for tips on how to setup a gift registry, as well as planning, ordering party items, and participating in an active discussion board. Its partner site, TheNest.com, is a portal for couples after the big day, to share stories, and find unique tips and suggestions on financing for a new home, lifestyle strategies, and other newlywed concerns.

Felicite.com is a very easy wedding registry setup service, giving couples a place to create a simple web page-style layout, add pictures, and post away with their wish list needs! Links to the site can be e-mailed to all wedding participants and potential guests for easy viewing, and the site is a one-stop shop for a variety of wedding needs and services. Felicite.com also lets you create an online RSVP system and Guest List right on the platform, so it works very well as an organizational tool.

There are a multitude of online wedding registries available today, especially as couples can shift away from the department store debacle of setting up profiles and staying within one area.

Comprehensive online sites can give you a full listing of choices, as well as define what you really want. Avoid the awkward and time-consuming efforts of 'de-gifting' and hop online to stay organized and make the most of your wedding guest's contributions with the right tools!

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Advantages And Disadvantages Of Hiring A Wedding Planner

By Jennifer Foote

Each year thousands of men and women get married. When getting married, couples basically have two main planning options. They can either plan their own wedding or they can hire a professional wedding planner. As with any item or service, there are advantages and disadvantages to hiring a wedding planner.

One of the advantages of a hiring a wedding planner is that you will get everything you want for your wedding without having to do much of the work. A wedding planner will plan and organize your wedding, but they will do it all the way that you want. This means that you will pretty much select a cake and then the wedding planner will ensure that the cake is ordered, made, and delivered on time for your wedding.

Another advantage of hiring a professional wedding planner is that you will get the best deal for your money. Wedding planners are experienced in finding great wedding deals. There are also many wedding planners who receive discounts from regularly working with certain catering companies, music dj's, and other vendors.

A wedding is supposed to be a wonderful day, but that does not mean that unexpected events or emergencies will not occur. The majority of wedding planners are trained and experienced in handling all aspects of a wedding, including emergencies. This will allow a bride and groom to sit back and enjoy their wedding no matter what may happen.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of hiring a wedding planner is that it will save you a lot of time. Wedding planners are responsible for contacting vendors, ordering wedding items, keeping on budget, and just about every other part of a wedding that needs to be planned. This means that a couple could continue to go about their daily activities without having their wedding cause any distractions.

There are only a few disadvantages to hiring a wedding planning. Those disadvantages include the cost and the possibility of hiring someone inexperienced. In today's world just about any individual can develop their own business. Meeting a wedding planner ahead of time and requesting the contact information of past clients is a great way to ensure that you are hiring the services of a trained professional.

As previously mentioned, the cost of a wedding planner will be fairly expensive, but it is one that is usually worth it. Many brides would be more than willing to pay a professional wedding planner just for peace of mind. It is possible to find a low-cost wedding planner; however, quality should not be compromised for price.

It is easy to see that the advantages of hiring a wedding planner outweigh the disadvantages, but the decision is up to you. If you are a new bride or groom who is concerned with planning a wedding you are encouraged to at least schedule a free consultation with a local wedding planner.

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Four Fights You'll Have Before The Wedding Day

By Stephanie Dray

There's an old saying that if your relationship can survive the stress of the wedding planning, your marriage will endure anything. It certainly does seem, even from the perspective of couples who have been married for decades, that few eras in your relationship will be as fraught with emotional turmoil as the one leading up to your wedding. So you should be prepared for the fights that you're likely to have before the big day.

1. You Just Don't Care About Our Wedding!

This fight is usually precipitated by the bride-to-be asking her betrothed a seemingly innocuous question such as 'What should our wedding colors be?' The groom-to-be might suggest something like, 'Dallas Cowboy Blue and Silver' and when the bride turns up her nose, he might foolishly say 'I really just don't care. Whatever colors you pick are fine.' He thinks he's being reasonable; he thinks that letting his bride have her way is the only sure way to a peaceful resolution on this subject. But all she hears are the words 'I don't care.' She wonders if his indifference towards the details of the wedding will translate into an indifference towards the eventual marriage. After all, the engagement period is one of tests and doubts; and you're likely to read lifelong patterns into the smallest things. The savvy groom-to-be would know that he should both pretend to care what the wedding colors are, and that he thinks the your choices are exactly what he would have picked. But if he's not so savvy, it might behoove you to forgive your man for this small defect, because he was not drawing wedding color schemes when he was in second grade.

2. I Hate Your Family.

This second, much more serious fight, usually comes up when the going gets rough. Either your mother is insisting on inviting too many guests, or his parents aren't paying their fair share. Maybe his dad made an off-color remark, or your dad is casting threatening 'You're Not Good Enough For My Daughter' looks. One of the highest hurdles on the way to the altar is to accept that you're not just marrying your beloved; you're marrying his or her family too. These foreign people are going to be a part of your life, year after year. Worse, these same strange people have the near-magical ability to render your usually competent and mature betrothed, into a six-year-old, with a few choice words. You want your man to stand up for you, but he's reluctant to cause trouble with his family. He wants you to tell your crazy aunts to stop pinching his cheeks, but these are the same women who gave you candy and beat you with their purses, and nothing you say will make them change. The best thing to do when trying to resolve this argument is to remember that your wedding is the last opportunity either of your families will ever have to be so involved in your lives. Henceforth, you're a couple, in the eyes of god and everybody, and it will be easier to draw boundaries to prevent family squabbles. For now, it may be best to grin and bear it.

3. The Bachelor and Bachelorette Party.

You don't want him dancing with strippers and showing up to the rehearsal dinner with the hangover of a lifetime. He's imagining a million undignified escapades that your friends might lure you into. Either way, it's best to schedule these kinds of events a few months before the wedding when tensions are not so high. Otherwise, the fight about the Bachelor Party is really going to turn into a fight about why you had to be the one to mail all the invitations while he sat around playing World of Warcraft, and that can never go anywhere good. Ultimately though, this is an argument about trust. If you can't work this one out, you shouldn't get married.

4. The Ex.

Maybe you don't see the harm in meeting your ex-boyfriend for lunch to tell him you're getting married. Maybe your betrothed doesn't see why he can't invite his ex-girlfriend to the wedding, since they're still such great friends. This fight has to do with coming to terms with the past, and focusing on the future. It's inevitable that as you launch on a new life, your thoughts are going to turn to your old life. But this fight can spiral out of control if either of you forget the essential idea behind your wedding day: it's about the two of you. If having your ex-boyfriend as one of the groomsmen is going to distract and agitate your groom-to-be, it's not worth it. This is your day as a couple; leave the baggage behind.

Fighting is normal. If you don't fight before the wedding, your relationship could be in more trouble than if you do. The arguments you have leading up to the wedding will help give you the skills to resolve conflicts with your spouse during the many years ahead. Think of it as an opportunity to learn how to face stressful situations together as a couple, and know that couples everywhere are having these same fights, and they're not as bad as you think.

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