Imagine for a moment: A scholarly older gentleman, huddled in his corner office. His desk sits next to a window not insulated enough to protect him from the cold winter air seeping in from outside but the lighting is best for tapping away on his run-down typewriter. Wire-rimmed glasses hang from his nose; a faded and stretched brown sweater drapes his shoulders. Day in and day out, he enters the musty, paper-filled room to work on his next masterpiece.

A voluntary child support agreement can be drafted by the parents to be approved by a judge in a Family Law court. For the agreement to be valid, the court must declare and stamp it approved. A judge will review the agreement for fairness and compliance with the specific state’s laws for child support. Each state has standards governing support enforcement and case administration. However, most voluntary support agreements share basic components that are enforceable in most states.

In the United States health insurance is expensive – especially for individuals who are not covered by an employer’s plan. Large organizations are able to bargain with health insurance companies for lower rates, which is a luxury a single freelancer does not have. However, having health insurance is important and understanding the basics can make choosing a plan much less overwhelming.

Hurricane victims face months of cleanup from damaging winds and flooding. Debris has to be hauled away, roads have to be repaired and bridges may have to be rebuilt. Such was the case with Hurricane Irene (August 2011) that ripped the U.S. eastern seaboard from North Carolina to Maine. Many residents were caught off-guard because the storm lasted so long and because it roared through states that had rarely seen hurricane activity.

Amid pressure from the Democratic Party’s leaders, President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the US Congress passed the much debated healthcare reform act. Strategic mistakes, made by Republicans, allowed conservative Blue Dog Democrats to vote for the measure once provisions for abortion were taken into account. As conservative Representative Nick J. Rahall, D-WV said on his website Saturday night, “I have been a pro-life Member of Congress since I was first elected…which is why I voted in favor of H.R. 3962….”