Author Archives: Jay Butchko
How Dragging Out Your Divorce Hurts Your Children
The decision to seek a divorce is neither easy nor quick for most people; rather, it tends to start slowly and build momentum over months or even years until it gets to the point that divorce is the only remaining option. The inevitable uncertainty and guilt that tends to accompany a divorce can cause… Read More »
New Study Shows Steady Decline in Military Divorce Rate
According to the Department of Defense, new statistics show that the military divorce rate continues to slowly decline, just as it has for the last five years. The military divorce rate for 2015 measured three percent, down 0.10 percent from 2014. One researcher attributes the continued decline in the military divorce rate to military… Read More »
Interstate Timesharing Disputes Under Florida Law
The Florida legislature has adopted the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Enforcement Act (UCCJEA), which is a law that allows Florida courts to exercise temporary emergency jurisdiction over a child who is involved in an interstate custody dispute. (Here, it is important to note that Florida no longer uses the term ‘custody’, instead replacing it… Read More »
The Benefits of Separating Finances and Children in Your Divorce
In a recent Huffington Post article, a writer reflects on her ongoing divorce and how she and her husband were able to separate their finances from their children. She found that although it was difficult at times, working closely with her husband to implement a gradual parenting plan that allowed each parent equal access… Read More »
Who Gets to Keep the Pets in Our Divorce?
A 2015 survey by the American Pet Products Association reveals that close to 80 million households in the United States own a pet, which represents about two-thirds of all households. When these statistics combine with relatively high divorce rates, it is not uncommon for couples to fight over ownership of their beloved pet when… Read More »
Depositions and Your Divorce: What to Expect
Depositions are one of many discovery techniques that lawyers use when representing clients in any type of lawsuit, including a divorce. Discovery, in general, is designed to allow your attorney to get information from your soon-to-be-ex-spouse about issues related to your divorce. Through the discovery process, both sides to a dispute are able to… Read More »
Social Media and Your Family Law Case
There is no doubt that social media and technological advances impact every corner of our lives, including divorce and other family law matters. An upset wife blasts her husband’s indiscretions on Facebook. Your wife’s new boyfriend posts pictures of their lavish weekend getaway. You find pages and pages of porn on your husband’s laptop…. Read More »
What is the Putative Father Registry and How Does It Work?
While mothers who have children out of wedlock have automatic legal rights, the same is not the case for the fathers of those children. When a child is born out of wedlock, the mother has the only legal rights to the child, along with the right to make all of the decisions about the… Read More »
Parallel Parenting: How to Co-Parent When You Don’t Like Your Ex
In recent years, experts have put much emphasis on the need to co-parent and avoid conflict between parents after a separation or divorce, in order to serve the best interests of the child. Many states, including the state of Florida, have even changed their laws to provide for co-parenting measures and parenting plans, instead… Read More »
Do Divorce Lenders Discourage Divorce Settlements?
In many relationships, one spouse chooses or is able to stay home because the other spouse has a much larger earning capacity. This is particularly the case in situations in which one spouse makes a significant amount of money, such as a multimillion dollar annual income as a TV producer or real estate broker…. Read More »