Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Caitlyn Jenner Talks About Her 2014 Divorce
It takes a great deal of courage for a person to admit to themselves that their body and mind are in conflict. It takes even more courage to begin the process of transitioning. For those who are married at the time that they recognize who they are, it can be very difficult for them,… Read More »
“Alarming” Facts About Divorce
Most folks have probably heard that 50% of all marriages end in divorce. The truth is that it’s very difficult to measure divorce rates. However, over the past few decades, the divorce rate has been going down, not up, in all but one demographic: Those over the age of 50. What are the facts… Read More »
Papa John’s Wife Wants a Divorce
The wife of “Papa” John Schnatter has filed for a divorce after a series of unfortunate events led Schnatter to be ousted from the company that bears his name. Schnatter was forced to resign from company duties and no longer allowed to be the face of the company after someone leaked a conference call… Read More »
Cryptocurrencies in Divorce
It’s still unknown what impact cryptocurrencies will have on the future economy, but today, zealous investors are still investing money in both mining Bitcoin and creating new cryptocurrencies. The question of whether these will have value ten years down the road depends on whether or not they can function in a global market. Today,… Read More »
When Does a Prenuptial Agreement Make Sense?
Some of those who are engaged find themselves torn between protecting their assets from a divorce settlement and hedging their bets when it comes to the success of their marriage. It’s not a particularly good feeling for either the spouse requesting the prenuptial agreement nor the spouse who is expected to sign off on… Read More »
State Representative Seeks to Curb High Divorce Rates in Florida
The divorce rate in Florida is too darn high, says state Representative Clay Yarborough. Although his attempt to pass a similar bill fell through during the last legislative session, Yarborough is trying his luck again. The bill, called the “Guide to a Healthy Marriage Act,” would require those applying for a marriage in Florida… Read More »
What Can You Do if Your Spouse Refuses to Sign Divorce Papers?
It’s not uncommon for one spouse to have reservations about signing divorce papers, even when the other spouse is completely through with them and no longer wants to be involved in the marriage. This affords them a tiny bit of leverage insofar as they can make the divorce take longer before the court dissolves… Read More »
Is Child Support Just for the Child?
There are a lot of myths surrounding child support in the State of Florida. These include the belief that child support payments must entirely be spent on things relating to the children and that child support “automatically stops” once the child turns 18. Indeed, there are many folks out there that have a huge… Read More »
Hulk Hogan Forced to Pay Legal Fees in Bitter Divorce
Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, was ordered by a Florida judge to pay over $180,000 in legal fees to his ex-wife after a judge accused him of the rapid escalation of divorce proceedings. Judge Peter Ramsburger ordered Hogan to pay his ex-wife’s legal fees within 30 days of the ruling. Hogan… Read More »
How Long Does the Average Florida Divorce Take?
If someone were to go out and calculate the length of time every divorce took to finalize, they would come up with an average number. This number would tell you nothing about how long your particular divorce is going to take. This is because every divorce is vastly different. Some divorces are more contested… Read More »
How is Alimony Determined in a Florida Divorce?
Alimony is currently a very hot topic in Florida, so what’s true today may not be true tomorrow. Nonetheless, it’s always an issue when a couple unties the knot. In terms of pure economic questions, there are a few things to consider in a Florida divorce. Alimony is one of those things. Others include… Read More »
Martha Suglaski and Robert Reich Begin High-Profile Divorce
Robert Reich has filed papers to petition the court for a divorce from his wife who happens to be high-profile media personality, Martha Sugalski. The two spoke at length about their difficulty conceiving children after a number of failed attempts and at least one miscarriage. They also spoke openly about the joy of having… Read More »
How Courts Decide Child Custody in Florida
You can come to the table ready to decide every aspect of your divorce, but child custody and arrangements are the one thing that the court must approve regardless of yours or your spouse’s wishes. However, in 2008, the Florida legislature passed sweeping regulations that broadened child custody considerations and changed some of the… Read More »
Adultery and Divorce in the State of Florida
Some states allow citizens to pursue a divorce on fault grounds. Florida doesn’t. In states where fault-based divorces are allowed, one spouse blames the other for the breakdown of the marriage. In a no-fault divorce, either spouse can claim that the marriage is irretrievably broken and proceed from there. This saves the courts the… Read More »
Alimony Reform Could be on 2020 Legislative Agenda
The battle lines are already forming, at least according to one Florida political blog, with both sides preparing their arguments and deadlock likely on the horizon. While those criticizing reform are being characterized as greedy gold-diggers, those advocating for reform are perhaps even more unlikable after insensitive comments on social media got out. The… Read More »
The Case of the Missing Word
All divorce cases are painful, but imagine losing $1.5 million because there was a word missing in your filing. A second district court of appeals ruled that a missing ‘a’ in a petition for the dissolution of marriage was enough to cost a former spouse $1.5 million. How did this happen? Well, Jennie Familgio… Read More »
The Florida Woman Who Was Arrested for Turning in Her Husband’s Guns
A Florida woman was charged with theft after turning her husband’s guns into the police after he was charged with aggravated domestic battery. This story made national headlines and became the foundation for a renewed debate over gun violence and domestic violence. The conversation became particularly charged after the woman was arrested for attempting… Read More »
Is Collaborative Divorce the Right Option for You?
Traditional divorces are a contested process during which each party argues their own “side” and attempts to convince the court why they should get such-and-such alimony or take primary custody of their children. Since this process can get ugly, and often does, a second option became available to couples looking to dissolve their marriage:… Read More »
LGBT Divorce and Child Custody
After the recognition of LGBT marriage across the United States in 2015, legal scholars and family law attorneys braced themselves for a new challenge: LGBT divorce. While LGBT couples have all the same rights and protections afforded by marriage, they also face unique challenges in one major area: Child custody. When an LGBT couple… Read More »
When Alimony Lawsuits Get Ugly
The Tampa Bay Times recently ran a piece detailing just how ugly alimony lawsuits can get. Former husband Dr. Mark Flood and his ex-wife Blake Taylor had to come before a judge to determine why Flood was behind on his alimony payments, why those payments were always late, and why he had allowed his… Read More »
