Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Should I Explore A Florida Annulment?
If you are interested in having your marriage annulled in the state of Florida, know there are specific requirements for doing so. If you do not qualify for an annulment, a divorce could be an option. Both an annulment and a divorce end a marriage, but an annulment is a complete void of the… Read More »
Talk To An Attorney About Parenting Time Issues
Spending time with your kids, passing down traditions you love, and creating family memories can be incredibly rewarding. But it is a parenting reality that the process of raising children is not always easy. If you are co-parenting with your ex-spouse, or you are separated from your spouse, and they are not following an… Read More »
Pet Ownership And Florida Divorce
Many American families have furry companions, including dogs and cats. Often these animals are viewed as members of the family. With such strong emotional bonds to our animals, it can become complicated to determine who will take ownership of family pets when a marriage ends. Pet ownership is one of the many items that… Read More »
Unmarried Parents And Custody Concerns
Florida laws connected to child custody can be complicated, particularly for unmarried parents. Mothers obtain legal parent rates when their children are born, but fathers may need to take a DNA test or fill out official forms to establish paternity. Once all the correct steps have been taken, unmarried parents can go through a… Read More »
Divorce Issues And PAS
While Parent Alienation Syndrome (PAS) was a more popular diagnosis decades ago, there are still some situations in which PAS will come up during the divorce process. An idea that was introduced in the 80s by Richard Gardner, a child psychologist, PAS is a group of behaviors kids exhibit when one of their parents… Read More »
Divorce And Kids Witnessing Domestic Violence
Domestic violence has an effect on every member of a family, including small children, teens, and grown kids who have witnessed violence throughout their lives. This makes sense, when you consider that kids turn to their parents at every development point to learn what adulthood looks like. From basics such as learning to talk… Read More »
Divorce Agreements And Palm Beach County Dads
There are many misconceptions about what fathers can achieve when they divorce. Too often, individuals believe they know what is possible but are relying on information from their own childhoods. But in the past couple of generations, custody assumptions have changed. It used to be mothers typically were the primary custodial parent and the… Read More »
Top Reasons Why Child Support Payments Stop
There are legal consequences when a person fails to make court ordered child support payments. That said, it happens. While there are a range of reasons why parents stop paying support, it is important to recognize that you need to go through the appropriate legal channels to modify or stop a child support award…. Read More »
Assessing Your Budget, Debts, And Insurance When Divorcing
Because separating and divorcing is such an emotional process, many find themselves not taking the time to assess the financial impact. But taking the time to carefully look over what your budget is today, and assessing what funds you need to live the life you want once a divorce is finalized, is essential. You… Read More »
What If My Spouse Is Hiding Assets?
Asset division can be complicated when a person is not forthright with all of their financial numbers. For instance, if your spouse shares their salary with your West Palm Beach family attorney during the divorce process but fails to mention their yearly bonus and dividend paying investments, they are hiding assets. If you do… Read More »
Florida Grandparents Rights
When a marriage ends, there are often family members beyond the two spouses who experience impacts from the divorce. For example, grandparents who were accustomed to visiting with their grandkids on a regular basis may no longer have the same access to the children when custody agreements are put in place. It is important… Read More »
Remarriage And Shielding A Child’s Inheritance
Many parents want to leave their children an inheritance as it is a way to provide support for family after an individual passes away. Parents find joy in knowing their children or grandchildren will be able to access an education or pay for a home to raise their families with these assets, for example…. Read More »
Are Common Goals Possible?
It is typically easy to list a lot of disagreements when you are divorcing, but taking a moment to consider if there are common goals can be helpful when creating a divorce agreement. And if you and your spouse are open to negotiating the terms of your divorce, it can save you time and… Read More »
3 Ways To Improve Your Divorce Process
Many who have gone through the divorce process point to it as one of the most difficult times of their lives. With so much change happening at once, it is common to feel overwhelmed, but there are things you can do to make the process easier. For example, an alternative resolution, such as arbitration… Read More »
Is An Uncontested Divorce An Option For Me?
Uncontested divorces are amicable splits, they are an option when both parties agree to terms and there are not a lot of issues that are being actively fought over. Obviously, both individuals need to be open to discussion and negotiation in order to make an uncontested divorce a possibility. Because it can be a… Read More »
Who Claims A Child As A Dependent?
Claiming your children as dependents is likely something you and your spouse have been doing for years as you filed your joint taxes as a married couple. Because there are tax benefits, claiming kids is standard. But if you are divorcing, you and your soon-to-be-ex spouse could be questioning who will claim children on… Read More »
I Lost My Job, Do I Still Need To Pay Child Support?
Job loss, whether it is unexpected or you knew it was coming but had a difficult time putting money away in preparation, can be incredibly stressful. Getting by on unemployment may mean you have more bills than income. If this is the case for you, you may be wondering if you can put a… Read More »
Kids And Family Stress During The Divorce Process
Ending a marriage is not only stressful for the individuals choosing to separate and divorce, kids and other family members may have trouble accepting the marriage is ending and experience elevated levels of stress. Support systems are available to help kids and their parents navigate huge life changes, such as a divorce. Even when… Read More »
How Do I Know If I Need A Premarital Agreement Or Not?
Often referred to as a prenup, a prenuptial agreement is a type of legal contract. It is a written document that is created by two individuals who are moving toward marriage. Often these documents will list the assets and debts that each person currently owns and who will retain those should the marriage end…. Read More »
Florida Divorce And Social Media Use
If you scroll through your social media accounts every day and post on a regular basis you are not alone. Many, many people in Florida and around the country use social media platforms to stay up on the news, share funny content with friends and family, and connect with things to do around town…. Read More »
