Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Alimony Reform Bill Introduced In Florida Legislature
Recently, Florida lawmakers introduced an alimony reform bill that, if passed, would have a significant impact on how and when spousal maintenance is awarded in the state. Among other changes, the law would, for instance, allow courts to take marital misconduct into account when making alimony determinations. If enacted, the law would apply to… Read More »
Making Decisions About Your Child’s Medical Care After Divorce
Just because two parents get divorced does not mean that they are no longer required to work together when making decisions regarding their child’s welfare. In fact, for important decisions, like medical care, parents are usually legally obligated to reach those decisions together until the child reaches the age of majority. Responsibility for Medical… Read More »
What To Do (And Not Do) When Your Ex Won’t Pay Child Support
Parents who divorce will still be obligated to work with each other and try to communicate about their child’s best interests, at least until that child turns 18 years old and officially leaves the nest. For many, this means that one parent pays child support to the other, to help cover the cost of… Read More »
What Is Uncontested Divorce And Could It Be Right For My Family?
Couples who have decided to end their marriages can go about doing so in a couple of different ways, one of which is by filing for an uncontested divorce. Uncontested divorces tend to be resolved much more quickly than their counterpart (contested divorces), as they are only an option when a couple has reached… Read More »
Long-Distance Parenting Requires A Communication Plan
It’s not always possible for two divorced parents to live near each other. Work, poor health, or other family relationships could leave two parents forced to engage in long-distance parenting. Fortunately, it’s easier now than it has ever been to stay connected to and in regular communication with a child, even when a parent… Read More »
Common Post-Divorce Legal Issues
A lot of people mistakenly believe that once they receive a final divorce decree, their legal issues (with their former spouse) will be over. The reality, however, is that for many individuals, divorce-related legal matters simply don’t end when a divorce is finalized. Instead, the parties may need to address post-divorce legal issues, like… Read More »
How Long After Mediation Will It Take To Finalize My Divorce?
The answer to this question depends on the specific facts of a family’s case. In some instances, for example, mediation may not be successful, in which case, its resolution won’t result in the finalization of a divorce. Instead, the parties will need to move forward with litigation, which could take months or even years…. Read More »
What Is Marital Property?
When it comes to divorce in Florida, there are specific laws that govern what does and does not qualify as marital property. This is an important distinction because under state law, it is only marital assets and not separate property that must be divided equitably upon divorce. Read on to learn more about what… Read More »
Don’t Overlook These Provisions When Drafting Your Parenting Plan
Parenting plans must contain time-sharing schedules, as well as details about how two parents will make important decisions about their child’s healthcare, education, religion, and general upbringing. It can be easy, however, when drafting these agreements to overlook certain provisions. One of the best ways to ensure that this doesn’t happen to you is… Read More »
Tips For Sharing Custody
One of the biggest issues that divorcing couples (who share children) face is determining what their custody arrangement will look like. If both parents want to share custody 50/50 then they’ll need to work together to come up with a workable arrangement. We’ve included a few tips that can help make this process easier… Read More »
