Author Archives: Jay Butchko
How Unwed Fathers Gain Custody Rights Over a Child
Learning that one is about to become a parent is an exciting and nerve-racking time. Anticipating the child and thinking of all the hopes and dreams a parent may have is a very emotional experience, but if the parent is an unwed father, the opportunity to participate in his child’s life is not guaranteed…. Read More »
Legal Issues Related to Domestic Violence and Divorce
Violence in the home is a serious issue that should not be ignored, but usually requires advance planning by the victim to avoid further harm. For married spouses looking to divorce, domestic violence complicates an already emotional process and often alters procedural aspects of a divorce case, as well as the application of the… Read More »
Divorcing Later in Life
With approximately 44 percent of Americans going through a divorce at some point, millions of people in this country must make the often difficult transition from married to single. This adjustment is rarely easy, and the longer a couple is married, the more alien it will seem to live without the presence and support… Read More »
What Is Supervised Visitation and When Is It Used?
When parents separate or divorce, a priority for many is making sure they see their children on a regular basis. Frequent parent/child contact is essential for a healthy relationship and the child’s overall development. Consequently, securing sufficient visitation, often called parenting time, is of particular importance to the parent that does not have primary… Read More »
Pregnancy and Divorce
When couples find out the woman is pregnant, there is typically cause for celebration and greater intimacy in the relationship. However, this news is not always a good thing. Couples who are struggling with relationship issues may find a pregnancy pushes them farther apart, and becomes the catalyst for divorce. The combined emotions of… Read More »
What to Expect at Your First Meeting with a Divorce Lawyer
Making the decision to get divorced is hard, and the next step may not be so obvious in the wake of all the emotions divorce typically provokes. But, at some point, most people end up talking with a divorce lawyer. The time leading up to the first meeting is often full of fear and… Read More »
What Can You Do if the Other Parent Ignores the Parenting Plan?
The cornerstones of child custody arrangements in Florida are parenting plans. These documents outline when each parent has physical custody of the child, and the legal authority each holds over important decisions in the child’s life (education, medical care, activities, etc.). In practical terms, both parents must compromise and cooperate with one another in… Read More »
Do Grandparents Have Any Rights after Their Child Divorces?
Couples with children who decide to divorce face many challenges as they transition to being single parents. Trying to explain that everyone does not live together anymore is a hard concept for young children to grasp. In addition to losing the family unit, children can find themselves disconnected from family and friends as parents… Read More »
Dealing with a Spouse Who Is Intentionally Hiding or Squandering Marital Assets Pending Divorce
Married couples spend years building up assets in the hope of gaining financial stability for their family, and this effort often requires many sacrifices to produce the desired results. Consequently, if a couple later divorces, dividing this property frequently becomes a contentious and highly litigated issue. Relinquishing control over something that required considerable effort… Read More »
Mental Incapacity: The Lesser Known Basis for Divorce
Marriage requires compromise and acceptance of difficult situations if a couple wants it to last, and such sacrifice tends to increase as spouses age. People generally recognize that a spouse will change both physically and psychologically over time, and are willing to stay with the person despite these shifts. However, there may come a… Read More »
