Author Archives: Jay Butchko
What Happens in Florida if I Miss One Child Support Payment?
Florida law requires that all parents are legally obligated to support their children financially, regardless of whether or not they are still married. Parents must pay court-ordered child support in Florida. When you miss a payment (even one payment), it triggers a collection process. The result of this collection process could include jail time,… Read More »
Can the Florida Courts Suspend My Driver’s License Over a Failure to Pay Child Support?
The Florida court system has a variety of ways to force delinquent parents to make child support payments. Florida presumes that each parent has a duty and a responsibility to provide support for their children. If a paying parent refuses or is unable to pay child support, the parent who is owed money can… Read More »
Can I Be Disqualified from Receiving Alimony in Florida?
Alimony, known as spousal maintenance in Florida, is a payment made from one spouse to another. The purpose of alimony is to ensure that a lower-earning spouse has enough money to support themselves on their own once the divorce is finalized. The courts have a number of reasons for not awarding individual alimony. In… Read More »
Can I Modify Child Support Payments in Florida?
Yes, you can petition the court for a modification of child support payments. Generally speaking, child support obligations are determined by the income of the parents, the needs of the child, and how much time the child spends with each parent vis a vis the timesharing agreement. When circumstances change substantially, the parent is… Read More »
Can You Get Past-Due Child Support After the Child Turns Eighteen?
Typically, child support payments terminate when the child reaches the age of majority or 18 years old. However, this rule does not apply to past-due child support payments. A parent who is the recipient of child support payments is entitled to recover past-due child support payments regardless of how old the child is. So,… Read More »
How Are Debts Divided in a Florida Divorce?
One question that we’re often asked by our clients is: what happens to our marital debt during divorce? This is a complicated question that involves a number of moving parts. Our experienced family law attorneys are here to help you through the process of divorce and let you know what to expect from the… Read More »
How Can I Avoid Paying Alimony in a Florida Divorce?
Are you worried about paying alimony? You aren’t alone. The financial burden can extend for years depending on what type of alimony the court awards your spouse. Recently, however, Florida passed several laws that benefited the payers of alimony. Among other things, it did away with permanent alimony and it made it easier for… Read More »
How is Child Support Calculated in Florida?
The state of Florida uses an income-shares model to determine how much child support should be paid. By that we mean it totals the income of both parents. For example, if one parent is making $3500 a month in net income while the other parent is making $2500 a month, the court would consider… Read More »
How Does Shared Legal Custody Work in Florida?
In the majority of situations, the Florida courts will award parents joint custody of their children. Under the law, there is a rebuttable presumption that joint custody is in the best interest of the children. The best interests of the children is the standard that the court applies when making custody decisions. When it… Read More »
Preparing for the Divorce Process in Florida
So, you’ve made the decision to divorce in Florida. After several years of marriage, you’re no longer willing to stay in a relationship that doesn’t fulfill you spiritually and emotionally. Now is the time to prepare. You will need to make several important decisions such as whether you want to mediate or litigate your… Read More »
