Author Archives: Jay Butchko
How to Choose a Clearwater Divorce Lawyer
The average length of a first marriage which ends in divorce is a little over eight years. During this time, many couples have at least one child and make at least one major acquisition, like a house or a retirement account. As a result, when the marriage breaks up, it usually involves emotional and… Read More »
Five Dos and Don’ts of Restraining Order Defense
When issuing restraining orders, especially ex parte restraining orders, many judges side with alleged victims, err on the side of caution, and issue such orders. As a result, as many as two-thirds of restraining orders might be essentially baseless. However, that statistic is certainly no reason to take a restraining order lightly, especially if… Read More »
How to File for Divorce in Pinellas County
Divorce is a legal action filed by a married individual or couple to end the marriage. There are two types of divorce proceedings available in Florida: simplified and general. As its name indicates, a simplified divorce offers the parties a simpler and less costly procedure. This simplified procedure requires certain conditions. Where? Whether the… Read More »
Top Ten Parenting Time Factors in Florida
Under Florida law, child custody decisions must be in the best interests of the children. Typically, the parents agree on this broad principle. But they disagree on the specifics. In these situations, judges turn to a number of factors which help them determine best interests. Some of the more prominent ones are outlined below…. Read More »
Why Should Florida Dads File Paternity Actions?
Overall, about a third of Florida infants are born to single mothers. The proportion is much higher in certain communities. Many fathers believe that if they signed the birth certificate, they have legal rights as fathers. That myth is partially true. These dads could be administratively liable for child support payments. But a signature… Read More »
Emotional and Financial Issues in a Pinellas County Divorce
The marriage dissolution rate has dropped some in recent decades, but it is still over 40 percent. Additionally, the divorce rate is much higher for subsequent marriages. So, at some point, divorce will touch every family in Clearwater, either directly or indirectly. Unless the marriage only lasted a few months or the couple had… Read More »
Setting the Amount and Duration of Spousal Support Payments in Florida
In the mid 2010s, alimony reformers made several attempts to radically change Florida’s spousal support laws. These advocates wanted to make the Sunshine State’s subjective alimony laws more like the objective child support laws. They argued that the change would make the system more fair. But these efforts failed, and Florida’s alimony laws remain… Read More »
What Does PAS Mean to You?
Parental Alienation is a normal and transient aspect of most Florida divorces which involve minors. Children often gravitate to one parent or the other one at different times of their lives. Parental Alienation Syndrome is different. PAS is abnormal and permanent, mostly because it is intentional. The alienating parent, who is usually the residential… Read More »
The Five Types of Restraining Orders in Pinellas County
Many people always view domestic violence as a one-off anomaly. But in most cases, that’s not accurate. The roots of domestic violence often go back to the alleged abuser’s teen years. Frequently, the alleged abuser either witnesses domestic violence at that time or perpetrated it on someone else. And, unless someone does something, the… Read More »
Emotional and Financial Child Support Modifications
Original child support determinations are based on emotional and financial factors. The guidelines, which are presumptively reasonable, rely exclusively on some common financial and emotional factors. Child support deviations are possible in some cases. At any rate, these factors often change. So, as a rule of thumb, it’s best to legally modify child support… Read More »
