Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Changing Co-Parenting Models for a Changing World
Florida family laws have changed a lot over the years. In the early 1900s, women had almost no legal or financial rights. So, fathers always won full custody of their children. Then, the pendulum swung the other way. Around World War II, the tender years doctrine took root. This philosophy held that children should… Read More »
Love, Baseball, and Prenuptial Agreements
As another season approaches, now is probably a good time to reflect on the moment that love, baseball, and premarital agreements came together in SoCal. The Frank and Jamie McCourt saga is a good example of how premarital agreements work in California, but also of how they work in Florida. Both the Golden State… Read More »
Seven Good Reasons to Change Your Name Today
Millions of Americans change their names every year. Under Florida law, you do not need a good reason to do so. You simply cannot have a nefarious reason, such as avoiding creditors, unilaterally erasing a criminal record, or avoiding immigration trouble. A good Clearwater family attorney can expedite the process. Local lawyers know a… Read More »
What to Expect in a Marriage Dissolution Case
Although the divorce rate has dipped slightly in recent years, it is still extremely high, particularly among subsequent marriages. Furthermore, divorce’s moral acceptability rating recently hit an all-time high. In other words, people who would never have considered divorce a few years ago now see this procedure as a good way to terminate an… Read More »
Some Co-Parenting-Friendly Timesharing Arrangements
Florida’s child custody laws have gone through several different phases since World War II. Back then, the “tender years” doctrine dominated child custody cases. Divorced mothers almost always received full custody of the children, and fathers received only limited visitation rights. It was assumed that fathers were either unwilling or unable to care for… Read More »
The Magnificent Seven Child Support Deviation Factors in Florida
In most cases, Florida’s complex child support guidelines conclusively set the amount of child support payments. The key variable is usually the net income of each parent. Net income for child support purposes often differs from the net income amount on a paystub. Only certain payroll deductions are allowable under Florida law. Since the… Read More »
How to Block a Residential Parent’s Relocation
Relocations are probably the most common divorce modification action. Income often changes more frequently than physical location, but not all income changes are substantial under Florida law. Most people move about twelve times during their lives. And, even if the move is local, a new residence significantly impacts the parenting time division. In these… Read More »
Some FAQs About The BRS And Your Florida Divorce
Beginning January 1, 2018, the U.S. military dramatically changed its retirement system. Instead of a basic defined benefit plan, the new Blended Retirement System has the features of both a pension plan and a 401(k)-type defined contribution plan. Furthermore, after just twelve years of service, servicemembers become eligible for continuation pay. This one-time bonus… Read More »
Changes Coming To Florida Alimony Law
For a number of years, spousal support payments have been tax-deductible for the obligor (paying) spouses and tax-reportable for obligee (recipient) spouses. But the 2017 tax law rewrite obliterates these rules. Beginning January 1, 2019, spousal support payments will no longer be tax-deductible or tax-reportable. Lawmakers predicted that the change would help women, the… Read More »
