Author Archives: Jay Butchko
What Does It Mean to be in Arrears?
As part of every paternity case or divorce involving children, the court will order one parent to pay child support to the other in order to cover the child’s living expenses. If the parent paying child support misses payments, cannot pay, or refuses to pay support it is called being in arrears. Florida law… Read More »
How Substance Abuse Affects Child Custody
Millions of people across the country suffer from some form of substance abuse, and it can have a devastating effect on families, especially those with children. If your spouse has a substance abuse problem and you are filing for divorce, it is important to know that you have legal options to protect your children… Read More »
How Incarceration Impacts Child Custody in Florida
Determining child custody and timesharing between parents can be a stressful and emotionally fraught issue in any divorce. This matter can become even more complex if one parent is incarcerated, with questions arising about whether and how much time an imprisoned parent should spend with their child. At the law office of Blair H…. Read More »
How to Appeal a Child Support Order
Determining the proper amount of child support is a complicated process in Florida that involves complex child support tables, guidelines, and numerous other factors specific to each case. As such, sometimes errors are made when determining how much support a child should receive in a Florida divorce, either receiving too much or too little… Read More »
What is Covered by Temporary Alimony?
Temporary alimony, or spousal support, is financial support paid by the higher earning spouse to the lesser earning spouse while the divorce is ongoing. It can be ordered while the case makes its way through the court system for a divorce, legal separation, or even for an annulment. The purpose of temporary spousal support… Read More »
Using Mediation for a Military Divorce
The military divorce process often involves issues and laws that civilian couples do not have to navigate in their divorce cases. However, couples where one or both spouses are in the military can still utilize the same alternative divorce resolution methods as civilian couples, including divorce mediation. At the law office of Blair H…. Read More »
Florida Divorce Residency Requirements
If a person or a couple wishes to get divorced in Florida, the first step in the process is meeting the residency requirement. The state has specific requirements of residency in order for a court to have jurisdiction over a divorce proceeding. At the law office of Blair H. Chan, III in Tampa Bay,… Read More »
Serving Divorce Papers in Florida
When a person decides to file for divorce in Florida, their spouse must be notified of the divorce proceedings. Known as service of process, if notice is not properly given to a spouse in a divorce case it can be thrown out by the court and the filing spouse must start all over again…. Read More »
How to Plan for a Divorce in a Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic has forced many couples to spend months together, living as well as working at home, and this has pushed some to the breaking point. If you are considering filing for divorce during or after the pandemic, you can begin planning now. There are some steps that you can take in order… Read More »
Requesting Child Support Modifications Due to COVID Layoffs
The coronavirus pandemic is causing severe disruptions in Florida’s economy, with thousands of workers in many different industries being laid off or furloughed from their jobs. For employees who also make child support payments, this can be an even more stressful time. Thankfully, if you or someone you know is in this position you… Read More »