Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Can You Appeal a Divorce Decision?
In any Florida contested divorce case, the spouses disagree on one or more terms of their divorce settlement. When this occurs, a judge will hear the arguments, review the evidence, and take witness testimony before rendering a decision on the matter. Most often this pertains to issues of alimony, property distribution, child custody, and… Read More »
Does Covering Extra Items Count Towards Child Support?
Navigating a divorce when minor children are involved is always difficult, and once child custody and visitation schedules are set the court will determine the proper amount of child support that needs to be paid from the noncustodial parent. But what if your child or the custodial parent asks for additional money or items… Read More »
Qualified Domestic Relations Order: Explained
Filing for divorce is never easy, especially when there are so many issues for you and your spouse to resolve before a finalized divorce agreement can be signed. One of the biggest issues that you and your spouse must tackle is the division of marital property, including assets like retirement accounts and pension plans…. Read More »
What Happens to a Timesharing Schedule in a Natural Disaster?
One of the most important aspects of a divorce settlement in when Florida when minor children are involved is the creation of a timesharing schedule. This schedule dictates when the child will spend time with each parent and for how long. It can be tailored to your family’s unique situation and include specifics for… Read More »
Penalties for Hiding Assets During a Florida Divorce
Florida is an equitable distribution state when it comes to the division of property in a divorce. This means that assets and debts are split equitably, but not necessarily equally, between spouses. In some cases, one spouse may try to hide assets in order to protect a specific asset he wants to keep or… Read More »
The Benefits of Collaborative Divorce
Collaborative divorce is a growing trend in divorce proceedings and takes a non-adversarial approach to the divorce process. Unlike traditional litigation, the collaborative method is a voluntary agreement between spouses to attempt to work out their issues outside of the courtroom. There are many benefits to collaborative divorce, and it may be the right… Read More »
Who Gets the Pet in a Divorce?
When most people think of the issues involved in a divorce, they consider property distribution, alimony, and child custody; however, one issue that many couples do not consider that can have a significant impact on your life is who will get the pet in the divorce? Some states are now reevaluating the way they… Read More »
Are Gifts Considered Separate or Marital Property?
In a Florida divorce, the division of property between spouses can be one of the most complex and emotionally wrought aspects of the entire process. As an equitable distribution state, each spouse is entitled to a portion of the marital estate that is considered equitable, but not always equal. As such, the identification of… Read More »
What Happens If My Spouse Files for Divorce While I’m Deployed?
Having a spouse in the military and on deployment can cause a significant strain on a marriage, and for some spouses it can simply be too much. But what happens when one spouse files for divorce while the other spouse is deployed on active duty? Military divorces differ from traditional divorces in a few… Read More »
What is Marital Property?
During a Florida divorce, one of the largest and most significant aspects of the divorce settlement is the distribution of marital property. However, many people do not understand when they enter into a divorce what is considered marital property and what is not. Furthermore, there are cases where property that was not marital can… Read More »