Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Obtaining a Dating Violence Injunction
When many people think of domestic violence they imagine abuse between spouses or even couples who share children. While conflict between individuals in these kinds of relationships does account for a significant number of domestic violence cases, these are by no means the only circumstances that can lead to a domestic violence injunction. In… Read More »
What to do if You Have Been Wrongfully Accused of Domestic Violence
Relationships are complicated and this complexity can result in disagreements. Often, these disagreements can be resolved amicably, but in some cases, a person could find him or herself on the wrong end of a domestic violence accusation. Those who are falsely accused of domestic violence, however, are not without legal recourse, so if you… Read More »
Five Common Child Support Enforcement Devices
If the child support obligor in your family’s life is behind on monthly payments, you are certainly not alone. Nationwide, less than half of these obligors pay the full amount due. The resulting shortfall now exceeds $110 billion, and that figure is climbing daily. Technically, the state attorney general has the right to collect… Read More »
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 »
