Author Archives: Jay Butchko
The 420 Friendly Co-Parent
Your ex is going around telling everyone that weed ruined your marriage. Maybe she is just jealous because you chose cannabis over her. You know what they say. When someone gives you an ultimatum, always decide against the person giving the ultimatum. Your ex said, “It’s me or the weed.” Your stash of weed… Read More »
Equitable Doesn’t Always Means Equal When It Comes to Awarding the Marital Home in Divorce
When there is a terrifying thunderstorm outside and it is too dangerous to leave your house, one of the favorite pastimes of Floridians is the superiority of Florida over other states. For example, California might have had a Disney theme park before Florida did, but California is a community property state, which means that,… Read More »
Do You Have to Let Your Ex Know Your Physical Address When Co-Parenting?
No matter how ugly your breakup with the other parent of your children is, the family court has seen worse. While parenting blogs tend to tailor their advice toward co-parents who are still on speaking terms, even though they may deeply resent each other, the courts must handle situations much worse than anything that… Read More »
You Are Not Rich Enough to Afford to Make Your Divorce Ugly on Purpose
If we as a society have learned anything from the COVID-19 pandemic and its endless parade of financial aftershocks, it is that everyone is more financially vulnerable than they think they are. A decade ago, a six-figure income from a salaried job could get you a stable middle class lifestyle, but today, almost everyone… Read More »
What Happens If You Get Divorced Without a Lawyer?
No one likes the idea of standing on the opposite side of a courtroom with your spouse, each flanked by your lawyers, when you once stood at the altar together and exchanged wedding vows. Even if you and your spouse have reached the decision that you cannot stay married to each other, it is… Read More »
Can Adults With Disabilities Get Child Support From Their Families?
Under most circumstances, child support obligations end when the child has both turned 18 and graduated from high school. Of course, children who become financially independent of their parents immediately upon graduating from high school are a rare exception to the rule. Most adults in their 20s and 30s depend on their parents financially… Read More »
Giving Adequate Notice for Family Court Proceedings
Depending on your perspective, it is either humiliating or a relief that, when you are going through a divorce or when you and your former spouse have minor children together, you can ask the court to intervene to decide which one of you is being reasonable and which one is causing unnecessary drama. Unfortunately,… Read More »
Parental Alienation or Garden Variety Teenage Rebellion?
No matter how patient you are with your children, how consistent in your enforcement of rules, and how emotionally intelligent you are, you will probably experience conflict with your children during their adolescence. This is true even if you are married to your children’s other parent, and you and your spouse have been practicing… Read More »
Parenting Time Is Only for a Child’s Legal Parents
Providing stability and continuity for children after their parents get divorced is one of the highest priorities for the family courts. This is why every couple who gets divorced while their children are minors gets a court-ordered parenting plan; in most cases, the parents set the terms of the parenting plan during mediation, but… Read More »
Adventures in Filial Piety
If you are mature enough to get married, you know that your in-laws are not going to vanish into thin air, no matter how much you wish that you could have your spouse all to yourself. Some adults maintain close financial ties to their parents even after they reach adulthood, and their spouses know… Read More »
