Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Why is Florida’s Collaborative Divorce Process Special?
Are you preparing for a divorce in Florida? Similar to most people, you probably want to get through the process without serious conflict or expense. Florida has a comprehensive collaborative divorce law (Florida Statutes § 61.57). Collaborative divorce is different from other amicable options for ending a marriage, such as mediation. Here, our Clearwater… Read More »
Can a Professional Medical Practice Be at Risk During a Divorce in Florida?
Are you or is your spouse a doctor who owns their own medical practice? If so, your divorce case can be especially complex since the way a medical practice is addressed in a divorce can be complicated. If you are wondering: Is a professional medical practice a marital asset? The short answer is “it… Read More »
What Type of Professionals May Be Involved in a Collaborative Divorce in Florida?
Florida has a collaborative divorce law (Florida Statutes § 61.57). The collaborative law process can be very effective to help couples resolve their issues in a non-adversarial, confidential, and structured manner. For more complex divorces—typically those involving young children and/or a couple with high net worth—professionals are often relied on. At the Law Office… Read More »
Five Tips to Help Your Mental Health When Going Through a Divorce
Divorce is hard. Even if you are sure that it is ultimately the right decision, ending a marriage can take a toll on your mental health. A study cited by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that recent divorcees face a spike in mental health issues—including stress, anxiety, insomnia, agitation, and depression. You… Read More »
How Often is Collaborative Divorce Successful in Florida? (An Overview of the Data)
Going through a divorce is hard. Florida’s collaborative law process is designed to provide married couples who are splitting with a confidential, non-adversarial environment to work together to reach a mutually-workable solution. This raises an important question: How well does collaborative divorce in Florida actually work? The short answer is that 6 in 7… Read More »
Does an Award of Sole Child Custody Terminate the Other Parent’s Rights?
Are you a parent who is preparing for or going through a child custody case in Florida? If sole custody is an issue in your case, you may be wondering: Does an award of sole custody mean that the other parent’s rights are terminated? The answer is “no”—even if sole custody is awarded, the… Read More »
We are Getting Divorced in Pinellas County—Who Gets the Dog?
If you are a pet lover in Pinellas County, you are certainly not alone. Forbes cites data showing that nearly 40 percent of households in Florida own a dog. For divorcing couples, figuring out what happens to a beloved dog can be an especially challenging—and highly emotional—part of the process. It is crucial that… Read More »
What Family Issues Can We Address in the Collaborative Law Process in Florida
Most people involved in a family law case want to limit conflict. Collaborative law can be a great tool to do that. Under Florida law (Florida Statutes § 61.56(4)), “a process intended to resolve a collaborative matter without intervention by a tribunal.” In other words, is a specialized, confidential, and non-adversarial process designed to… Read More »
I Want to Negotiate a Child Custody Modification With My Co-Parent—How Should I Get Started?
Are you interested in modifying an existing child custody/child visitation arrangement. You may have questions about how to get started with the process. The short answer is that it is always best to start to reach a voluntary agreement with your co-parent. At the Law Office of Gale H. Moore P.A., we have extensive… Read More »
How is Credit Card Debt Divided in a Divorce in Florida?
Many people have significant credit card debt. According to the most recent data cited by CNBC (March 2024), the average American adult has just over $6,000 of credit card debt. For those aged 35 to 64—the most common range for divorce—average credit card debt is in excess of $9,000. Of course, it is also… Read More »
