Author Archives: Jay Butchko

How Are Family Bills Handled While A Divorce Is Pending In Florida?
Getting divorced is never easier. Among other things, spouses need to untangle their finances. To make matters even more challenging, the divorce process can be slow. It can take months (or longer) for a divorce to be finalized. This raises an important question: How are the family bills handled while a divorce is pending?… Read More »

Is Florida A Community Property State?
No. Florida is not a community property state. Noted by Investopedia, there are nine community property states, including big states such as California and Texas. However, Florida, like the majority of U.S. jurisdictions, operates under an equitable distribution standard for property division in a divorce. In this blog post, our Largo property division attorney… Read More »

The Talk: How To Tell Your Children About A Divorce Or Separation
Divorce and separation is a common part of life. As noted within data collected by the Pew Research Center, more than half of U.S. children have divorced or separated parents. Nonetheless, a parental separation can be challenging for children. Having “the talk” with your kids can be stressful—but there are proactive steps that you… Read More »

Florida Divorce: Is A 50/50 Split Of The Marital Property Guaranteed?
Property division is one of the most challenging aspects of the divorce process. Before you and your spouse can finalize a divorce, you will need to determine who gets what. This raises an important question: Is an even split of the property guaranteed in a divorce in Florida? The answer is ‘no’—the state uses… Read More »

Can I Get More Child Support If Ex Gets A New Job?
Following a divorce or separation, the parent with primary custody may be entitled to child support from their former partner. In Florida, there are basic guidelines in place to help determine how much child support a non-custodial parent must pay. Child support is based primarily on income. This raises an important question: Can you… Read More »
Attorney Gale Moore And Nicole Sanders Are Presenting At A CLE Program Through The Clearwater Bar Association On February 15th
How Your Support Staff Can Improve Your Practice: The Effective Use of Paralegals Click here to register for event – Clearwater Bar Association

Parenting Plan: Your Guide To Florida Family Law Form 12.995(a)
Are you a parent going through a divorce or a separation in Florida? If so, you may be required to create a parenting plan with your former partner. A parenting plan is sometimes called a custody & visitation agreement. Florida law mandates that a parenting plan should be in place if parents are “time-sharing”… Read More »

Can Mediation Still Work In A High-Conflict Divorce?
Divorce is relatively common. Nearly half of all marriages in Florida will eventually end in a separation. Most people going through a divorce want to find a way to achieve a low-conflict, cost effective solution. Mediation is a legal process designed to help the parties involved find an equitable, practical, and mutually-agreeable settlement. This… Read More »

Can I Stop My Former Partner From Getting A Child Custody Modification In Florida?
Going through a child custody dispute can be challenging. For a parent, it can bring a tremendous sense of relief to reach a final resolution. If you suddenly find out that your co-parent wants to change the terms of order/agreement, it is normal to be confused and even frustrated. In Florida, a parent may… Read More »

Is There A Difference Between A Dissolution Of Marriage And A Divorce In Florida?
Are you preparing to end your marriage in Florida? If so, you may hear a lot of terms thrown around, including divorce, dissolution of marriage, and annulment. There is no technical difference between a divorce and a dissolution—though an annulment is a separate thing that may be available in a very limited number of… Read More »