Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Sperm Donors and Child Support Claims
Many couples in the United States are unable to have children of their own, for a variety of reasons. Depending on the specific situation of the couple, some use a gestational surrogate, where another woman carries a child that shares genetic material with the couple, and then surrenders parental rights. Others use sperm donors… Read More »
The Role Of Prenuptial Agreements In Distributing Marital Property
While prenuptial agreements or ‘prenups’ are becoming more common nowadays, their earliest adopters were the couples who boasted significant wealth between them. Wealthy couples tend to plan more than those who have fewer assets, simply because ensuring both spouses receive a fair share while retaining specific, sentimentally valuable items can be quite complex. However,… Read More »
After An Honorable Discharge
Most members of the United States armed services are not career military, and as such, will seek or receive discharge at the conclusion of their tour. Some divorced servicemembers, depending on their circumstances, may seek an honorable discharge when the time is right so that they can spend more time with their children. If… Read More »
When A Will Is Challenged
For better or worse, it is not uncommon to have a last will and testament challenged in Florida courts. The criteria for a will to be valid in Florida are straightforward, but strict, and it does happen that a beneficiary will file to challenge the document, whether in good faith or bad. If you… Read More »
Condo Disputes & Arbitration
A significant portion of Floridians live in condominiums in this day and age. What many of them are unaware of is that if they have problems with the board, there may be a provision in their lease or purchase agreement that requires they submit to non-binding arbitration. While this provision does not apply to… Read More »
Military Retired Pay vs. Military Disability Pay
When a military service member is involved in a divorce, the main issue over which disputes arise is the issue of what portion of the service member’s pension should be earmarked for their soon-to-be ex-spouse. Even with those who have served for 20 years and are familiar with the retirement pay system, however, can… Read More »
Florida Probate Issues And The Homestead
It is not uncommon in this day and age that older people, especially those with significant assets, might divide their time between multiple homes instead of having one main domicile. If this happens in your family, however, it has a good chance at severely complicating the probate proceedings that any estate will have to… Read More »
Condos & Contractors: What Are Your Rights?
Especially in today’s economy, more and more business is done via the use of independent contractors, especially in areas like landscaping and other skilled trades. While this can eliminate certain issues, it can create others, especially when one or both parties may not be familiar with the law as it applies to condominium boards…. Read More »
Lawmakers Renew Fight Over Florida Alimony Reform
Over time, most U.S. states have reformed their policies on alimony (also called spousal support in some jurisdictions), eliminating measures such as lifetime alimony. Florida, in many ways, remains an exception, though state lawmakers have tried in recent years to remedy that. If you are in a position where you pay or receive Florida… Read More »
Paying Child Support After You’ve Been Fired
It is still worryingly common in this day and age for a worker to lose their job with very little warning. While obviously, losing a job is stressful on multiple levels, it can also cause issues for your family, especially if divorce is already in the proverbial equation. Losing a job, especially through no… Read More »
