Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Dividing Retirement Benefits Earned Before Marriage in a Florida Divorce
Retirement accounts and pension benefits are often among the most valuable assets involved in a divorce. Questions frequently arise when one spouse began contributing to a retirement account long before the marriage started and continued building the account during the marriage. Many people assume the entire account automatically becomes marital property during divorce proceedings,… Read More »
Enforcing a Florida Divorce Court Order When an Ex-Spouse Refuses to Comply
Final divorce judgments and family court orders are legally binding, but obtaining a court order does not always guarantee compliance. Problems often arise when one former spouse refuses to follow the terms of a divorce judgment involving child support, alimony, parenting plans, or property division. Missed support payments, denied time-sharing, failure to transfer assets,… Read More »
Dividing Digital Assets in Divorce and the Challenges of Valuation and Disclosure
Divorce cases involving digital assets have become increasingly common as technology, online investing, and digital business ownership continue to expand. Cryptocurrency holdings, online businesses, monetized social media accounts, digital intellectual property, and e-commerce revenue streams can all become part of the marital estate during divorce proceedings. Many of these assets carry substantial financial value,… Read More »
Stepparent Adoption and Building Stability in Blended Families
Blended families often grow through years of shared routines, emotional bonds, and day-to-day parenting responsibilities. A stepparent may help raise a child, attend school events, provide financial support, and become a consistent parental figure long before any formal legal relationship exists. For many families, stepparent adoption becomes an important step toward creating long-term legal… Read More »
Child Support After Paternity Is Established in Florida
Establishing paternity is an important legal step for unmarried parents in Florida. Once fatherhood is legally established, the court gains authority to address issues involving child support, parenting plans, time-sharing, and parental responsibility. Many parents are surprised to learn that paternity cases often involve far more than simply placing a father’s name on a… Read More »
Same-Sex Divorce and Parentage Disputes Involving Assisted Reproductive Technology in Florida
Same-sex divorce cases can involve legal and emotional issues that extend far beyond property division and financial support. Families created through assisted reproductive technology often face additional concerns involving parental rights, donor arrangements, surrogacy agreements, and the legal recognition of parent-child relationships after the marriage ends. Parentage disputes can quickly become among the most… Read More »
Military Benefits After Divorce and What Former Spouses May Still Be Entitled to Receive
Military divorces often involve issues that do not arise in civilian family law cases. In addition to property division, support obligations, and parenting plans, military families frequently face questions involving healthcare coverage, retirement benefits, survivor protections, and continued access to military-related privileges after the marriage ends. Questions involving continued healthcare coverage, retirement benefits, and… Read More »
Child Custody Battles in Divorce Trials and How Florida Judges Evaluate Parenting Plans
Few parts of a divorce create more tension than disagreements involving children. When parents cannot agree on a parenting plan, the case may ultimately proceed to trial, placing decisions about time-sharing and parental responsibility in the hands of a Florida judge. Custody litigation often becomes emotionally charged because each parent believes they are acting… Read More »
Key Employee Retention During Divorce: Protecting Business Continuity
Divorce can affect more than personal finances, especially when a closely held business is involved. For business owners, one of the most immediate concerns is stability. Changes in ownership, uncertainty around decision-making, and internal tension can quickly reach the workplace. When that happens, employees, especially those in leadership or operational roles, often feel it… Read More »
Digital Abuse and Surveillance in Modern Relationships: How Florida Courts Are Responding
Domestic violence is not always physical. In many relationships, control and intimidation take place through phones, apps, and online accounts. Tracking someone’s location, monitoring messages, or accessing private accounts without permission can create the same sense of pressure and fear as more traditional forms of abuse. These behaviors are often described as digital abuse,… Read More »