Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Equitable Distribution During a Pennsylvania Divorce
Pennsylvania is an equitable distribution state. This stands in contradistinction to community property states in which the marital estate is divided 50/50. Equitable distribution states consider a variety of other factors when dividing a marital estate. While in many cases, an estate may be divided 50/50, equitable distribution states consider the disposition of both… Read More »
When Should I Sue for Sole Custody of the Children?
Custody battles in divorce are among the most contentious issues. In making decisions, the courts will always consider the best interests of the children. Pennsylvania courts default on the premise that having both parents in the child’s life is preferable to only having one parent. That means that if a spouse is attempting to… Read More »
What Will Happen to My Pets During a Divorce?
Today, it is becoming more and more common for couples to forestall having children until they are financially able to afford them. The birth rate has declined in recent years for this reason. The need to nurture, on the other hand, is intrinsic to the human condition. Many couples will purchase “fur babies” that… Read More »
The Benefits of Mediating Child Custody Disputes
There are several ways to handle a divorce case in Philadelphia. You can mediate the case, choose a collaborative divorce, or litigate. You can also file for an uncontested divorce if you and your spouse can agree on all issues related to the divorce settlement. Mediation, aside from an uncontested divorce, is the quickest… Read More »
How to Negotiate Child Custody Arrangements in a Philadelphia Divorce
One of the most important and often contentious issues in a Philadelphia divorce is negotiating custody and visitation arrangements concerning your children. The process tends to be very difficult because both parents love their children and want to be able to spend time with them. In Pennsylvania, you can either create a custody agreement… Read More »
Understanding Alimony in a Pennsylvania Divorce
One of the most contentious issues in divorce is alimony or spousal support. Spousal support is paid by one spouse to the other and is different from child support payments. Divorce can be a financial strain on anyone. You likely wonder whether or not you’ll be able to afford to keep your home, how… Read More »
Taking to Social Media is Not a Good Idea in a Pennsylvania Divorce
You may be inclined to blow up your social media feed during your divorce. This is generally not a good idea and can end up having a profound impact on the way the courts look at you. In fact, we recommend that you shut down your social media accounts while you are going through… Read More »
Ambiguous Grief and Divorce
Strictly speaking, ambiguous loss is loss without closure. It was coined to describe a grieving process that happens outside the context of the loss of a family member. Prior to this concept, grief was almost always couched in terms of the death of a loved one. After, it became possible to talk about grief… Read More »
Contested Custody Cases and Divorce
Custody can be one of the most contested issues in a divorce. This is especially true when there are issues of domestic violence, substance abuse, or other matters that could impact the wellbeing of the children. Many people believe that custody matters favor the mother, but that is not strictly true. The court will… Read More »
The Role of Experts in Child Custody Cases
When the matter of custody is contested, the court will not automatically know what the right thing to do is. All the court knows is that the parents cannot agree to a custody arrangement. They know that the parents are accusing one another of being unfit on some level. Somewhere, there is a truth… Read More »