Author Archives: Jay Butchko
So You’ve Received A Petition And Summons (FL-100 And FL-110)…Now What?
For many people, the court system is a total enigma. Many people do not regularly operate within a court or legal system. Indeed, many people’s first exposure to the court system is when they find themselves involved in a divorce or separation action. This can make all of the various forms and filing requirements… Read More »
Different Types Of Child Visitation Rights Granted In California
When a couple is going through a divorce there are a lot of issues to sort out. You may be dealing with complicated issues concerning division of property, spousal support, the separation of finances…the list goes on and on. But frequently the most important issue fought over by parents in a divorce is time… Read More »
Suicidal Ideation And Child Custody
Suicidal ideation, and actual suicide attempts, are real. It is a very concerning, very stark reality that many parents who are dissolving their relationship are also dealing with an ex-partner who has suicidal ideation or has made a suicide attempt. When you share minor children with a person suffering this level of depression parents… Read More »
Grandparent Visitation Rights In California
Life is often a collection of contradictions. A very common saying in the United States is “it takes a village to raise a child.” Many parents of young children know this to be very true. Both children and parents often benefit from having a number of adults form a support community around them. However,… Read More »
Child Abandonment And The Termination Of Parental Rights
Most of the hardest fought battles in family court involve children, and arguing over what is in their best interest. When people begin a family they rarely believe that one parent will abandon the child. However, as we all know, this has always been a too-often sad reality for many children. Every state and… Read More »
The 101 On Domestic Partnership Dissolutions In California
Until very recently many states across the U.S. did not recognize same-sex marriages as legal unions. When California legalized same sex marriage it acted as a harbinger of change, and, with time, the right for same-sex couples to marry became a federal surety. Before same-sex marriage was legalized, many same-sex couples who were not… Read More »
Can I Keep My Rings After My Relationship Dissolves?
Jewelry can hold a lot of memories, and a lot of meaning. The engagement and wedding rings that are exchanged between partners are not only valuable for the monetary worth they have, but for the symbolic meaning and promise they hold. This makes it all the more difficult to determine what to do with… Read More »
Pet Custody – California’s Take, And How The Idea Is Growing
Many feel that it is an odd concept to think of an animal, like the beagle you grew up with, as property. It likely makes more sense to think of these as family members – and in 2019 California enacted a new law that works toward that ideology. Now, similar laws exist in a… Read More »
Discussing Cohabitation And Its Effect On Alimony In California
Even if you have never gone through a divorce yourself, you are likely already familiar with some of the most common concepts or basics of divorce. Any applicable issues of property division, child custody, and alimony (or spousal support) need to be squared away in order to be granted a divorce. However, when you… Read More »
Can I Stop My Child From Seeing Their Other Parent?
If you are going through a divorce or other relationship dissolution that involves custody of minor children, you are fully aware how the dissolution of the existing relationship substantially changes the lives of both the children and the parents. Most parents want to maintain a good relationship with their kids post-breakup, and that almost… Read More »
