Author Archives: Jay Butchko
The Almost Painless Divorce
If you ask people which of Edgar Allan Poe’s stories they find scariest, it will tell you a lot about what they fear. Those who choose “The Cask of Amontillado” fear betrayal, or else they fear drunken lapses in judgment. Those who choose “The Tell Tale Heart” fear regret. Those who choose “The Masque… Read More »
What Does It Mean to Be Legally Separated?
Your friends might have been surprised when you told them you were getting a divorce, but you could see your divorce coming a long way. You and your spouse know that your relationship ended many years ago, perhaps even longer ago than you have ever admitted to each other, or even to yourselves. The… Read More »
Interim Spousal Support
Divorce cases are more straightforward when the parties can easily become financially independent of each other, even if they were married for a long time or have minor children together. This usually happens when the parties each earn an approximately amount in employment income. When one spouse has a much lower income than the… Read More »
How Long Can Spousal Support Last in Ontario?
If you get tired of the cold weather and the snow in Ontario, you can pass the time by reading about all the lawlessness going on in Florida. Not only does Florida have a warm climate, its laws seem determined to reward greed and corruption, so to break these laws, people must resort to… Read More »
Why Is January Peak Season for Divorce?
Your feelings about winter say a lot about your current life circumstances. For some people, cocooning sounds like a dream come true. You can cuddle your new baby and take things slowly during the brief moments when your baby is quiet and you have the energy to do anything productive. There is not much… Read More »
Is Gratitude the Magic Ingredient in Coping With Divorce?
When you are recently divorced, or when your divorce is pending, it is easy to feel like none of the things you depended on for stability or your sense of self are still there. Your savings have vanished, and while your children are legally obligated to spend certain days of the year with you… Read More »
Can Parallel Parenting Help You Keep the Peace After Divorce?
You have heard the horrible stories about parents becoming estranged from their children after divorce, with each parent blaming his or her ex-spouse for the breakdown of the parent-child relationship. You would never do that, at least not intentionally, but keeping the peace with your children and your co-parent is exponentially more difficult when… Read More »
Relying on Your Family of Origin After Divorce Isn’t Just About Money
It is hard to look on the bright side about divorce, but a decade or so after your divorce becomes final, you might be able to look back and see how your divorce brought you closer to your parents and siblings. Once you were no longer a family unit with your ex-spouse, you might… Read More »
Imputed Income and Ontario Family Law Cases
Marital conflicts often arise when there is an apparent disconnect between one spouse’s words and his or her actions, especially when it comes to health or money. Your spouse may go to exercise classes at the gym multiple days per week when your children are at school and travel internationally on vacation every year,… Read More »
Looking on the Bright Side About Divorce and Finances
Many divorced people now think of their divorce as something to celebrate, even if they were originally devastated when their spouses announced their intention to divorce. Some people even celebrate the anniversary of their divorce, and newly divorced people sometimes have divorce parties to celebrate being single again. It is hard to see the… Read More »