Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Reasons for Grandparent Estrangement
In the ideal world, grandparents would have close and continuing contact with their grandchildren. Unfortunately, this is not the reality for many grandparents. Sometimes there are legitimate reasons why a parent will cut off contact, whereas other disputes can be resolved if both sides are committed. Under Pennsylvania law, grandparents have a right to… Read More »
Health Savings Accounts & Divorce
Many of our clients use health savings accounts (HSAs) to save money on a tax-free basis for future health care expenses. For our clients who have had few medical crises, their HSAs can carry large balances. When it comes time for divorce, the HSA might be an attractive asset that spouses fight over. Generally,… Read More »
4 Reasons Not to Disparage Your Spouse During Divorce
Divorce can be an emotional time, especially if you are not the person who initiated it. Some of our clients are tempted to say negative things about their spouse, and even the most careful person can slip up from time to time. Nevertheless, there are several strong reasons to bite your tongue. Our Media… Read More »
Unreimbursed Medical Expenses: Who Pays?
Children’s medical expenses differ from other expenses, such as education or daycare. Principally, medical expenses are hard to predict, since your children might become injured in a surprise accident or fall sick. Although health insurance might pick up some of the tab, unreimbursed expenses remain. Who pays? Fortunately, Pennsylvania has already anticipated this situation… Read More »
Why Divorce Mediation is Not for Everyone
At Barbara Flum Stein & Associates, we have written repeatedly about the benefits of reaching an agreement with your spouse on critical issues such as child custody, child support, the division of marital property, and alimony. Generally, couples can speed up their divorce action and retain control of how they exit the marriage. However,… Read More »
Dressing Appropriately for Divorce Court
Research shows that people form an impression of someone else within one tenth of a second. That is basically the blink of an eye. Once formed, initial impressions are hard to change. This research is equally applicable to judges. At Barbara Flum Stein & Associates, our Media divorce lawyers strive to obtain the best… Read More »
How to Increase Time with Your Children
Many parents are unhappy with the amount of time they have with their children following divorce. As the years pass, they may wish to increase their visitation, but the current child custody order does not allow it. What to do? Fortunately, parents have options if they want more time. Getting the right legal help,… Read More »
Do You Want to Stop Paying Alimony?
Alimony has several purposes under Pennsylvania law. Sometimes, a spouse makes periodic payments to an ex to reimburse him or her for contributions made during the marriage. In other situations, alimony is designed to subsidize an ex who is trying to become self-supporting by gaining an education or work experience. Many people, however, are… Read More »
Divorce Tips for Stay-at-Home Parents
Being a stay-at-home parent is demanding, especially if you have young children. Getting divorced as a stay-at-home Mom or Dad is also different than if you were working outside the home. Stay-at-home parents need careful planning to make sure they can support themselves following the divorce, so contact a Media divorce attorney to immediately… Read More »
Coparenting Through Religious Differences
The number of interfaith marriages continues to rise. According to Pew Research, almost 40% of marriages between 2010 and 2014 were interfaith, a dramatic increase from decades prior. At the same time, many Americans no longer profess any religious faith though they might marry someone who is devout. Given these circumstances, it is not… Read More »
