Author Archives: Jay Butchko
What to Know About Involuntary Bankruptcy
While it’s true that many people choose to file bankruptcy as a way to deal with indebtedness, there are those who find themselves in bankruptcy proceedings through no choice of their own. This sort of involuntary bankruptcy is rare for individuals (it’s more commonly used against corporations) but is certainly worth knowing about before… Read More »
Domestic Violence: Find a Shelter Near You
As a survivor of domestic violence (DV), you know that your abuser isn’t going to make necessary changes anytime soon, which means that you and your children remain in danger every single day. While the decision to leave home is a weighty one, it’s one that can lead to immense support and access to… Read More »
How ICE Makes Leaving an Abuser More Difficult
A Utah home went up in flames in July with the entire family inside. An angry husband with a history of violence had set it ablaze, fully intending to die along with his wife and children. The family was from Venezuela, and had endured all manner of abuse from the man, but had not… Read More »
What Impacts the Jury?
Any time someone’s future is in the hands of a jury, trying to predict and understand what jurors think during a trial is a full time occupation. One wonders how supportive jurors are to a defense attorney’s argument, or how influential a particular witness or piece of evidence might be. It’s a crazy and… Read More »
What to Expect at Your Parole Hearing
You’ve served a portion of your sentence in prison and are hoping for an early release. As your parole hearing date nears, you have the jitters just thinking about how things will go. You know that you’ll be allowed to make a statement, and that victims will have that opportunity, as well. There’s nothing… Read More »
Bankruptcy and Adversary Proceedings
If you haven’t experienced enough stress simply by being squashed under untenable debt and then by filing for bankruptcy, now you learn that there is an adversary proceeding against you! It sounds alarming, and it is! It means that someone–probably a creditor or the trustee– wishes to fight the discharge of a particular debt,… Read More »
Dealing with ICE During a Car Stop
If you’ve been taken aback when seeing the aggression of ICE agents recently, you’re not alone. These agents have been seen blocking cars with their black SUVs, smashing the car windows of vehicles passing through, spraying chemicals into vehicles, dragging people from their vehicles and throwing them to the ground, and even shooting into… Read More »