Author Archives: Jay Butchko
What You Need to Know About Revocable vs Irrevocable Trusts: Part Two
Our previous article introduced a few concepts regarding revocable and irrevocable trusts. It is clear that both of these legal constructs can be invaluable tools in building your estate plan, as they both offer unique capabilities and protections when it comes to distribution of estate assets. However, there are several, important distinctions between these… Read More »
What You Need to Know About Revocable vs Irrevocable Trusts: Part One
Trusts are utilized by countless individuals throughout the country as a crucial tool in building their estate plan. There is good reason for utilizing a Trust as a tool in your belt when building your own estate plan. These legal constructs can protect your assets and help ensure that they are distributed according to… Read More »
Importance of Foreclosure Defense Amid Florida’s Homeowners Insurance Crisis
Farmers Insurance recently decided to discontinue new coverage in Florida. This sent shockwaves through the state of its own accord, and now the insurance company “Progressive” has announced that they plan to “non-renew” approximately half of its home insurance policies in December. This is an estimated 100,000 policies. These major departures of prominent insurance… Read More »
Types of Florida Probate litigation Involving Heirs
You likely know that the term “probate” refers to the process of inventorying and distributing a person’s assets to the right parties after the person’s death. The court that oversees this process – the probate court – very often also processes probate litigation cases. Probate litigation can occur for a number of reasons. Likely… Read More »
Can You Collect Child Support from a Deceased Parent’s Estate in Florida?
Every parent who has worked through the process of a divorce knows that even if a romantic relationship comes to an end; you never stop being a parent. The state of Florida has developed the law to help ensure that children of divorce receive the support they need from their parents. Accordingly, parents in… Read More »
How Does Inheritance Work for Step-Children in Florida?
Step-children CAN inherit from an estate, but they are not automatically entitled to the same inheritance rights as a biologically born heir. While this means there is some extra leg work to do on the estate planning side if you want to ensure your step child inherits anything, this is nothing to be concerned… Read More »
Key Items Every Landlord in Florida Should Know
Becoming a legitimate landlord requires more than planting an empty R.V. in your yard and putting out a vacancy ad in the local classifieds. Landlords in Florida are required to comply with various rules and standards. These laws are in place to protect the renter, as well as the landlord, should the situation arise…. Read More »
Estate Planning for Parents
As every parent knows: everything changes when you have kids. Parts of your life that you were not worried about suddenly urgently need attention (gotta cover those electrical outlets with plastic plugs…is my dog going to be baby-friendly?…I wonder if the school district here will cut it, or we’ll have to move…) Along with… Read More »
How Much Does Florida Probate Cost?
Issues in estate building and probate law are something you might be generally familiar with. However, this general familiarity will come into much sharper focus once you are called upon to actually understand and drive an estate through the probate process. If and when this happens, people who felt content with their general understanding… Read More »
Why Do We Need Probate?
Far too often, an owner of real property (which can encapsulate both houses or land) dies without going through the process of deeding the real property over to another living person. When this occurs, the Florida property must go through probate. But – why? Many unsuspecting family members have been thrown into the intricate… Read More »