Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Florida Braces Itself For 17 More Weeks Of Hurricane Season
You may not realize that, even as of early February, Florida still technically has 17 weeks left of hurricane season, with more and more potential property damage looming. As a result, emergency management officials in Sarasota and surrounding areas are scrambling to put lessons learned after Irma into practice to get ahead of more… Read More »
The New Tax Law Complicates Divorce & Alimony
The new tax bill has received a lot of attention in the media. However, many do not realize that it will have implications on divorce and alimony payments (in addition to tax deductions). Below, we discuss some of the ramifications of the law in greater detail, with a focus on how it complicates divorce…. Read More »
Common Questions Involving “Material Alterations” In Homeowners’ Associations
As attorneys who regularly represent homeowners associations and property managers, we frequently get questions about what the board can do with and without membership approval. These types of questions ultimately come down to distinguishing between what is and is not a “material alteration.” The general rule is that if the proposed change is a… Read More »
Divorce & Insurance Policies: Preventing Later Disputes
When couples are contemplating or going through divorce, they already have too much to worry about: Depending upon their particular circumstances, that often includes the family home, the children, assets, and more. The last thing that most couples anticipate is also having to tackle an insurance dispute. And yet, life insurance policies are one… Read More »
Divorcing Later In Life
The holidays are that time of the year when many Americans start thinking about divorce and a fresh start. January tends to see the highest number of couples seeking divorce. In addition, the most common age for divorce is the mid-to-late 40s. It tends to coincide with the youngest child going off to college,… Read More »
As Divorce Changes American Families, Experts Offer Advice
New research demonstrates that divorce is actually making American families bigger, with almost one-third of all U.S. households that contain adults under the age of 55 having at least one stepparent, and 33 percent of all couples over the age of 55 having a stepchild. Ultimately, the rise in divorce and remarriage is driving… Read More »
Florida Businesses Still Heavily Impacted By Hurricane Irma, Months Later
Even three months later, Hurricane Irma and corresponding hurricane insurance claim denials here in Florida are affecting businesses and negatively impacting tourism. While the Florida Keys in particular typically attract more than three million visitors a year—especially right around after Christmas is over—many of the big resorts remain closed after Hurricane Irma. And when… Read More »
Important Real Estate & Property Cases To Watch In 2018
There are several important real estate cases coming up in 2018 which property owners, landlords, and business owners should keep their eyes on. Below, we discuss these in more detail: Tenants Must Serve Out Remainder of Leases In a December legal dispute between Starbucks and Simon Property Group LP, a judge sided with the… Read More »
Important Reminders As ‘Divorce Week’ Kicks Off
January 8th is reportedly the beginning of “divorce week,” where the highest number of couples decide to initiate divorce proceedings. To that end, we have provided some recommendations below on how to make it through, as well as important things to keep in mind. Some of the most common topics that partners argue about… Read More »
Calculating Damage For Hurricanes In Florida
Florida, like Texas and Puerto Rico, has been through a busy hurricane season that has been extremely difficult on residents: just as of September, there were five major hurricanes ranked at category three or higher in strength, 13 named storms, and eight hurricanes total in the Atlantic. Hurricane Irma caused multi-billion-dollar losses, which includes… Read More »
