At Burke Blue, we understand the importance of reaching positive resolutions to the challenges divorce and family law matters can present. We achieve this through our attention to detail regarding the individual facts and circumstances of each case.
Child Support
The Florida legislature has instituted guidelines to determine parents’ child support obligations. The factors involved include the income of both spouses, the parties’ timesharing (custody) arrangement, daycare expenses and healthcare expenses. Judges may sometimes deviate from these guidelines in certain circumstances.
Child Custody and Visitation
Jessica Lynn Stewart is an associate with Burke Blue and joined the firm in 2019. Ms. Stewart is an experienced litigator of divorce and paternity litigation involving issues such as child custody and support, alimony, asset and liability distribution and child relocation. She has experience in the family law discovery process, drafting pleadings, trial preparation and the trial process. Prior to joining Burke Blue, Jessica practiced (at 3 different private law firms in Okaloosa, Walton and Bay Counties) and has experience handling cases in Bay, Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Jackson and Leon Counties in Florida.
Adoption
Paternity
Premarital Agreement
Guardianship
Joy Marler Masters is a Shareholder in the firm who focuses her practice on Estate Planning, Probate, Business Law (including Business Entity Formation), Estate Tax Law, Guardianship, and Real Estate Transactions. Joy assists clients in all levels of estate planning, including drafting simple wills and ancillary documents such as Powers of Attorney, Health Care Surrogates and Living Wills as well as more complex tax planning with wills and trusts. She also assists clients by representing them in Florida domiciliary and ancillary probate administrations and Florida trust administrations.
Spousal Support
When determining whether to award one spouse alimony from the other, the Court considers both parties’ ability to maintain a standard of living similar to the standards established during the marriage. In other words, does one spouse have a need for alimony, and does the other spouse have the ability to provide it? The court will consider several factors in determining if alimony should be awarded, including whether one spouse put their career on hold to act as a homemaker, the respective incomes of both parties, and each spouses’ earning potential.
Business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs face a host of legal issues, and these do not end with business formation. Regulatory, contract and employment issues continue as long as a business continues to operate. While there is no way to avoid these issues, one way to limit them is to establish a relationship with an experienced business attorney. Business owners and entrepreneurs understand the value of relationships. Burke Blue strives to be a trusted source of legal counsel for all business matters including...
Business Disputes
Tristan is a local of Santa Rosa Beach having moved to the area from New Orleans in 2005. He attended South Walton High School and then followed in his family’s footsteps to the University of Florida to be a Gator. He then attended Florida State College of Law where he earned his Juris Doctor, the Business Law Certificate, and the Book Award in Real Estate Finance. Additionally, he served in executive roles for the Federalist Society and was an active volunteer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
Intellectual Property
Employment — A variety of issues can arise in the employer-employee relationship, including contract issues, wage and hour disputes, discrimination and harassment claims and intellectual property issues. Our experienced attorneys can help employers avoid these issues by drafting and implementing employment policies, and can help address these disputes when they do occur. We also represent employees who are faced with legal challenges or disputes.
Employers of any size need a reliable and readily available source of legal counsel regarding employment issues. The business and employment attorneys of Burke Blue understand this. That is why we seek to form long-term relationships with corporate and business clients and remain accessible to employers to provide legal advice on employment issues.
Burke Blue is pleased to welcome Daniel Rosenheim, a native of Walton County, as a partner with the firm’s ligation department. Mr. Rosenheim brings valuable experience in civil ligation along with experience in business law, real estate law, real estate development and land use. Mr. Rosenheim received his juris doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law and graduated
Construction Litigation
Our clients know they can trust our attorneys for competent, experienced and efficient representation and counsel during every and phase of a development project. We cover the entire time span of legal counseling for developers, from acquisition, purchase, planning, construction, to the ultimate sale. Construction law is a cornerstone practice area at Burke Blue, and our team of attorneys can add tremendous value to developers of any size.
Real Estate Transactions
For both individuals and businesses, real estate is often the most valuable asset they have and the largest investment they ever make. The real estate attorneys of Burke Blue offer complex real estate solutions to clients throughout Northwest Florida. We provide legal counsel and representation during all phases of the real estate transaction process from acquisition to closing. At Burke Blue, our real estate attorneys protect your rights and help ensure the process goes smoothly by handling...
Eminent Domain
Eminent Domain — Landowners facing condemnation have several issues to consider. Government entities must comply with strict legal standards when exercising their eminent domain powers and must provide owners with just compensation for their losses. An experienced lawyer can help owners protect their rights during condemnation and ensure they receive fair compensation. Because Florida law requires the state to pay landowners’ attorney’s fees in eminent domain cases, landowners should always seek legal representation in eminent domain matters.
Land Use and Zoning
Nevin Zimmerman is a resident in the firm’s downtown Panama City office, and he has experience practicing in the areas of governmental law, administrative law, land use law, contract law, real estate financing and municipal bond finance law. In his representation of Bay County for over 20 years, Mr. Zimmerman gained considerable expertise in the areas of land use, growth management, environmental permitting and infrastructure financing. Nevin presently serves as the City Attorney for Panama City.
Property Damage
“WC” Henry concentrates his practice in the areas of Local Government Law, Civil Litigation, and Employment Law, representing both employers and employees. Mr. Henry has extensive experience in Local Government Law, having worked 10 years in the Manatee County Attorney’s Office in Bradenton, and serving as Chief Assistant County Attorney the last four of those years. Since joining Burke Blue, Mr. Henry has served as County Attorney for both the Bay County and the Walton County Boards of County Commissioners. He has also represented the Bay County Transportation Planning Organization, and the Panama City Housing Authority.
Condominium Law
Our law firm was originally formed in 1973 by five attorneys. One was a banker, another was the School Board Attorney, two were general practitioners, and Les Burke was the Bay County Attorney. In 1984, the name “Burke and Blue” was adopted and the Firm limited its practice to representing the County and all facets of condominium development law.
You can call the experienced personal injury attorneys at Burke Blue to help you get your life turned back around. From dealing with the insurance companies, the doctors’ offices and other parties involved, we can assist you to make sure you are in compliance with applicable laws to preserve your benefits, make arrangements for out of pocket expenses and bills, present your claim, and insure you receive full and fair compensation for your injuries and damages.
At Burke Blue, our estate planning lawyers have been helping clients living, Florida plan for the expected and unexpected for 45 years. We offer comprehensive estate planning and wealth management services that assist clients in planning for retirement, maximize tax savings and help ensure their families and loved ones receive the maximum benefit of their estate. Our diverse practice includes all the necessary elements of estate planning and wealth management...
Wills
The essential element of every estate plan should be the Last Will and Testament or a Will. Everyone over the age of 18 needs a Will. A Will is a legal document that gives instruction on how to convey or pass a person’s property after that person dies. Wills can vary greatly in complexity depending on the size of the estate, the number of beneficiaries and the specificity of the instructions. But all Wills must conform to certain legal standards and should contain certain essential provisions. The Estate Planning attorneys of Burke Blue have the experience and knowledge to ascertain a client’s specific needs and then draft Wills accordingly.
Trusts
Natalie A. McSwane graduated Magna Cum Laude from WMU Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2016. Prior to law school, she received a Master’s in Security Management and a Master’s in Criminal Justice with a minor in Public Administration. While attending law school, she was on the Honor Roll all 7 terms she attended and the Dean’s List for 6 terms. She served as a Grade Appeals Magistrate, participated in the Client Counseling competition and was the Resource Editor/Board Member for the Western Michigan Cooley Journal of Practical & Clinical Law.
Power of Attorney
A good estate plan is comprised of many parts. These can include a will, one or more trusts, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare surrogate and a living will (often called an advance healthcare directive). While not every one of these may be necessary in all estate plans, effectively utilizing these tools when necessary allows the client to effectively convey their final wishes and allows their families and loved ones to receive the maximum benefits of their estates.
Douglas Smith is a Shareholder whose practice focuses on the areas of Civil Litigation, Commercial Law, Real Property, Banking, Eminent Domain, and Creditor Bankruptcy Law. Doug is an AV rated attorney and has significant litigation experience in both the State and Federal Court systems. Additionally, Doug has been a Certified Circuit Civil Mediator since 1998.
Foreclosure
Concorde Estates CDD v. Dominick and Marianne Tarantola Trust, et. al 2019-CA-001728-MF (procured summary judgment in Florida’s 9th Judicial Circuit for the foreclosure of over $5,500,000 in delinquent assessments covering 36 lots and recovery of over $200,000 in attorney’s fees and costs)