Jeff Burtka joined the Nolo staff as a Legal Editor in 2023 and focuses on DUI and estate planning law.
Legal career. Jeff is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. He began his legal career as a law clerk to the judges of the Arlington County Circuit Court in Virginia. He then served as a prosecutor for six years before working in health care law and estate planning. Immediately before joining Nolo, Jeff was a staff attorney at the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in Michigan, where he wrote and edited legal education resources for Michigan attorneys.
Education. Jeff has a bachelor’s degree in English and history from the University of Michigan and a law degree from George Mason University.
Other pursuits. Jeff also has worked as a freelance writer with a focus on articles about sports, the outdoors, and the environment. His articles, such as How a majority Black school in Detroit shook up the world of lacrosse, have appeared in The Guardian, Outside, Crain’s Detroit Business, Civil Eats, and more. He enjoys running, coaching youth sports, and spending time outdoors.
Articles by Jeff Burtka
Parents or grandparents typically set up trusts for children. These trusts often last for years, and put a heavy responsibility on the trustee.
Both a living trust and a will serve to transfer property after we pass away, but they work very differently.
Roadside tests officers use to examine drivers for impairment and how test results can be used in court.
Video recordings, by themselves, are not valid wills. But they can have other uses.
The evidence required for an officer to make a traffic stop and arrest someone on suspicion of drunk driving.
How DUI urine testing works and when police can require a DUI suspect to take a urine test to detect drugs or alcohol.
Different types of speeding violations and the consequences of being caught driving over the speed limit.
Can you "fire" the executor? A court can always remove an executor who is dishonest or seriously incompetent.
Being a trustee can involve a lot of work. Depending on the type of trust—living trust vs. long-term trust—there may be ongoing responsibility, so compensation is usually part of the deal.
The executor must file a simple IRS Form 1040, just as the deceased person would have done.
