CRIMINAL
Sometimes even good people get into bad trouble…a mistake in judgment…a careless moment…an act out of desperation, and before you know it, you find yourself with serious legal problems. This can be frightening for most of us. One thing for sure…these problems won’t go away by themselves, and without proper legal representation, they may even get worse. Our attorneys handle situations like yours on a daily basis and are prepared to help you get the best results possible.

EXPUNGEMENTS
If you have made a mistake earlier in your life and it remains on a police blotter as a permanent record, that can come back to haunt you later, perhaps even ruining a chance at employment. It may be possible for you to expunge your record…to seal it up…legally and discreetly. Call us and let’s talk about it.

DIVORCE
Divorce, custody, visitation rights…words the average person would only read about in newspapers years ago. Today they are woven into the fabric of our society and they impact half of our population. Our office has handled hundreds of cases like these and this experience has made us highly proficient in dealing with them.

DWI AND TRAFFIC
“Guilty as charged”…frightening words if directed at you, and with consequences ranging from fines to loss of license to jail time…even to the breakup of families and loss of hope for the future. We’re in some court on most days dealing with these serious matters. We feel that a good defense might be all a person needs to straighten out a life.

WILL, ESTATES AND TRUSTS
If you can read this message, you really haven’t had a need for a will yet…and if you stop breathing tomorrow, you certainly won’t need one, unless you want to preserve your assets and pass them on to your loved ones…assets you’ve worked hard for…assets that will help your family in the days ahead. Our office will prepare a simple will and/or a living will in just one business day. Our competent staff will provide courteous, professional service and will answer all of the questions you may have pertaining to these important documents and the handling of your estate.

REAL ESTATE
Buying or selling a property is a big deal. That’s why we have a fully staffed real estate department. Our firm is nearing its 2,000th real estate closing and Mr. Berkoben is a regular speaker on this topic and related issues for the National Business Institute and the New Jersey Bar Association.

JUVENILE LAW
When doesn’t experience count? We’re hard pressed to answer that question. We do know it counts very heavily in the field of juvenile law where a young person’s life may be permanently shaped by a court’s decision. With over 20 years experience in this field, we are capable of providing expert help.

ELDER LAW
Elders face many of the problems that we all face, but as the population gets older, on average, additional circumstances arise that need special attention…nursing home issues, Medicare and Medicaid, disability, planning and asset protection, to name a few. We have handled these matters for over 20 years and we can offer professional help when the occasion arises.

PERSONAL INJURY
Injuries affect us all and sometimes the fault lies with the injured individual. Case closed. However, our firm is ready to represent those of you who have injuries legitimately resulting from someone else’s carelessness or intent. There is no legal fee if there is no recovery.

ZONING
Scott Berkoben has served as Westwood’s land use commissioner for seven years and as chair of the Planning Board and as a member of the Zoning Board. In recent years, he has written the Master Plan for the town and has been the attorney for Westwood’s Parking Authority. He regularly lectures on this subject for the New Jersey State Bar Association and for the National Business Institute. He appears before the Planning and Zoning Boards representing clients regularly throughout New Jersey.