Mr. Ward earned his undergraduate degree from LaSalle University and earned a degree of Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School. He is a member of the Gloucester County Bar Association and the New Jersey State Bar Association. He has served in a variety of governmental positions including City Solicitor and Planning Board Solicitor for the City of Woodbury and Township of Greenwich, Solicitor to the New Jersey Firemen’s Home and local fire districts, and special counsel to governmental entities for environmental and civil rights matters. He has served as corporate counsel and special counsel to newspaper publishing companies in Camden, Gloucester and Salem Counties. Mr. Ward has served in civic and professional organizations including Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Community Mental Health Center for Gloucester County, Chairman of the Professionalism in the Law Committee for the Gloucester County Bar Association, Chairman to the Supreme Court District IV Fee Arbitration Committee, and member of the Media Law Committee of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He also serves as corporate counsel to national nursing associations.
John focuses his practice on commercial litigation, residential and commercial real estate, business law and consulting, trust and estates, and contracts. John is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association, a Trustee for the Gloucester County Bar Association, a member of the St. Joseph’s Preparatory School Board of Governors and Young Alumni Leadership Council.
While in law school, John was the President of the Rutgers Business Law Association, Student Director of the Rutgers Domestic Violence Project, and was a 2013 recipient of the Rutgers Domestic Violence Project Award. John was also the inaugural recipient of the New Jersey State Bar Association, Business Law Section, Writing Contest.
Brian focuses his practice on real estate, wills and estates, land use and planning, business law, civil litigation, and workers’ compensation. He is a past President of the Gloucester County Bar Association and a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He is admitted practice law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In addition to a law degree, Brian also holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Rutgers University.
Prior to law school, Brian served as a Cryptologic Linguist in the United States Army from 2003-2008 having learned Korean at the Defense Foreign Language Institute in Monterey, California. Following law school and business school, Brian served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Anne McDonnell, J.S.C. in the Chancery Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Woodbury.
Peter focuses on real estate, estate planning and administration, civil litigation, & business and corporate law. Prior to joining the firm, Peter worked as in-house litigation counsel for a large insurance carrier, handling motor vehicle accident cases.
A life-long resident of South Jersey, Peter attended Paul VI High School in Haddon Township and completed his undergraduate study at Rowan University. Peter attended law school at the University of Dayton. During his law school career, he took part in the school’s accelerated 2-year law program and was elected to serve as an officer of the Student Bar Association, as treasurer. After law school, Peter served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Jean S. Chetney, J.S.C., in the Law Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey in Bridgeton and Salem, New Jersey.
Donna focuses her practice on estate administration, estate planning, and real estate. Before joining the firm, Donna worked as an associate attorney handling estate administration, estate planning, and elder care. She also has many years of experience providing both lender and creditor support in all aspects of foreclosure in residential mortgage lawsuits.
As a resident of Gloucester County, she is delighted to practice in her home area. Donna completed her undergraduate degree in Marketing and Operations Management at Drexel University. She attended Widener University Delaware School of Law as an evening student, participated in their Intensive Trial Advocacy Program, and was a member of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Tom is a former municipal court Judge, and has practiced law in Gloucester County for many years concentrating on estate planning, estate administration and real estate in the recent past. Tom began his legal career in the US Army as a JAG Officer and went on to receive several accolades during his distinguished career such as the Professional Lawyer of the Year Award from the Gloucester County Bar Association and the Martin F. Caulfield Distinguished Service Award. He is a graduate of Seton Hall Law School.
A caution on what could happen when a New Jersey resident’s Will is lost at the time of their death. When a loved one passes with a valid Will, their intentions for the disposition of their assets passing through their estate are usually clear. Issues arise with many Wills when the intentions are not clear or the original New Jersey Resident’s Will is lost at the time of their death. This article discusses a recent New Jersey Appellage Division case and what may happen if a Will cannot be found.
Example of When A New Jersey Resident’s...
How does NJ settle burial disputes between parents when a child passes away? Every parent’s worst nightmare is to have to bury their child. And a process like that, which seems like it could get no worse, actually can. In cases where parents dispute how to honor their deceased child, the endeavor becomes not only sad, but contentious. As the parents of the child, each should play a role and have a say, but sometimes an agreement cannot be reached. This is where the court system will be forced to make a decision. Read on to understand more about...
The doctrine of probable intent guides courts in construction of a will or trust. It is crucial to use clear, unambiguous language when creating your estate plan. The terms of your will or trust should provide specific instructions on how your estate will be administered. Without precise directions, the possibility of a contest or dispute over the document remains open. So, what happens in the case of ambiguous estate planning documents? How does the court decide how to interpret vague direction in a will or trust?
The Doctrine of Probable...
