Jim Schroeder, an attorney with our firm and licensed New Jersey realtor has created a website to educate those facing foreclosure and or the potential of a short sale situation. The site is southjerseyshortsaleattorney.com.

Long, Marmero & Associates is generally recognized as a leader in municipal law in southern New Jersey. We believe this site will be a resource for elected officials in the municipalities we serve and those we would like to serve as they work to improve their communities by assisting their constituents. If you have a constituent who is facing foreclosure or a potential short sale please refer them to this resource and to Mr. Schroeder for a free consultation.

One of the best ways we can rebuild our communities and their financial base is to help people who are underwater financially to find housing they can comfortably afford. Clearing the current backlog in our communities of lis pendens, short sale and bank owned homes is the single largest thing that can be accomplished to encourage higher property values and improve the financial strength of our municipal budgets.

To learn more about how the short sale issue is affecting your community and what can be done to improve the situation read Mr. Schroeder’s posting about Lenders and the Short Sale process.

On the dais, in the conference room or simply out in the community, Long Marmero is committed to finding new ways to improve the lives of our neighbors in the communities we serve.

You may want to change the name of an executor, you may want to leave somebody out that you had already previously given something to.

A Codicil looks the same as a will but it is much shorter. It simply refers to the paragraph you want to change, makes the change and then you sign it in front of two witnesses and a notary in the same way that you executed your original Will.

Some issues should not be addressed in a Codicil and may require the execution of an entirely new document. Consult an attorney about when the use of a codicil is appropriate for your needs.

If you have a question about your estate plan invest in the peace of mind of speaking with a Long, Marmero attorney.

The firm of Long Marmero & Associates has been appointed as counsel to the Bridgeton Zoning Board.

Bridgeton is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, on the Cohansey River, near Delaware Bay. As of the United States 2000 Census, the city population was 22,771. Bridgeton has a rich history and is a hub for agricultural production in the Garden State. The city has the largest historic district of any incorporated town in New Jersey; it is dominated by large Victorian houses and a downtown area constructed in the 1920s.

Long Marmero is one of the most recognized names in municipal government and land use law in southern New Jersey with experience assisting a diverse group of municipalities and entities throughout the region.

In New Jersey the Surrogate’s office in each county handles probate issues. When a person dies a representative known as the executor (male) or executrix (female) brings the death certificate and the will to the Surrogate’s office.

If the will complies with the requirements set forth by the courts it is admitted to probate. The will and other important documents are kept by the Surrogate in their files.

To get a copy of a will that has been probated you can go to the county surrogate’s office and request a copy. Usually the fee is between $10-$30 based on the fee structure set by the county and the number of pages of the will.

Note that if there were no assets in the estate there may be no will probated. A will where there are no assets may be filed with the surrogate’s office but will not get a docket number and will not be public record.

Some counties make their surrogate’s records available online. My favorite county surrogate’s website is Camden – you can search for the availability of documents online. See the site HERE

Generally a beneficiary of an estate will have been notified at the time of probate but sometimes this step is missed or neglected. If you have any questions about what the Will of a loved one it may be worth the effort and expense to have peace of mind.

For a link to the contact information of each of the 21 county surrogate’s offices – CLICK HERE

Here are some articles of interest related to the Tent City Rescue Project:
Philadelphia Inquirer Article
Philly.com Article
Philly.com Article 2
Courier Post Article
Courier Post Article 2
 
Here are some Videos related to the Tent City Rescue Project:
ABC 6 News—New Beginning for Tent City Residents
Tent City Gets a Reprieve
FOX 29 Report on Moving Day
From Pageant Dreams to “Miss Tent City”
How do people end up in tent city?
WHYY Radio Interview
 

Many people bought homes in 2010 before the April 30, 2010 deadline. Those buyers can certainly use the tax credit for fix up projects and other expenses.

Do you have to wait until you file your 2010 taxes to get your credit?

Good news! No you do not. Qualifying purchasers may apply for the credit in 2009 or 2010. See the IRS article here.

How do I claim the credit immediately?

If you have already filed your 2009 income taxes you may file form 1040X along with Form 5405. You will need the following documents:

* Purchasers of conventional homes should include a copy of Form HUD-1, Settlement Statement, or other settlement statement, showing all parties’ names, property address, sales price and date of purchase.
* Purchasers of mobile homes who are unable to get a settlement statement should include a copy of the executed retail sales contract showing all parties’ names, property address, purchase price and date of purchase.
* Purchasers of newly constructed homes where a settlement statement is not available should include a copy of the certificate of occupancy showing the owner’s name, property address and date of the certificate.

If you were able to make a qualifying purchase before the April deadline, congratulations. With a little more work you can collect your credit now rather than wait.

First-party insurance professionals should brace themselves for a possible influx of fresh claims related to Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, among other wind events from the unprecedented 2004-2005 storm seasons. The reason—an alleged mysterious, shadowy danger lurking in the walls of newly constructed or repaired homes–“Chinese Drywall.”
Chinese Drywall is the term commonly used for gypsum drywall which was manufactured in China for use in American homes. Large amounts of Chinese Drywall were imported into this country due to a shortage stemming from the housing boom and demand for construction materials used for hurricane-related repairs from the 2004 and 2005 storm seasons.
The federal government is conducting an investigation to quantify the amount of Chinese Drywall that came into this country. However, according to Associated Press writer Cain Burdeau, some 500 million pounds of Chinese Drywall entered the U.S. marketplace around the time Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana. It purportedly contained sulfur and a coal byproduct called fly ash.
It is estimated that Chinese Drywall may have been used in more than 100,000 homes, including those that were rebuilt as a result of Hurricane Katrina. In certain instances, structures were built with Chinese Drywall alone. In others, Chinese Drywall was mixed with domestic drywall, which may drive the number of impacted homes higher.
Recently, allegations of product defects in Chinese Drywall have wreaked mayhem in those areas which were directly impacted by the aforementioned hurricanes, and this may lead to a resurgence of new insurance claims.
Exactly what is the scope of the problem? A Florida Department of Health study found that Chinese Drywall emits “volatile sulfur compounds” and contains traces of strontium sulfide. It has been alleged that Chinese Drywall causes a chemical reaction that releases a stench, similar to rotten eggs, and corrodes metal. Ultimately, it could cause damage to the structure itself, appliances, attachments, and personal property. In certain situations, the entire property may be condemned, requiring it to be torn down. Perhaps most significantly are the potential health-related effects to the individuals who have been living in homes containing Chinese Drywall.
Indeed, the issue of Chinese Drywall and its possible implications on public health has caused a number of states to investigate the problem.
The Louisiana state health department has received complaints from at least 350 people regarding the Chinese Drywall issue. In April 2009, Governor Charlie Crist of Florida wrote to the heads of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seeking assistance from these agencies to assess human health exposures. In this letter, the Governor also advised that reports from other states such as Louisiana, Virginia, and North Carolina have shown that this issue constitutes a multi-state concern.
So what does this all mean for the claims professional who thought the 2004-2005 storm season was a thing of the past? The proverbial bottom-line is this: A boomerang of claims related to the storms of 2004 and 2005 should be anticipated if the property in question was rebuilt or repaired with Chinese Drywall.

Lawsuits Involving Alleged Defective Drywall.
Professionals in the first-party property insurance business should take note of the litigation involving Chinese Drywall that have hit the courts thus far.
The case of Vickers et al. v. Knauf Gips KG, et al., one of two class action lawsuits involving Chinese Drywall filed in March 2009 in Florida district court, was brought by a group of plaintiffs/homeowners against parties involved in the manufacture, distribution, and sale of this product, as well as homebuilders.
The Vickers lawsuit did not name a first-party property insurer as one of the defendants. Still, an analysis of the allegations made by the Vickers plaintiffs is informative and enlightening for purposes of evaluating whether or not these claims might be covered under a homeowners policy as well as contemplating what the anticipated scope of losses an insured might seek if and when filing a claim against the carrier.
The Vickers plaintiffs assert that the drywall in question contains latent defects and “is inherently defective because it emits various sulfide gases and/or other chemicals through ‘off-gassing’ that causes property damage and potential health hazards.” This, in turn, “causes corrosion…of air-conditioner and refrigerator coils, microwaves, faucets, utensils, copper tubing, electrical wiring, computer wiring, personal property, electronic appliances, and other metal surfaces and household items.” According to the Vickers plaintiffs, repairs are not an option, as they allege that “there is no repair that will correct the defect.”
The other class-action lawsuit, Riesz, et al. v. Knauf Plasterboard, et al., further describes the cause and effect of the damages. According to that Class-Action Complaint, Chinese Drywall “…is defective in that it emits levels of sulfur, methane, and/or other compounds that causes corrosion of air-conditioner and refrigerator coils, copper tubing, electrical wiring, and other materials, as well as creating noxious, foul-smelling odors that can be harmful to humans and pets.”

Published by Kathleen M. Bonczyk, Esq. – Long, Marmero & Associates.