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January - June 2016 Archives

The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Thurs., June 30, 2016 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd., Suite 401 in Flemington.  The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce.  This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others, and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues.  The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC.  Food and beverages will be provided.  Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com.  Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.

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Free Webinar on Divorce:  if you are considering divorce, you are invited to join Diana Fredericks, Esq. for an informative and interactive free webinar about the divorce process in New Jersey.  Learn how the divorce process works and what you should expect as your divorce proceeds through the NJ court system.  The webinar will be offered twice:  once on Thurs., June 23 at 12:30 PM and once on Sat., June 25 at 9:00 AM.  

Attendees can participate from the privacy of home or from any computer with an internet connection.  Registration can be done anonymously using only an email address, if desired. Attendees will have an opportunity to submit typed questions to Ms. Fredericks during the session.

(As of 6/24/16, registration for both sessions is closed, but similar sessions will be scheduled in the future. To be notified of future sessions, email Diana Fredericks.)

Future webinar topics will include custody/parenting time, alimony, child support, equitable distribution, mediation & alternate dispute resolution, domestic violence, appeals, post judgment, completing case information statements & discovery, and choosing an attorney.

(Please note that this webinar is being offered for informational purposes only and is not, or intended to be, legal advice.  Although Ms. Fredericks will entertain questions from participants, the answers are intended to be general in nature and are not to be relied upon as legal advice.  Participation in this webinar does not constitute an attorney-client relationship, and confidential information should not be shared until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.)

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On June 23, Mark Chazin will present a free seminar entitled “Estate Planning: Important Tips for Financial Advisors.”  Financial advisors, CPA’s, financial planners and insurance professionals are encouraged to attend to gain a better understanding of estate planning as it relates to achieving desired tax savings for clients.  The seminar will take place from 8:30 - 9:30 AM at the Somerset County Business Partnership conference room, 390 Grove St., Bridgewater.  

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Diana Fredericks was sworn in for a second term on the Board of Directors of the United Way of Hunterdon County at the organization’s annual meeting on June 20.  Gebhardt & Kiefer was pleased to be a sponsor of the meeting.  Ms. Fredericks will also serve as Chair of the United Way’s Community Research Impact Strategic Planning Committee (CRISP).

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Daniel Makoski has joined the Board of Directors for Contextual Family Services (CFS), a non-profit organization based in Flemington.  CFS is an intensive in-home therapy program designed to preserve the family within the community. CFS provides highly trained clinicians who offer professional family therapy, individual counseling, play therapy and behavioral assistance services to families in Warren, Somerset, and Hunterdon Counties.  

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The Somerset County Bar Foundation will hold its annual 5k fundraiser, “The Legal Runaround,” on May 26.  The event will also include a 3k Poker Walk and kids’ dashes, as well as music, food and giveaways.  Gebhardt & Kiefer attorney Tara St. Angelo, a trustee of the Foundation, is helping to coordinate the event.

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Diana Fredericks will attend the Somerset County Business Partnership’s “Women in Business: 7th Annual Golf & Lunch” event on May 24 at the Basking Ridge Country Club.  Women in Business is an SCBP initiative directed at the specific needs of women and their businesses.  Its purpose is for women to learn more about other businesses and how they might help one another. 

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The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Tues., May 24, 2016 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd., Suite 401 in Flemington.  The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce.  This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others, and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues.  The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC.  Food and beverages will be provided.  Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com.  Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.

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During March, April and May, Deborah Rosenthal presented a series of seminars on recognizing and preventing harassment and discrimination to approximately 60 volunteer firefighters in a southern NJ town.  During these seminars, she provided legal guidance to the volunteers regarding their obligations to comply with state and federal laws, and the ramifications they could face for engaging in wrongful conduct.  Ms. Rosenthal is available to conduct similar seminars for businesses, municipalities and volunteer organizations upon request.

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John Manfreda will present a program entitled “Estate Planning For The Modern Family” at the St. Catherine of Siena Knights of Columbus meeting on May 24 at 7 PM.  Topics will include traditional estate planning concepts such as wills, trusts, and probate actions, as well as estate planning for blended families, Medicaid planning, asset protection planning, various elder law topics, powers of attorney, living wills, gifting, and the NJ CARE Act.  Members of the public who are interested in attending should contact Mr. Manfreda’s office at 908-735-5161 to register their attendance. 

Mr. Manfreda recently conducted a similar seminar for a group of more than 60 people at an event hosted by the Union Township Seniors’ Club.  He is available to present to other groups upon request.  Please call 908-735-5161 for more information.

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On May 17, Diana Fredericks will speak at a seminar entitled “Women, Money and Power:  Take Control of your Financial Future,” sponsored by Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.  Ms. Fredericks and other speakers will address the importance of having a financial strategy, and how to begin developing one.  The seminar will include hors d’oeuvres and wine tasting, and will be held at the Unionville Vineyards Tasting Room, 9 Rocktown Rd. in Ringoes from 6 - 7:30 PM.  To register, contact Alyssa Samilow Fielding at 908-782-6100 or email alyssa.samilow@ml.com.    

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On May 12, John Manfreda will conduct a free seminar on “Estate & Business Planning” at the North County branch of the Hunterdon Public Library, located at 65 Halstead St. in Clinton, from 7-9 pm.   Mr. Manfreda is available to present similar programs for various groups, including businesses, churches and other civic and charitable organizations.

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On April 21, Mark Chazin attended a meeting of the Somerset County Business Partnership (SCBP) Board of Directors.  Among the topics discussed were the new Somerset County Destination Guide, SCPB initiatives to help municipalities reduce regulatory burdens, reuse of critical sites, and sustainability and wellness initiatives.  Mr. Chazin is currently serving a three-year term on the SCBP Board of Directors.  He is a former chairman of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, which is the predecessor organization of the SCBP, and has been a member of the Board for over 25 years.  He is also an active member of the SCPB Finance Committee.

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The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Tues., April 19, 2016 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd., Suite 401 in Flemington.  The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce.  This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others, and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues.  The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC.  The guest speaker will be Dr. Phyllis Marganoff.   Food and beverages will be provided.  Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com.  Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.

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On Mon., April 18 from 4 - 5 PM, William Goodwin will be a guest on the Hunterdon Chamber Radio show “Hot in Hunterdon,” hosted by Georjean Trinkle.  Mr. Goodwin will speak about topics such as selecting the right family lawyer, recent changes in family law, and options for resolving a family law dispute, including mediation and collaborative law.

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Family law attorney Diana Fredericks will be one of fifteen attorneys who will share free legal information and take questions from the public at the Hunterdon County Bar Association’s "Law Day Roundtable" on May 12, 2016. The event will take place at the Polytech Cafeteria Central Campus, 10 Junction Road in Flemington from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Fredericks, who is President-Elect of the Hunterdon County Bar Association (HCBA), will address issues pertaining to various family law topics, including divorce, child support, and domestic violence. In addition to practicing traditional family law, Fredericks is also trained in collaborative divorce and mediation. She was named to the NJ Super Lawyers Rising Stars list in the practice of family law by Thomson Reuters in 2015 and 2016, and to the New Leaders of the Bar list by the New Jersey Law Journal in 2015. She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the United Way of Hunterdon County.

Other attorneys from the HCBA will present legal information pertaining to Immigration, Employee Rights, Worker’s Compensation, Landlord/Tenant Issues, Elder Law/Estate Planning, Bankruptcy, Government Benefits, Education, and Traffic Court. The event is designed to help the public understand and learn more about legal issues affecting them.

Light refreshments will be served, and child care and Spanish translators will be available. In addition, representatives from local community support organizations will be in attendance to provide information.

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Five attorneys from Gebhardt & Kiefer Law Offices have been named to the prestigious 2016 New Jersey Super Lawyers® and Super Lawyers Rising Stars lists.  Senior partners Richard Cushing, William Goodwin, Jr., and John Manfreda are selected to the 2016 NJ Super Lawyers list, and junior partner Diana Fredericks and associate Daniel Makoski are selected to the 2016 NJ Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (which honors top attorneys who are 40 years old or younger and who have been practicing for ten years or less).

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Congratulations to Diana Fredericks, who is now certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney.

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On Mon., April 11, John Manfreda will conduct a free seminar entitled “Estate Planning for the Modern Family.”  Hosted by the Union Township Seniors’ Club, the seminar is open to the public and will be held at 1 PM at the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, 2 Race St. in Pittstown.  

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John Manfreda and Daniel Makoski were featured speakers at the Elder Care Expo hosted by Raritan Valley Community College on Sat., April 2. They presented a program entitled “Estate and Asset Protection Planning” to a large group of attendees. The Expo was geared toward caregivers seeking resources for themselves and the loved ones in their care, as well as seniors dealing with their own aging process.

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Mark Chazin joined Senator Kip Bateman and a group of 14 other NJ legislators, along with Jewish Federation leaders and staff members, on a mission to Israel from February 26 through March 3. Sponsored by the NJ State Association of Jewish Federations, the mission was designed to inform and educate NJ legislators about the state of affairs in Israel. Participants visited historical and religious sites, and attended information sessions with the Speaker of the Knesset (Israel’s parliament), the Foreign Ministry, and the Defense Ministry. They also met with the U.S. Ambassador and with a businessman who is considering establishing a business in New Jersey.

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John Manfreda will be a featured speaker at the Elder Care Expo hosted by Raritan Valley Community College on Sat., April 2. He will discuss Estate Planning with an emphasis on Elder Care Law, Guardianship and Medicaid rules, as well as advice for caregivers and anyone holding a Power of Attorney for an incapacitated person. The Expo is geared toward caregivers who are seeking resources for themselves and the loved ones in their care, as well as seniors dealing with their own aging process. The program is free and open to the public. To register, call 908-526-1200 x8941.

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The next meeting of a men’s discussion group focusing on divorce will be held on Thurs., Feb. 25, 2016 from 6:30 pm until 8 pm at the United Way, located at 4 Walter E. Foran Blvd, Suite 401 in Flemington.  The group is for men who are separated or divorced, or who are going through a divorce.  This is a unique opportunity for men to hear from others, and to provide their own perspectives to other men who are dealing with these issues.  The program will be moderated by family law attorney William Rudnik of Gebhardt & Kiefer, P.C. and certified financial planner Craig Hyldahl of R.I.C.H. Planning Group, LLC.  Future meetings will include other local professional moderators. Food and beverages will be provided.  Any questions should be directed to William Rudnik at 908-735-5161 or brudnik@gklegal.com.  Although not required, please RSVP to Mr. Rudnik so proper arrangements can be made for food and beverages.

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On Feb. 16, William Goodwin, John Manfreda, Deborah Rosenthal, Leslie Parikh, Diana Fredericks, Lori MacWilliam, Tracy Bussel, and Judith Kopen attended the Vicinage XIII Dinner at the Ryland Inn. Hosted this year by the Hunterdon County Bar Association, the annual event brings together attorneys from the Bar Associations in Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties.  The guest speaker was the Honorable Peter Venerio, former Supreme Court Justice, who spoke about the importance of public service. 

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On Jan. 29 and 30, William Goodwin, William Rudnik and Diana Fredericks attended the NJ State Bar Association’s 2016 Family Law Symposium in New Brunswick.

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John Manfreda attended the 50th Annual Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning in Orlando, FL for a full week in January. Heckerling is considered by many to be one of the premier tax and estate planning programs in the country, and is sponsored by the University of Miami School of Law. Topics included the latest developments in estate tax planning, including use of complex trusts and sophisticated estate tax planning techniques.

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On Jan. 21, Mark Chazin attended the January meeting of the Somerset County Business Partnership (SCBP) Board of Directors. The Board discussed the 2016 SCBP priorities, as well as the implementation of its Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy. In December, Mr. Chazin was re-elected to a 3-year term on the SCBP Board of Directors. He is a former chairman of the Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, which is the predecessor organization of the SCBP, and has been a member of the Board for over 25 years. He is also an active member of the SCBP Finance Committee.

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Mark Chazin has been named a 2016 “Five Star Estate Planning Professional.” The designation was awarded by Five Star Professional and published in New Jersey Monthly magazine. The Five Star award is given to individuals who provide exceptional service based on research with peers, firms, consumers, and regulatory agencies.  Mr. Chazin also received this award in 2014 and 2015.

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On Jan. 16, William Rudnik and Diana Fredericks served as volunteers for the Hunterdon County session of the NJ State Bar Foundation’s High School Mock Trial Competition.  Now in its 34th year, the Mock Trial Competition is one of the nation’s foremost contests of its kind for high school students.

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Gebhardt & Kiefer is pleased to be a sponsor of the 8th annual Clinton Yuletide Bonfire, which will take place on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016 at 6 PM at Hunts Mill Park in Clinton. The rain date is Jan. 30.

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