Woodland Park (West Paterson), New Jersey

McLaughlin & Nardi’s New Jersey attorneys provide legal services in Woodland Park, New Jersey, which until recently was named West Paterson.  We represent and advocate for the residents and businesses of Woodland Park, and people and firms doing business in Woodland Park in variety of legal matters.

Our attorneys handle many diverse legal issues. We represent the people on many issues.  For instance, we defend people in Woodland Park’s Municipal Court for traffic offenses, criminal charges, driving under the influence, and violations of local ordinances.  We help them develop effective estate plans.  Since in many instances property values and property tax assessments have become out of balance, we help homeowners lower their property taxes through property tax appeals (due no later than April 1st each year).  We help residents negotiate with creditors and seek protection through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.  We represent employees who have been harassed or wrongfully fired.  We represent drivers and motorists who have been injured, and seek compensation for pain and suffering.  We help people clear their records by having prior arrests and convictions expunged.  We represent buyers and sellers in real estate closings. 

Our attorneys also help businesses in their varied needs.  We represent owners in the various complexities of choosing the right form of business entity, such as which type of corporation, or a limited liability company (LLC) or partnership.  We negotiate and draft partnership agreements, and help to resolve disputes among owners; we also litigate these disputes when they cannot be resolved.  Our business lawyers negotiate and draft contracts with suppliers, customers, contractors and key employees.  We handle many types of business litigation, from disputes over insurance coverage, to litigation with employees, to partnership disputes and breaches of contract.  Our attorneys help businesses in their relations with government and regulatory authorities.  We represent businesses in a variety of tax matters, from suits over owners’ liability for unpaid sales and payroll taxes, to Department of Labor audits over the alleged misclassification of employees as contractors.  We also counsel and represent businesses on their cessation of operations, including dissolution and Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcies.

The Municipal Court of Woodland Park handles traffic offenses, minor criminal matters, and local ordinance violations.  Civil cases, expungements, and landlord/tenant disputes are heard by the Superior Court of New Jersey in Paterson, New Jersey.   Appeals from the Superior Court are heard by the New Jersey’s Appellate Division.  Final state appeals are heard the New Jersey Supreme Court in Trenton.  The United States District Court in Newark hears Woodland Park federal legal cases.  The United States Bankruptcy Court hears Woodland Park/West Paterson bankruptcies.

Woodland Park is a borough of more than 11,000 people in southern Passaic County, New Jersey.  Until a referendum in 2009, it was named West Paterson.  Woodland Park was founded as West Paterson in 1914 from parts of Little Falls.  Woodland Park is bounded by Interstate 80 to the north, Route 46 to the south, Garret Mountain to the east, and the Passaic River to the west. 

Woodland Park’s Board of Education runs public schools for students from kindergarten through eighth grade.  High school students attend Passaic Valley Regional High School in Little Falls, which is also attended by students from Totowa and Little Falls. Berkeley College has a campus in Woodland Park. 

Woodland Park has a mix of residential and commercial property, with retail, office, and industrial businesses also located in the borough.  A significant portion of Woodland Park remains open space, with town parks, two excellent Passaic County parks in Garrett Mountain Reservation and Rifle Camp Park, and two reservoirs.  Garrett Mountain Reservation hosts many high school and college cross-country meets, including the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) High School State Sectional Championships.  Rifle Camp Park has an observatory open to the public.

To learn more about what we can do to help, please e-mail us or contact one of our Woodland Park/West Paterson lawyers at (973) 890-0004.