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The Law Offices of Joseph A. Marra, PLLC Divorce, Estate Planning, and Personal Injury Lawyers in Yonkers, New York

Representing Clientsโ€™ Best Interests in Legal Matters

Most people try to avoid the legal system, but there are times when itโ€™s a necessary process. If youโ€™re facing legal challenges, itโ€™s crucial to have an experienced lawyer on your side who understands the processes and laws of the New York state legal system.

An attorney can advocate for your rights and provide counsel to ensure you understand whatโ€™s happening with your case and can be an active participant in your legal strategy.

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HOW MAY WE HELP YOU?
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An Experienced Legal Team Working on Your Behalf

When it comes to legal issues, experience matters, our firm has been in business for more than 35 years, and our attorneys know what it takes to succeed in the Westchester County legal system. Our team includes attorneys who are experienced in estate administration and elder law, have a background in criminal law, and have served as guardian ad litems in the family court system. We know that the outcome of a legal case can change your life, and we use all of our resources to work toward a positive outcome for your situation.

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CLIENT SUCCESS STORIES

Our Legal Services

The Law Offices of Joseph A. Marra, PLLC, is a full-service legal firm in Yonkers, NY. We work with clients on many cases, including:

  • Divorce
  • Estate Planning
  • Elder Law
  • Personal Injury
  • Estate Administration
  • Probate
  • Wills & Trusts
  • Power of Attorney
  • Slip and Falls
  • Car Accidents
  • Complex Property Division
  • Criminal Law
  • Business Law
  • Real Estate Law

Our lead attorney, Joseph A. Marra, is a former Assistant District Attorney and current sitting judge, which gives him unique insight into the Westchester County court system. Whether you want to file a personal injury suit in the civil courts, are facing criminal charges our team has the knowledge and experience to help you pursue a positive outcome.

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MEET OUR TEAM
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Understanding the Legal System

Legal cases are rarely black and white, and your legal strategy needs to include an understanding of the local court system and the other players involved. Our firm has years of experience with local judges, magistrates, and other attorneys, which gives us unique insight into how to handle your case.

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WHY CHOOSE US?
Open and Honest Communication

We know how difficult it can be when it feels like your life is up in the air, waiting for legal matters to be settled. We ensure our clients know what is going on with their cases every step of the way, so you always know whatโ€™s happening and whatโ€™s next.

Experienced Legal Counsel

Legal matters can affect every aspect of your life, from your finances and family dynamics to planning for the future. Our attorneys are able to offer their years of experience to help you make legal decisions that are in your best interests. Mr. Marra also has a tax and litigation background, which allows him to approach cases with a well-rounded perspective.

Respectful Working Relationship

Our clients come to us because of our knowledge and experience. But youโ€™re the expert on your situation, and we value what our clients have to say and their contributions. We strive to create a respectful working partnership with each of our clients so they are able to make decisions about and actively contribute to their cases.

Knowledge of the Local Court System

Knowing what normally happens in the court system for similar cases can make a big difference in developing a strategy for your case. Our team has experience with the local court system, including the judges, magistrates, and other attorneys, which means weโ€™re uniquely positioned to help you decide what options to pursue and how to handle your case.

Client-Centric Approach

At the Law Offices of Joseph A. Marra, PLLC, everything we do is about providing quality legal services to our clients. We strive to ensure that every client feels heard, understood, and like the true partner they are in their case. When you work with us, youโ€™ll get compassionate representation and a legal team that cares.

Lower Fees

We know that legal battles can get expensive and probably werenโ€™t on your budgeting list. We offer lower fees than you would pay at a firm in White Plains or Manhattan without compromising the quality of your legal representation. Our team sets clear expectations around pricing so you know what to expect and are kept updated throughout your case.

WHY CHOOSE US?

Do You Really Need a Lawyer?

Itโ€™s important to have legal representation that can be objective and give you an honest overview of your case and options. Legal issues are complicated and involve intense emotions in many cases. Litigation is also an adversarial process that can be incredibly draining to go through alone.

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Let Our Team Help You

When youโ€™re dealing with legal issues, you need an experienced firm to represent you. We work to create a legal strategy thatโ€™s individual to each client and case and backed by our years of knowledge of and work within the Westchester County court system.

The Law Offices of Joseph A. Marra, PLLC, are conveniently located within the city of Yonkers, New York, just across the street from Scout Field County Park and 3 miles from Tibbetts Brook Park. The LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is a short 25-minute drive away. In addition to serving those in Yonkers, we also help clients in White Plains, Manhattan, and the surrounding areas.

Whether you need help with a divorce, a personal injury claim, or estate planning, the attorneys at the Law Offices of Joseph A. Marra, PLLC, are there to help. Call our Yonkers office at 914-964-6806 to schedule an appointment and see the benefit of working with our firm firsthand.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
โ€ขWhat Is the Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Cases?

The statute of limitations establishes a limit for how long you have to file a personal injury claim in the civil court system. In New York, this limit is 3 years for most types of personal injury cases. The clock generally starts on the date of the accident. However, there is an exception if the victim is a minor. In this case, the 3-year timeframe doesnโ€™t start until the child turns 18. Some types of cases have different statutes of limitations. Medical malpractice cases, for example, have a statute of limitations that is only 2 years and 6 months.

โ€ขDo You Have to Have a Specific Reason to File for Divorce?

When you file for divorce in the state of New York, you have to provide grounds, which is the reason you are ending the marriage. Some of the allowed reasons include adultery, abuse, and spousal abandonment. However, the law also allows you to select the option of the marriage being irretrievably broken as your grounds for divorce. Most people choose this option unless there is a specific reason for the divorce, such as adultery, and they want it to be noted in the legal record.

โ€ขWhat Is Involved in Estate Planning?

Itโ€™s common to believe that estate planning just means making a will or that any other tools, like trusts, are reserved for those who are very wealthy. However, having a comprehensive estate plan in place can ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and that your loved ones donโ€™t have to wonder what you would have wanted. An estate plan should include a last will and testament as a bare minimum, but other tools such as a living will, powers of attorney, life insurance policies, and trusts can provide additional protections.

โ€ขIs It Possible to Bypass Probate?

Probate is the process of inventorying, valuing, and settling your estate after you pass. It can take several months from beginning to end, and your assets are tied up during this time and canโ€™t be distributed to the beneficiaries specified in your will. This lengthy waiting time leads many people to wonder if itโ€™s possible to bypass probate, and the answer is yes for some things. Assets that are in trusts pass directly to the beneficiaries without going through probate, as does anything that has a transfer-on-death designation or is jointly owned. New York also allows estates that are valued at less than $50,000 to go through a simplified probate process that can be much faster.

โ€ขWhat Is Required for a Will to Be Legal?

If you are drawing up a will, itโ€™s important to ensure that it meets the requirements for legal validity. New Yorkโ€™s laws are fairly lenient. You have to be at least 18 years old and be of โ€œsound mind and memory.โ€ This generally means that you need to be aware of what a will is, what it does, and what you are doing by creating and signing the document. A will is generally typed up, but it can be handwritten or even oral in rare situations. These are usually reserved for members of the armed forces or mariners. To be valid, the will must be witnessed by at least two people who are not in the will.

โ€ขHow Do I Establish a Power of Attorney?

To establish a power of attorney, you will first need to choose the type of power of attorney you want to create. The most common are financial powers of attorney, healthcare powers of attorney, and durable powers of attorney. Each type has its own purpose. A financial power of attorney gives someone else the ability to handle your finances, while a healthcare power of attorney allows someone to make medical decisions on your behalf. Once you choose someone to make the decisions, called the โ€œagent,โ€ you will need to fill out and sign the power of attorney form and have it witnessed and notarized, as necessary.

โ€ขWhat Does It Mean for New York to Be a No-Fault State?

New York is a no-fault state for automobile accidents, which has significant implications for personal injury claims. In a no-fault state, it doesnโ€™t matter who was at fault for an accident. Instead of having to prove fault and have one party sue the other, both parties simply file claims with their own insurance companies. However, the limit on these claims is $50,000, which may not be enough if you sustained severe injuries. In these cases, itโ€™s possible to move outside the no-fault system and file a personal injury claim against the other party with the assistance of an attorney.

โ€ขWhat Is Elder Law?

Elder law is a category of legal practice that includes all aspects of the law that relate to seniors. The purpose is to help seniors understand what legal matters appear as we age and to ensure they have a voice in their care, important decisions, and quality of life. A large portion of this is often estate planning and Medicare planning, but elder law attorneys can also help with elder abuse cases and understanding veteransโ€™ benefits. Elder law attorneys have experience with both legal and financial matters, which gives them the knowledge and ability to provide counsel in complex cases, such as long-term healthcare planning or guardianships.

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