The March 31, 2020 Notice to the Bar advised that Matrimonial Early Settlement Panel (MESP) events would resume using video or telephone technology, rather than in-person sessions, beginning the week of April 27, 2020. That notice included a number of steps to be taken to ensure the scheduling and conducting of these remote MESP sessions. Those steps have since been revised. Accordingly, the following steps replace the steps set forth in the March 31 notice: Read More
Please follow the link to learn more about the Executive Order issued by the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump in regards to the further suspension of entry of immigrants into the United States during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Follow the link below and read more about the status for the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) of the The United State Department of Justice during the public health pandemic. This information also include the status of court operation status and alternate filing information for immigrant court across the United States of America.
https://www.justice.gov/eoir/eoir-operational-status-during-coronavirus-pandemic
Please follow the link below and read the attached notice below from the Supreme Court of New Jersey in regards to guidelines on remote proceedings in the Trial Courts, obtaining audio and video records, and the extent of the court’s authority to suspend the commencement of certain custodial terms.
Please see the link below and read the most recent notice from Bergen County Assignment Judge Bonnie J. Mizdol in regards to Allowing Remote Video Subscription of Probate Documents in the Surrogate’s Court.
Order_Allowing_Remote_Video_Subscription_of_Probate_Documents_In_The_Surrogates_Court.pdf
Please follow the link below and read the most recent Notice to the Bar from the Bergen County Surrogate’s Court and their status of operations in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.
NOTICE TO THE BAR
In its March 27, 2020 Omnibus Order, the Supreme Court continued the postponement of all Civil Arbitration sessions through April 26, 2020. Beginning April 27, 2020, all counties will begin scheduling arbitrations, which will be conducted remotely. This notices provides guidance on how to conduct remote arbitration events either by video or by telephone.
The following steps should be taken to ensure that arbitration sessions are scheduled and conducted remotely, using technology as agreed upon by the participants and the arbitrator(s). Vicinages are encouraged to follow these procedures, but may deviate with the approval of the Assignment Judge or designee. Read More
NOTICE TO THE BAR
The Supreme Court Omnibus Order on COVID-19 issues, entered March 27, 2020, in response to the growing health crisis worldwide involving the COVID-19 coronavirus, affirmed, continued, or supplemented provisions established in a series of prior orders, including the Court’s prior March 17, 2020 Order, which were necessitated as part of the Judiciary’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Omnibus Order extended a number of deadlines and tolled time periods. This notice provides guidance as to the effect of the Omnibus Order on specific Appellate Division practices and procedures. Read More
MESSAGE FROM THE BCBA PRESIDENT
I am happy to report that Governor Murphy has recently signed into law A.3903 as amended, which allows notaries, attorneys, and other officials in New Jersey to perform notarial acts remotely using technology. The legislation is now in effect and will remain in effect throughout the duration of the COVID-19 health emergency.
The Association recognized the importance of this legislation many weeks ago and has been working with Bergen County’s Senate Delegation and the State’s Division of Revenue to encourage it’s adoption. Our Officers and Board of Trustees held its first video conference meeting last week to approve my letter urging our legislative representatives to approve the bill.
This law will now enable many of our members to effectively represent the vital interests of their clients in a variety of practice areas. Though we had urged a sunset period to coincide with the COVID-19 public health emergency, the revised legislation still requires recordings of notarial acts to be retained for ten years. I urge BCBA members to review the legislation and let us know if further refinement is necessary to otherwise effectuate its intent during the COVID-19 public health emergency. A copy of the approved legislation is attached for your information.
Please stay safe and healthy.
Warmest personal regards,
Joe”
Tax Deadlines and the Pandemic
Strange world we’re living in at the moment. As a public service, the Tax Law Committee would like to set forth what the IRS has done recently with regard to tax deadlines in the face of the pandemic. Here they are:
Filing and paying deadline: For all taxpayers who file and pay their income taxes by April 15, the new deadline is July 15. This applies to all individual returns, trusts and corporations. No extension request is necessary. If you cannot file by July 15, file a Form 4868 to get an
extension to October 15. Remember – getting an extension to file does not extend the time to pay, which will remain at July 15. There is a limit on how much can be deferred: up to $1 million for individuals and $10 million for corporations.
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
In response to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic and the need to adhere to crucial social distancing measures recommended by the New Jersey Department of Health (“NJ DOH”) and the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”), the Court has entered orders, including Orders dated March 17, 2020 and March 27, 2020 (“Omnibus Order”), that inter alia extended deadlines and tolled time periods.
This Order is to clarify that the Court’s extension of deadlines and tolling of time periods as set forth in those earlier orders did not apply to pretrial detention filings, including appeals filed pursuant to Rule 2:9-13 (“Appeals from Orders Granting Pretrial Detention”), responses to those appeals, and motions for leave to appeal pursuant to Rule 2:5-6 (“Appeals from Interlocutory Orders, Decisions and Actions”).
To the extent that a party may have interpreted the tolling provisions of prior orders otherwise, that party may pursue an appeal and submit an accompanying motion to file as within time.
For the Court,
/s/ Stuart Rabner
Chief Justice
Dated: April 9, 2020