We’re virtually open… providing legal services today!
Our thoughts and prayers are with our client family, front-line workers, and our entire WNY community during this challenging time. Although many legal matters may seem less urgent at this moment, we understand that legal concerns remain even when other problems seem more pressing.
We will use this page to keep our clients, friends and many others advised of legal developments relating to the crisis created by the Coronavirus. Most importantly, we want you to know that we are open, and able to help you now.
Legal Services
Our Office is not yet open for walk-in traffic but our attorneys and staff continue to work on all legal matters, and are available by telephone, email, video conference and in-person meetings when necessary.
We can provide many legal services with little or no actual in-person contact until we all feel comfortable meeting together. We can arrange video conferences over Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams or almost any other video conference platform. We can provide you with secure, confidential email connections, and links to upload electronic documents as needed. We can even arrange to notarize signatures through video conferences as necessary.
The best way to contact us immediately and to arrange for other additional types of communication, is to contact us at our main office number 716-681-3355. You may also feel free to send email requesting an expedited response to OfficeManager2956@gmail.com
Courts
All courts are technically open, but most have greatly reduced or eliminated in – person appearances on virtually all matters until further notice. Our clients with pending matters should assume they are postponed indefinitely; please keep in close contact with our office or with your individual attorney for updates on rescheduling.
NYS Supreme Court
New York State Supreme Court is not a high level appeals court such as the U.S. Supreme Court, but rather the basic court of general jurisdiction where most matters are heard in New York State. At the moment, very few cases are being scheduled for personal appearances, but beginning April 13th 2020 the courts expanded the use of telephone conferences to monitor progress on many cases. Generally, only emergency and essential new matters can be filed. If you are contemplating filing a Court action or legal proceeding, please call us to discuss your case. The situation remains very fluid and we expect near-term changes in court rules regarding the filing of new cases.
Bankruptcy Court
The Bankruptcy Court In Western New York is actually considered a division of the United States District Court for the Western District of New York. As a practical matter, the court operates independently and under many of its own rules. We are actively preparing and filing bankruptcy cases when needed. Many times there are practical advantages to waiting before filing a bankruptcy, particularly at the present time. We would be happy to provide you with a free telephone consultation or video conference call to discuss your individual case. Please contact our main number, 716-681-3355 or send us a confidential Email with your questions or to request an appointment. You can reach us quickly at BankruptcyWorkshop@gmail.com