LAW FIRMS PARTIALLY AFFECTED BY NJ GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER TO SHUT DOWN "NONESSENTIAL&qu
As most of you are aware, over the weekend New Jersey Gov. Murphy announced an Executive Order requiring all "Non-Essential" businesses to close their "brick and mortar" offices. The question has come up whether or not this order applies to law firms like mine. Members of the New Jersey State Bar Association contacted the Governor's office and lobbied to allow law firms to remain open for business. Feedback is that law firms will not be closed, but that firm attorneys and staff should work from home if they are able to do so.
Consistent with these instructions I am "closing" my location at 55 Madison Ave., Suite 400, Morristown, New Jersey until further notice and working from my residence, which is also in Morristown. I will be setting up teleconferencing capabilities and working by phone, fax, and email as much as possible.
It is helpful that USCIS, the Benefits Bureau of the Department of Homeland Security, has relaxed the requirement that all immigration form applications bear original signatures. Scanned and faxed "original signatures" on forms are acceptable while the pandemic emergency continues.
I look forward to continuing to service clients despite these extraordinary circumstances and as always will do my best to secure the maximum benefits available to my immigration clientele.
I will shortly be posting additional notices about the curtailment of DHS in-person services and some serious problems in the immigration court system. Please check back on my site for updates.
