NJ Law Blogs

In New Jersey, offenses that are considered a “felony” in other jurisdictions are actually referred to as a crime; and a “misdemeanor” in other states is called a disorderly person's offense. Sometimes there is some confusion because of the different terminology used in New Jersey from that used ...

Last year, heroin-related overdoses caused 225 more deaths in New Jersey than car accidents and it's continuing to get worse according to recent statistics. In fact, heroin deaths have been on the rise for more than four years in New Jersey. Heroin-related Deaths by NJ County According to...

Many divorce and family law attorneys generally offer free consultations. But have you really thought about what that means to you and your situation? Maybe you're wondering: what do you get out of it? Is it advice and direction? Is it an opportunity for the divorce attorney to give you their quo...

Everywhere we go, nearly all of us are connected; just a smartphone away from almost any kind of information in the world. No matter where we are (at home, on our commute, during school) we can browse the internet, check Facebook, take high definition pictures and even slow motion video. But ther...

For some young adults and teenagers in New Jersey, waiting until their twenty-first birthday feels way too long to experience their first drink. Many college students and even high school teens try to use fake ids to get into bars and clubs or to buy alcohol for house parties. Underage drinking i...

Humans naturally don't want to be restrained. Our fight-or-flight survival mechanism (also known as fight, flight, freeze or fawn response) is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack or threat to survival. It can be a response that happens in the pres...

What's All the Commotion About? The days of unrest that hit Baltimore following the controversial arrest and death of Freddie Gray caused Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan to declare a state of emergency and deploy the National Guard to restore order. Almost 500 people were arrested and over 100 officers...

Social Media Takes Down NJ Mayor's Son with an Arrest for Criminal Mischief and Vandalism Criminal mischief generally includes what is commonly known as vandalism, dealing mainly with crimes committed against property such as defacing someone's building with graffiti or breaking the windows of a ...

Many New Jersey seniors are gearing up for graduation season and looking forward to the house parties that often accompany the ceremonious occasion. But, it's important to note, if alcohol becomes a part of those special events, both the parents and the graduating teen stand to get in serio...

When cocaine or heroin users are arrested for possession, prison isn't their only option – there is also something called NJ Drug Court. In order to better get to the true root of drug crimes and better rehabilitate offenders motivated by their addictions, New Jersey has instituted  “drug courts”...

Can You Avoid School Employment Disqualification?  Today's job market is competitive enough, and many employers don't want pot smokers or marijuana users working with their money or supervising their employees, especially if the job involves children. Criminal background checks for teachers are r...

  Being uncooperative during the course of an investigation such as lying, giving a police officer a false name or misleading information, destroying evidence, interfering with an arrest or providing a fake ID can all be considered serious criminal offenses in New Jersey.  Spoliation of Ev...

A real estate license is the lifeblood of every agent. Yet every year, thousands lose their licenses. Some are considered criminals, others may be considered incompetent, yet others may be victims of unfortunate circumstances. At Villani & DeLuca P.C., we understand how painful it can be for real...

During the summer months at the New Jersey Shore, underage drinking is considered one of the top problems among the community. Even with public education campaigns and strict laws in place to fight teen drinking, it's still a number one concern in Monmouth and Ocean Counties. Underage alcohol law...

Very few things have divided our nation quite like the debate over medical marijuana has. Cannabis has a long history of use for medicinal reasons, spanning over hundreds of years. In fact, it was once totally legal in the United States, and was regulated by legislature, including the Pure ...

Anytime alcohol is involved, what starts as a conversations can quickly escalate into a debate, disagreement and result in a bar fight. If someone is injured during a bar fight, you might find yourself slapped with a criminal assault charge. In New Jersey, you can be charged with fighting if...

Zoos are supposed to be an educational place of fun and learning as families observe an array of fascinating creatures…living their lives at a safe distance away…under controlled conditions of course. But, unfortunately, caged wild animals, no matter how luxurious and spacious their living situat...

When Animals Attack! was a popular television series in the 1990s that compiled graphic clips of various animals attacking humans – almost glorifying these terrifying unexpected encounters in a way only Hollywood can. The reality is, every year, thousands of Americans are bitten by animals — most...

Can a piece of paper get you past a New Jersey DUI sobriety checkpoint? The “Fair DUI Flyer” claims you can. In the past few months this flyer has become a viral sensation sweeping across YouTube and the country. It was created by a Florida lawyer, Warren Redlich, which allows drivers pulle...

You hire a sitter, get dressed up and head out to your favorite restaurant expecting good service, delicious food and a relaxing environment. But unfortunately, restaurant experiences in New Jersey are not always pleasurable if the facility is poorly maintained to safely accommodate guests....

In Washington, there has been a change in the conversation about the criminal justice system in the United States. More politicians seem to be pushing for less incarceration for non-violent crimes. Could this be the beginning of a change to the criminal justice system that affects crimina...

The criminal process may seem overwhelming at first, but it is really just a series of steps that are laid out by the state in order to determine whether someone is innocent or guilty. If you were charged with a crime in New Jersey, you should familiarize yourself with the steps of the criminal p...

The ski lift might be somewhat terrifying the first time you take one to the top of the mountain, whether it's in Colorado, upstate New York or New Jersey, but the truth is ski lift deaths and injuries are relatively uncommon. According to theskitrade.com, you are more likely to die in an elevato...

Although joint custody agreements are often detailed, issues can arise following the finalization of a divorce. For instance, choosing a new school or changing the current school of your child is typically a choice that is made by both parents in a joint custody agreement. But, does preschool cou...

Initially, divorce can be devastating to all parties involved. The key is to move on afterward. While moving on is probably easier said than done, do not give up hope. You are capable of more than you may realize. Once the divorce process is finalized and you have said goodbye to your divorce law...