Recent Blog Posts

Demolition, Excavation, and Landscaping under the Pennsylvania Mechanics’ Lien Law

By Stark & Stark on August 10th, 2009

Posted in Pennsylvania Law Monitor

Often times, Demolition contractors and Landscaping contractors will ask whether their services and the materials used in their trades constitute a proper basis for a Mechanics’ Lien Claim in order to preserve a likelihood of payment. Knowing what is, and what is not properly lienable work and materials is something that every contractor should be mindful of when assessing different jobs. Continue reading →

New Home Warranty Program Fails to Deliver Results for Construction Defects… Again

By Stark & Stark on August 5th, 2009

Posted in Business & Commercial Law

A common interest community association in Wildwood, NJ has had a crash course in the failure of the New Jersey New Home Warranty Act to protect the rights of New Jersey residents. The condominium is being forced to watch their decks decay and collapse before their eyes, while bureaucratic red tape and government inefficiency combine to create a disastrous situation for the unit owners. Continue reading →

Squeeze-Out Technique: Withholding Information

By Stark & Stark on July 21st, 2009

Posted in Business & Commercial Law

Many times a majority shareholder seeking to squeeze-out a minority shareholder will deliberately withhold information relating to the closely held corporation. Withholding information is usually coupled with another form of oppression. The reason for the same is by leaving the minority shareholder in the dark about the status of the corporations and the actions of its officers and directors the minority shareholder will be unaware of the other forms of oppression Continue reading →

Sheriff’s Sale of Property Following Foreclosure Can Extinguish Mechanics’ Liens

By Stark & Stark on July 17th, 2009

Posted in Pennsylvania Law Monitor

Prior to the Amendments to the Pennsylvania Mechanics’ Lien Law of 1963 which became effective January 1, 2007, Mechanics’ Lien Claims were granted priority over Mortgages against the liened property that were recorded after the effective date of the Lien. Under the old law, a Mechanics’ Lien Claim representing amounts due to the Contractor for erection or construction “related back” to the start of work on the property, and Liens representing amounts due for alteration and repair dated from the filing of the Lien Claim. Continue reading →

Death During Divorce Proceedings

By Stark & Stark on July 10th, 2009

Posted in Divorce & Family Law

Usually, when a spouse dies in the midst of divorce litigation, significant problems arise. The first is that upon the death of a spouse prior to entry of Final Judgment effectively terminates the divorce proceedings. See Carr v. Carr, 120 N.J. 336, 339 – 340 (1990). Thus, any right of the surviving spouse to equitable distribution under the divorce statute is extinguished. The result is that the surviving spouse is left to pursue his or her share of the marital assets through the probate code by way of exercise of elective share if he or she has been disinherited or the decedent was intestate. Continue reading →

What Happens if you Die Without a Will in Pennsylvania?

By Stark & Stark on May 26th, 2009

Posted in Trusts & Estates

Clients often ask what happens in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania if they die without a will. It is a common misconception that if you die in Pennsylvania without a will that everything will be left to the Commonwealth. Because of the statutory scheme that Pennsylvania currently has in place, it is a rare occurrence that anything will be left to the Commonwealth. Continue reading →

A Brief History of Land Title in New Jersey

By Stark & Stark on May 19th, 2009

Posted in Business & Commercial Law

Ever wonder who first held official title to what is now known as New Jersey? Although Native Americans were living here at the time, the British Crown originally laid claim to the lands in this state in 1663. In June 1664, King Charles II made a land grant to his brother, James, Duke of York, which included the lands in New Jersey. Three months later, the Duke of York conveyed his interest in these lands to his two friends and supporters, John, Lord Berkeley and Sir George Carteret. These gentlemen became the original proprietors of New Jersey Continue reading →

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Hamilton, NJ

100 American Metro Boulevard
Hamilton, NJ 08619
Phone: 609.896.9060
Secondary phone: 800.535.3425
Fax: 609.896.0629
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Philadelphia, PA

One Liberty Place, 1650 Market St., Suite 3600
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: 267.907.9600
Secondary phone: 800.535.3425
Fax: 215.564.6245
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Marlton, NJ

40 Lake Center, 401 NJ-73, Suite 130
Marlton, NJ 08053
Phone: 856.874.4443
Secondary phone: 888.241.7424
Fax: 856.874.0133
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Yardley, PA

777 Township Line Road, Suite 120
Yardley, PA 19067
Phone: 267.907.9600
Fax: 267.907.9659
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New York, NY

5 Pennsylvania Plaza 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 800.535.3425
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Bridgeton, NJ

78 W Broad St
Bridgeton, NJ 08302
Phone: 856.874.4443
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