May 8
4 min read
Smedley Law Group, P.C. COVID-19 Readiness Plan
We'd like to remind our clients that we're still open! We're operating as normal from our virtual office.
Update: April 2
On Thursday, April 2, 2020, Chief Justice Rabner of the New Jersey Supreme Court issued an Order pertaining to the administration of Matrimonial Early Settlement Panels (MESPs) in the state. All MESPs scheduled between now and April 26, 2020 have been postponed and will be rescheduled. Beginning the week of April 27, 2020, counties will be prepared to have MESP panels handle dissolution cases remotely.
The court is permitting extensions of deadlines or rescheduling of sessions as needed based on the circumstances of an individual case, including but not limited to barriers to participation by video or phone conferencing.
Rest assured that we’ll continue to keep you apprised of any changes as they’re announced. We’ll individually let each client know how their particular MESP will be handled once it’s scheduled. For more information regarding how the Judiciary is handling matters in light of the COVID-19 crisis visit: www.njcourts.gov.
Update: March 30
On Friday, March 27, 2020, Chief Justice Rabner of the New Jersey Supreme Court issued an Order pertaining to the administration of Matrimonial Early Settlement Panels (MESPs) in the state. All MESPs scheduled between now and April 10, 2020 are hereby postponed and will be rescheduled.
Effective Monday, April 13, 2020, MESPs will resume with participation in those sessions to be via video or phone conference. Any scheduling issues will be resolved by court staff in your county and they’ll provide assistance necessary to facilitate the process. The court is permitting extensions of deadlines or rescheduling of sessions as needed based on the circumstances of an individual case, including but not limited to barriers to participation by video or phone conferencing.
Rest assured that we’ll continue to keep you apprised of any changes as they’re announced. We’ll individually let each client know how their particular MESP will be handled once it’s scheduled. For more information regarding how the Judiciary is handling matters in light of the COVID-19 crisis visit: www.njcourts.gov.
Smedley Law Group, P.C. is committed to providing our clients with up-to-date information regarding the impact COVID-19 has on your matters; please continue to check back often, as we update this page and our social media accounts with information as it becomes available to us.
Update: March 25
We’d like to remind our clients that we’re still open! We’re working from our virtual office, so we’re working on your family law matters (and taking on new clients).
You can reach any of our staffers by calling our main office number: (856) 251-0800.
Feel free to email any member of our team, and we’ll get back to you quickly.
If you mail or drop off documents at our drop box, we’ll be able to retrieve those items in a timely manner.
We’re not skipping a beat during these uncertain times, and we’ll be there for you during your family law matter.
Update: March 17
As you know, things are rapidly changing as we learn more about COVID-19 and our appropriate responses. Our goal is to prioritize employee and client health and safety.
That’s why, effective immediately, we’ve decided to close Smedley Law Group, P.C. physical location in Woodbury, NJ for in-person client meetings.
Our staff will review our calendar and reach out to you soon if you have a meeting scheduled in the next few weeks. We’ll convert your in-person meeting to a phone or Zoom meeting. If you’ll meet with us via Zoom, we’ll provide you with easy-to-follow login information.
If you need to drop off documents or make a payment, you can do so in person by placing these items in the drop box by our front door. You can also make payments online.
Update: March 16
All Municipal Court sessions have been suspended, beginning Monday, March 16, 2020 and continuing through Friday, March 27, 2020. If you are scheduled to appear before the Municipal Court, you should not appear, and instead, await a notice of a new court date.
In-person Superior Court proceedings scheduled for Monday, March 16 and Tuesday, March 17 will be postponed. We’ll review our calendar and reach out to our clients who are impacted by this as soon as possible.
Update: March 15
President Trump has declared a state of national emergency in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus. While this may sound alarming, this has important ramifications for the states, as it eases New Jersey’s access to Federal Aid and helps strengthen preparedness to contain the spread of the virus.
We wanted to let you know how we’re responding to the health crisis.
Smedley Law Group, P.C. Woodbury, NJ office remains open, and we will continue to review national and state guidelines. We’ll notify you about any statewide or individual Superior Court closings, as they occur. We’ll communicate these closings, as well as any office closings, via email and across our social media channels, so be sure to follow us for the most up-to-date information. If we shift to a virtual office, we’ll communicate those details with you immediately.
Our staff is following recommended procedures for ensuring that our office is routinely cleaned and sanitized.
We will be available for phone, video, and in-person meetings, to accommodate the current situation. If you’d feel more comfortable having a phone or virtual meeting in lieu visiting our office, please contact us. We’re more than happy to accommodate you.
Please contact us to schedule a meeting or to ask any questions related to this notice.
As always, our priority is the safety and well-being of our staff, our clients, and the community in which we operate. Our thoughts are with everyone who’s experiencing difficulty as a result of this public health crisis.