About Dennis J. Cummins Jr.
Dennis J. Cummins Jr. provides general practice Fair Lawn legal services to residents and businesses in Bergen County, New Jersey — one of the state’s most populous and economically active counties, where a local general practice attorney offers immediate, accessible counsel for the range of legal matters that arise in a densely populated suburban community. Fair Lawn sits in the eastern section of Bergen County near the Passaic River, offering its approximately 34,000 residents easy access to a Bergen County legal marketplace that is active across real estate, family law, estate planning, and small business matters.
Bergen County’s legal environment reflects its affluence and density — real estate transactions at above-average price points, estate planning needs for a population with meaningful accumulated assets, and small business legal matters spanning retail, healthcare, professional services, and construction. A Fair Lawn general practice attorney is well-positioned to provide accessible Bergen County legal services across these everyday needs.
General Practice Fair Lawn — Practice Areas & Services
Bergen County legal matters are handled at the Bergen County Justice Center in Hackensack — which houses the Superior Court Law Division, Chancery Division (Family Part and General Equity), and the Bergen County Surrogate’s Court. New Jersey’s attorney-required real estate closing practice means local Bergen County attorneys participate directly in every real estate transaction in Fair Lawn. The county’s proximity to New York City adds complexity to some matters, particularly for residents who work in Manhattan or own property in multiple states.
- Real estate closings, contract review, and landlord-tenant matters in Bergen County
- Family law proceedings in Bergen County Superior Court, Family Part
- Estate planning, wills, and probate in Bergen County Surrogate’s Court
- Small business formation and commercial contract matters
What Fair Lawn Clients Say
General practice clients in Fair Lawn and Bergen County consistently value attorneys who are able to handle multiple interconnected legal matters — a real estate closing that also involves trust titling questions, or a business formation matter that also requires employment agreement drafting — without requiring the client to assemble a team of separate specialists for each component.
Serving: Fair Lawn and Bergen County
Practice Focus: General practice, real estate, family law, estate planning, small business
Local Courts: Bergen County Superior Court, Bergen County Surrogate’s Court, NJ Appellate Division
Key Resource: Bergen County Superior Court — New Jersey Courts
Related Guide: General Practice Attorneys in New Jersey
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the attorney review period in a New Jersey real estate contract, and how does it work in Bergen County?
In New Jersey, after a real estate contract is signed by both parties, there is a 3-business-day attorney review period during which either party’s attorney may disapprove the contract and send a letter requesting modifications or withdrawing the client from the transaction. If no attorney review letter is sent within 3 business days, the contract becomes binding. Fair Lawn and Bergen County real estate contracts typically use standard New Jersey Association of Realtors forms, which can be modified during attorney review to add protective clauses — such as attorney fee shifting, specific closing conditions, or corrections to repair obligations. The 3-day period begins the day after all parties have signed the contract and received fully executed copies.
How does New Jersey’s inheritance tax apply to Bergen County estates?
New Jersey abolished its estate tax in 2018 but retained the inheritance tax, which applies to assets passing to certain beneficiaries. In Bergen County estates: transfers to Class A beneficiaries (spouse, civil union partner, domestic partner, parents, grandparents, and descendants) are fully exempt. Class C beneficiaries (siblings and certain others) pay 11% on amounts over $25,000, stepping up to 16% on larger amounts. Class D beneficiaries (all others, including unmarried partners) pay 15% on amounts up to $700,000 and 16% above that. Since New Jersey’s exemptions for Class C and D beneficiaries are limited, Bergen County estate planning attorneys frequently use trust structures and beneficiary designation reviews to minimize inheritance tax exposure for assets passing to siblings, nieces, nephews, and close friends.
What Bergen County courts handle divorce and child custody matters for Fair Lawn residents?
Divorce and child custody proceedings for Fair Lawn residents are filed in the Bergen County Superior Court, Family Part, located at the Bergen County Justice Center, 10 Main Street, Hackensack. New Jersey requires both parties in a contested divorce to participate in economic mediation before trial for property division issues. Custody disputes are subject to mandatory mediation as well, unless domestic violence is alleged. Bergen County’s Family Part has an established Early Settlement Program (ESP) for divorce, which brings experienced family law attorneys before the parties as panelists to provide early neutral evaluations and help settle property and support issues before trial. Most Bergen County divorces resolve through mediation or ESP rather than trial.
