Family Law

• Divorce
  Few areas of the law get more personal than family law and divorce. Emotions run high, and decisions about sensitive issues have the potential to affect family members for the rest of their lives. For that reason, we take a compassionate approach to helping you achieve your desired goals.
• Child Support
  We will help you work out spousal support (alimony) and child support, again guided by state law as it applies to your unique circumstances. Child custody arrangements, parenting time – even grandparenting time – are all sensitive issues that our family law attorneys can help you through to devise an agreeable arrangement that works for your family.
• Child Custody and Visitation
• Guardianship
  Spector Foerst & Associates is counsel to clients who require assistance in obtaining guardianship for an elderly individual, child or individual with disabilities already enrolled with the Department of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). The need for a guardian arises when an individual, regardless of age, is no longer able to care for themselves. This situation arises for many families who are searching for a way to care for and be legally responsible for their loved ones. Our firm can assist you in determining what the appropriate course of action is for you and your family and present your case to a judge.
• Spousal Support

Criminal Law

• Criminal Defense
  Two years later, Michael opened his own law office in Roseland. He litigated personal injury protection (PIP) arbitration and health care matters on behalf of clients against insurance companies, and managed cases involving personal injury, criminal defense, small business collections, commercial insurance, and insurance fraud, settling more than $2 million for his clients. Michael joined Spector Foerst & Associates in 2020. Originally from Essex County, Michael grew up in Roseland and now lives in Boonton Township. He and wife Elissa own and operate two yoga studios in Montville and Wayne and three plant-based cafés in Montville, Wayne and Hackensack. In his free time he enjoys sports, and plays in intramural softball and volleyball leagues..
• DUI/DWI
  If you have received a traffic ticket, been charged with DUI, need municipal court representation or are the subject of an indictment inquiry, we are here for you.
• Wrongful Death
  Over the years, the attorneys at Spector Foerst & Associates have represented thousands of clients injured on the job, in automobile accidents, on public property, and in accidents as a result of slipping and falling, or falling down – and our experience is your advantage. From wrongful death, serious burns and paraplegia to broken bones; neck, back and soft tissue injuries; and post-traumatic concussion syndrome, we understand injuries, pain and the difficult healing process.
• Traffic Violations
• Fraud
  Michael graduated from Seton Hall University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in finance, Magna Cum Laude, and earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Seton Hall School of Law. A skilled litigator and defense attorney who knows his way around a courtroom, he specializes in all aspects of litigation, civil and criminal. With 15 years of legal experience, Michael complements the personal injury and general litigation section of our practice, focusing on automobile accidents, slip and falls, wrongful deaths, workers compensation, insurance fraud, and criminal defense. A fighter for his clients, he likes nothing more than to spar successfully against defense counsel in a personal injury case and help his injured clients go from fear and despair to the sheer relief of receiving just compensation for their losses.
• Theft
• Drug Crimes
  Spector Foerst & Associates’ full-service diversified practice ranges from assisting the average citizen involved in a municipal court matter for something as simple as an expired vehicle registration to representation of criminal defendants charged with drug possession or drunk driving.
• Assault
• Shoplifting

Employment Law

• Workers Compensation
  Natalie Shafer, Esq., joined the firm in 2016. Natalie has 17 years of legal experience with particular emphasis in personal injury and general litigation cases, focusing on automobile accidents, slip and falls, wrongful death cases and workers compensation. A Certified Civil Arbitrator and former municipal public defender, she works hard for clients and views it an honor to defend individuals who have been harmed by others’ negligence.

Property Law

• Real Estate Litigation
  Spector Foerst & Associates family law specialists will guide you through the equitable distribution of marital property (division of assets and debts), helping you to understand applicable state law that governs the process. With our dual specialty in real estate law, Spector Foerst & Associates attorneys can offer expert advice and recommendations about disposition of the marital residence, a summer home, and investment property, including valuations as needed.
• Premises Liability
  Just out of law school in 2005, Michael clerked for Judge Peter F. Bariso, Hudson County Civil Division for a year, and then joined Chasan, Leyner & Lamparello, P.C., in Secaucus. There, he helped represent large insurance carriers as well as managing insurance defense cases involving auto accidents and personal injury, premises liability, and denial of insurance coverage.
• Real Estate Transactions
  For most people, buying a home is the largest investment they will ever make, and choosing the right real estate attorney is one of the most important decisions. While there is no law requiring you to retain an attorney in a real estate transaction, practically speaking, not having a real estate attorney to protect your legal rights could be big mistake. With increasing HUD, FHA and VA lending requirements, the potential for environmental contamination, and the need to preserve your right to full disclosure, you should have a qualified and experienced real estate attorney on your team.
• Land Use and Zoning
  Spector Foerst & Associates works with developers and homeowners on all types of land use issues, representing clients before various governmental bodies from initial appearances through approvals, including appeals and litigation, as needed.
• Property Damage
  In addition, we assist you with obtaining payment of medical bills and property damage claims from the appropriate insurance company. We worry about the paperwork so you can focus on recovering.

Health Law

• Personal Injury
  Jim grew up in the western part of New Jersey, on the outskirts of Belvidere, where his father maintained a law practice until 2011. A 1996 graduate of Seton Hall University, Jim concentrated his undergraduate studies in government and law. He received his law degree with honors from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1999, and joined the Law Offices of David Spector where he initially concentrated in plaintiffs’ personal injury cases.
• Auto Accidents

Trusts and Estates

• Estate Planning
  David Spector began his legal career in the 1960s in Brooklyn, New York, fighting for the rights of immigrants and protecting the injured from overbearing insurance companies. He was joined in 1999 by James M. Foerst, Esq., of Westfield, New Jersey. Jim expanded the practice areas of the law firm, incorporating real estate, estate planning, criminal defense matters and a variety of additional general civil practice niches.
• Wills
  Spector Foerst & Associates is counsel to clients, young and old, on their estate planning needs. This can be as easy as a simple will or as advanced as a complicated familial trust. Whether you need a Last Will & Testament, Power of Attorney, or Advanced Care Directive (Living Will), we are able to fulfill your estate planning needs and preserve the fruits of your labors for your children and grandchildren.
• Power of Attorney
• Probate

Finance Law

• Tax Law
  It’s no secret that New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the country. Spector Foerst & Associates has been assisting families in real estate property tax appeals for more than a decade.