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24/7/365 Emergency Hotline: 631-348-1702

If you have been arrested, or in case of an emergency, our attorneys can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at 631-348-1702.

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What is a Plea Bargain?

In a criminal case, you always have the option of proceeding to trial, and it is the prosecutor’s burden to prove you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Notwithstanding this fact, the vast majority of cases are resolved by plea bargain.  A plea bargain is a negotiated resolution of your criminal case.  If you are charged with a crime, in many cases, you will be given an opportunity to plead guilty to a lesser charge.  Many defendants choose to accept a plea deal to avoid the cost and uncertainty of proceeding to trial and to ensure a guaranteed result.

Continue reading “What is a Plea Bargain?”

How Do I Get My Security Deposit Back?

A landlord may deduct from a tenant’s security deposit for wear and tear beyond normal damages for reasonable wear and tear.  Typically a landlord may deduct expenses from your security deposit for excessive wear and tear beyond normal use.  This has been decided by courts to include broken walls or windows, excessive filth, and damage to carpeting as a result of fish tanks.

Continue reading “How Do I Get My Security Deposit Back?”

New Law Would Equip School Bus Stop Arms with Cameras

A new bill recently introduced in Suffolk County would allow school bus stop arms to be equipped with cameras.  Lawmakers hope that the cameras would deter drivers from passing school busses when the stop arms are deployed.  Additionally, the drivers who have been caught on camera passing the school bus when the stop arm sign is up would be subject to high fines.

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Historic ruling allows wife to serve divorce papers through Facebook

Sometimes an individual seeking a divorce has trouble serving their spouse with divorce papers.  A Manhattan Supreme Court has ruled that Facebook may be used to serve a spouse via private message.

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Understanding Leandra’s Law

Signed into law on November 18, 2009, Leandra’s Law was enacted in honor of Leandra Rosado, an 11-year old killed while she rode in a vehicle with her intoxicated mother. Leandra’s Law creates harsher penalties against motorists who drink and drive while transporting children.

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Criminal Convictions and Employment Opportunities

If you are arrested and charged with a crime, you need an experienced criminal attorney to handle your case to ensure that all aspects of your matter are considered and addressed.

Most people know that criminal convictions can result in jail and probation sentences, but many people are not aware that a criminal conviction can also lead to collateral (secondary) consequences.

Continue reading “Criminal Convictions and Employment Opportunities”

What Is the Difference Between a Contested and an Uncontested Divorce?

A divorce is considered contested if either you or your spouse do not want a divorce, disagree about the legal grounds for the divorce, or disagree about what will happen with your children, your finances, or your property after the divorce.

Contested divorces generally necessitate the court to decide issues that you and your spouse disagree about. Because the judge presiding over your case will require detailed information to decide the issues you disagree about, your contested divorce will require you and your spouse to go to Court numerous times. A contested divorce can be very expensive because attorneys are typically paid by the hour.  In addition, these types of divorces can be very stressful for the parties involved, and the process can take months or even years to resolve.

Conversely, a divorce is considered uncontested if two factors are met. First, you and your spouse both want to get a divorce. Second, both you and your spouse agree about what will happen with your children, your finances, and your property after divorce.

An uncontested divorce provides a few advantages. An uncontested divorce is relatively inexpensive, less stressful on the parties, and typically can be resolved within several months. Continue reading “What Is the Difference Between a Contested and an Uncontested Divorce?”

What Does “Assumption of the Risk” Mean?

The legal defense “Assumption of the Risk” describes a participant’s involvement in a potentially risky activity.  One example involves a sport or recreational activity.  When the participant consents to take part in such an activity, legally they are sometimes assuming responsibility for the common risks associated with the activity. For example, a football player assumes the risks of suffering bodily harm on the football field because the sport involves constant physical contact with other players.

Motocross, another potentially dangerous sport, consists of motorcycle drivers on a track with hills, jumps, and obstacles. In a 2011 incident, a motocross participant was injured at the Long Island Motocross track in Yaphank, New York. The defendant (owner of the racetrack) argued that the plaintiff assumed the risk of injuries suffered in the motocross race. The plaintiff argued that the poor condition of the racetrack increased the risks associated with the sport and ultimately caused his injury. Continue reading “What Does “Assumption of the Risk” Mean?”

Drunk Driver on Long Island Crashes through Neighbors’ House

A Lake Ronkonkoma man is facing a DWI charge after driving his vehicle into his next-door neighbor’s house on Sunday November 24, 2014.  According to authorities, the 20-year-old male was driving a 2010 Hyundai Sonata when he crashed through the neighbors’ front door.  The driver fled the scene, but police were able to easily locate him as it was quickly discovered that he lived next door.  Fortunately, all of the individuals inside the house escaped injury.

Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a dangerous and costly illegal offense.  Alcohol not only severely impairs your driving abilities; it also affects your judgment and coordination. If you are convicted of a DWI as a first offense, the consequences may be harsh. Common consequences include fines of between $500 and $1,000, up to 1 year in jail, a minimum of 3 years’ probation, and revocation of your driver’s license for at least 6 months. In addition, there are a number of other fines and programs that may be imposed on you by the court.

Continue reading “Drunk Driver on Long Island Crashes through Neighbors’ House”

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Luis Lz
They did an amazing job the first time , and I’m here again , the staff incredible , nice , professional, highly recommend.
Response from the owner:Thank you for coming back to us and for your kind words. We truly appreciate your continued trust in McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. It means a great deal to know that you had a positive experience the first time and felt confident returning to our firm. Our staff takes great pride in being professional, supportive, and attentive, and your recommendation means a lot to our entire team. We’re grateful for the opportunity to assist you again and wish you the very best. — McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. Attorneys at Law
Paul Laguan
El mejor abogado en Long Island, Central Islip. Me ha ayudado mucho con mis casos
Response from the owner:uchas gracias por sus amables palabras y por confiar en McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. Nos honra saber que ha tenido una experiencia positiva y que hemos podido ayudarle con sus casos. Nuestro compromiso es brindar una representación legal dedicada, profesional y accesible para todos nuestros clientes. Agradecemos sinceramente su recomendación y su confianza en nuestro equipo. Le deseamos lo mejor y quedamos siempre a su disposición. — McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. Abogados
Nel Souls
Great lawyers
Response from the owner:Thank you, Nel, for taking the time to leave us a five-star review. We truly appreciate your kind words and your trust in McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. It was our pleasure to assist you, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to serve you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if we can ever be of help in the future. — McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. Attorneys at Law
Kiara Merino
McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. Attorneys at Law is a law firm you can truly trust. Their lawyers are professional, approachable, and genuinely care about helping their clients through difficult situations. They take the time to listen, explain things clearly, and fight hard for the best possible outcome. Overall, they are known for being dependable, experienced, and supportive every step of the way. I live the way that they are also bilingual. Karen was a lot of help in my case, she made things more easier for me . From my experience I would 100% recommend this firm to anyone.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your thoughtful and heartfelt review. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. Our goal is always to provide trusted, compassionate, and effective legal representation, and we’re grateful to know that you felt supported, well-informed, and cared for throughout your case. We’re especially pleased to hear that Karen was such a help and made the process easier for you — she will be very appreciative of your kind words. We are also proud to serve our clients bilingually to better meet their needs. Thank you for your trust and for your strong recommendation. We wish you continued success and all the best moving forward. — McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. Attorneys at Law
Mario Diaz
Very professional and knowledgeable! They helped me in different cases and have made the process much less stressful. Grateful for all their work!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Mario, for your kind review and for trusting McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. We are glad to hear that our team was able to assist you with multiple matters and help make the process less stressful. Providing professional, knowledgeable, and supportive representation is always our goal, and we truly appreciate your gratitude and confidence in our firm. — McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. Attorneys at Law
Josue Coreas
I had an excellent experience with McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. Attorneys at Law. From start to finish, the entire office was professional, knowledgeable, and truly dedicated to helping me with my case. They took the time to explain everything clearly and made sure I felt supported every step of the way.

I especially want to recognize Karen Lazo, who was absolutely amazing. She went above and beyond to assist me and made the Spanish translation process easy, clear, and stress-free. Her patience, professionalism, and kindness made a huge difference, and I truly felt understood and cared for.

I highly recommend this law firm to anyone looking for reliable, compassionate, and professional legal representation. Thank you to the entire team—and especially Karen—for such outstanding service.
Response from the owner:Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review. We are truly grateful for your kind words and for placing your trust in McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. We are pleased to hear that your experience with our firm was professional, supportive, and clear from start to finish. Making sure our clients feel informed and supported throughout their case is always a top priority for our entire team. We especially appreciate your recognition of Karen Lazo. She takes great pride in assisting our clients, and we are glad to know her patience, professionalism, and bilingual support made a meaningful difference in your experience. Your comments will mean a great deal to her. Thank you again for your recommendation and kind words. We wish you all the best and are always here should you need assistance in the future. — McGuire, Peláez, Bennett & Belcastro, P.C. Attorneys at La
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