Sitio web en Español: 

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

Group Photo
group-photo-2024
slide-image-4-mcguire-pelaez-bennet-badge
previous arrow
next arrow

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.

Blog

Separate Assets May Be Divided As Communal Property

Generally, in a divorce, there are communal assets and separate assets. In New York State, all assets acquired during the course of a marriage are considered communal property. This is commonly known as shared property or marital property. Separate assets refer to property that is independently owned by one spouse. Today, distinguishing between separate property and the communal property has become more complex, due to more individuals having a significant number and range of assets.

Continue reading “Separate Assets May Be Divided As Communal Property”

Collaboration for Co-Parents Is Key During the Summer Months

Summer break can be complex for divorced or separated parents. While children are off from school, making child custody arrangements for their daily activities or summer vacations may become problematic. It is important to remember that consistent and responsive communication will benefit all parties involved, resulting in a less complicated summer.

Here are a few tips for co-parenting in the most effective way:

Continue reading “Collaboration for Co-Parents Is Key During the Summer Months”

Make Sure To Disclose All Financial Information During Divorce Negotiations

An individual going through a divorce must disclose a material change in facts during settlement negotiations, otherwise, it may invalidate a settlement provision. On May 11, 2017 the Appellate Division, Third Department invalidated a paragraph of a divorce settlement separation agreement. The court remanded the matter to address the proper equitable distribution of funds.

Continue reading “Make Sure To Disclose All Financial Information During Divorce Negotiations”

Losing Custody Due To Mental Illness

In many instances, parents suffering from mental health issues may not seek help due to the fear of losing custody of their children. In some states, a parent may lose custody of their child, if they are suffering from mental illness.

According to studies, 70 to 80 percent of parents suffering with mental illness lose custody of their children. If the parent becomes hospitalized in a psychiatric center then the children are often raised by grandparents or other relatives. Those without extended family are placed in foster care.

Continue reading “Losing Custody Due To Mental Illness”

Commercial Landlords and the Non-Residential Tenant Harassment Law

In September 2016, New York City enacted the “Non-Residential Tenant Harassment” law that increases protections for New York City commercial tenants. Under the law, a commercial landlord, or someone acting on his or her behalf, cannot harass a tenant into making them vacate the commercial property or surrender or waive their rights under an effective lease agreement. This includes the use of force, implied force, interruption of access to the property or services within the property, court proceedings, and the changing of locks in the property.

Continue reading “Commercial Landlords and the Non-Residential Tenant Harassment Law”

How To Bring Up A Prenuptial Agreement With A Potential Spouse

Timing
It is important to bring up a prenuptial agreement as early as possible because it involves important binding decisions. It is important to have the conversation when each party has time to devote to the conversation. Continue reading “How To Bring Up A Prenuptial Agreement With A Potential Spouse”

Tragic New York Boating Accident Case Comes to a Close

As the weather heats up, more New Yorkers are taking their boats out onto the open seas. Although boating is a fun activity to engage in, it is important to recognize that it can also be extremely dangerous if certain precautions are not taken. Boat accidents may occur for various reasons, including boating under the influence, negligent speeding, or a manufacturers defect, among others. Recently, a New York man was convicted of manslaughter in a horrific boating accident that occurred on Lake George and resulted in the death of an 8-year-old girl and other serious injuries.

Continue reading “Tragic New York Boating Accident Case Comes to a Close”

Establishing A Father And Child Relationship May Preclude DNA Testing

According to the 2007 New York Family Court Act, paternity proceedings may be started at any time from pregnancy until a child is 21 years of age. If a motion is made by either party to perform a DNA comparison, the court may order the genetic testing unless the test is not in the best interest of the child. If testing is not within the best interest of the child, the court must provide in writing whether it is due to “equitable estoppel, the presumption of legitimacy of a child born to a married woman, or res-judicata, which means the issue has been judicially determined.”

Continue reading “Establishing A Father And Child Relationship May Preclude DNA Testing”

Custody over Pets

Getting divorced can be a very complex process. Divorce may involve the division of assets as well as custody negotiations. Today, custodial disputes over pets are also very common. In five years, the number of divorce cases involving a dispute over pets increased by 27 percent, according to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Among these cases were disputes over animals such as dogs, cats, snakes, and parrots, among others.

Continue reading “Custody over Pets”

Motorcycle Accidents in New York

With clear skies and sunshine, the summer months are sure to be the peak time for New York motorcyclists to head out on the open road. Due partly to rising gas prices, more people are using motorcycles than in recent years. In 2015, there were 8.6 million private and commercial motorcycles on the road. With more cyclists on the streets, there is a greater likelihood for a serious motorcycle accident to occur. According to the National Highway and Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatal motorcycle accidents occur 27 times more frequently than fatalities for other motor vehicles. A number of various factors contribute to these serious accidents, including errors by motor vehicle drivers and distracted driving. Since New York’s no-fault laws generally do not apply to motorcycles, these types of accident cases are handled differently from other motor vehicle accidents.

Continue reading “Motorcycle Accidents in New York”

Reviews

Excellent
See all reviews
review us on
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
Skip to content