Legal Services & Lawyers

I have been practicing law in Rochester, New York, and nearby towns for the past 13 years. I concentrate my practice in matrimonial and family law. I counsel my clients on divorce, separation, custody, relocation, child support, adoption, premarital and postmarital agreements.

More specifically, I assist my clients with such matters as:

* Adoption
* Alimony/Maintenance
* Annulments
* Child Abuse
* Child Custody
* Child Support
* Child Support Enforcement
* Dependency Proceedings
* Divorce
* Domestic Partnerships
* Domestic Violence Orders
* Family Court Proceedings
* Family Law
* Fertility and Surrogacy
* Foreign Adoption
* Foster Care
* Grandparent Custody & Visitation Rights
* Grandparent Rights
* Guardianship
* Name Change
* Parental Rights
* Paternity
* Postnuptial Agreements
* Prenuptial Agreements
* Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs)
* Relocation
* Restraining Orders
* Separation and Separation Agreements

I represent clients in Collaborative Family Law cases which involve resolving family disputes without going to court.

I have substantial litigation and trial experience in the Family and Supreme Courts, and have briefed and argued appeals in the Appellate Division.

I also represent clients in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy matters.

In addition, I represent clients in civil and commercial litigation, criminal and real estate matters.

PETER J. SCHAFFER, Attorney at Law devotes his practice to New York State criminal defense and the defense of all federal criminal matters throughout the United States. With experience handling cases ranging from simple traffic violations to complex federal death penalty eligible felonies, Mr. Schaffer uses the knowledge and skills he has developed over the course of his twenty-two years of trial work to help his clients achieve the best result in every case he defends.

Mr. Schaffer appears regularly on The Nancy Grace Show on CNN Headline News and on COURT TV, now “IN SESSION” on truTV and as an expert commentator in criminal law and trial practice. He has also appeared on and on Sirius Satellite Radio and Bloomberg News Radio to discuss nationally prominent criminal cases.

If you or someone you are concerned about has been arrested in New York or for any federal crime or is being investigated by any New York State or federal agency, you need an experienced criminal trial lawyer. Call PETER J. SCHAFFER at (718) 585-4444.

Our office represents clients in every stage of the criminal process from investigation through appeal including:

All New York Criminal Cases
All Federal Criminal Cases
Felonies
Misdemeanors
DWI / DUI
Arraignments / Police Lineups
Traffic and Motor Vehicle Infractions and Violations
Probation and Parole Violations and Revocation

George Hildebrandt has substantial successful trial experience. For almost 25 years, he has represented clients in federal and state courts in drug conspiracy and smuggling, murder, white collar, firearm and other serious cases, achieving many acquittals, dismissals and convictions for greatly reduced charges. George has built his reputation on his hard work, preparation and knowledge of the law.

My practice is limited to the defense of those charged with crimes. I practice in State Courts,throughout Western New York

My practice focuses exclusively on DWI cases in the following counties Tompkins, Seneca, Schuyler, Tioga, Yates, Cortland, Steuben, and Broome. Over 95% of my cases are New York DWI cases. New York DWI laws are complicated, and techniques in defending DWI are constantly changing. That is why it is important to find a lawyer who stays on top of the current DWI laws, trends, and what occurs in the Fingerlakes Town Courts, Village Courts, City Courts, and County Courts everyday. I am that lawyer.

Under the Department of Transportation I am certified as a breath test technician, under the guidelines of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) I am Certified in the FSTS (Field Sobriety Tests), and I am a member of the NCDD (National College of DUI Defense).

I am married, have four children, a yellow lab, and live in Ithaca.

My Law Firm Partner and I have been working with Buffalo and WNY residents for almost three decades. So we're not surprised when clients tell us that we've helped a member of their family or neighbor in the past.

In more recent years, we've opened additional law offices to serve the areas residents.

We have offices in:

Buffalo NY
Rochester NY
Akron NY
Williamsville NY
Batavia NY
West Seneca NY
Niagara Falls NY

And our expertise is wide - just take a look at our practice areas and how we can help you.

BUFFALO AREA PERSONAL INJURY & ACCIDENTS

* Highway Accident:
* Industrial Accident:
* Jet Ski Accident:
* Lasik Eye Surgery Injury:
* Lead Paint Exposure:
* Medical Malpractice Accident:
* Medical Negligence:
* Motor Vehicle Defects:
* Motorcycle Accident:
* Nursing Home Abuse:
* Nursing Home Negligence:
* Pedestrian Accident:
* Products Liability:
* Rail Road Injury Accident:
* Railroad Accident:
* Semi Truck Accident Injuries:
* Slip and Fall:
* Spinal Cord Injury:
* Swimming Accidents and Injuries:
* Tobacco Use:
* Toxic Mold Exposure:
* Train Accident:
* Truck Accident:
* Vioxx:
* Wrongful Death:
* Asbestos Exposure Injury
* Auto Accident and Injuries
* Automobile Accident
* Bicycle - Bike Accident
* Birth Injury
* Boat Accident
* Brain Injury
* Burn Injury
* Car Accident
* Construction Accidents
* Dangerous Drugs - Drug Recall
* Defective Products
* Dog Bite injury
* Drunk Driving Accidents
* Farming Accident

BUFFALO AREA CORPORATE & BUSINESS MATTERS

* 144 Opinion Letters
* Acquisitions
* Americans with Disabilities Act
* Anti-Trust
* Asset Protection
* Business Financing
* Business Operations
* Business Regulations
* Buy/Sell Agreements
* Bylaws
* Closing a Business
* Confidentiality Agreements
* Contracts
* Copyright
* Corporations
* Deferred Compensation Plans
* Employment Agreements
* Estate Planning
* Family Partnersips
* Forms & Contracts
* Franchises
* Incorporation & Legal Structures
* Independent Contractor Agreements
* Intellectual Property
* Koint Ventures
* Labor and Employment Law
* Licensing Agreements
* Limited Liability Companies
* Limited Liability Partnerships
* Litigation
* Mergers
* Non-Profit Corporations
* Noncompete Agreements
* OSHA
* Patents
* SEC Filings
* Securities
* Severance Agreements
* Shareholder Agreeements
* Sole Proprietorships
* Starting a Business
* Stock Option Plans
* Succession Planning
* Trademarks
* Trusts
* Wage & Hour Laws

Buffalo New York Business and Corporate Real Estate Matters

* Adverse Possession
* Architect Agreements
* Assessments
* Construction Contracts
* Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CCR's)
* Easements
* Environmental Compliance
* Foreign Nationals with US Real Estate Holdings
* Leases
* Ownership Considerations
* Taxes
* Zoning

Buffalo New York Business and Corporate Tax Matters

* Appeals
* Business Audit
* Business Entity Planning
* Business Succession Planning
* Business Tax Planning
* Employment Tax
* Failure to Withhold Employment Tax
* Individual Tax Planning
* Property Tax
* Sales Tax
* Tax Audits
* Tax Collection Counseling
* Tax-Deferred Exchanges
* Tax Issues Related to Business Formation
* Tax Levies
* Tax liens

BUFFALO AREA DWI AND CRIMINAL DEFENSE

* Boating Under the Influence (BUI)
* Boating While Intoxicated (DWI)
* Driving Under The Influence (DUI)
* Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
* Driving with a Suspended License (DWLS)
* Fleeing and Eluding
* Reckless Driving
* Juvenile/Minor Charges and Arrests - Please call due to the sensitive nature of this matter.
* Assault and Battery
* Criminal Mischief
* Disorderly Conduct
* Disorderly Intoxication
* Domestic Violence
* False Report of a Crime
* Indecent Exposure
* Loitering and Prowling
* Obstructing Justice
* Petty Theft
* Prostitution Offenses - Soliciting
* Resisting Without Violence
* Shoplifting
* Stalking
* Trespass
* Buffalo Area Felony Crimes
* Buffalo Area Federal Crimes
* White Collar Crimes - Please call due to the sensitive nature of this matter.
* Erasing Criminal History
* Expunging Your Record

BUFFALO AREA DIVORCE & FAMILY LAW

* Alimony
* Annulments
* Child Abuse
* Child Custody
* Child Support
* Child Support Enforcement
* Dependency Proceedings
* Divorce
* Domestic Adoption
* Domestic Partnerships
* Domestic Violence Orders
* Family Court Proceedings
* Family Law
* Fertility and Surrogacy
* Foreign Adoption
* Foster Care
* Grandparent Custody & Visitation Rights
* Grandparent Rights
* Guardianship
* Name Change
* Parental Rights
* Paternity
* Postnuptial Agreements
* Prenuptial Agreements
* Relocation
* Restraining Orders
* Separation

BUFFALO AREA ESTATE PLANNING, TRUSTS, PROBATE & WILLS

* Administering estates and trusts
* Advanced Directives
* Annuities
* Article 81 Guardianships
* Assisted Living
* Contested Accountings
* Contesting a Will
* Court Representation for Executors, Trustees, Creditors or Beneficiaries
* Elder Abuse
* Estate & Trust accountings
* Estate Administration & Settlement
* Estate Litigation - Contested Estates & Trusts
* Estate Tax Issues
* Estate Sales of Real Estate
* Estate Tax Returns and Audits
* Family Partnerships, LLCs and Business Succession Planning
* Government Benefits
* Guardianships for Disabled Children
* Health Care Proxies
* Intestacy (dying without a will)
* Invalidating trusts
* Kinship proceedings (Establishing Heirs)
* Life Estates
* Life Insurance Trusts
* Living Trusts
* Living Wills
* Long Term Care Insurance
* Medicaid Planning
* Medicare
* Nursing Home Care
* Power of Attorney
* Probating wills - simple to complex
* Representation of executors & trustees
* Representation of Out-of-State Beneficiaries
* Retirement Planning
* Reverse Mortgages
* Revocable Living Trusts
* Social Security Disability
* Special Needs Trusts
* Supplemental Needs Trusts
* Spousal inheritance disputes
* SSI
* Surrogate's Court Litigation
* VA Aid and Attendance
* Wills
* Wrongful Death Proceedings
* Legal Guidance for Administrators
* Legal Guidance for Executors
* Legal Guidance for Guardians
* Legal Guidance for Trustees
* Serve as Executor for your Estate
* Serve as Trustee for your Estate

BUFFALO RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MATTERS

* Adjustable Rate Mortgage Guidance
* Adverse Possession
* Appraisals and title insurance
* Architect Agreements
* Assessments
* Boundary disputes
* Breach of warranty under title insurance
* Brokerage commission disputes
* Buffalo & WNY Building inspections
* Closing Cost Advice
* Condemnation Help - has your property been condemned by Buffalo Area Authorities?
* Condominiums
* Construction Contracts
* Contract Reviews
* Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CCRs)
* Dual Agency Issues
* Easement Reviews in the Buffalo and WNY area
* Easements
* Eminent Domain in New York
* Fannie Mae Lending
* FHA Lending
* Forclosure Short Sales in New York
* Foreclosure Assistance for Buffalo and WNY residents
* Foreign Nationals with US Real Estate Holdings
* Home Inspection Problems
* Home Title Insurance Requirements
* Homeowner's Insurance Advice
* Homeowners Association Legal Issues
* Land developments and closings
* Land use planning and rezoning
* Lease - Option to Buy Advice
* Legal advice for Buffalo and Western New York residents that engage in flipping Real Estate
* Liens on your Home or Property
* Like Kind Exchange
* Life Estate Deed
* Mortgage Broker Assistance
* Mortgage Fraud
* Mortgage Law
* New York 1031 Exchange
* New York RELP's - Real Estate Limited Partnership
* New York Tax Lien Help
* Buffalo NY Real Estate Leases
* Buffalo NY Real Estate Litigation
* Buffalo NY Reverse Mortgage Advice
* Oil and Gas Leases>/li>
* Options to Purchase
* Ownership Considerations
* Predatory Lending
* Probate
* Promissory Notes
* Property Law
* Property Surveying
* Quiet title and real estate matters
* Quit Claim Deeds
* Buffalo Real Estate Agent Malpractice
* Buffalo & WNY Real Estate Developments
* Buffalo Real Estate Land Trust
* Buffalo & WNY Real Estate Syndication
* Buffalo Area Real Estate Transactions
* Buffalo & WNY Real Property Investments
* Refinancing Issues
* Residential and commercial closings
* RESPA Violations
* Review of Settlement Statements
* Right of First Refusal
* Rights of Way
* Stop Foreclosure
* Subdivisions
* Taxes
* Taxpayer Relief Act Guidance
* Violations of the Fair Housing Act
* Working with lenders to ensure the timeliness and quality of their obligations
* Working with mortgage broker to ensure the timeliness and quality of their obligations
* NY Zoning and Permits

Terry D. Horner is of counsel to the Law Firm of Marco Caviglia. A practicing attorney for 28 years, he is a 1978 graduate of New York University and a 1981 graduate of Brooklyn Law School. Mr. Horner is admitted to the New York Bar, all four federal District Courts in New York State, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Mr. Horner has represented civil and criminal clients in more than 115 appeals in the New York courts, with successes in the Court of Appeals, all four Appellate Divisions, and Appellate Term. Mr. Horner has been approved to handle assigned criminal appeals in the Second and Third Departments of the Appellate Division. In addition, he has researched and written over 1,000 motions across the state involving a wide range of procedural and substantive issues.

Mr. Horner was formerly an appellate partner in a major state-wide personal injury law firm, and was in public service as Chief Appellate Counsel for the Office of the Public Defender in Dutchess County, New York.

I started my own firm in Ravena, New York[15 miles south of Albany] in April of 2009 after 22 years practicing with numerous partners in firms in Albany. While I specialize in injury litigation and have tried scores of cases to verdict, I now supplement that practice with small town practice services such as wills, traffic tickets, closings and counseling my clients. I really enjoy what I do and would welcome any inquiries to see if your needs can be met.