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Lazaro Cardenas

Lazaro Cardenas

The Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas
  • Real Estate Law, Probate, Foreclosure Defense ...
  • New Jersey
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Biography

Why I became a Real Estate & Probate Attorney focusing on Protecting People’s Future

Since founding the firm, I've had the pleasure of working with countless families. I take my job as a counselor very seriously and take great pride in assisting the families that walk through our doors. Every day, I strive to become a better practitioner and to offer more options and better advice to my clients, and this makes me very happy, and it is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.

I've also had the good fortune of partnering with a great individual who complements me and has a similar ethical and moral character. He is equally passionate about his areas of practice, and in the end, this is truly what benefits our clients the most. Often our clients' issues touch on two or more of our practice areas and having the solution in-house without involving other firms dramatically benefits our clients. One of the most rewarding moments is seeing my positive impact on entire families and how my work results in a better life for many.

I can't say that I always knew I would be a lawyer; my path to law school didn't start until much later in life. I went to college and law school in my late 30s and early 40s. You see, I didn't have law school on my cards. I am the son of a farmer and a homemaker, and becoming a lawyer was not something that seemed possible. When I returned to college in 2002, I intended to get a college degree and become an executive at a Fortune 100 company. (Your typical 'climbing the corporate ladder dream). At the time, I had been in the corporate world for over a decade at that point, and this seemed to be what everyone else around me was doing.

However, soon after completing my undergraduate degree, I decided to continue my education and realized that a law degree was what I wanted to pursue. It was thanks to the support I received from my family and some of my friends who pushed me to take a hard look at law school. In hindsight, this was

Education
Rutgers School of Law-Newark
J.D. (2012) | Contracts, Trust & Estates, Real Estate
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Rutgers University - Newark
B.A. (2008) | Political Science
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Honors: 3.8 GPA.
Rutgers University - Newark Logo
Professional Experience
Chief Compliance and Legal Officer
Latino Action Network Foundation
- Current
Partner
Patel & Cardenas, LLC
- Current
Vice President of Funds Development
Latino Festival of Monmouth County
- Current
Lazaro is a founding member of the Latino Festival. He has served in multiple capacities including the founding chairperson. He continues to serve on the executive board as one of the senior executives and advisors.
Law & Justice Committee
Governor Phil Murphy Transition Team
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Served as a member of the New Jersey Governor's transition team in the Law & Justice subcommittee.
Commissioner
Freehold Housing Authority
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In April 2006, Acting Governor Richard J. Codey appointed Cardenas to serve on the Freehold Housing Authority as Commissioner with the mission of overseeing its functions. He was reappointed to this commission, by Governor Jon Corzine, in April of 2010, and served until August 2018.
Director, Information Systems
Prudential Insurance Company of America
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Publications
Articles & Publications
Freehold Township’s fair housing plan approved |Cardenas
Asbury Park Press
Nearly 1000 New Jersey Leaders and Organizations Support Allowing More Residents To Access A Driver’s License
www.insidernj.com
Do I Need to Hire An Attorney For My Real Estate Closing in NJ?
https://focusedlaw.com/
New Jersey Estate Plan for the New Year
https://focusedlaw.com
Can I Cut My Spouse out of My Will?
https://focusedlaw.com/blog/
How immigrant communities can avoid notario fraud
www.app.com
Do I Need a Trust?
https://focusedlaw.com/blog/
Patel & Soltis' Policy Director Appointed to Transition Committee
https://patch.com/new-jersey/freehold
Murphy appoints Patel, Soltis & Cardenas' policy director to transition committee
www.njbiz.com
CARDENAS: Guadagno scapegoating immigrants for political advantage
www.app.com
RED BANK: ‘DREAMERS’ GET, AND LEND, A HAND
www.redbankgreen.com
Should the Electoral College be abolished? | Opinion
Asbury Park Press
Trump immigration action sparks fears; confusion in NJ
www.app.com
Why are Do It Yourself Wills dangerous?
www.focusedlaw.com
CARDENAS: Stop unjust detainers at Monmouth County Jail
www.app.com
Who killed New Jersey's in-state tuition dream?: Opinion
www.nj.com
Speaking Engagements
Moderator, School desegregation forum, Red Bank Elementary School
Latino Action Network Foundation
Conducted desegregation forum with 21+ community leaders, educators, and students about the pros and cons of desegregation for K-12 schools in New Jersey.
Certifications
Court Certified Mediator
New Jersey Courts
Awards
Outstanding Contribution in Community Service
Latino American Association of Monmouth County, Inc
Presented on October 16, 2015, in recognition of my work in Civil Rights and Immigrant Rights in Monmouth County and across New Jersey by the Latino American Association of Monmouth County.
Inducted into Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Beta Kappa
Lazaro Cardenas was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
Professional Associations
State Bar of New Jersey  # 046252017
Member
Current
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Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
New Jersey
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Fees
  • Free Consultation
    We provide a free consultation in the following areas: Real Estate, Probate, Foreclosure Defense, Loan Modification, Bankruptcy, and Estate Planning.
  • Credit Cards Accepted
    We accept debit and credit cards.
Practice Areas
    Real Estate Law
    Condominiums, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate
    Probate
    Probate Administration, Probate Litigation, Will Contests
    Foreclosure Defense
    Estate Planning
    Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills
Languages
  • English: Spoken, Written
  • Spanish: Spoken, Written
Legal Answers
Q. If you go to law school and pass the bar without being sworn in are you a lawyer
A: The short answer is no.

In NJ you can search for the status of an attorney here:

https://ecourts.judiciary.state.nj.us/webe5/AttyPAWeb/pages/_rlvid.jsp.faces?_rap=captchaAction.execute&_rvip=/pages/home.jsp&currLocaleBanner=en
Q. We live in NJ. My uncle passed away and me and my brother only relative he has left. His estate gets divided to us?
A: Hi, it is not automatic. if your uncle wasn’t married and had no children, siblings, or parents who were alive at the time of his death, and the two of you are the only heirs alive, then you will need to open probate and get named as administrator/executor for the estate. After that you’ll have access to his assets and will be able to distribute as per the intestacy laws of NJ if he didn’t leave a will. I suggest contacting a probate attorney in New Jersey who can assist you with this process.
View More Answers
Websites & Blogs
Website
Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas
Contact & Map
Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas
71 West Main Street
Suite 202
Freehold, NJ 07728
Toll-Free: (844) 533-3367
Telephone: (973) 200-1111
Fax: (866) 212-4111
Monday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 9 AM - 5 PM (Today)
Wednesday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Law Offices of Patel & Cardenas
574 Newark Avenue
Suite 307
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Toll-Free: (844) 533-3367
Telephone: (973) 200-1111
Fax: (866) 212-4111