Robert J. Romano, Jr., was born in the Bronx, New York, on November 1, 1950. He attended Villanova University (B.A., 1972) and St. John's University (J.D., 1978). He served as Law Secretary to the Honorable Paul R. Huot, J.S.C., 1978-1979. He was Public Defender, Borough of Ramsey, 1980-1983; Prosecutor, Township of River Vale, 1982-1983; Prosecutor, Borough of Closter, 1984-1986 and 1991; Public Defender, Borough of Closter, 1986-1994 and Public Defender, Borough of Haworth, 1988-1994. He has been practicing law for over 26 years. He has been involved in elder law for more than 15 years.
Mr. Romano is a member of the New Jersey State and Bergen County Bar Associations and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He is a member of the Elder Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and has served on the Elder Law Committee of the Bergen County Bar Association.
Mr. Romano works with clients to protect their assets including Medicaid planning as well as estate planning. He also prepares the necessary legal documents on their behalf, such as Durable Financial Powers of Attorney, Medical Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, Special Needs Trusts, Wills and Tax Trusts.
Mr. Romano provides presentations on health care law to the community through such diverse organizations as the American Cancer Society, Christian Health Care Center and Jewish Family Services. He has in the past provided classes to the general public with reference to Advance Directives and Medicaid planning through the Adult Education Programs of Bergen Community College, Warren County College and Sussex County College. In addition, he assists various nursing homes and hospitals with the fulfillment of their obligations under “The New Jersey Advance Directives for Health Care Act” and “The Patient Self Determination Act.”
Mr. Romano's classes are accredited by the New Jersey Board of Social Work Examiners, the Commission for Case Manager Certification and the Licensed Nursing Home Administration.
Mr. Romano is a past member of the Ethics Committee for the Home Health Assembly of New Jersey and has been influential in the development of a model Ethics Committee to be implemented throughout New Jersey Home Health Care Agencies. He was also a member of the Professional Advisory Committee for Bergen Community Health Care, an affiliate of Pascack Valley Hospital in Westwood, New Jersey and is presently a member of the Ethics Committee of the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice located in Sussex County, New Jersey.
Mr. Romano has published in the area of Elder Law and Advance Directives and has been an author for The New Jersey Trial Lawyer and the New Jersey Law Journal.
Lawrence M. Tinghino was born in Teaneck, New Jersey, on September 5, 1969. He attended Seton Hall University (B.A., Cum Laude, Accounting, 1991) and Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 1994). He was admitted to the bar in 1994 (New Jersey, United States District Court for the District of New Jersey).
As an Associate with the firm, Mr. Tinghino engages in a general practice with the primary focus on real estate, estate litigation, and guardianships. Additionally, Mr. Tinghino utilizes his accounting background to assist with the preparation of Inheritance Tax Returns, Final Accountings and other probate matters.
Mr. Tinghino is the former Law Secretary for the Honorable Peter F. Boggia of the Superior Court of Bergen County. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the New Jersey Bar Association.
Francis J. Tiedemann was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He attended Saint Peter's College (B.A., Honors, Accounting, 1978) and New York Law School (J.D., 1983). He was admitted to the bar in 1983 (New Jersey, United States District Court for the District of New Jersey).
As an Associate, Mr. Tiedemann engages in a general practice of law with special concentration in estate administration, preparation of accountings and estate tax returns, and real estate transactions. He managed his own general practice law firm in Jersey City for over twenty years. Prior to practicing law, he was an accountant for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Mr. Tiedemann was also a Professor at Hudson County Community College in the 1980's, teaching Real Estate law. He also holds a New Jersey Title Insurance Producer License and worked in the Title Insurance field for many years. He has extensive experience in the examination of commercial and residential real estate titles in determining their insurability under New Jersey Law.
Melissa A. Muilenburg was born in Passaic, New Jersey in 1963. She attended Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut (B.A. American Studies 1985) and The National Law Center at George Washington University (J.D. 1988). She was admitted to the bar in Colorado in 1988 and in New Jersey in 1992.
As an Associate, Ms. Muilenburg engages in a practice focused on commercial banking with a specific concentration in commercial and residential mortgage closings on behalf of banks. She also has over fifteen years of experience in residential and commercial real estate transactions.
Ms. Muilenburg serves the community as a marathon run coach for the Northern New Jersey chapter of Team in Training, which is the fundraising department of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She has also served as a chairperson on various committees for the local schools in Mountain Lakes.