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PRACTICE AREAS
 ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
Whether it be the representation of a civil servant in
disciplinary proceedings or a petition to the court
challenging a decision of a municipal board, Perkins and
Perkins offers necessary legal services in
most administrative settings. We understand that the
decision of a board or hearing officer often may have the same impact upon our clients as a decree issued by a
court of law and therefore the firm endeavors to provide
committed and zealous representation at every stage of a
proceeding. The firm has appeared in various capacities and
represents clients before hearing officers, boards, and
appellate bodies. For instance, Perkins and Perkins was
retained as special counsel for the Zoning Board of Appeals
of the City of Saratoga Springs and successfully defended
the Board's denial of a variance for a restaurant to be
located in a residential zone. The firm also successfully
defended the right of a Town Clerk to keep secure municipal
books and records, and has prevailed in administrative
appeals to the national governing bodies of several major
amateur and professional athletic organizations. We endeavor
to provide each client with committed representation through
every stage of an administrative proceeding.
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 ADOPTIONS
Among the most significant and professionally fulfilling
legal service Perkins and Perkins renders is the
finalization of adoption proceedings. The firm has
represented numerous prospective adoptive parents in private
placement, agency, stepparent and international adoption
matters. We also provide pre-adoption legal counseling,
services relating to court certification of clients as
Qualified Adoptive Parents, and the review of adoption
agency contractual agreements. Perkins and Perkins'
courtroom experience includes the successful representation
of adoptive parents in contested private placement adoption
cases.
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 BUSINESS AND CORPORATE
The firm provides a wide range of professional services to
the business client, including entity formation
(incorporation, limited liability company filings,
partnership creation,
or sole proprietorship), start-up counseling, contract
preparation and review, lease drafting, collections,
financing representation, and litigation. Perkins and
Perkins also offers other services to its corporate clients,
such as shareholder and buy/sell agreements, assumed name
filings, corporate name changes and record keeping advice.
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 COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS
Perkins and Perkins has served as counsel to our clients in
the sale and acquisition of numerous companies, business
franchises, commercial properties and manufactured home
communities. We have extensive experience in contract
negotiation and formation, and have dealt with opposing
counsel from many of the nation's largest companies. The
firm presently represents the legal interests of several
owners of the country's most prominent manufactured home
communities. Whether the transaction involves a small,
family-owned business or large corporation, Perkins and
Perkins is able to provide our clients with legal services
to
facilitate the sale or acquisition.
[Top]
 EDUCATION LAW
The firm provides advice and counsel with respect to matters
relating to certain public and private education matters.
Perkins and Perkins has appeared before the New York State
Commissioner of Education on appellate matters and has
defended the rights of parents to direct the religious,
private and home school education of their children. We have
successfully represented public school teachers and coaches
in disciplinary matters and are experienced in scholastic
athletic eligibility cases. The firm also has considerable
experience representing and advising students in the area of
academic integrity and provides counsel and defense in all
matters relating to academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism
allegations at the secondary school and university level.
[Top]
 ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
In the event that the firm's clients receive notification
from the State that environmental or health laws, rules or
regulations have been violated, Perkins and Perkins is able
to respond with experienced representation. We have
represented individuals, property owners and businesses on
such matters as wastewater treatment plant permit
violations, petrochemical spills, and contaminated community
water supplies. The firm has experience addressing
environmental and health matters with the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York
State Department of Health and can assist clients with the
defense of enforcement action undertaken by these agencies.
[Top]
 LANDLORD REPRESENTATION
A significant portion of the firm's practice is devoted to
the representation of landlords in virtually every facet of
landlord/tenant law. Perkins and Perkins represents
landlords in the area of lease enforcement, collection of
rental arrears, objectionable tenant conduct, and summary
eviction proceedings. During the past twenty years, the firm
has successfully prosecuted to judgment hundreds of eviction
cases in courts throughout the Capital District, greater
Saratoga County and North Country areas. The firm presently
represents over twenty commercial landlords and has lease
enforcement responsibility for over a thousand residential
units. The firm's principal has lectured to attorneys and
real estate professionals in continuing legal education and
management seminars on matters relating to landlord/tenant
law. Perkins and Perkins also represents landlords on
complaints presented to the New York State Division of
Housing and Community Renewal and the State Civil Rights
Commission on housing related matters. The firm is able to
provide experienced legal counsel to residential and
commercial landlords on diverse matters relating to leased
property, stored tenant belongings, lease renewals, security
deposits and breaches of lease.
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 MANUFACTURED HOUSING
Perkins and Perkins is regularly consulted by the
manufactured home industry, providing counsel and legal
services to park owners, developers, new home dealerships,
lending institutions, and transporters on virtually every
aspect of mobile and manufactured housing law. The firm has
previously been retained to study the effects of local and
state legislation on the industry by a trade association and
monitors for its out of state clients significant
developments in regulatory matters of interest to the
industry. Our recognized expertise and many years'
experience is of benefit to clients who require legal
counsel practicing in New York State with a comprehensive
understanding of the interrelated aspects of the
manufactured home industry.
[Top]
 PERSONAL INJURY
The firm provides plaintiff's representation to individuals
injured as a result of the negligence of others, including
matters involving automobile and motorcycle accidents, slip
and falls, construction site injuries, dog attacks, and
defective products. Perkins and Perkins has represented
seriously injured adults and children as well as claims
involving wrongful death since the firm was established.
[Top]
 PROBATE AND ESTATE ADMINISTRATION
Perhaps the most difficult time for a family is the passing
of a loved one and solemn duty of settling their estate. The
probate or administration of an estate should be capably
undertaken to insure, among other things, the proper and
timely distribution of estate assets. Perkins and Perkins is
experienced in the representation of executors and
administrators in the fulfillment of their fiduciary duties
and we have appeared in Surrogate's Courts throughout the
region. The firm represents individuals in both large and
small estate administration. We are experienced in matters
involving will contests and in protecting the rights of
beneficiaries. Perkins and Perkins has also been retained by
other attorneys to provide them counsel in Surrogate's Court
matters-- a mark of the confidence in our ability and
reputation.
[Top]
 RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
The purchase of a home is one of life's most important
financial decisions. Having the right legal counsel is
essential, not only for the skill necessary to complete the
transfer of title, but also for the assurance that there
will be attention to detail during every phase of
the transaction. Perkins and Perkins is committed to keeping
our clients, whether a first time home buyer or relocating
seller, fully informed throughout the closing process. Our
closing coordinator has over twenty years' experience at
Perkins and Perkins and is well versed in residential
transactions. The firm has extensive real estate experience
and has represented literally thousands of sellers and
purchasers of residential real estate. We provide such
services as new construction representation, contract
drafting and review, title examination, mortgage
preparation, and title and mortgage closing services.
[Top]
 VEHICLE AND TRAFFIC
The plea of guilty to a vehicle and traffic charge not only
can result in a fine, but also the suspension of one's
driving privileges. Perkins and Perkins represents clients
on all vehicle and traffic matters, including moving
violations, excessive speeding charges, commercial trucking
violations, alcohol-related charges, aggravated unlicensed
citations and traffic tickets issued as a result of
vehicular accidents. We routinely appear on behalf of
clients in local and city courts throughout the region and
have extensive experience in negotiating with prosecuting
attorneys for the reduction of charges.
[Top]
 WILLS
The last will and testament is the legal document which
generally makes known a person's directives for the
distribution of their property, nomination of an estate
representative, and in some cases, the selection of proposed
guardians for minor children. New York law requires strict
adherence to will drafting and witnessing procedures, and an
improperly prepared will can result in the denial of
probate. Perkins and Perkins is experienced in the
preparation of last wills and testaments for married couples
and individuals and can advise clients as to the legal
implications of testamentary trusts, specific and charitable
bequests, devises of real property and the nomination of
fiduciaries. The firm also provides legal services in the
preparation of durable powers of attorney, health care
proxies, and living wills.
[Top]
 ZONING
Perkins and Perkins has represented clients before area
zoning boards of appeal on such matters as petitions for
variance of use, set back variance applications, and sign
ordinance requests. The firm has successfully represented a
neighborhood association which challenged the construction
of a commercial business in a residential zone and has filed
legal action to block the planned development of a strip
mall which threatened the quality of life of a residential
community. We represent clients in zoning cases involving
area and use variances, sign construction, special use
permits and code interpretations. The firm also defends in
court individuals and businesses charged with building code
or zoning ordinance violations.
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