Looking for a Trustworthy Legal Team to Handle Your
Estate Planning, Asset Protection, and More?
Look No Further Than Our Elder Law Specialists
Our finely tuned team of three attorneys, ten paraprofessionals, and support staff provides the highest level of knowledge, service, and attention to our clients in Ocean and Monmouth counties and throughout New Jersey.
No matter which one of us you are working with, you are ensured a smooth and pleasant experience—from the moment of your initial consultation to the day you sign your documents.
Between us, we offer 75 years of Elder Law experience, including specialization in the following areas:
With the addition of our newest attorney and taxation expert, Jason Wyatt, we also provide an intensely sophisticated approach to taxes as they relate to your estate—helping you minimize any tax crunch the state or federal government may impose.
Furthermore, we extend to our clients two unique guarantees: (1) We promise to return phone calls within one business day, and (2) We pledge to process your documents quickly and thoroughly, generally within two weeks (unless otherwise notified).
Get to know our team below, then call us for a no-obligation consultation at 732.657.0600. Or click here to send us a message immediately.
Meet the Attorneys
Robert C. Novy, Esquire |
Douglas J. Hull, Esquire |
Jason L. Wyatt, Esquire |
Meet the Paraprofessionals and Support Staff
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Donna Applegate Ms. Applegate can be reached at 732.657.0600, ext. 125, or DApplegate@NovyLaw.com. |
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Deborah Carchietta You can contact her at 732.657.0600, ext. 114, or DCarchietta@NovyLaw.com. |
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Joni Del Priore You can contact her at 732.657.0600, ext. 115, or JDelPriore@NovyLaw.com. |
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Jaclyn Ewing A huge fan of college football (with particular allegiance to the Florida State Seminoles), Ms. Ewing is also involved in her community as a volunteer for the Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties and Jump Rope for Heart programs in New Jersey Schools. In addition, she works with young athletes, helping them improve their speed and strength, and teaches group exercise classes in Monmouth County. She can be reached at 732.657.0600, ext. 131, or JEwing@NovyLaw.com. |
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Donna Findlay You can reach her at 732.657.0600, ext. 134, or DFindlay@NovyLaw.com. |
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Theresa Hassall She can be reached at 732.657.0600, ext. 133, or THassall@NovyLaw.com. |
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Dorothy Jupinka Ms. Jupinka can be reached at 732.657.0600, ext. 122, or DJupinka@NovyLaw.com. |
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Susan Korth You can reach her at 732.657.0600, ext. 110, or SMKorth@NovyLaw.com. |
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Bess Landano You can reach her at 732.657.0600, ext. 120, or BLandano@NovyLaw.com. |
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Garth Michels She can be reached at 732.657.0600, ext. 129, or GMichels@NovyLaw.com. |
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Maria Russo You can reach Ms. Russo at 732.657.0600, ext. 116, or MRusso@NovyLaw.com. |
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Debra Wojcik You can reach her at 732.657.0600, ext. 127, or DWojcik@NovyLaw.com. |
A member of the Novy & Associates team since 2000, Donna Applegate finds her work tremendously gratifying as she helps clients navigate through some of the toughest times in their lives. As an estate administrator, she juggles many responsibilities, putting her multitasking and organizational skills to great use. Her versatile role entails meeting with clients who have lost a loved one and helping the executor/administrator fulfill his or her duties, which may include qualifying at the Surrogate's Court, gathering asset information, liquidating stocks/bonds, paying bills, and preparing and filing inheritance tax and estate-tax returns. She also prepares other paperwork as needed. Ms. Applegate takes satisfaction in helping to settle estates efficiently and in a timely manner for the benefit of an estate's rightful recipients. When not in the office, you may find her donning a helmet to ride her quad or Harley with friends and family members.
Assisting our clients with the administration of their loved ones' estates and offering them compassion, comfort, and the utmost professionalism during this difficult time—that is what Deborah Carchietta loves most about her role as estate settlement administrator. In her position, she is responsible for overseeing the probate process, marshalling assets, and preparing the New Jersey Inheritance and Estate Tax Returns. She joined Novy & Associates in 2005, and has brought kindness, a positive attitude, and a wonderful sense of humor to the firm. When not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Joni Del Priore plays a significant role in the estate planning department of Novy & Associates, working closely with clients from start to finish. In addition to preparing estate planning documents—ranging from the simple to the sophisticated—she assists with estate litigation, estate administration, and guardianship issues, while managing other Elder Law-related issues as they arise. A technophile, she also lends a hand with the firm's computer systems. Ms. Del Priore has been working with Mr. Novy since 1990, joining Novy & Associates when it launched in 2000. She is loyal, conscientious, and ambitious. A lover of learning, she has pursued continuing-education courses in estate planning, estate administration, probate practice for paralegals, and guardianship practices.
Jaclyn Ewing, who has a Master's degree in Marketing, joined the firm in April 2011, making her the newest member of the Novy & Associates support staff. As marketing director, she is excited about branding and promoting a well-established and respected organization and putting her creative skills to great use. Her diversified role includes planning seminars, developing collateral materials and creating and tracking the marketing budget. In addition, she oversees marketing activities such as speaking engagements, radio programs, expos, open houses, and outreach campaigns.
As one of our real estate paraprofessionals, Donna Findlay has many responsibilities, including: post-closing work, researching and preparation of deeds for the estate and Medicaid departments, real-estate sale closings, file closeouts, machine transcriptions, and phone relief. Thorough, patient, and organized, Ms. Findlay joined the firm in 2007. Prior to that, she worked at the firm Summerill, Hull & McNamara.
The firm's Director of Operations, Theresa Hassall, deftly wears many hats. Attending to the overall function of the firm, she keeps two objectives in mind: ensure client satisfaction and maintain a healthy productivity. As the primary assistant to Mr. Novy, she fulfills many roles, among them: financial analyst, finance/account manager, payroll manager, benefits administrator, building manager, personnel manager, quality control, and human resources manager. She finds it incredibly rewarding to be part of a professional, ambitious, and accomplished team and loves contributing to something she can be proud of. Ms. Hassall joined Novy & Associates in 2006. When not juggling her office duties, she enjoys spending quality time with her daughter, Jamison. Her many interests include reading, cooking, gardening, vacationing, or simply hitting the beach for the day.
Dorothy Jupinka has been a Medicaid specialist at Novy & Associates since 2007. Here, she works side by side with clients on their Medicaid paperwork, helping them navigate the sometimes confusing and complicated application process. Her role is extremely diverse and hands-on and often entails helping clients pay bills, making doctors' appointments, coordinating with outside agencies and facilities, and tending to other personal, financial, and healthcare issues. Ms. Jupinka has even helped her clients move, right down to hiring movers and packers, setting up the new home, and stocking its pantries. Compassionate, versatile, and efficient, Ms. Jupinka enjoys the variety of people she gets to work with on a daily basis.
As our firm's receptionist, Susan Korth greets clients, answers phones, inventories supplies, maintains the conference rooms, enters data, and schedules appointments. Patient, friendly, and compassionate, she has been with Novy & Associates since 2001. Ms. Korth enjoys meeting new people and is proud to be a member of the firm. When not in the office, she loves to cook, eat sushi, and travel "anywhere warm."
As a highly versatile estate administrator, Bess Landano works with a wide range of people and projects. Her job entails: estate settlement and administration, assisting executors with the probate process, collecting assets, providing notice of probate and notice to creditors, performing research for unclaimed property, and preparation of estate death tax returns, accounting, refunding bonds, and releases. In addition, she fulfills other duties that may be required to settle and administer an estate. Known for her organizational skills and creative writing talent, Ms. Landano also enjoys spending time in Atlantic City (where a trip to her favorite restaurant, Il Verdi's, is usually on the agenda), and vacationing with her grandsons.
Garth Michels joined Novy & Associates in 2005 and has been an invaluable member of our Medicaid support team. She consults with clients about their Medicaid needs and guides them through the complex application process. When appropriate, she liaises with geriatric-care managers and caregiver agencies to enable clients to remain in the comfort and stability of their own homes. In addition, Ms. Michels will assist in coordinating physician appointments, help clients pay bills, and perform other tasks as needed. Ms. Michels is particularly gifted and experienced with assisting clients through the difficult transition of placing family members into nursing facilities, when their healthcare and safety requires this transition. Her tremendous compassion for the elderly and disabled—coupled with a passion for meeting new people—makes her the ideal person for this role. 
Maria Russo has been working with Mr. Novy for more than 20 years. As an estate planning paraprofessional at Novy & Associates, she prepares estate planning documents such as wills, powers of attorney, living wills, and trust agreements. She also keeps track of clients' personal and medical needs and communicates with their healthcare providers and caretakers. On the creative side, Ms. Russo assists with the firm's marketing efforts and has been an integral part of the success of Novy & Associates’ radio show, "Inside the Law" (broadcast every other Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. on 1160 WOBM-AM). Proud to be a part of the Novy team, Ms. Russo enjoys giving her clients peace of mind by ensuring that their estate planning is in place.
As a real estate paralegal, Debra Wojcik handles the firm's real estate files and helps prepare documents for real estate transactions. In addition to keeping track of milestone dates (e.g., due dates for deposits, mortgage commitments, and inspection reports), she reviews title searches, surveys, and judgment searches, resolving any issues that may arise. Ms. Wojcik also reviews inspection reports with clients, schedules closing dates, and prepares closing statements, deeds, and all other documents needed for a real estate closing. Finally, she maintains constant contact with clients throughout the process, ensuring that the transaction goes smoothly. Ms. Wojcik joined Novy & Associates in 2000 and was drawn to its excellent reputation and knowledgeable, fun, caring staff. Her proudest moments on the job are when she's helped clients navigate a real estate deal that leaves them happy and satisfied. A Pittsburgh Steelers fan, she is also actively involved in charitable work with the B.P.O. Elks, which helps special needs children and veterans. She was the first and only female Exulted Ruler of the Brick Elks Club.