Attorney at Law
Joseph A Mecca
Mr. Mecca is an experienced attorney with more than thirty years of experience in New York and New Jersey civil law and chancery practice. A member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, Mr. Mecca specializes in estate planning including Last Wills and Testaments, Durable Powers of Attorney, Living Wills, Advanced Directives, Family and Marital Trusts, estate administration and estate litigation. He also specializes in guardianship actions for the elderly and incapacitated individuals, intestacy actions, and pet trusts under NJSA*
*New Jersey Statutes Annotated. Title 3B. Administration of Estates-Decedents and Others. Chapter 11. Trusts and Trustees. Article 6. Trusts for Domesticated Animals. 3B:11-38. Trusts for care of domesticated animals.
Mr. Mecca received his B.A., in History, from Colgate University, Hamilton New York in 1978 and spent two semesters studying in Tehran, Iran and Rome, Italy.
Mr. Mecca received his JD, from The Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC in 1981.
After law school, Mr. Mecca worked for the New Jersey Tax Court and the Law Firms of Evans, Hand, Allabough & Amoresano and Philip H. Mizzone, Esq. before starting his own practice in 1986.
From 1990-1992, Joseph Mecca represented the 34th Legislative in the NJ General Assembly. He served on the NJ International Trade Commission and was a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1992.
Admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1981, the New York Bar in 1991.
Admitted to the United States Supreme Court in 2003.
He is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and participates in
several bar activities and ongoing continuous legal education program.
*New Jersey Statutes Annotated. Title 3B. Administration of Estates-Decedents and Others. Chapter 11. Trusts and Trustees. Article 6. Trusts for Domesticated Animals. 3B:11-38. Trusts for care of domesticated animals.
Mr. Mecca received his B.A., in History, from Colgate University, Hamilton New York in 1978 and spent two semesters studying in Tehran, Iran and Rome, Italy.
Mr. Mecca received his JD, from The Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America, Washington, DC in 1981.
After law school, Mr. Mecca worked for the New Jersey Tax Court and the Law Firms of Evans, Hand, Allabough & Amoresano and Philip H. Mizzone, Esq. before starting his own practice in 1986.
From 1990-1992, Joseph Mecca represented the 34th Legislative in the NJ General Assembly. He served on the NJ International Trade Commission and was a Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1992.
Admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1981, the New York Bar in 1991.
Admitted to the United States Supreme Court in 2003.
He is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and participates in
several bar activities and ongoing continuous legal education program.
Agostino ‘Gus’ Formato
Paralegal: Mr. Formato, a native of Nutley, New Jersey, received his B.A., in Political Science from Montclair State University in 2001, and continued his education at Seton Hall University School of Law, where he received his J.D. in 2005. Mr. Formato specializes in real estate closings, tax appeals, office research, preparation of guardianship and estate litigation pleadings for the Courts, and criminal expungements. Mr. Formato joined Joseph A. Mecca Esq., in 2000, providing support to Mr. Mecca on research topics, filing documents with courts, and preparation of summaries on points of law and case histories.
Mr. Formato and his wife, Jennifer Formato, make their home in Cedar Grove, New Jersey.
Debra Murphy
Paralegal Mrs. Murphy specializes in Estate Administration and the preparation of Inheritance and Estate tax returns, and assists clients in navigating the Medicaid Application process. She has over thirty years of experience preparing formal accounts. Mrs. Murphy and Mr. Mecca began working together thirty two years ago and continue as a team in the administration of estates and guardianships. Born in Jersey City, Debbie has worked for prominent New Jersey Attorneys since her youth.
She has three sons Christopher, Steven, and Tommy and resides in Totowa, New Jersey with her husband Edward, a retired homicide officer of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.
Lizeth ‘Liz’ Torres
Legal Assistant: Majoring in Philosophy and Women & Gender Studies with a minor in Pre-law, Ms. Torres graduated Cum Laude from Montclair State University, New Jersey in 2013. Ms. Torres performs and assists with office errands as well as all other office administrative duties. In addition, Ms. Torres responsibilities includes calendar coordination, client contact and communication, and attending to special projects as a key member of the support staff, including major fundraising events, client communications and public relations. She and her office associates visit Senior Centers on a regular basis.
Ms. Torres was born in Cali, Colombia and raised in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where she still resides with her family.