Nassau Bar Association Helping
Victims of WTC

By Stuart Markus
Long Island Business News
September 28, 2001

The Nassau County Bar Association has pledged to help county residents affected by the attacks on the World Trade Center and is appealing to its members to pitch in pro-bono.

The group is providing attorneys who can help families of victims with the maze of paperwork involved with getting a death certificate, executing wills, applying for survivors benefits, gaining access to bank and securities accounts and transferring assets.

Although survivors normally must wait several years to obtain a death certificate if there is no body, the state has moved to expedite the process in this case, said Bar Association spokeswoman Caryle Katz.

The association is offering attorneys who wish to volunteer a one-hour crash course on the paperwork involved, she added. It is also working with the Surrogate's Court to expedite applications for temporary letters of administration to address pressing financial needs.

Two local law firms - Farrell Fritz and Meltzer, Lippe, Goldstein & Schlissel - have opened their doors to victims' families to file affidavits in lieu of death certificates, which will be acceptable in order to file claims with insurance companies.

Lawyers volunteering with the NCBA also will assist armed forces reservists called up for active duty, who may face employment issues or need to draw up a will.

In addition, the association is offering access to computer terminals, fax and photocopy machines and meeting spaces to lawyers displaced by the tragedy. It will offer assistance to their clients as well.

The association's charitable arm, the NCBA/We Care Fund, has set up a special disaster relief fund. Checks payable to We Care, indicating disaster relief, should be sent to the Bar Association, 15th and West Streets, Mineola, 11501.

Nassau County residents in need of legal aid should call (516) 747-4070, ext. 214. Lawyers wishing to volunteer should call ext. 213. Bi-lingual attorneys are particularly needed.

In Suffolk County, call the Suffolk Bar Association at (631) 654-4900.