Mary W. Barrett

Mary W. Barrett, Shareholder, has been practicing in Stark & Stark’s Community Associations Group since 1998. She concentrates her practice in the representation of homeowners associations, condominium associations, and cooperatives throughout New Jersey.

Mary assists community associations with contract preparation and review, policy resolutions and rule creation, amendments to governing documents, covenant enforcement, trustee elections, governing document interpretation, assessment collection, transition, loans and financing, housing discrimination defense, and general corporate counsel.

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Bar/Court Admissions

New Jersey
California

Education

J.D., Southwestern University Law School, 1996
- Associate Editor, The Law Review
B.S., Business Administration and Marketing, California State University, Northridge, 1987

Thought Leadership

Presenter, Topics Affecting Community Associations. NJICLE. April 9, 2025.
Presenter, Hot Topics (Emotional Support Animals in Community Associations). NJICLE Community Association Law Conference. November 13, 2024.
Presenter, Lawyer Retirement Starter Series: Issues in Senior Living Communities. American Bar Association CLE. March 19, 2024.
Presenter, Board Leadership Development Workshop. Community Associations Institute – New Jersey Chapter. March 17-18, 2022.
Speaker, Governance and Operation at the Fundamentals of Community Association Law Program. NJICLE. June 9, 2021.
Speaker, Steps of the Perfect Project: Contract Tips that Protect the Association and Shift Risk. Cooperator Events New Jersey Virtual Expo. April 28, 2021.
Quoted, State Laws are Complicating Elections. Community Association Management Insider. February 12, 2020.
Author, Five Written Policies Every Community Association Should Have. Community Trends. August 2018.
Author, Community Associations Must Address Harassment which Constitutes Housing Discrimination. Community Trends. November 2017.
Author, Five Things to Know for a Condo’s Next DCA Inspection. NJ.com. May 15, 2017.
Co-Author, Understanding Statutory Deadlines in Transition. Community Trends. August 2016.
Author, Five Essential Qualities of Successful Condo/HOA Board Members. NJ.com. July 15, 2016.
Presenter, Introduction to Condominium Law. NJSBA Construction Law 2016: Hot Topics for Residential and Commercial Construction Practicioners. June 9, 2016.
Presenter, Demystifying Community Association Insurance. New Jersey Cooperator’s Condo, HOA, Co-op & Apartment Expo. May 11, 2016.
Author, Whipping Your Board into Shape: What Property Managers Need to Teach Their Board Members – Part Three: Transitioning From the Developer. CAMICB Continuing Education Course. March 2016.
Author, Whipping Your Board into Shape: What Property Managers Need to Teach Their Board Members – Part Two: Collection Issues. CAMICB Continuing Education Course. March 2016.
Author, Whipping Your Board into Shape: What Property Managers Need to Teach Their Board Members – Part One: Basic Governance. CAMICB Continuing Education Course. March 2016.
Author, What Every Property Manager Needs to Know About Vendor Contracts. CAMICB Continuing Education Course. March 2016.
Co-Author, Insurance Basics for Property Managers. CAMICB Continuing Education Course. March 2016.
Author, Amending Governing Documents and Adopting Community Rules. CAMICB Continuing Education Course. March 2016.
Speaker, Construction Law 2015: Tackling Contract Provisions and Insurance Issues. NJICLE, presented in cooperation with NJSBA Construction Law Section. November 12, 2015.
Co-Author, Do Unit Owners Have a Right to View BOD Minutes if They Are Allowed to Attend BOD Meetings? Association Help Now. September 24, 2015.
Author, Every Community Association Has One: Dealing with Problem Residents. CAMICB Continuing Education Course. July 2015.
Speaker, Every Community Association Has One: Dealing with “Problem” Residents. The NJ Cooperator Expo. May 9, 2015.
Speaker, Resolutions and Amendments. Board Member Basics: The Foundation for Success. Board Member Training Day, Taylor Management Company, April 2014.
Speaker, The Essentials of Community Association Leadership. Community Associations Institute – New Jersey Chapter, April 2014.
Author, Everything You Need to Know to Run a Problem Free Community Association Meeting. CAMICB Continuing Education Course. February 2014.
Author, Implementing Effective Rule Enforcement and Managing Efficient ADR. CAMICB Continuing Education Course. February 2014.
Co-Author, Collecting and Towing: How to Recover from Delinquent Owners. CAMICB Continuing Education Course. February 2014.
Speaker, ADR in Community Associations. Community Associations Institute – Pennsylvania and Delaware Valley Chapter. April 2013.
Speaker, Boot Camp for Board Members; Basic Training That Every Community Association Leader Needs. Women Attorneys Initiative. April 2013.
Speaker, Legal Lessons: Who to Call, How to Budget & What Your Board Can Learn from Others. The New Jersey Cooperator’s Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo, May 2012.
Author, Association Minutes Even Your Lawyer Will Love. Community Trends. December 2011.
Speaker, Understanding Community Association Clubs. Community Associations Institute Conference – New Jersey Chapter Conference and Expo, October 2010.
Author, Practical ADR for Practical Associations. Community Trends. June 2010.
Author, The New Predatory Towing Act. The New Jersey Lawyer. June 23, 2008.
Author, Rule Enforcement and Injunctive Relief: A Roadmap to Success. Community Trends. April 1999.

Honors & Awards

Community Associations Institute, Author of the Year (2011)

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Professional Organizations

New Jersey State Bar Association
Mercer County Bar Association
Community Associations Institute, New Jersey Chapter (CAI-NJ) – Board of Directors