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  • Paul W. Norris

    Paul W. Norris

    Shareholder

    Mr. Norris is certified as a Civil Trial Attorney as recognized by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Mr. Norris is also a member of the firm’s Litigation practice. Mr. Norris’ areas of practice generally include Probate Litigation, Construction Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Criminal and Municipal Court representation.

    Mr. Norris has an extensive Probate Litigation practice, which involves either defending or initiating Will contests on behalf of beneficiaries and purported beneficiaries of an Estate as well as related litigation concerning guardianship proceedings, applications to remove executors, or issues with the improper utilization of a power of attorney. He prosecutes and defends actions in this regard and serves as a Court appointed Mediator.

    Mr. Norris also represents General Contractors and Subcontractors in either defending or prosecuting claims on their behalf against owners, including federal and state agencies, and other contractors. He is also well versed in all aspects of New Jersey Lien Law, including bringing actions to foreclose upon Liens, or defending such actions. Mr. Norris also has substantial experience in prosecuting and defending Federal Miller Act claims which involve Federal construction projects, or actions which involve state or municipal contracts and their related claims.

    Mr. Norris also represents clients in all aspects of complex Commercial Litigation. He has successfully defended and prosecuted contractual claims, which have varied in their complexity, as well as complex franchise claims under the New Jersey franchise Practices Act. Further, Mr. Norris regularly litigates contractual disputes between corporate entities in both State and Federal Court.

    Finally, Mr. Norris has an active Criminal defense practice and represents clients in both Superior and Municipal Court. This practice includes both criminal and motor vehicle offenses in both venues.

    Mr. Norris is also Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney, which is a designation achieved by attorneys who have demonstrated extreme proficiency as trial attorneys.

    Bar/Court Admissions

    • New Jersey 
    • Pennsylvania
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York 
    • U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut
    • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit 

    Education

    • J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law, 1996
    • B.A., Indiana University, Spanish and Criminal Justice 1992

    Thought Leadership

    • Presenter, Guardianships for Persons Turning 18 and Contested Guardianships. Stark & Stark Webinar. April 23, 2024.
    • Presenter, Estate Planning: Guardianships for Incapacitated Persons. Stark & Stark Webinar. February 28, 2023.
    • Author, How to Manage a Construction Project. Mid Atlantic Real Estate Journal Vol. 34, Issue 5. May 20, 2022.
    • Presenter, Failure to Disclose Litigation in New Jersey. Pennsylvania Bar Institute (PBI) CLE. August 16, 2019.
    • Author, Construction Litigation Blogs – various topics
    • Author, Dealing with a Breaching Subcontractor: From Breach to Judgment. New Jersey Construction Magazine. Spring 2019.
    • Author, Getting Your Affairs in Order. NJ.com. April 9, 2018.
    • Presenter, The New Jersey Prompt Pay Act vs. Contractual “Pay When Paid” Provisions. ACCNJ’s Construction Law for Construction Professionals Seminar. October 5, 2017.
    • Author, What Sellers, Buyers Should Understand About Seller’s Disclosure Statement. NJ.com. July 7, 2017.
    • Author, Third Circuit Decision May Impact Construction Liens. New Jersey Law Journal. May 22, 2017.
    • Author, Ownership of Joint Accounts and Related Litigation. NJ.com. May 19, 2017.
    • Author, Contesting a Will: Best Practices for Successful Probate Litigation. NJ.com. June 24, 2016.
    • Presenter, Reclaiming Your Inheritance – New Jersey Estate Litigation.” Stark & Stark Webinar. January 2015.
    • Author, Contesting a Will. U.S.1. March 6, 2013.

    Honors & Awards

    • New Jersey Super Lawyers Rising Stars List issued by Thompson Reuters (Methodology)
      • 2006 – 2009; Estate & Trust Litigation, Construction Litigation, General Litigation
    • Best Lawyers List issued by Woodward/White, Inc. (Methodology)
      • 2026; Construction Law; Litigation – Construction

    * No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

    Professional Organizations

    • Mercer County Bar Association – Member
    • Mercer County Inns of Court – Member
    • Mercer Counsel on Alcohol and Drug Addiction – Chairman
    • Associated Construction Contractors of New Jersey – Member
    • New Jersey State Bar Association – Member
    • Utility and Transportation Contractors Association

    Community Organizations

    • Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Hero Ambassador
    • CBAA Buckingham United, Soccer Coach

    Guardianship for Special Needs Children Turning 18

    Guardianship for Special Needs Children Turning 18
    Legal Insights for Individuals & Families
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    Although in most instances people prepare last wills and testaments prior to their passing, there are still many instances where a person does not...
    Legal Insights for Individuals & Families
    July 6, 2026
    If you are seeking to contest a Will, a major consideration will be how you will pay for the counsel fees to engage in this process. In general, you...
    Legal Insights for Individuals & Families
    May 15, 2026
    Life is often unfair. That is the reality that most of us have come to realize as we age. While we would hope that we will be treated fairly by a...
    Legal Insights for Individuals & Families
    March 19, 2026
    There is no doubt that the loss of a loved one is an emotional time in a person’s life, and there will certainly be a period of grieving after the...
    Legal Insights for Individuals & Families
    February 19, 2026
    In the majority of estates, when a decedent passes they often have a home or other parcel of real property that was titled in their name. In most...
    Firm News
    August 21, 2025
    We are excited to highlight the successes of our attorneys featured in the prestigious 2026 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America. This year, we...
    Firm News
    March 30, 2025
    Certified Attorneys are recognized by the state’s Board of Legal Specialization for their extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of civil...
    Firm News
    January 11, 2022
    Stark & Stark is proud to announce that Shareholder Paul Norris was selected as a 2021 Go-To Thought Leader by the National Law Review for...

    Firm Highlights

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