Freehold, New Jersey · civil practice — small claims, Special Civil, landlord/tenant

Attorney advertising.

Now open — officially launching September 8, 2026

Civil practice for small claims, Special Civil Part, and landlord/tenant.

I’m Bonnie B. Henderson, Esq. I practice from Freehold / Monmouth County. This office is a civil practice first — New Jersey small claims, Special Civil Part, landlord/tenant, and related limited-scope civil work — for people who earn too much for legal aid and too little for a traditional retainer. Family work is a smaller part of the practice, taken when it fits.

Flat-fee civil practice: small claims, Special Civil Part, landlord/tenant, and related limited-scope work. You hire the office for a defined piece of work. If the case becomes contested, we tell you before the fee changes.

Retainers are required for anything contested. I take contested matters on a very limited basis.

I take all matters based on my case load and whether the case resonates with me. A meeting alone does not establish an attorney-client relationship. That relationship begins only after I have accepted the case and we have both signed a written retainer agreement.

Start with a note See fees

Woman-owned business Mom-owned business 7 years as an attorney 8 years as a professor

Limited-time special

Security Deposit Recovery

Landlord holding your deposit past the 30-day deadline?

Free 30-minute phone consult
Demand letter: $99 (normally $175)
Demand + pro se complaint assistance: $295 flat (normally $395). I draft the papers and give you a clear filing roadmap; you file and appear yourself
Prefer I appear? Complaint + appearance work at $200/hour, a promotional rate. Not a flat fee; the total depends on actual time

New Jersey law can allow double the amount wrongfully withheld, plus costs. That is not a promise of any result. Call 732-606-4516.

Ends January 2, 2027 or after the first 20 clients, whichever comes first. Written limited-scope retainer required. Court costs and filing fees extra. Full scope →

Practice areas

Civil first. Housing next. A little family when it fits.

You hire me for a defined piece of work. If the case becomes contested, I tell you before the fee changes.

Civil

Small claims, Special Civil Part, and limited-scope civil help.

Money disputes that fit New Jersey’s Special Civil Part, including the Small Claims section. Published flat fees for debt-suit defense, judgment collection, garnishment relief, contractor and car disputes, unpaid wages, property damage, underpaid insurance claims, condo and HOA disputes, small estates, and unemployment appeals. Appearances are hourly.

Civil practice →

Housing

Landlord and tenant work, when I believe the case.

I generally stand with tenants. I will still represent a landlord when I believe the eviction is warranted and the case is one I can stand behind. Landlord/tenant sits in Special Civil Part in New Jersey. Security-deposit recovery has published fees.

Housing →

Small business

LLC formation and contracts for a small shop.

A published LLC fee, then other small-business contracts quoted case by case. Limited-scope drafting and entity setup. Not outside general counsel on retainer.

Small business →

Discrimination

Help when you were treated unfairly because of who you are.

This is work I am passionate about: advocating for people who were treated unfairly because they are women, because they are transgender, because of race or disability, or because of another protected characteristic. Work, housing, school, or a public place. I will say so if the facts do not fit, or if you need a larger civil-rights team.

Discrimination →

A little family work

Limited-scope family help when it fits.

Family is a smaller part of this practice — not the main brand. Uncontested settlement drafting, agreed modifications, and related limited-scope family work when caseload and resonance allow. Core work is civil, small claims, Special Civil, and landlord/tenant.

Limited family work →

How this office works

Clear scope. Written fees. A retainer that lists what is in and what is out.

Civil matters get a written retainer that lists the scope. Family matters that I do take get a written Rule 5:3-5 retainer. If the other side contests, a custody evaluation is ordered, or assets need valuation, the flat fee ends or converts to hourly ($275/hr through December 8, 2026; $350/hr thereafter).

A free 30-minute phone consultation is available by appointment at 732-606-4516. A longer 45-minute consult (video or in person) is $125. A meeting, by itself, does not create an attorney-client relationship. Advice, drafting, and filing do not start until I have accepted the case and a written retainer is signed. This website is not the contract.

Read the fee page

A few published fees

Free phone consult, 30 minutes — $0
Longer consult, 45 minutes — $125
Security-deposit demand letter — $175
Security-deposit demand plus complaint — $395
Civil or family mediation, 2-hour session — $640
Car accident settlement negotiation — $500
LLC formation and operating agreement — $895 plus filing fees
Small-business client services contract — $500
Consumer debt suit: Answer drafted for you to file — $450
Judgment collection: information subpoena plus one garnishment or levy — $400
Unemployment appeal: preparation plus one hearing — $500
Adult name change — $750 plus court and publication costs
Real estate: 6 months of attorney review letters plus one closing — $2,000 (scope)

Each fee has a defined scope on the fees page. Court costs and filing fees are extra. If the work leaves that scope, it is quoted again before I continue. Eligible clients may receive a published discount on attorney work fees — see Discounts.

The lawyer

I’m a fellow mom in the Monmouth County community with a passion for advocacy, looking to represent other humans (and sometimes entities or animals) in a variety of matters.

That advocacy, for me, often means civil and housing work, standing with people experiencing discrimination, and — when it fits — limited family help for other parents. Seven years as an attorney. Eight years as a professor. Admitted in New Jersey and North Carolina. The market for this practice is New Jersey.

More about Bonnie →