Law Firm Overview

The Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli is committed to helping seniors and the disabled receive quality long-term care, while preserving assets for family and others. We strive to provide effective legal representation and obtain positive results for our clients through careful legal review and analysis, quality work, and timely and efficient service. Our attorneys combine vigorous advocacy with the exercise of thoughtful and discerning judgment. We assist clients and families in conflict through dispute resolution services, including litigation; estate, probate and elder mediation; divorce mediation; and, collaborative law services. We also educate other professionals and our client community through publications and seminars.

The Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli, with offices in Westfield, NJ, provides a broad range of legal services for the elderly, the disabled and their families. We successfully guide our clients through the complex areas of estate, trust and tax laws, public benefits laws, and court procedures. Our attorneys offer services of the highest professional standards in the following areas of practice:
 
Elder Law Services

• Estate Planning and Trust Administration
• Medicaid and Public Benefits Planning
• Special Needs and Disability Planning
• Guardianship and Fiduciary Services
• Will Contests and Probate Litigation
•  Medicaid Applications and Medicaid Appeals
• Nursing Home Law and Litigation
• Divorce Mediation and Collaborative Law
• Family Law Services
• Social Security Disability Appeals
• Estate, Probate and Elder Mediation Services

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning
• Elder Law
• Trusts
• Wills
• Ethics & Professional Responsibility
• Family Law
• Adoption
• Custody & Visitation
• Divorce
• Health & Health Care Law
• Nursing Home
• Litigation & Appeals
• Probate & Estate Administration

Published Works

• Guide to Retirement Benefits, Ch. 5 Practitioners Publishing Company, 5th Edition, 1999
• Rights of Nursing Home Residents, N.J. I.C.L.E., 1998
• A Guide to Medicare Coverage and Appeals, N.J. I.C.L.E., 1998
• Union County Jail Inmates v. D. Buano, 713 F.2d 984 (3rd Cir., 1983), Employee At-Will, 3rd Annual Symposium on Employment, 1989

Classes and Seminars

• How to Protect Your Assets From Catastrophic Nursing Home Costs, Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli-Woodbridge Library, February 24, 2005
• How to Protect Your Assets From Catastrophic Nursing Home Costs, Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli-Springfield Library, March 16, 2005
• How to Protect Your Assets From Catastrophic Nursing Home Costs, Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli-Scotch Plains Library, April 14, 2005
• How to Protect Your Assets From Catastrophic Nursing Home Costs, Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli-North Edison Library, May 17, 2005

Representative Cases

• Union County Jail Inmates v. D. Buano, 713 F.2d 984 (3rd Cir. 1983)

West Practice Categories

Estate Planning, Elder Law, Trusts, Wills, Ethics & Professional Responsibility, Family Law, Adoption, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Health & Health Care Law, Nursing Home, Litigation & Appeals, Probate & Estate Administration