Vanarelli, Donald D.

Lawyer Overview

Donald D. Vanarelli is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, an ABA-certifying organization. Mr. Vanarelli represents older or disabled persons and their representatives in financing long-term medical care, nursing home issues, qualifying for Medicare, Medicaid and other public benefits, special needs planning, estate planning, probate and guardianship proceedings.

Mr. Vanarelli has also been approved as an Accredited Professional Mediator in civil, equity and probate litigation and serves as a mediator in family and divorce matters. He also has been trained in and practices Collaborative law.

Mr. Vanarelli has been a practicing attorney since 1983, admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York. Mr. Vanarelli is also a Registered Guardian. Before becoming an attorney, Mr. Vanarelli worked for the Social Security Administration deciding claims for benefits under the Social Security, SSI, Medicare and Medicaid programs. Mr. Vanarelli is a past Chairman of the Somerset County Elder Law Committee, and past Secretary of the New Jersey Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. He is also a member of the New Jersey Bar's Elder Law Section, the Union County Elder Law Committee and the National Guardianship Association. Mr. Vanarelli also served on the Board of Directors of Society on Aging of New Jersey as Social Policy chairperson and as Co-chair of the 2007 Guardianship Association of New Jersey Conference. Mr. Vanarelli was selected as a NJ Super Lawyer in 2007 and 2008 by a survey of his peers.

Mr. Vanarelli is a graduate of Montclair State College and Rutger's Law School. He served as Law Clerk to Hon. Herbert S. Alterman, J.S.C., and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kathmandu, Nepal.

For additional information regarding Donald D. Vanarelli, call us at (908) 232-7400 or click here to contact us online.

Areas of Practice

• Medicaid and Public Benefits Planning
• Special Needs & Disability Planning
• Guardianship & Fiduciary Services
• Will Contests, Probate Litigation & Elder Abuse Actions
• Medicaid Applications & Medicaid Appeals Comprehensive Life Care Planning
• Nursing Home Litigation
• Estate Planning and Administration
• Social Security Disability Appeals
• Family Law Services
• Dispute Resolution Services, Elder Mediation, Collaborative, Divorce Mediation

Representative Clients

• Planned Lifetime Assistance Network of New Jersey (PLAN/NJ)
• Assoc. of Retarded Citizens (ARC) of Union County Lifetime Support

Representative Cases

• In re Keri, 181 NJ 50 (2004) (NJ Supreme Court 2004)

West Practice Categories

Estate Planning, Elder Law, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Appointment, Trusts, Wills, Family Law, Adoption, Alimony & Spousal Support, Child Support, Collaborative Law, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Prenuptial Agreements, Government Agencies & Programs, Medicare & Medicaid, Social Security -- Disability, Veterans' Affairs, Government Contracts, Disability, Nursing Home, Probate & Estate Administration, Estate Administration

Bar Admissions

• New Jersey, 1983
• New York, 1984

Certification/Specialties

• Elder Law Attorney, National Elder Law Foundation, Accredited by the ABA

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Council of Advanced Practitioners of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, 2006 - Present (Founding Member)
• Academy of Special Needs Planners, 2006 - Present (Charter Member)
• National Guardianship Foundation, 2005 - Present (Registered Guardian)
• New Jersey Association of Professional Mediators, 2007 - Present (Accredited Professional Mediator)
• North Jersey and Central Jersey Collaborative Law Groups, 2007 - Present (Trained Professional in Collaborative Law)
• Union County Probate Early Settlement Panel, 2006 - Present (Panelist)
• National Organization of Social Security Claimants Representative, 1997 - Present (Member)

Honors and Awards

• NJ "Super Lawyer", 2007
• NJ "Super Lawyer", 2008 - Present
• "AV" Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, 2006 - Present

Pro Bono Activities

• Peace Corps Volunteer in Kathmandu, Nepal

Past Employment Positions

• Hon. Herbert S. Alterman, J.S.C., Law Clerk

Education

• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Law - Newark, Newark, New Jersey, 1983
  J.D.
• Montclair State College, Montclair, New Jersey
  B.A.
  Honors: Dean's List
  Major: English Literature
  Major: History

Ancillary Businesses

• Elder Mediation

References

• William A. Risberg, Jr., V.P., C.F.P.. Merrill Lynch Westfield, NJ
• Richard T. Alloto, Sr., CPA, Allorto Fox &Co LLC, Westfield, NJ
• Eric Strulewitz, Esq., Zeller & Strulewitz, Roseland, NJ
• Joseph Doren, CPA, Cohen, Doren, Haviairis & Collp, Jersey City, NJ
• Accounts in Order, Dorothy J. Doyle CFP, Tenafly, NJ
• Lawrence M. Kaplow, Vice President, Chase Manhattan Bank, Morristown, NJ

Address

242 St. Paul Street
Westfield, NJ 07090

Office Hours

Monday thru Friday - 9:00 A.M.–5:00 P.M., Consultations by Appointment only

Phones

(908) 232-7400

Faxes

(908) 232-7214

Emails

Contact Us

Websites

http://www.dvanarelli.com