G.M., a 73 year old stroke victim, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, schizoaffective and bipolar disorders. After G.M. filed a Medicaid application, the Atlantic County Board of Social Services (Board) notified G.M. that his application was denied because he did not provide necessary information. Several months later, G.M.’s designated authorized representative (DAR) submitted.. read more →
Elder and Disability Law News for November 2019 from the Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli
For additional information concerning NJ elder law and special needs planning visit: NJ Elder Law and Estate Planning Services For additional information concerning elder abuse actions, visit: Will Contests, Probate Litigation and Elder Abuse Actions read more →
In 1995, Frances and Larnie Shaw, prepared a number of estate planning documents. One of the documents, a testamentary trust created by Frances, was known as “Credit Shelter Trust.” Larnie and Janice, one of the Shaws’ three daughters, were designated as co-trustees of the Credit Shelter Trust. The Shaws’ other daughters were Carolyn and Shirley… read more →
On November 5, 2019, I presented at the Fall Meeting of the Essex/Hudson/Union Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Public Accountants held at Kean University in Hillside, New Jersey. I presented an overview of the various types of revocable and irrevocable trusts used by estate planners and by elder law and special needs planning.. read more →
The decedent, Felix Fornaro, had two children: his daughter Linda (plaintiff) and his son Carmine (defendant). In December 2011, the decedent executed a Last Will and Testament leaving 80% of his estate Carmine and 10% to Linda, with the remainder passing to his grandchildren. A year later, Mr. Fornaro died. Linda challenged the 2011 will… read more →
We are pleased to announce that Donald D. Vanarelli has been recognized as a 2020 New Jersey Super Lawyer in Elder Law. This is the 14th consecutive year in which Mr. Vanarelli has been named to New Jersey’s Super Lawyers list. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have.. read more →
Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq. to Discuss Social Security and Medicare Issues at 21st Annual Elder and Disability Law Symposium
21st Annual Elder and Disability Law Symposium Presented in cooperation with the NJSBA Elder and Disability Law Section Format/Skill Level: Meeting Location: APA Hotel Woodbridge, 120 S. Wood Ave Iselin, NJ 08830 Date: December 18, 2019 Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq. (http://VanarelliLaw.com/) will present at the 21st Annual Elder and Disability.. read more →
Elder and Disability Law News for October 2019 from the Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli
For additional information concerning NJ elder law and special needs planning visit: NJ Elder Law and Estate Planning Services read more →
2019 Elder Law College Format/Skill Level: Meeting Location: Doubletree By Hilton, 690 Route 46 E Fairfield, NJ 07004 Date: December 10, 2019 Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM ET Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq. (http://VanarelliLaw.com/) will present at the 2019 Elder Law College given by the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education on December 10,.. read more →
On October 11, 2016, the decedent’s 2014 will was admitted to probate by her niece Frances (the “defendant-executor”). Therefore, pursuant to R. 4:85-1 of the New Jersey Rules of Court, a complaint seeking to contest the will should have been filed within 4 months of probate, or in this case, by February 10, 2017. However,.. read more →
For additional information concerning special needs trusts and disability planning, visit: NJ Special Needs Trusts and Disability Planning read more →
For additional information concerning special needs trusts and disability planning, visit: NJ Special Needs Trusts and Disability Planning read more →
Elder and Disability Law News for August 2019 from the Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli
For additional information concerning NJ elder law and special needs planning visit: NJ Elder Law and Estate Planning Services _______________________________________________ ABOUT DONALD D. VANARELLI Donald D. Vanarelli has been a practicing attorney since 1983 in New Jersey and New York. Don provides legal services in the areas of elder law, estate planning, trust administration, special.. read more →
Moses Ratowsky created an irrevocable trust for the benefit of his grandson, Daniel Schreiber (hereinafter the grandson). Petitioners, the co-trustees of the irrevocable trust, filed an application to appoint the principal of the trust to a new special needs trust that would allow the grandson to retain the benefits of the original trust while preserving.. read more →
Lawsuit By Nursing Home Against Daughter of Resident Who Transferred Money to Herself Dismissed
New Jersey appeals court held that a nursing home does not have standing to bring a lawsuit against the daughter/power of attorney of a resident who transferred the resident’s money to herself, causing a Medicaid penalty period. Future Care Consultants v. M.D. (N.J. Super. Ct., App. Div., No. A-4565-17T1, July 5, 2019). M.D. cared for her.. read more →
Elder and Disability Law News for July 2019 from the Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli
For additional information concerning NJ elder law and special needs planning visit: NJ Elder Law and Estate Planning Services _______________________________________________ ABOUT DONALD D. VANARELLI Donald D. Vanarelli has been a practicing attorney since 1983 in New Jersey and New York. Don provides legal services in the areas of elder law, estate planning, trust administration, special education,.. read more →
The decedent’s eldest daughter Francine was the executrix of her estate. In 2011, the attorney for the executrix forwarded an informal accounting and Refunding Bond & Release (the “Refunding Bond”) to the executrix’s sister Susan (a beneficiary of the estate), who signed and returned the Refunding Bond the next day. Eight years later, Susan sued.. read more →
Elder and Disability Law News for June 2019 from the Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli
For additional information concerning NJ elder law and special needs planning visit: NJ Elder Law and Estate Planning Services _______________________________________________ ABOUT DONALD D. VANARELLI Donald D. Vanarelli has been a practicing attorney since 1983 in New Jersey and New York. Don provides legal services in the areas of elder law, estate planning, trust administration, special education,.. read more →
A power of attorney does not have to return money she took from her now deceased principal because the power of attorney removed the money for Medicaid planning purposes. In re Estate of Hirnyk (Pa. Super. Ct., No. 84 WDA 2018, April 16, 2019). Maria Hirnyk, a Ukrainian immigrant, did not drive and required assistance with.. read more →
Elder and Disability Law News for May 2019 from the Law Office of Donald D. Vanarelli
For additional information concerning estate planning and administration, visit: Estate Planning and Administration For additional information concerning NJ elder law and special needs planning visit: NJ Elder Law and Estate Planning Services read more →
In a decision by Honorable Robert P. Contillo, P.J.Ch. that was affirmed by our Appellate Division, the court analyzed complex family relationships to determine if gifts were made in good faith or the result of undue influence. The decedent had two children. Her daughter (the plaintiff) was the executrix and a beneficiary of her estate… read more →
The decedent’s godchildren sought to probate a purported will that the decedent had neither reviewed nor signed. The decedent, who was 90 and in fragile health, had had a telephone conversation with an attorney she had never met. Based upon that conversation, the attorney drafted the decedent’s 17-page will. The decedent never had the opportunity.. read more →
After Mrs. Dreher died and her son probated her will, her daughter filed a complaint objecting to the probate. The plaintiff claimed that the will was the product of undue influence, and that her mother lacked testamentary capacity to sign the will. After four days of trial, the parties settled the case, and the terms.. read more →
The decedent’s daughter-in-law and grandchildren filed an action seeking to set aside the decedent’s 2016 will that disinherited them, and to admit a prior will and codicil. They claimed that the decedent lacked testamentary capacity to make the 2016 will, and that the decedent’s daughter had exercised undue influence to cause the decedent to disinherit.. read more →
The New Jersey legislature has passed a medical aid in dying bill which Governor Murphy has indicated he will sign. The new law states that [New Jersey] affirms the right of a qualified terminally ill patient, protected by appropriate safeguards, to obtain medication that the patient may choose to self-administer in order to bring about.. read more →
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