In a recent press release, the New Jersey judiciary announced that it is adopting an array of internet social media tools to keep lawyers, litigants and the public better informed of court developments. The court system now has a Twitter feed and uses cell phone text messages to send out breaking news alerts. These cover.. read more →

Judges, like everyone else, have been affected by the treasure trove of information available on the internet, and have slowly begun basing judicial decisions on internet sources. However, until recently citing internet sources in judicial opinions has been a haphazard affair, with little guidance provided anywhere on how to identify reliable sources, how to present.. read more →

The National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) is an organization established in 1993, primarily by members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, known as NAELA. NELF assists the public in identifying attorneys qualified to practice the legal specialty of elder law by providing the only national certification in the field of elder law approved.. read more →

I am happy to report that the owner of this weblog has been elected as the Vice-Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Elder and Disability Law Section. The slate of incoming officers of the NJSBA Elder and Disability Law Section follows: Chair – Bob Brogan Vice Chair & Retreat Coordinator – Don Vanarelli Secretary.. read more →

The elderly and special needs population today faces legal issues that are increasing in both number and complexity. The issues affecting our elders and the disabled include ever-changing laws and regulations governing Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, as well as related issues such as estate planning, disability and long term care planning, guardianships, elder abuse,.. read more →

The Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, a nonpolitical, nonpartisan research institute, recently published its Sixth Annual Report on the State of the News Media in the United States. The Project editor called it “the bleakest report ever issued.” I found the report fascinating. I grew up reading newspapers, and still subscribe to.. read more →

In spite of all of the complaining that lawyers do about their jobs and clients do about their lawyers, law is far from the worst profession one can have, a recent study finds. Of 200 jobs rated by Careercast based on environment, income, employment outlook, physical demands and stress, the 10 most desirable jobs were.. read more →

Ending months of anticipation, New Jersey’s highest court has struck down Opinion 39, a prohibition on attorneys advertising their selections in Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review and other comparative ratings guides. The Court, in a unanimous ruling on December 17, 2008, agreed with a Special Master who found in a report.. read more →

NJBIZ is a weekly magazine covering business news in New Jersey. In the May 5, 2008 edition of NJBIZ, the top 25 mediators in the Business/Commercial practice areas were identified by the publication. The selections were based on the total number of cases mediated. I am proud to report that I was rated No. 20.. read more →

Until recently, I paid absolutely no attention to the annual announcement of New Jersey’s Super Lawyers. Having practiced law for 25 years, I’d seen my share of wins and losses, both the result of hard work, mental toughness and grit, with the wins often separated from the losses by what seemed to me to be.. read more →

Elder law a niche legal practice area. Only 39 lawyers in New Jersey have been certified as elder law attorneys by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) of Tucson, Ariz., which is authorized by the American Bar Association to grant the certification. The foundation has certified fewer than 400 elder law attorneys nationwide. Certified elder.. read more →

Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq. was among the 140 attendees of the 2nd Annual Meeting of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, which took place March 28-29 in New Orleans. Special needs planning is one of the fastest-growing areas of estate planning. Attorneys in the field focus on helping individuals with special needs and their families.. read more →

Certified Elder Law Attorney Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq. is among the contributors to The CPA’s Guide to Long-Term Care Planning, just published by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and available at Amazon.com. The demand and cost for long-term care services are expected to skyrocket in the next two decades. It is estimated.. read more →