The Journal of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (“NAELA Journal”) is a semiannual law journal containing substantive and scholarly articles by practicing members, professors, and other elder law professionals. The NAELA Journal covers elder law and special needs planning topics including: preservation of assets, Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, disability, health insurance, tax planning,.. read more →

Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq., with offices at 242 St. Paul Street, Westfield, NJ, has been selected as a “New Jersey Super Lawyer” in the areas of Elder Law and Special Needs Planning in 2010.  This year, only 23 attorneys in New Jersey were selected as “Super Lawyers” in the practice area of Elder Law and.. read more →

Westfield, New Jersey – The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) has announced that Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq., a Certified Elder Law Attorney and Accredited Veterans Attorney with offices in Westfield, NJ, has attended the 2010 NAELA UnProgram, an unstructured learning experience that emphasizes peer-to-peer education, held in Dallas, Texas, on January 22-24. Some.. read more →

Did you know that, under New Jersey law, you are entitled to receive compensation for services rendered as a fiduciary, such as an Executor, Administrator, Trustee, Guardian, Agent under a Power of Attorney and Conservator? Well, you are. Any compensation paid to a fiduciary in New Jersey is called a “commission”.  The amount of any.. read more →

On December 2, 2009, I spoke at the “Elder Law College” sponsored by New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education. The “College” was held at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick, NJ. I was “Professor For A Day”, lecturing the many worthy students in attendance about Veterans Benefits and Social Security disability and.. read more →

This past weekend, November 7 – 8, 2009, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) held a conference for members in Jersey City, New Jersey entitled “The Public Benefits and Guardianship Institute.” This was the first time that NAELA held one of its events in New Jersey. The conference consisted of a variety of.. read more →

This week, the New Jersey Supreme Court changed the ethics rules to allow lawyers, for the first time, to mention their inclusion in Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, the Martindale-Hubbell AV rankings or other rating services in advertisements and other promotional materials distributed to the public. Under the original Rule of Professional Conduct 7.1(a)(3),.. read more →

Aging Well is a magazine for professionals involved with the aging and elderly population.  Aging Well magazine also maintains a website, here. In the July/August 2009 edition, Aging Well magazine published an article which I wrote entitled “Assessing the Need for Guardianship”. The article attempts to explain the concept of competency or capacity, and the.. 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 →

Highly regarded Certified Elder Law Attorney among just five percent of lawyers in state to be recognized with prestigious professional designation. Donald D. Vanarelli, Esq., with offices at 242 St. Paul Street, Westfield, NJ, has been selected as a “New Jersey Super Lawyer” in the areas of Elder Law and Estate Planning in 2009.  Mr… read more →

I am happy to report that, as of September 19, 2008, I am an accredited attorney for “the preparation, presentation and prosecution of claims for veterans benefits before the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).” The purpose of VA’s accreditation program is to ensure that claimants for VA benefits receive qualified assistance in preparing and presenting.. 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 →