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 Special Needs Planning. Mr. Vanarelli was previously selected as a “New Jersey Super Lawyer” in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

The selection of outstanding lawyers designated as “Super Lawyers” identifies the top 5% of all lawyers in New Jersey who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The rigorous multi-step selection process includes peer evaluation, a review of credentials and current bar status, and review and approval from a blue ribbon panel of leading attorneys. The Super Lawyers selection methodology can be found here – http://www.superlawyers.com/about/selection_process.html.

In 2007, the New Jersey Supreme Court appointed a Special Master to conduct an investigation into, among other issues, the validity of the selection methodology used by “Super Lawyers” and other attorney ranking services. After a year-long investigation, the Special Master issued a 304 page report, concluding that the “Super Lawyers” methodology for selecting outstanding attorneys was appropriate. As a result, in 2008 our Supreme Court, for the first time, permitted attorneys to publicly identify themselves as having been selected for inclusion in the list of “New Jersey Super Lawyers.”  In re Opinion 39 of the Committee on Attorney Advertising, 197 N.J. 66 (2008)

Mr. Vanarelli, a Certified Elder Law Attorney, Accredited Veterans Attorney and Accredited Professional Mediator, represents older and disabled persons and their representatives in financing long-term medical care, nursing home issues, qualifying for Medicare, Medicaid and other public benefits, estate planning, probate, guardianship proceedings and special needs planning. Mr. Vanarelli also assists families in conflict through dispute resolution services, including litigation, probate and elder mediation, divorce mediation and collaborative law services.