Client Reviews, Testimonials and Professional Recommendations

This page of our website contains client reviews, testimonials and professional recommendations for our Elder Law, Estate and Special Needs Planning law firm. Each review or testimonial was provided by an actual client of our firm. To protect client privacy, we have identified clients by first name or initials only. We have also included recommendations for our law firm on this page provided by lawyers and other professionals. All recommendations from professionals are authentic.

We love what we do, we work hard for our clients and we think it shows in the high quality services we deliver. However, the testimonials included below do not guarantee that other clients will get the same or similar results. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. For more information, please read our Website Disclaimer and Terms of Use page.

CLIENT REVIEWS, TESTIMONIALS

and

PROFESSIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Peter:

From the AVVO website, at http://bit.ly/2d8Z89w. “Guardianship Proceeding / Wills – 5.0 stars” 

“We initially hired Mr. Vanarelli’s law firm to initiate a guardianship proceeding on behalf of our young adult son with special needs. While we were at it we decided to update our wills and related documents. From the consultation through the court order, we received thoughtful consideration of our needs, advice, guidance and support, along with expertise and experience. It was a stressful process for us that was made much easier by Don and his very caring staff. and we achieved our goals without any unnecessary stress or problems.”

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Gail:

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Annamae:

“Dearest Mr. Vanarelli: Thank you for your patience, guidance, understanding and kindness in dealing with what was a very difficult undertaking in my life, since my dear [husband’s] passing. I am very thankful.” 

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Kevin P.:

“Working with Mr. Vanarelli was the perfect combination of high-level, professional representation and personal service. Even on a day when Mr. Vanarelli succeeded in a case before the New Jersey Supreme Court, he made me and my family feel like we were his highest priority. I would highly recommend his firm to anyone with elder law-related questions or issues.” 

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L.H.:

“Dear Mr. Vanarelli, It was such a great relief for me to meet you, and thank you for your willingness to give me your understanding, expertise and the amazing help you gave me. I apologize for my distress, it’s just so overwhelming, but I’m extremely grateful to you. I hope to be able to do everything you told me to and to be able to give back to you and pay for your services. I wish I could “barter” and give you Irish Whistle lessons! Thank you so much.”

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Phyllis L.:

Everything was done exceptionally well!

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Shirley D.:

“[It] was wonderful that Mr. Vanarelli came to the nursing home and advised us as what to do. He was very kind and understanding under trying times. Thank you so much.”

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Stephen A. Mielach, LCSW, NMG, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, National Master Guardian, Mielach Associates

“Don, Just wanted to thank you for good work on behalf of [client].  He was my mother’s classmate in high school and our families have known each other for many years.  When [client’s daughter] told me about the problems she was having with him and the estate issues, I knew you were the best man for the job.  Have not spoken with her in quite a while and she raved about what great care you took to establish his estate and help him get his wishes protected before he declines. I have more cases , , , so I hope to have more referrals for you if the need arises. Hope all is well,”

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Frances:

“The attorneys at the law office of Donald D. Vanarelli helped me with many legal issues when my husband was in a long term acute hospital, such as asset protection planning, living wills and powers of attorney. Law firm personnel came to the hospital so my husband could sign the legal documents and they treated him with respect and compassion and made what could have been a stressful situation, a very pleasant one for him. I am so thankful for that. When he passed away, they administered the estate for me. It was such an upsetting time for me, but their help eased the stress for me.”

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Dana Bookbinder, Esq., Certified Elder Law Attorney:

“Don is an extremely knowledgeable and effective advocate for his clients. His work has resulted in landmark decisions that have increased rights for seniors and individuals with special needs and paved the way for other attorneys to make recommendations on certain key issues to their clients. His integrity, generosity in helping others, and enthusiasm for his field are truly exceptional.”

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Kevin B:

 “I won my award from the Department of Veterans Affairs for an increase from 30% to 60% for my skin disorder. I am very happy and satisfied with this outcome. Please convey my gratitude and sincere appreciation to Mr. Vanarelli as well as the entire firm for the outstanding representation and support that you all have levied on my behalf. Thank-you very much!” 

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Jim C.:

“Thank you for all your hard work, and please extend our thanks to Mr Vanarelli.  We very much appreciate his advice and thoughtful consideration of our particular situation.”

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Joe and Mary:

“Quality, Customer Service, Timeliness, Offerings, Exceeded Expectations!”

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Deirdre Wheatley-Liss, Esq., Partner at Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C.:

“Don is an incredibly generous attorney, both to clients and colleagues. He has that knack of taking his vast experience with both litigation and elder law and delivering it in a way that everyone is his audience understands how what he is saying applies to their situation. 

This generous spirit is fully reflected on his blog, which is *the* source of New Jersey elder law issues in my opinion (my highest compliment being that I frequently quote from it). Don lives the mantra that by educating the public about elder law issues they can become empowered to make the right decisions.”

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Helen C. Dodick, Esq., Acting Public Guardian for Elderly Adults, Division of Aging Services, New Jersey Department of Human Services:

“Don, Thanks so much for all your help today. I see that things go much better (or less worse) when we are represented by someone who engenders the unquestionable respect of the Court (and who deserves it).”

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 Rand:

“Mr. Vanarelli and his staff handled my mother’s estate planning with ultimate professionalism, and responded in a timely manner in all of our exchanges of information and documents. He explained the meanings of some of the legal verbiage clearly, so we had a full understanding of what the documents contained. I would not hesitate to use his services again.”

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Cheryl:

“Mr.Vanarelli and his staff were very professional and knowledgeable of the Medicaid application process. Our situation was a bit complex and we were very pleased with his ability to assess the issues at hand and develop a solution that worked for everyone concerned. I would not advise that anyone attempt a Medicaid application on their own as it can be quite overwhelming to say the least. Enlistment of a professional is money very well spent and I would definitely recommend Mr. Vanarelli for this purpose.”

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Joseph Noto, Esq., Family Law Attorney in Wyckoff, NJ:

“I’ve known Don for quite a few years and he is an excellent mediator as well as an elder law attorney. We trained together for mediation and I would recommend him to people seeking mediation or elder law advice.”

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Thomas Begley III, Esq., Estate Planning Attorney in Mount Laurel, NJ:

“Don Vanarelli is one of the foremost elder law attorneys in the State of New Jersey. He is a tireless advocate for the elderly and disabled. His knowledge is superseded solely by his compassion for others. I would recommend Don to any prospective client.”

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Loretta:

“I had two occasions where I hired Mr. Vanarelli. The first was to file a Medicaid application for a family member. This situation came upon us quite suddenly and we felt very helpless. Mr. Vanarelli is very knowledgeable in the process of filing a Medicaid application. The staff at Mr. Vanarelli’s office is also very knowledgeable and very helpful. Filing a Medicaid application is very complicated and time consuming. Mr. Vanarelli and his staff were able to file the application on time and my family member was approved for Medicaid immediately.

The second occasion was a real estate matter. Mr. Vanarelli handled the sale of my home and the purchase of a condo. Again, Mr. Vanarelli and his staff handled our matter professionally and we were very pleased with the outcome.

I would recommend Mr. Vanarelli with no hesitation and I think he is very trustworthy and knowledgeable.”

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Kathryn Gilbert, Esq., Divorce Lawyer in Hackensack, NJ:

“Don is very knowledgeable and hardworking. I turn to him with all of my elderly clients needs. I highly recommend him.”

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Mr. W.:

“For the unfortunate circumstances of getting a divorce, the experience in your office was very pleasant. I was very satisfied with the services rendered. Thank you very much.”

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Judith A:

“Donald Vanarelli is a first rate estate planning and elder law attorney. He keeps up with the changes in his field of expertise and he goes all out for his clients. Highly recommended.”

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K.W.B. – Awesome Attorney!:

“I am a disabled veteran who was in need of an attorney who is well versed in how the Veterans Administration administers disability ratings. Mr. Vanarelli was more than qualified to meet this requirement as well as the parameters of my specific claim. He and his law firm provided me with outstanding representation and efficient guidance. Furthermore, his knowledge and professionalism led to a positive outcome for which I am forever grateful for. Additionally, his skill as an attorney achieved the maximum disability benefit on my behalf and he made every effort to assure this within the final outcome. He has years of experience in dealing with disability claims and this experience led to a successful claim on my behalf; I could not have done it on my own without him and his law firm. Furthermore, he and his law firm had properly guided me at every step of the process and they engaged with me on a regular basis to make sure that each objective was being met. At first, I was reluctant to hire an attorney at all; but now I know that would have been an extremely terrible mistake on my behalf. Before I hired Mr. Vanarelli, I asked him for his best judgment on my specific case and he graciously provided it. That’s when I knew for sure that he was the representation I was looking for. Not once did I feel as if my case was not being given the attention it needed from Mr. Vanarelli and his law firm. This really made me feel comfortable with the entire process as well as completely satisfied with the representation I was being afforded.

Mr. Vanarelli made sure that I was in the loop throughout the entire process and this really benefited me when it came time to proceed to my hearing. He and his law firm reviewed all of the evidence that was obtained and then they followed-up with me to make sure if there was anything else that needed to be accounted for. They also put together a review packet which assisted me in my preparation so as to be on track during the hearing. This really helped! Also, Mr Vanarelli and his law firm reflected a genuine concern for my needs and disability issue. They did this by checking up on my well-being; both physical and mental, on a regular basis. He and his law firm continually made suggestions and recommendations when it came to medical stuff for which I did not consider. For example, they recommended that I see an outside dermatologist. I did just that and because of this recommendation I was able to achieve a better and more precise evaluation of my disability.

It is fair for me to state that Mr. Vanarelli will go to great lengths; under the law, to achieve the best outcome for his clients. He has a lengthy portfolio of experience for which to draw upon and he even referenced a prior case to the judge that was similar to mine. This really helped me to win my claim because it greatly reflected his knowledge of the law. Furthermore, I live all the way across the U.S. from Mr. Vanarelli and his law firm; yet, the communication between us was so proficient that I didn’t even notice.

If your a veteran who is seeking a disability claim, or a disabled veteran seeking an increase in disability, then I highly recommend Mr. Vanarelli and his law firm. They will not leave you unattended. Furthermore, Mr. Vanarelli will give you 100% solid representation with a genuine concern towards your specific need(s). He and his firm are fully dedicated towards the success of the client and they will work extremely hard to compile, analyze, and distribute all of the facts at hand. From where I stand, you really cannot ask for much more because I’m living proof of how dedicated and driven Mr. Vanarelli is at achieving success on behalf of his clients.”

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Andrew Economos, Esq., Family Law Attorney in Monroe Township, NJ:

“I found Donald to be very reasonable and professional. It is clear that his clients’ best interests are his paramount concern.”

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Michael Hrycak, Esq., Appeals Lawyer in Westfield, NJ:

“Don has been very informative, helpful and is responsive to clients and fellow attorneys. I have relied upon his advice and counsel in the areas of elder law and Surrogate Court practice, in both New Jersey and New York. I refer clients to Don and his associates.”

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Christian Lassen, Esq., Personal Injury Lawyer in Philadelphia, PA:

“Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community.”

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Peter and Ann Marie F.:

“The preparation [by the law office] allowed us to secure an appropriate placement for our [disabled] brother-in-law.”  

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Sadie O.:

“You were very patient with me. You had to repeat information two or three times till I got it. It’s very important to seniors, many of whom are, like me, slow learners. Also, you were very kind in making adjustments for billing. I appreciated that very much.”

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 David F.:

“Thank you Don.  We will not hesitate to re-engage you if we have any issues whatsoever — and we will continue to refer you to friends in NJ.  We had a lawyer who wasn’t you, and your counsel and advocacy made all the difference. I am extremely grateful.”

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Celeste E.:

“Congratulations to a fantastic lawyer!!
Thank you for being my mom’s lawyer….I miss her terribly.”

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Dana F.:

“You have been immensely helpful to Dave and me through an arduous process, and we appreciate all of the good counsel and attention. Have a great day.”

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Barbara J.:

“Your service is outstanding! We will remain your client.”

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Robert and Judith V.:

“You and other firm members really took time to explain matters without making us feel like you were waiting to rush through to get to your next appointment.” 

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Gordon and Irene C.: 

“The law firm provided excellent strategies to reduce the impact of New Jersey estate taxes.” 

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Jean K.:

“In all my dealings with the law firm, all staff members were helpful, pleasant and always professional.”   

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Leonard and Joanne:

Timeliness, Customer Service, Quality: “We were treated warmly by all the personnel and that made it easier.”

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Dorothy M.:

“All firm members were very cordial. I always felt comfortable when discussing the issues.”

 Seminar Testimonials

Statements Made By Seminar Attendees About Don Vanarelli’s Seminars and Workshops follow:

“The seminar you organized was great. It was informative as well as engaging.”

“You all did such a wonderful job! Thanks for a great seminar!!!”

“Donald, thanks for all your work. It was a great session.”

“[A] terrific Elder Law mediation seminar yesterday. One of the best programs I’ve attended. Great speakers, lots of excellent information, including good interaction with the audience and not a wasted minute. I heard only positive comments from the participants and hope that there will be an encore for those who missed it – and more trainings in this area. Lots of potential here for both family and civil mediators.”

“Excellent program. Very informative. Subjects have opened up many questions and encourage more research.”

“Thank you for a highly informative, engaging and excellent program.”

“An absolute and resounding second to [the other positive] comments.  It was truly an outstandingly educational day.”

“I’m sure Don and his team are very pleased. They really pulled together a great presentation!”

“Great!”

“Terrific.”

“One of the best ever! Thank you!”

“Awesome!”

“Excellent! Lots of great material and the speakers and players were informative and interesting.”

“Very good written materials.”

“You did such a wonderful job! Thanks for a great seminar!!!”

“Very informative – both professionally and personally excellent!!!”

“Very comprehensive. A good investment of 8 hours.”