Atty. Donald D. Vanarelli
Donald D. Vanarelli has been a practicing attorney since 1983, admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York.
Profile Summary
About Donald D. Vanarelli at a glance
Donald D. Vanarelli is a Principal based in Westfield, New Jersey, practicing at Vanarelli & Li LLC. They have 43+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1983. Their practice focuses on divorce, wills, probate, family law, and estate planning. Admitted to practice in New Jersey (1983), U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey (1983), New York (1984), and U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (1986). Educated at Rutgers University Law School (J.D., 1983) and Montclair State University (B.A. California, 1972). Recognitions include AV Preeminent. Active member of New Jersey State, New York State and American Bar Associations. Serands clients in Westfield, NJ and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Donald D. Vanarelli has been a practicing attorney since 1983, admitted to practice law in New Jersey and New York
- Mr. Vanarelli is committed to protecting the legal rights of seniors, the disabled and their families, and families in conflict
- Mr. Vanarelli and the other lawyers in his firm provide legal services of the highest quality in the areas of elder law, estate planning, trust administration, special education, special needs planning and trial advocacy, including probate litigation, will contests, contested guardianships, and elder abuse trials
- Mr. Vanarelli also assists clients and families in conflict through dispute resolution services, including elder mediation, divorce mediation and collaborative services.Mr
- Vanarelli has been actively involved in trial advocacy on behalf of elderly and disabled citizens of New Jersey, appearing before the New Jersey Supreme Court, federal court and administrative agencies on multiple cases in precedent-setting cases
- In that regard, Mr. Vanarelli represented the plaintiff in a pivotal special needs trust case decided by the New Jersey Supreme Court entitled Saccone v
- Police and Firemen’s Retirement System, 219 N.J. 369 (2014)
- Mr. Vanarelli represented the plaintiff in a seminal estate planning / guardianship case entitled In re Keri, 181 N.J. 50 (2004)
- Mr. Vanarelli was co-counsel representing plaintiff Alma Galletta and the putative class plaintiffs in Galletta v
- Velez, Civil No. 13-532 (D.N.J
- June 3, 2014) in which a federal district judge ruled, for the first time, that a pension from the Department of Veterans Affairs may not be counted as income in determining Medicaid eligibility.Mr
- Vanarelli is a recipient of the Marilyn Askin Lifetime Achievement Award from the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Elder and Disability Law Section
- The Lifetime Achievement Award, the Elder and Disability Law Section’s highest honor, is bestowed on an attorney with an established history of distinguished service who has made significant contributions in the field of elder and disability law throughout his or her career
- The Lifetime Achievement Award recognized Mr. Vanarelli’s advocacy in elder and disability law, including a number of precedent-setting legal victories which advanced the rights of seniors and persons with disabilities.Mr
- Vanarelli is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, an ABA-certifying organization
- In addition, Mr. Vanarelli is an Accredited Veterans Attorney, a Founding Member of the Academy of Special Needs Planners, an Accredited Professional Mediator, a Co-Founder of the Elder Mediation Center of New Jersey, and a Co-Founder of the New Jersey Collaborative Law Group
- He is a Past Chair of the Elder and Disability Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association
- Mr. Vanarelli has been rated “AV Pre-Eminent” by Martindale-Hubbell for 15 years, signifying professional excellence
- He was named to the New Jersey “Super Lawyer” list in the years 2007 – present.Mr
- Vanarelli is a graduate of Montclair State University and Rutger’s Law School
- He served as Law Clerk to Hon. Herbert S. Alterman, J.S.C., and as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kathmandu, Nepal
Practice Areas Explained
Donald D. Vanarelli's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Donald D. Vanarelli handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
A divorce attorney guides you through property division, spousal support, custody, and the final decree — contested or uncontested.
Donald D. Vanarelli is one of 50,487 divorce attorneys indexed nationally. Browse divorce attorneys in New Jersey →
Donald D. Vanarelli is one of 34,541 wills attorneys indexed nationally. Browse wills attorneys in New Jersey →
Donald D. Vanarelli is one of 128,014 probate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse probate attorneys in New Jersey →
Family law attorneys handle divorce, child custody, child support, adoption, prenups, and protective orders. Find verified family lawyers near you.
Donald D. Vanarelli is one of 187,066 family law attorneys indexed nationally. Browse family law attorneys in New Jersey →
An estate planning attorney prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives to protect your family and pass on your assets.
Donald D. Vanarelli is one of 226,536 estate planning attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate planning attorneys in New Jersey →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in New Jersey
Practicing law in New Jersey. Legal matters in New Jersey are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Westfield are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate New Jersey state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in New Jersey brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in New Jersey courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional New Jersey attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Westfield or all attorneys in New Jersey.
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