Trusted Legal Advocacy Since 1936

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Joanne M. Sarubbi, CELA

Certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation

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Practice Areas:

  • Elder Law
  • Estate & Life Planning
  • Medicaid
  • Guardianships and Conservatorships
  • Estate and Trusts Administration
  • Special Needs Planning
  • Commercial Finance

Biography

Joanne M. Sarubbi, concentrates her practice in the area of elder law, focusing on representing all generations of a family and particularly seniors, individuals with special needs, and their families in connection with life care planning, trust and estate planning; public benefits, and long-term care advocacy.

Joanne is one of the few Certified Elder Law Attorneys (CELA) in the Country to be certified by the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) which is approved by the American Bar Association. As a CELA, Joanne has extensive experience in the following areas:

  • Estate Planning 
  • Guardianship 
  • Asset Preservation Planning 
  • Planning for Disabled Individuals 
  • Probate & Estate Litigation
  • Resident Rights in Care Facilities
  • Health Care Decision Making
  • Medicaid Applications
  • Supplement & Special Needs Trusts

Prior to joining Bourne Noll Kenyon, Joanne had her own firm for over seventeen years. She has been involved in Elder Law issues for over twenty-five years. She is member of the National Academy of Elder law Attorneys (NAELA); the New Jersey Chapter of NAELA and currently serves on its Board of Trustees. Additionally, Joanne is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Elder & Disability Law Section and Real Estate and Trust Sections. She has served as court appointed attorney, guardian ad litem and permanent guardian of person and property in guardianship actions.

Joanne received her Juris Doctorate Degree from Seton Hall University School of Law in 1985 and a Masters of Science in Taxation from Seton Hall University, School of Business, in 2002. She was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar in 1982.

Joanne is a resident of Ocean County, New Jersey where she lives with her husband, Arthur, and son, Andrew. She is an active member of Liberty Oak Chorus, an award-winning women's a cappella chorus, that competes regularly. In her free time, Joanne loves travelling with her husband, reading and quilting.

Education

  • Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey
    • J.D. - 1985
    • Honors: cum laude
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University , Teaneck, New Jersey
    • B.A., Bachelor of Arts - 1982
    • Honors: magna cum laude
    • Major: English Literature
  • Seton Hall University, School of Business
    • M.S. - 2002
    • Major: Master of Science in Taxation
  • William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey
    • M.A., Master of Arts - 1998
    • Major: English Literature

Bar Admission

  • New Jersey, 1985
  • Supreme Court of New Jersey

Pro-Bono Activities

  • Served on the New Jersey Supreme Court District Ethics Committee, 2005 to 2009

Past Positions

  • Two Passaic County Law Firms, Associate Attorney, 1986 to 1996
  • Hon. William H. Walls, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Essex County, Clerk, 1985 to 1986
  • Bendit Weinstock, West Orange, New Jersey , Of Counsel , 1996 to 2003

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association, Member
  • New Jersey Bar Association, Business, Elder Law and Real Estate Sections, Member
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Member
  • NJ Chapter NAELA, Member of Board of Trustees
  • New Jersey Supreme Court District Ethics , Committee Member, 2005 to 2009

Certified Legal Specialties

  • Certified as an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation, which is the only approved elder law certification by the American Bar Association, American Bar Association, 2020