Protecting yourself, protecting your loved ones.

Admitted to both the New York and New Jersey Bars, Valerie Zaloom Buccino has been serving New York and Northern Jersey communities for over 25 years, focusing on the areas of Estate Planning, Special Needs Planning and Guardianships.

Early on in her legal career, Valerie served the New York State Supreme Court, Second Judicial Department, as a Senior Attorney for the Mental Hygiene Legal Service. She fought to protect the rights of those with developmental disabilities and of those who suffer from mental illness. She found her calling as an advocate for individuals whose capacity was being challenged and whose rights were in need of safeguarding. As a Senior MHLS attorney, Valerie was appointed by the Court as Counsel representing the rights of those alleged to be incapacitated as well as Court Evaluator in Guardianship Proceedings.

Very often, a Guardianship Proceeding can be avoided by properly appointing in advance someone you trust to make personal, medical and financial decisions for you, should you become unable to do so in the future. It was in representing those who have become incapacitated and never put directives in place, that she learned the great importance of Estate Planning and the emotional and financial cost of failing to do so. When Valerie resigned from her position with the State of New York and opened her own firm, she knew that making sure her clients and their families were protected through proper Estate Planning, needed to be a significant part of her practice.

Valerie is a fiduciary of the New York State Supreme Court, Office of Court Administration. She continues to serve the Court as appointed Counsel to the Alleged Incapacitated Person and as well as Court Evaluator in Guardianship Proceedings. She also serves as Referee in Foreclosure Proceedings. She recently received the honor of being appointed by the Chief Judge of the New Jersey State Supreme Court to serve as an attorney member of the District Ethics Committee District VC Essex County – West Essex. She is a licenced Continuing Real Estate Education Instructor and teaches Trusts and Estates to Real Estate brokers and agents.

Valerie is a mother of three children and an active member of her community. She was elected to the North Caldwell Board of Education for two terms where she served as Vice President. She volunteered as a Girl Scout leader, she taught religious education for Notre Dame Church and volunteered to coach her town’s soccer, baseball and softball teams. She is an animal rescue and foster volunteer for the Cause 4 Paws not-for-profit Rescue Group. She and her family have rescued, fostered and found homes for over 25 kittens and counting.