Joe Costa is an elder law attorney focusing on the interests of seniors and their caregivers, veterans and their surviving spouses, and individuals with disabilities. Mr. Costa’s background is diverse and allows for a multidisciplinary practice. He is an accredited attorney with the Department of Veterans Affairs and is a member of Elder & Disability Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. Additionally, his past experience in real estate, insurance and finance give him a refreshingly practical approach to solving complex legal problems. Joe – as he prefers to be called – prides himself on carefully listening to the concerns of his clients, understanding their intetions and desires, and delivering on his promises.

Prior to obtaining his J.D. from Rutgers School of Law, Joe worked as a banking products advisor at UBS where he received the 2007 Ambition Award. He went onto become a certified retirement planner at Merrill Lynch, helping his clients navigate the daily swings of the capital markets while keeping a diligent eye on their long term goals. In 2012, he was granted the distinct honor of being named to Merrill Lynch’s Circle of Excellence. Notably, many of Joe’s financial clients later retained him to handle their legal matters – a true testament to the trust and confidence he helped to foster during and throughout the financial crisis in 2008.

At Rutgers School of Law, Joe participated in the Good Shepherd Mediation Program. There he helped elderly and indigent individuals resolve disputes amongst their family members, maintain their personal autonomy and, in some instances, avoid foreclosure. He also provided countless hours of pro bono legal services to the underprivileged citizens of Camden, New Jersey.

Joe continues to give back to the community by providing free educational seminars at various local senior centers and public libraries, and is an active member of the Geriatric Advisory Council.

Joe, credits much of his success to his family, lifelong friends and colleagues. He wholeheartedly  believes that a plan, no matter how solid it may appear, is only as good as the people you have in your life to execute it. He often jokes that life does not care about our plans, hence his motto – hope for the best but plan for the worst.

Joe is the oldest of four siblings and resides in Monmouth County, New Jersey.