Danielle G. Van Ess

Danielle G. Van Ess

also known as DGVE

5.0
Rating: 10.0

Licensed for 24 years

Estate planning Lawyer at Hingham, MA
Practice Areas: Estate Planning, Probate, Wills & Living Wills, Trusts

61 South Street, Hingham, MA

About Danielle

Biography

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Estate Planning 25%

including: Wills, Trusts, Living Wills & Health Care Proxies, Guardianship for Minor Children

17 years

25%
Probate 25%

Post-death trust and estate administration

17 years

25%
Trusts 25%

Revocable & Irrevocable Trusts; comprehensive estate planning and post-death trust and estate administration

17 years

25%
Wills and Living Wills 25%

Last Wills & Testaments, Living Wills and Health Care Proxies, Trusts, comprehensive estate planning and post-death probate and trust and estate administration

17 years

25%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Retainer

Sometimes


Payment Methods

  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Massachusetts for 17 years

State: Massachusetts

Acquired: 2008

Active

No misconduct found

Licensed in Virginia for 24 years

State: Virginia

Acquired: 2001

Associate

No misconduct found

Location

DGVE law

61 South Street, Hingham, MA, 02043-2047

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Danielle G. Van Ess's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

5.0 /5.0

14 Client Reviews

5 star (14)
4 star (0)
3 star (0)
2 star (0)
1 star (0)

Posted by Anthony (Boomer) | July 10, 2018 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Highest Possible Recommendation

Highest recommendation on every level. DGVE Law - Danielle G. Van Ess and her staff -- are the complete package. Extremely knowledgeable and effective, no-nonsense yet incredibly personable, honest, and ethical, and they always follow through. We felt like we were heard, understood, and advised perfe...ctly.

Posted by Wendy | May 24, 2017 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Highly Recommend!

My husband and I recently updated our will and I can say that I was not looking forward to it (hence, putting it off for more than 5 years!) Danielle made the whole thing painless. She is a smart, highly competent professional but also adds a "human factor" to her practice, and that is what makes he...r unique. Her staff is great to work with as well, and carry through her practice philosophy.

Posted by Jessica | April 7, 2017 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Amazing Experience

We felt that all of our legal needs for which we sought were met. The main benefit from working with DGVE was that we know that in any event our wishes have been communicated via a will and will be carried out as written. Additionally, DGVE made sure to bring up scenarios and possibilities that we ...hadn't considered and now those are also planned for. We feel that our children's needs will be taken care of in the event of an emergency/tragedy and that our wishes will be communicated to our loved ones and executed. Additionally, the process was so easy. It was not difficult to understand the choices we were making, every step of the way was explained to us in language we understood and what we needed to do in order to have the best experience was given to us in a checklist. This made it so easy for us to complete while juggling work, pregnancy and life in general. In all, we felt that our wishes were heard and understood!

Posted by Matthew | April 6, 2017 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Established a family trust

Not only are Danielle and her team consummate professionals, but they also helped personalize the creation of our trust in a way that made my wife and I feel that they had as much stake in the process as we did.

Posted by Jenn | October 14, 2015 | Hired Attorney

This review is from a person who hired this attorney.

Thorough, personal, and beyond expectations

My husband and I hired Danielle to help us with estate planning and trusts for our two children. She educated us on the issues we needed to know about and made sure our plan was completely customized. Her degree of detail and thoughtfulness were above and beyond our expectations. I would recommend h...er services to anyone!

See All Client Reviews

Danielle G. Van Ess's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Danielle
William John Smyth headshot
William Smyth

Estate planning lawyer | Jan 22

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Danielle is an outstanding lawyer. I have known Danielle for a long time and have had the pleasure of working with her on several matters. She is professional, knowledgeable, and really cares about her clients. Her tech savvy is second to none! I recommend Danielle without reservation."

Amy H. Martell headshot
Amy Martell

Wills and living wills lawyer | Nov 21

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Danielle for many years as a fellow attorney-mama colleague, and most recently I became a client. Danielle has always impressed me with her insight and knowledge, but what really sets her apart as an estate planning attorney is how deeply she cares about her clients and the level of precision and personalization she brings to the plans she drafts. I enthusiastically recommend her!"

George C Constant headshot
George Constant

Trusts lawyer | Mar 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I wholeheartedly endorse Danielle Van Ess. Her qualities far exceed the requisite competence one would expect from an estate planning attorney. Danielle is a caring adviser who is single-minded in her desire to do what's right for her clients. Furthermore, she provides younger parents with excellent estate planning services - giving them and their children the level of protection that they need, but rarely receive because that demographic is so woefully under-served."

Michael G. Lichterman headshot
Michael Lichterman

Trusts lawyer | Mar 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I've had the privilege of knowing and brainstorming with Danielle for several years. I consider it a privilege because, not only is she more than competent in the estate planning services she provides her client, she truly cares for them and their families. I highly recommend her to anyone needing a caring and comprehensive plan for their family's future."

Daniel M. Surprenant headshot
Daniel Surprenant

Estate planning lawyer | Mar 29

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Danielle impresses me as a skilled and hard working attorney who strives to stay current in the law and technology. She seems to be caring, knowledgable and dedicated to he clients. I wod recommend her to any estate planning clients in her area."

Rania S. Combs headshot
Rania Combs

Estate planning lawyer | Mar 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I've gotten to know Danielle online and offline over the past few years. She is intelligent and conscientious and is committed to making sure her clients estate planning needs are met."

Tiffany Anne O'Connell headshot
Tiffany O'Connell

Estate planning lawyer | Feb 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have had the pleasure of getting to know Danielle over the last few years. I have found Danielle to be very competent and to be committed to making sure that her clients receive the utmost in service. It is my pleasure to endorse Attorney Van Ess!"

Candice Nicole Aiston headshot
Candice Aiston

Unknown lawyer | Jan 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have known Danielle personally and professionally since 2009. She is extremely thorough in the work that she does for her clients, and her attention to detail is something that really sets her apart from many lawyers. I would not hesitate to refer a friend or client to see Danielle. I know that anyone who works with Danielle will have the best counsel possible."

Scott Robert Zucker headshot
Scott Zucker

Estate planning lawyer | Jan 27

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I have gotten to know Danielle through our common membership in WealthCounsel. Danielle combines technical knowledge with a strong drive to seek and implement modern innovations so that she can provide thorough and compassionate service for her clients. She is also highly regarded by colleagues given her tireless enthusiasm and willingness to share and exchange ideas. I endorse her without hesitation."

Christopher J. Berry headshot
Christopher Berry

Estate planning lawyer | Oct 15

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"Danielle is a compassionate and experienced estate planning lawyer who I've had the pleasure to get to know through various on-line forums. I'd recommend her if you are looking for a great attorney in the Hingham, MA area."

Maura Susan Curran headshot
Maura Curran

Estate planning lawyer | Aug 23

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work."

Jackie Wilbur Bedard headshot
Jackie Bedard

Estate planning lawyer | Jan 05

Relationship: Fellow lawyer in community

"I endorse this lawyer's work."

View All Endorsements
William John Smyth headshot
William Smyth

Estate planning lawyer

Amy H. Martell headshot
Amy Martell

Uncontested divorce lawyer

George C Constant headshot
George Constant

Estate planning lawyer

Daniel M. Surprenant headshot
Daniel Surprenant

Elder law lawyer

Michael G. Lichterman headshot
Michael Lichterman

Estate planning lawyer

Rania S. Combs headshot
Rania Combs

Estate planning lawyer

Christopher J. Berry headshot
Christopher Berry

Estate planning lawyer

Candice Nicole Aiston headshot
Candice Aiston

Estate planning lawyer

Scott Robert Zucker headshot
Scott Zucker

Wills and living wills lawyer

Tiffany Anne O'Connell headshot
Tiffany O'Connell

Probate lawyer

Experience

Rating:  10.0 (Superb)

Honors

2024

Massachusetts SuperLawyer, SuperLawyers

2024

Top Lawyer, Boston Magazine

2023

Massachusetts SuperLawyer, SuperLawyers

2023

Top Lawyer, Boston Magazine

2022

Massachusetts SuperLawyer, SuperLawyers

2021

Reader's Choice #1 Lawyer/Law Firm in Hingham, Wicked Local

2021

2021 Massachusetts Super Lawyer, SuperLawyers

2021

Top Lawyer, Boston Magazine

2020

2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2020

Award for Vision (trust & estate thought leadership), WealthCounsel

2020

Reader's Choice #1 Lawyer/Law Firm in Hingham and #1 Regional, Wicked Local

2019

2019 Massachusetts Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers

2018

Reader's Choice #1 Lawyer/Law Firm in Hingham and #1 Regional, Wicked Local

2017

Reader's Choice #1 Lawyer/Law Firm in Hingham, Wicked Local

2016

Reader's Choice #1 Lawyer/Law Firm in Hingham, Wicked Local

2011

40 Under 40 Award, Cape & Plymouth Business Magazine

Work Experience

2008 - Present

Attorney, DGVE law, LLC

2007 - 2008

Independent Legal Consultant, Southwest Center for Law and Policy

2002 - 2005

Staff Attorney and Lead Trainer, National Center on Full Faith and Credit

Associations

2008 - Present

Massachusetts Bar Association

Admitted to Practice

2001 - Present

Virginia Bar Association

Admitted to Practice

2019 - 2023

Hingham Cemetery Corporation

Board of Directors

2012 - 2023

Massachusetts Forum of Estate Planning Attorneys

Officer & Director on Board of Directors

Education

2001

Boston University School of Law

JD - Juris Doctor

1998

The George Washington University

BA - Bachelor of Arts

N/A

Boston University School of Law

LL.M - Master of Laws candidate (anticipated 2026)

N/A

Western New England College School of Law

LLM candidate at BUSL Graduate Tax Law Program

Speaking Engagements

2021

What Can & Cannot Be Done Remotely in Estate Planning Remote Estate Planning and Notarization

2021

Next Level Profits

Small Businesses Are Assets in Their Owners' Estate Plans

2021

Estate Planning for Families with Children Age 18 and Older Estate Planning for Young Adults

2020

WealthCounsel National Presentation for Members

Safeguarding Best Interests via Remote Document Signing

2020

Radio Program Estate Planning

2020

Boston Bar Association continuing legal education program

Safeguarding Best Interests via Remote Document Review Signing Witnessing and Notarization

2019

2017

Estate Planning Workshops

Peace of Mind Estate Planning for Parents: What you need to know to protect your family, yourself, and your stuff (TM)

Languages

Spanish

English

Avvo Rating

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