About Varvara Mariana
Varvara Mariana Gokea began her academic path in engineering. She attended the Bucharest Institute of Technology in Romania and completed a masters degree in electro-mechanical engineering in 1976. Years later she turned to the law, earning her J.D. from Widener University Delaware School of Law in 1993 and an LL.B. from New York Law School in 1995. The contrast between technical training and legal study shaped an analytical approach she carried into practice.
After law school she gained admission to practice in multiple jurisdictions. She is admitted in New York and New Jersey, authorized to appear before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and holds credentialed standing before the U.S. Supreme Court. Early in her legal career she worked outside private practice as a contract lawyer for AT&T in 1998, a role that exposed her to corporate legal operations and contract work on a large scale.
In 2001 Gokea became associated with VM Gokea - The Inheritance Lawyer, a practice identity she maintains. Over the years her professional memberships have reflected a concentration on elder and estate matters. She joined the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys in 2017 and became a member of Elder Counsel in 2019, affiliations she retains. She was also a member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Lawyers from 2017 to 2019. Earlier in her career she held membership in the American Immigration Lawyers Association from 2002 until 2019, indicating an involvement in immigration issues alongside estate and elder law work.
Gokea’s resume shows a mix of technical, corporate and elder-law experiences. That mix informs how she approaches inheritance and probate questions, estate planning, and issues affecting older clients. Her practice operates under the VM Gokea - The Inheritance Lawyer name, and she continues to maintain professional ties that align with estate planning and elder law practice. She currently handles elder law, estate planning and inheritance matters.
