$ 550-550 per hour
PRO
James Dean Funnell Jr.
also known as James D. Funnell Jr.
About James
Biography
Jim Funnell is a principal of Brody Wilkinson and a member of the firm’s Trusts & Estates Group. His practice is limited to Special Needs Planning for family members with disabilities, trusts and estates planning, and trusts and estates administration. Mr. Funnell is a Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated attorney. Mr. Funnell is admitted to practice in Connecticut and has practiced in Fairfield County for over thirty years. He is also admitted to practice in Texas. Prior to joining the firm, he was a partner at the former law firm of Hermenze & Marcantonio LLC in Westport, Connecticut.
Mr. Funnell is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association’s Estates and Probate Section, and for over twenty years served as the editor in chief of the Estates and Probate Section Notes & Commentary, a continuing legal education publication for Connecticut attorneys.
Mr. Funnell has been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the field of trusts and estates since 2018. He has also been recognized as a “Connecticut Super Lawyer” in the areas of estate planning and probate tax since 2006. Mr. Funnell has written widely on special needs trust planning, including the “Special Needs Trusts” chapter in Irrevocable Trusts 4th published by Thompson Reuters. He has also spoken on special needs planning to audiences that include Connecticut Probate Court judges and clerks, Connecticut Bar Association, Fairfield County Bar Association, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, PLAN of CT, Giant Steps, Knights of Columbus, and the Fairfield School District.
Mr. Funnell received his B.S. from Oklahoma State University in 1983; J.D. from Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1986; and LL.M. in Business and Taxation from McGeorge School of Law, Sacramento, California, in 1987. Mr. Funnell serves on the Board of Directors of PLAN of Connecticut, a charitable organization that acts as trustee of special needs trusts for individuals with disabilities.
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Estate Planning
33%
40 years
Probate
33%
40 years
Trusts
33%
Other
1%
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Retainer
Never
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
Awards
Licenses
Licensed in Connecticut for 38 years
State: Connecticut
Acquired: 1988
No misconduct found
Licensed in Texas for 19 years
State: Texas
Acquired: 2006
No misconduct found
Location
Gallery
Online Presence
Other places you can find James online.
James Dean Funnell Jr.'s Reviews
Avvo Review Score
Not Yet Reviewed
James Dean Funnell Jr.'s Lawyer Endorsements
No Endorsement Data Available Yet
This attorney hasn't received any attorney endorsements recently on Avvo.
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This attorney hasn't created any attorney endorsements recently on Avvo.
Experience
Honors
2025
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2024
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2023
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2022
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers
2021
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2021
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
2020
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
2020
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2020
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers
2019
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell®
2019
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2019
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers
2018
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2018
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2018
Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers
2017
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2017
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2016
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2016
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2015
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2014
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2014
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubble
2013
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2013
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2012
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2012
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2011
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2011
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2010
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2010
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2009
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2009
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2008
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2008
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2007
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2007
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2006
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2006
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2005
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2004
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2003
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2002
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2001
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2000
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1999
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1998
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
1997
AV Preeminent 5.0 out of 5 Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
N/A
AV Preeminent Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Work Experience
1900 - Present
Principal, Brody Wilkinson PC
2021 - 2021
Principal, Brody Wilkinson
2001 - 2020
Partner, Hermenze & Marcantonio LLC
1991 - 2001
Partner, Lovejoy and Rimer PC
Associations
1998 - Present
American College of Trust and Estate CounselFellow
Education
1987
McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific
LLM
1986
Oklahoma City University
JD
1983
Oklahoma State University
BS
Speaking Engagements
2021
Elder Law Section of Connecticut Bar Association
Special Needs Trust Planning
2015
Seminar for Probate Court Judges and Clerks
Self-Setteled Special Needs Trusts under 42 USC 1396p(d)(4)(A)
2015
Fairfield Connecticut School District
Planning for a Family Member with a Disability
2014
Continuing Professional Education - Axa Advisors,
Special Needs Estate Planning
2013
Fairfield County Bar Association
Special Needs Estate Planning for Families Who Have Children with Disabilities
2012
Seminar
Special Needs Planning for a Family Member with a Disability
2012
Continuing Legal Education Seminar
Managing Windfalls with Special Needs Trust
Publications
2017
Irrevocable Trusts 4th, Thompson Reuters
Special Needs Trusts
2008
Connecticut Lawyers Deskbook
Wills
1998
Connecticut Lawyers Deskbook
Wills
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers