$ 1-400 per hour
Shirley Meiler Diefenbach
About Shirley
Biography
Shirley M. Diefenbach began her law practice in New York where she was an associate of a nationally recognized Elder Law and Estate Planning law firm. Through her many years of practice, she has had the opportunity to help hundreds of families with their estate planning and trust and estate administration needs.
Shirley earned her law degree from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City and her undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland. While in law School, Shirley was the Internet Editor of the Arts & Entertainment Law Journal and a member of the Tax Clinic. In that capacity, she represented low-income taxpayers in audits, administrative appeals, offers in compromise and other tax collection matters.
Shirley is admitted to practice law in New York and North Carolina.
On a personal note, Shirley has been married to her husband, Scott since 1999, and has a son, Nathan, born in 2008. She enjoys cooking, traveling and spending time with her friends and family.
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Fees and Rates
Cost
Hourly Rates
Payment Methods
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in North Carolina for 16 years
State: North Carolina
Acquired: 2010
No misconduct found
Licensed in New York for 22 years
State: New York
Acquired: 2004
No misconduct found
Location
Walker Lambe, PLLC
240 Leigh Farm Rd., Suite 100, Durham, NC, 27707
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Shirley Meiler Diefenbach's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
5 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Posted by Diane | June 07, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning
Outstanding Estate Attorney
Shirley is an excellent attorney but she is also a fantastic person. She probes into the best way to present an estate plan and provides this information to her clients. However, she also has the rare ability to be sympathetic in difficult cases such as mine which involved many moving parts. I hav...
Posted by Bob | June 02, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning
Wonderful experience
We met Shirley a few years ago at an estate planning seminar, we connected with her right away. Our initial conference was more than we ever expected; we covered a lot of ground but at the same time had fun, which is hard to explain because we were talking about such serious issues. The staff at the ...
Posted by Jason | April 11, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Estate Planning
Excellent attorney
My wife and I hired Ms. Diefenbach a few months ago for our estate planning, she was very patient and gave us a very detailed plan, a flat fee, we signed our documents within a few weeks of visiting with her,. We feel peace of mind knowing we have all of this done and that our children are protected...
Posted by anonymous | December 15, 2014 | Estate Planning
Best lawyer in town
Shirley assisted my husband and I with our estate planning, she was patient and explained everything to us. We felt she really cared for our family. She made it so easy and our experience could not have been better. We have already referred Shirley to a number of people and will continue to sing her...
Posted by anonymous | January 31, 2014 | Estate Planning
Great attorney, down to earth, knowledgeable
Shirley did a fantastic job going through our estate planning option- we feel peace of mind knowing she took care of all the details. We would highly recommend Shirley to our family and friends.
Shirley Meiler Diefenbach's Lawyer Endorsements
"I endorse this lawyer. Shirley is an exceptional Estates Administration attorney. She is creative, efficient, resourceful, and always caring in her representation of clients and their surviving family members. Above all, Shirley is professional and unreproachably ethical in all she does."
"Shirley is an excellent attorney."
"Shirley is a wonderful attorney. She is extremely knowledgeable and truly cares about her clients."
"I endorse this lawyer. She is a very competent and ethical attorney who cares for the clients and puts their interests first."
"I strongly endorse this lawyer. Shirley is an outstanding attorney."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I strongly and highly recommend Shirley Diefenbach as a caring and diligent Trusts & Estates lawyer specializing in the areas of Trust and Estate Administration, Elder Law, Special Needs and Estate Planning, Guardianship and Estate Litigation. Shirley is a skilled and dedicated Trusts & Estates attorney. In focusing her practice in the specialty of Trusts & Estates, she can handle all areas of concern in this particular practice area. Shirley takes her role in the team of professionals assisting any family with their estate planning needs very seriously. Shirley has years and depths of estate planning experience. She is able to give advice to her clients that will allow them to set a secure plan today to protect their families in the future in any of life’s circumstances that may arise."
"I endorse this lawyer. Shirley is extremely capable, competent and professional and she takes great care to ensure that her clients receive great service."
"I endorse this lawyer. Shirley is an incredible attorney who truly cares about her clients."
"I endorse this lawyer. They are an expert in the field of estate planning."
"I endorse this lawyer."
Todd Morrow
Real estate lawyer
Kim Christian
Estate planning lawyer
Experience
Honors
2017
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2003
Advocate, Tax clinic
1998
Sigma Delta Tau Sorority, Outstanding Senior
Work Experience
2014 - Present
Partner/Principal, Walker Lambe Rhudy Costley & Gill, LLC
2011 - 2014
Associate, Walker Lambe Rhudy Costley & Gill, PLLC
2003 - 2011
Attorney, Vincent J. Russo & Associates, PC
2002 - 2003
Heyman Fellow Intern, NEC
2002 - 2002
Legal Intern, Supreme Court of New York - Justice James M. Catterson
1999 - 2000
Paralegal, Solomon Zauderer Ellenhorn Frischer & Sharp
1998 - 1999
Paralegal, Torys, LLP
Associations
2018 - Present
North Carolina Bar Association, Elder Law SectionBoard Member
2013 - Present
Durham-Orange Estate Planning CouncilMember
North Carolina Bar Association
Member
Durham County Bar Association
Member
Wake County Bar Association
Member
Sample of Legal Cases
Estate Planning
Client was very happy
Education
2003
Yeshiva University, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law
JD - Juris Doctor
1998
University of Maryland, College Park
BS - Bachelor of Science
Speaking Engagements
2017
Estate Planning 101
Estate Planning
2016
Who will take care of my cat when I'm gone
Pet Trusts and Estate Planning
2016
Wake County Public Schools Adult Education
Estate Planning
2016
A Coffee & Conversation Series
Estate Planning 101: Trusts
2015
Pet Trusts
Pet Trusts
2015
Basics of estate planning
Estate planning
2012
Monthly
Estate Planning
Publications
2015
News & Observer
Providing for your Pets After Your're Gone
2013
Walker Lambe Newsletter
What do do when a loved one passes away
Languages
English
Hebrew
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Answers
Q&A
Who gets my uncles money from a bank cd?
17 Apr 2020
Q&A
Can you terminate the Trust CertificTion made by the 1st Successor Trustee?
17 Apr 2020
Q&A
What is the process/cost of setting up a trust?
03 Oct 2016