Gerald Shea

Gerald Shea of Shea & Shea in Westport, Connecticut, provides legal services in estate planning, probate, estate administration, wills, trusts, living wills and power of attorney matters. With decades of experience serving clients throughout Fairfield County and Southern Connecticut, he offers thoughtful guidance through complex legal processes related to asset protection and estate matters.

Mr. Shea brings nearly four decades of legal practice to his work, having begun his professional journey in 1985. His practice focuses particularly on probate administration, probate litigation, estate planning and developing asset protection strategies. He assists individuals and families in creating tax-efficient structures for preserving wealth, with experience in both domestic and international contexts. His background in handling probate disputes provides valuable insight when helping clients anticipate and prevent potential complications in their estate plans.

The educational foundation supporting Mr. Shea's practice includes a magna cum laude Bachelor of Arts from Duke University, where he graduated in 1981, following studies at the College of the Holy Cross. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Connecticut in 1985, graduating cum laude. He further enhanced his knowledge by obtaining an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University in 1990. His professional development also included serving as a clerk for the Honorable William M. Drennan at the U.S. Tax Court from 1988 to 1989.

Mr. Shea maintains active bar admissions in Connecticut and New York, as well as admission to practice before the United States District Courts. His professional affiliations include membership in the Connecticut Bar Association, where he participates in both the Estates and Probate Section and the Tax Law Section. These connections allow him to stay current with evolving legal standards and practices in estate planning.

The legal community has recognized Mr. Shea's professional accomplishments through an AV Preeminent peer-review rating* through Martindale-Hubbell and an "Superb" rating from Avvo. 

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.