Curtis E. Shirley
Top rated Estate & Trust Litigation attorney in Carmel, Indiana
Law Office of Curtis E. Shirley, LLC
Practice Areas: Estate & Trust Litigation, Business Litigation, Estate Planning & Probate; view more
Licensed in Indiana since: 1991
Education: Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2009, 2022 - 2024 Call today:
317-439-5648
Free Consultation Law Office of Curtis E. Shirley, LLC
1905 South New Market StreetSuite 200
Carmel, IN 46032 Visit website
Details
Mr. Shirley has over 30 years’ experience representing people in inheritance disputes, all matters of probate litigation, guardianships, and control over family businesses. As a trial lawyer, Mr. Shirley has a national reputation handling will contests, trust contests, and complex business litigation. Mr. Shirley chairs and lectures continuing legal education seminars, published articles, taught as an adjunct professor at IU Indianapolis school of law, and testified as an expert witness. He graduated at the top of his class, clerked for Judge James Noland on the U.S. District Court and Judge Daniel Manion on the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Many of the foremost attorneys and law firms throughout Indiana hire Mr. Shirley to resolve complex matters. He is also a certified mediator.
Practice areas
Estate & Trust Litigation, Business Litigation, Estate Planning & ProbateFocus areas
Estate Planning, Non-Compete Agreements, Probate & Estate Administration, Trusts, Will Contests
- 50% Estate & Trust Litigation
- 30% Business Litigation
- 20% Estate Planning & Probate
First Admitted: 1991, Indiana
Professional Webpage: https://www.shirleylaw.net/index.php/firmoverview/aboutcurti...
Educational Background:
- Indiana University Bloomington MM 1985
- University of Evansville BME 1983
Pro bono/Community Service:
- 1995-present: Board of Directors, Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, President and Chairman of the Board (2002-2008) 2013-present: Member, Board of Governors of the Indianapolis Children's Dyslexia Center 1995-present: Chairman of the Board, Extended Hand Prison Ministries 1991-present: Past Master of Mystic Tie Masonic Lodge #398; Past Chairman of the Board of the Scottish Rite Cathedral, 2019
- Second Presbyterian Church
- Wheeler Mission Society
Honors/Awards:
- Rated "AV" by Martindale Hubbell; Named in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers (awarded to only five percent of U.S. law firms). From 2005-2009, named an "Indiana Super Lawyer" by the Indianapolis Monthly Magazine (awarded to top five percent of Indiana attorneys). 2005, Indiana State Bar Foundation, Pro Bono Publico Award. 2004, Patron Fellow, Indiana State Bar Foundation Distinguished Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Foundation. 2002, Dr. John Morton-Finney Excellence in Legal Education Award, Indianapolis Bar Association. 1991, Phi Delta Phi International Lloyd G. Balfour Scholarship. 1990, Honorable Cale J. Holder Distinguished Scholarship Award; Indiana University Law Alumni Scholar; Harold R. Woodard Fellowship., Rated "AV" by Martindale Hubbell, 2020
- Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia National Leadership Award, 1982
- Recipient, the Honorable Cale J. Holder Distinguished Scholarship Award; Indiana University Law Alumni Scholar; Harold R. Woodard Fellowship, 1990
- Recipient, Phi Delta Phi International Lloyd G. Balfour Scholarship, 1991
- Dr. John Morton-Finney Excellence in Legal Education Award, Indianapolis Bar Association, 2002
- Patron Fellow, Indiana State Bar Foundation, Distinguished Fellow, Indianapolis Bar Foundation, 2004
- Indiana State Bar Foundation, Pro Bono Publico Award, 2005
- Named an “Indiana Super Lawyer” by the Indianapolis Monthly Magazine (awarded to top five percent of Indiana attorneys), 2004-08 and 2021-present
Videos:
Scholarly Lectures/Writings:
- Website at www.shirleylaw.net includes dozens of publications and articles of benefit to attorneys and potential clients, Website includes numerous articles of interest to attorneys and potential clients, 2023
- Director of Bands and Orchestra, Lewisburg High School, Pennsylvania, 1985-88
- Instructor, Dean's Tutorial Society, 1989-91
- Indianapolis Bar Association Bar Review Course Instructor for Income Tax, 2001-2005
- Adjunct Professor of Law, Indiana University at Indianapolis, Advance Probate Litigation, Estates and Trusts, 2007-2010
- Indiana Continuing Legal Education Forum, Chair and Speaker at Seminars for Attorneys, 1997-present
- "Tortious Interference with an Expectancy", article in Res Gestae, Vl.41 No.4 (1997), cited as authority in Keith v. Dooley, 802 N.E.2d 54 (Ind.App. 2004)
- "Taxation in Contested Estates", ICLEF (2001)
- "Evidentiary Matters in Estate, Trust and Tax Litigation", ICLEF (2002)
- “The Legacy of Lawrence W. Inlow”, ICLEF (2004)
- “Estate Planning Under the Guardianship Code”, ICLEF (2006)
- “Contesting Wills and Trusts”, ICLEF (2017, 2014, 1999)
- “The Merits and Challenges of Pro Bono Representation”, article in Res Gestae, Vl.63 No.11 (2020)
- “Contesting Wills and Trusts”, ICLEF (2017, 2014, 1999) “Estate Planning Under the Guardianship Code”, ICLEF (2006) “The Legacy of Lawrence W. Inlow”, ICLEF (2004) "Evidentiary Matters in Estate, Trust and Tax Litigation", ICLEF (2002) "Taxation in Contested Estates", ICLEF (2001) "Tortious Interference with an Expectancy", article in Res Gestae, Vl.41 No.4 (1997), cited as authority in Keith v. Dooley, 802 N.E.2d 54 (Ind.App. 2004), Articles for CLE seminars, 2022
Other Outstanding Achievements:
- 1991-92 Clerk to the Honorable James E. Noland, Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, 2023
- 1992-93 Clerk to the Honorable Daniel A. Manion, Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, , 2023
Special Licenses/Certifications:
- Mr. Shirley is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, and the United States Tax Court. Mr. Shirley is also a certified mediator. Mr. Shirley is routinely certified by Courts as an expert witness in a variety of areas, including Wills, Trusts, Estate Planning, Administration, Taxation, Guardianships, Claims, and associated business and probate litigation. , 2023
Representative Clients:
- Mr. Shirley represents a significant number of attorneys, judges, and law professors who need representation in estate, trust, guardianship, and business matters, including litigation. The vast majority of clients come from referrals by other attorneys who respect Mr. Shirley's skills and abilities. Mr. Shirley is also in demand to testify as an expert witness. Mr. Shirley also represents professional athletes, actors and actresses, agents, business owners, banks, and trust companies. , 2023
Verdicts/Settlements (Case Results):
- Mr. Shirley appears in Courts around the State of Indiana on average once per week. He has a Jury trial or Judge trial on average twice per year. He maintains approximately thirty open litigation cases. Mr. Shirley is in high demand, declining more prospective client matters than he accepts. Mr. Shirley also handles complex estate litigation matters in other States. In 2023 he resolved cases in Florida and California. , 2023
Bar/Professional Activity:
- 1997-present: Chair and speak for several ICLEF seminars each year, and ILAS seminars each year for attorneys and judges. 2007-2010. Adjunct Professor of Law, Indiana University at Indianapolis, teaching Probate Litigation, Trusts & Estates 2001-2005. Indianapolis Bar Association Bar Review Course, Instructor for Income Tax and Administrative Law, 2023
- Indiana State Bar Association
- Seventh Circuit Bar Association
- Indianapolis Bar Association
- Indiana
- United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- United States Tax Court
- United States Supreme Court
Industry Groups:
- Business Litigation
- Estate Planning And Administration
- Guardianship Litigation
- Trust Contests
- Will Contests
Office location for Curtis E. Shirley
1905 South New Market Street
Suite 200
Carmel, IN 46032
Phone: 317-439-5648
Selections
8 Years Super Lawyers
- Super Lawyers: 2005 - 2009, 2022 - 2024
