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Debra Rahmin Silberstein, Ph.D.

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Debra Silberstein focuses her practice on trusts and estates planning and administration, family philanthropic planning, tax-related matters, and elder law. She is considered one of the leading experts in estate planning and elder law and has guided inter-generational families through philanthropic planning for over 30 years.

Debra has extensive experience working with multiple generations of families to navigate their estate plans, aligning family values with tax efficiencies to create effective estate plans and lasting legacies. She also advises family business owners on succession planning. Her counsel includes generational wealth transfer, philanthropic and legacy planning, long term care, and special needs planning. Administering trusts, estates, and foundations are an integral part of Debra’s practice.

In philanthropic planning, Debra helps clients and their families enhance and expand their networks, minimize taxes, and align their estate plans with their philanthropic values. Her position in the field is unique, as she specializes in planning for multiple generations within one family.

With a law degree and a doctorate degree in social policy and philanthropy, Debra is a pioneer and advocate for elders and families with special needs children. She is a tireless advocate for those whose needs and circumstances are often ignored or overlooked. Her goal with these clients is to put families’ minds at ease knowing their loved ones will live dignified, protected lives in the future. She is well-versed in sophisticated legal strategies to help families plan for their futures and for the needs of their children, elders, and relatives with disabilities and related challenges.

Outside of attorney commitments, Debra has held numerous board and leadership positions. She served as chair of the Lawrence General Hospital Board of Trustees and was also appointed to the American Hospital Association Board of Governors. She serves on the Board of Visitors at McLean Hospital, the Planned Giving Advisory Council for the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Board of the Anti-Defamation League, New England. Debra was recently elected to the board of the National Academy of Elder Care Attorneys (NAELA) Massachusetts Chapter.

Recognition and Awards

  • Named, Boston magazine, Top Lawyers, Trusts and Estates, 2023
  • Listed, The National Law Journal (NLJ), Family/Elder Law Trailblazer, 2022
  • Powley Elder Law Award, The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), 2018

Professional and Community Involvement

  • Probate Law Section Council, Massachusetts Bar Association
  • Member, Boston Bar Association
  • Member, Lawrence Bar Association
  • Member, National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
  • Chair, Board of Trustees, Lawrence General Hospital
  • New England Regional Board, Anti-Defamation League
  • Board of Visitors, McLean Hospital
  • Advisory Council for Bipolar Research, Massachusetts General Hospital
  • AHA Governance Committee, American Hospital Association
  • Advisory Board, Andover’s Coalition for Education
  • Alumni Board, Heller School at Brandeis University
  • Long-Term Financial Planning Subcommittee, Deval Patrick’s Education Readiness Project
  • Member, Massachusetts POLST Consumer Advisory Committee
  • Past Chair, Andover School Committee
  • Past Vice-Chair, Merrimack Valley Community Foundation
  • Past Member, Andover Finance Committee
  • Past Director, Women’s Resource Center’s Legal Access Project
  • Past Director, The Andovers Village at Home (TAVAH)

Publications and Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, “Tax Issues in Choice of Entity & Succession Planning,” Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. Program (October 2023)
  • Speaker, “The Golden Visa - Mobile Residency for Senior,” Guardianships Institute 2023 Annual Conference (August 2023)
  • Speaker, “Legal Remedies for Long-Term Mental Health Planning,” Mental Horizons Podcast (September 26, 2019)
  • Speaker, “Estate Planning as a Tool to Protect & Preserve Assets & Minimize Family Conflict” (May 2019)
  • Speaker, “Guardianships, Conservatorships and other Estate Planning Techniques to Leverage support for Family Members and Loved Ones with Mental Illness” (November 2017)
  • Co-chair, “Using Estate Planning to Leverage Treatment of Addiction & Mental Illness,” MCLE New England Program (April 2017)
  • Speaker, Edgewood Retirement Community (Spring 2016)
  • Co-chair, “Cutting Issues in Estate Planning,” MCLE New England Program (2014 and 2015)
  • Author, “Defining, Owning, and Accessing Digital Assets,” Massachusetts Lawyers Journal (February 2015)
  • Author, “Decanting After Morse v. Kraft,” Massachusetts Lawyers Journal (March 2014)
  • Contributing Author, “Brief of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Massachusetts Chapter and AARP as Amici Curae in Support of the Appellant,” Johnson v. Kindred Healthcare, Inc., 466 Mass. 779 (2014)
  • Dissertation Study: Authenticity: How Jewish Families Sustain Philanthropic Values and Behaviors Across Generations (August 2009)
  • Debra has also written a number of Amicus briefs for the Massachusetts S.J.C and for publications such as NAELA News and the American Bar Association Probate and Property Magazine