Michelle L. Harris

Michelle L. “Shelly” Harris is an associate in Williams Mullen’s Estate Planning – Private Client & Fiduciary Services Practice. She focuses primarily on estate tax planning, estate and trust taxation and administration. She has experience with wealth transfer planning strategies for high net worth individuals, including the preparation of documents such as wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, pleadings requesting trust modifications, financial powers of attorney and advance directives for health care.

She has assisted clients with all facets of the estate administration and probate process, including preparation of requisite probate forms and tax returns. She also has experience in business succession planning strategies for owners of closely held businesses, including the drafting of documents pertaining to transition of ownership in limited liability companies, limited partnerships and corporations.

Shelly serves on the board of directors of Faith Works Coalition, a nonprofit that works to eliminate poor living conditions in the Virginia Beach community by repairing homes for the elderly, disadvantaged and disabled low-income families.

Shelly earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Virginia School of Law, where she was a member of the Order of the Coif and served on the editorial board of the Virginia Law Review. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with high distinction in History, as well as in French Language and Literature, from the University of Virginia.

Professional Affiliations:

• Virginia Bar Association
• Norfolk & Portsmouth Bar Association
• State Bar of Georgia – Fiduciary Law Section
• Georgia Planned Giving Council – Member (2008-2011)

Education:

• University of Virginia School of Law (J.D.)
  • Order of the Coif, Virginia Law Review – Editorial Board
• University of Virginia (B.A.)