Shelly D. Merritt is an AV rated attorney with over nineteen years of experience representing individuals, families, closely held businesses, executives and small business owners with their estate and business succession planning. She is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a past Council Member of the Trusts and Estates Section of the Colorado Bar Association and past Chair and current Member of its Statutory Revisions Committee, and a Certified Public Accountant. Prior to establishing her own firm, Ms. Merritt practiced at law firms in Boulder, Denver, and Texas. She is licensed to practice law in Colorado and Texas. Ms. Merritt’s estate planning practice focuses on sophisticated estate, asset protection, and wealth transfer planning; and probate and estate and trust administration. Ms. Merritt’s small business practice focuses on the formation of closely held, for-profit and not-for profit entities; drafting and filing of entity documents; tax planning and advice; negotiation of business transactions; general corporate counsel services; and business succession planning.