Kristin Wildman Shirahama

Kristin Shirahama, Private Client Practice Area Leader, is a Massachusetts trust and estate lawyer with over 20 years of experience who uses her listening skills, empathy and knowledge of the law to help individuals and families with difficult estate and gift planning concerns. Trustees, guardians and other fiduciaries regularly rely on Kristin for trust and estate administration, and she often serves as trustee and executor or personal representative. 

Her estate planning clients are often approaching retirement age or are newly retired – at the intersection of facing long-term care and the need to reduce estate taxes. Kristin’s clients reside throughout Massachusetts and include business owners and professionals, blended families, second marriages, same-sex couples and families with elders or individuals with special needs. Kristin represents trust and estate clients at every step of their way, including: 

• Developing wills, trusts and other strategies to save and protect assets and transfer wealth in a tax-efficient manner 
• Advising business owners and entrepreneurs regarding business succession planning 
• Counseling personal representatives and family members through the probate of estates and helping with issues triggered upon the death of a family member 
• Advising clients to help them develop charitable strategies and structures, including family foundations and charitable remainder trusts 
• Preparing special needs trusts and providing advice about government benefits for individuals with disabilities 

While minimizing taxes is an important goal, in Kristin’s view there is more to estate planning than saving taxes. She enjoys getting to know her clients, taking time to look at things from their perspective and then tailoring a comprehensive, 360-degree plan that answers each client’s unique needs. “This approach makes spotting issues more effective and efficient,” she explains, “and also helps to protect the client’s lifetime interests and ease estate administration after death.” Clients also value Kristin’s ability to plainly explain complex financial terms and legal concepts. 

Kristin adds, “Clients and I meet face-to-face, discuss their concerns about the future, and I map it all out.” In this way, clients feel heard and appreciate that their plan is customized for them. “As a result, things tend to flow more easily, which is important when there’s a decision to leave property in trust or divide the estate in favor of one sibling or heir over another.” Tailoring plans and getting the right people in the right places addresses issues in advance and avoids surprises. 

Before Bowditch 

Prior to becoming a trusts and estates law firm partner, Kristin was a clinical instructor at the Hale & Dorr Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School, where she focused on estate and permanency planning for families affected by HIV and AIDS. 

Besides work 

Kristin is passionate about the advancement of women in the legal profession and loves mentoring attorneys. 

Kristin enjoys kayaking and canoeing with her husband and son…on the Charles or on Quonnochontaug Pond. They all enjoy family hikes with their golden retriever, Finn.