Curtis E. Shirley - a Carmel, Indiana (IN) Will Contests Lawyer

Carmel Will Contests Lawyer

Updated: 03/10/2026

Areas of Practice

Will Contests
Trust Contests
Guardianship Disputes
Complex Business Litigation

Attorney Information

Overview

Mr. Shirley graduated from the University of Evansville (BME '83), Indiana University at Bloomington (MM '85), and received his law degree from the Indiana University at Indianapolis (JD '91), summa cum laude. While at Indiana University, Mr. Shirley was a Cale J. Holder Fellow (1991), Alumni Scholar (1990), Harold R. Woodward Fellow, Lloyd Balfour International Scholar (1989), President of Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity (1989-91), Associate Editor of the Indiana Law Review, and Chief Justice of the Indiana University Court of Appeals. After law school, Mr. Shirley clerked for the Honorable James E. Noland of the United States District Court (1991-92), the Honorable Daniel A. Manion of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (1992-93), and was a partner at Cremer, Miller & Burroughs, 1993-2000. He is Chairman of the Board of the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society (member 1993-present), a Director of the Indianapolis Legal Aid Foundation, Chairman of the Board of Extended Hand Prison Ministries, and a former director of the Sinfonia Foundation.

Mr. Shirley teaches Probate Litigation and Trusts & Estates as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Indiana University. Mr. Shirley has been an author and presenter for numerous ICLEF seminars and Res Gestae articles on estate, trust and tax litigation. He is a member of the Seventh Circuit, Indiana State and Indianapolis Bar Associations, the Indiana Trial Lawyers Association, the Estate Planning Council of Indianapolis, the Hoosier Hills Estate Planning Council, and admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, Seventh Circuit, and all federal and state courts in Indiana. Martindale Hubbell rated him "AV" after four years in private practice, one of only a handful in the United States to accomplish this, and he is named in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers. Mr. Shirley travels throughout the United States, representing clients in will contests, trust contests, and complex business litigation. His clients include many of the foremost attorneys, judges, law professors, and law firms throughout Indiana, and he has testified as an expert witness on estate, trust, income tax, estate and gift tax, business law, and attorney fee disputes.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

Curtis E. Shirley included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

Martindale Hubbell rated him "AV"
Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
Indiana Super Lawyers
IBA’s Dr. John Mortin-Finney Excellence in Legal Education Award
ISBA’s Pro Bono Publico Award

Other Sources of Feedback About Curtis E. Shirley

Included on the 2026 Indiana Super Lawyers list

Past Lists

2025 Indiana Super Lawyers list
2024 Indiana Super Lawyers list
2023 Indiana Super Lawyers list
2022 Indiana Super Lawyers list
2009 Indiana Super Lawyers list
2008 Indiana Super Lawyers list
2007 Indiana Super Lawyers list
2006 Indiana Super Lawyers list
2005 Indiana Super Lawyers list

Education

Legal Education
- Indiana University School of Law, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1991
  J.D.
  Honors: summa cum laude
  Honors: Cale J. Holder Fellow, 1991
  Honors: Alumni Scholar, 1990
  Honors: Harold R. Woodward Fellow, Lloyd Balfour International Scholar, 1989
  Honors: President, Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity, 1989-1991
  Honors: Chief Justice of the Indiana University Court of Appeals
  Law Review: Indiana Law Review, Associate Editor
Non Legal Education
- Indiana University, Bloomington, 1985
  M.M.
- University of Evansville, 1983
  B.M.E.

Past Positions

Honorable James E. Noland, United States District Court, Clerk, 1991 - 1992
Honorable Daniel A. Manion, United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Clerk, 1992 - 1993
Cremer, Miller & Burroughs, Partner, 1993 - 2000

Classes and Seminars

Adjunct Professor of Law, Advanced Probate Litigation, and Trusts & Estates, Indiana University in Indianapolis
“The Merits and Challenges of Pro Bono Representation”, Res Gestae, Vl.63 No.11 (2020)
“Significant History of the United States Constitution and Bill of Rights in England, 1600-1700”, Indianapolis Law Club (2009)
“A Report on the Costs of Justice”, Indianapolis Law Club (2008)
“Estate Planning Under the Guardianship Code”, ICLEF (2006)
“Will Contests”, 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)
"Trust Litigation", ICLEF (1999)
"Tortious Interference with an Expectancy", Res Gestae, Vl.41 No.4 (1997)

Pro Bono Activities

Patron Fellow of the Indiana State Bar Foundation
Distinguished Fellow of the Indianapolis Bar Foundation
Board of the Indianapolis Legal Aid Society
Board of Indianapolis Legal Aid Foundation
Board of Indianapolis Childrens’ Dyslexia Center
Chairman of the Board of Extended Hand Prison Ministries

Representative Cases

Keith v. Dooley, 802 N.E.2d 54 (Ind.App. 2004)

Bar Admissions

Indiana
U.S. District Court Northern District of Indiana
U.S. District Court Southern District of Indiana
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Northern District of Indiana
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Indiana
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit
United States Supreme Court
U.S. Tax Court

Specialties and Certifications

Certified Civil Mediator

Other Affiliations

Indianapolis Legal Aid Society (Chairman of the Board)
Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, 1993 - Present (Member)
Indianapolis Legal Aid Foundation (Director)
Extended Hand Prison Ministries (Chairman of the Board)
Sinfonia Foundation (Former Director)
Seventh Circuit (Member)
Indiana State Bar Association (Member)
Indianapolis Bar Association (Member)
Indiana Trial Lawyers Association (Member)
Estate Planning Council of Indianapolis (Member)

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Contact

Carmel, IN

1905 South New Market Street
Suite 200
Carmel, IN 46032

Directions

Phone: 317-439-5648

Fax: 317-685-6505

Email: Send a message

Website: https://www.shirleylaw.net

Credit Cards Accepted

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Curtis E. Shirley - Carmel, IN