People
Stephen K. Gellman

Stephen K. Gellman

he/him/his

Partner

Stephen Gellman is a member of the firm's Management Committee. He has over 30 years of experience counseling clients in estate planning, estate settlement and trust administration.

In the estate planning area, Stephen assists individuals, couples and families with the full range of planning techniques for tax-effective intergenerational and charitable transfers. When settling an estate, Stephen works with paralegal support in preparing probate documents, estate tax returns and fiduciary income tax returns. In addition, Stephen represents estates before the IRS and DRS on an audit.

Stephen actively administers trusts for a variety of clients and advises trustees in communities across Connecticut. He maintains decades-long working relationships with clients and trust beneficiaries, developing the rapport necessary to help each individual with their unique situation. Stephen brings this personal approach to each trustee relationship, sometimes over multiple generations, to protect the long-term financial interests of the beneficiaries.

Shipman’s Trust & Estates Group administers more than 400 trusts with assets over $800 million. Those trusts include a number of large charitable foundations, where Stephen and other members of the group participate in the allocation of funds to charitable organizations in a prompt and efficient manner.

A committed member of the communities in which he lives and works, Stephen has served on the Board of Directors for the Fred D. Wish Volunteer Tutor Program, the ABC House of Simsbury, and The Mark Twain House. Stephen also previously served as Chair of Shipman’s Hiring Committee.

Credentials

Education

University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D., 1989
Trinity College, B.A., 1985, with honors

Bar Admissions

Connecticut, 1989

Distinctions

AV Preeminent® Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
Listed as a Connecticut Super Lawyer®: Estate Planning & Probate; (2006-2016)

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association
Connecticut Bar Association
Hartford County Bar Association

Community Involvement

Simsbury Youth Hockey: Board Member (2006-2012); President (2009-2012)
The Mark Twain House: Board of Trustees; (1995-2001)
ABC House of Simsbury: Board of Directors; (1992-1999)
Fred D. Wish Volunteer Tutor Program: Director; (1991-1998)

Experience

General

August 2020