Attorney Debra Rahmin Silberstein, Esq., Ph.D.
(978) 474-4700 | dsilberstein@burnslev.com
Attorney Silberstein specializes in trusts and estates, tax related matters and elder law. Ms. Silberstein is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Syracuse University (B.A., Economics, 1981). She obtained her J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law in 1984 after studying at both Boston University School of Law and Hofstra University School of Law. Ms. Silberstein obtained a Ph.D. in Social Policy from the Heller School, Brandeis University in August 2009. She brings over twenty-five (25) years of legal experience to her practice and great pride in the individualized attention she is able to provide to her clients. Ms. Silberstein is an active member of the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA), currently serving as a Probate Law Section Council member. Ms. Silberstein is also a well-known member of her local bar, the Lawrence Bar Association, and the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). In January 2011, Ms. Silberstein attended the Heckerling Institute, the premiere national estate planning conference well-attended by prominent estate planning attorneys.
Active Community Service
Ms. Silberstein is a trustee of the Lawrence General Hospital, currently serving as Chair of the Development Committee. A long-time advocate for public education, Ms. Silberstein is a trustee of ACE (Andover’s Coalition for Education), Ms. Silberstein is a Director of TAVAH, a 501(c)(3) organization providing support for senior citizens to stay in their homes. She is also a member of the Advisory Council, a local education foundation for Bipolar Research at the Massachusetts General Hospital, a consultant to the Sillerman Center for the Advancement of Philanthropy at the Heller School, Brandeis University, a member of the New England Regional Board for the Anti-Defamation League, and a member of the Latino-Jewish roundtable. Ms. Silberstein was recently elected to the Heller School Alumni Board.
Past Service
In March 2010, Ms. Silberstein completed her second three-year term, serving half the time as Chair of the Andover School Committee. Ms. Silberstein has served as a director of Shed Inc. (1994-2000), Vice-chair of the Merrimack Valley Community Foundation (2001-2004), member of the Andover Finance Committee (2000-2004), a Trustee of Essex County Community Foundation (2004-2008), the Long-Term Financial Planning Subcommittee for Governor Deval Patrick’s Education Readiness Project. She is a past director of the Legal Access Project of the Women’s Resource Center, which provided legal services to victims of domestic violence. In 2010, Ms. Silberstein was a candidate fin the Democratic Party for the 2nd Essex/Middlesex Senate Seat.
Publications
Ms. Silberstein has written and published on estate planning and tax policy matters, namely; “Conceptions of Fair Tax Policy”, Brandeis University Graduate Student Journal, 2004; “Reform, Don’t Appeal the Estate Tax”, NAELA News, Vol 15, issue 2, March, 2003; and “History of the Death Tax”, American Bar Association Probate and Property Journal , Vol 17, No. 3, May/June 2003. Ms. Silberstein also served as a research fellow to Professor Anita Hill, Brandeis University, on a project assessing education “adequacy” litigation. (2003-2005). In 2009, Ms. Silberstein successfully completed her dissertation study, The Changing Nature of Philanthropy: A Study of Giving Between Generations within Jewish American Families.
