Shelley L.
Centini, Esq.
My Story
After litigating for 20 years, I know how to use the court system—and when to avoid it.
For years, I was successfully guiding people experiencing legal conflicts through the court system, representing thousands of criminal clients and winning millions of dollars for civil clients. Then, the world including the court system, experienced an upheaval once COVID arrived in 2020. Courts shut down and the system came to a halt.
Tragic stories of young people dying from COVID and related illnesses hit home. Worse, as an attorney, I heard of young families who were unprepared and had either no guardianships set up for their children, no estate plan, or a plan that failed.
I heard of families who had young children with no named guardian in place for those children—leaving families to fight amongst themselves for custody in a system where the courts were grinding to a halt, causing scenarios most parents would never have wanted for their children and families. I could not imagine anything worse than a young family losing parents and leaving those left behind to navigate without a functional estate plan in place. I thought of my own son and what would happen if I was not able to care for him because I was incapacitated or worse. It scared me and I knew others were scared also. I knew as an attorney I could help, and the tragedy of the COVID pandemic gave me the time I needed to learn how.
I got to work figuring out how traditional estate plans fail and what I could do about it. I took months to take a hard look at how the typical “draft it and forget it” will and powers of attorney-type plan that a lot of lawyers were doing for clients just would not cut it for many young families and could actually lead people into court and into conflict—exactly what they were trying to avoid by making these documents in the first place. I knew doing estate planning the old way is all a lot of lawyers know how to do—in fact, I had a will-based plan in place that I drafted myself before COVID. I now know that plan would have failed to protect my minor child and my loved ones would have been left with a lot of problems.
Figuring out the best way to help families was not easy and it required a lot of training. But with wonderful mentors, time to learn, and excellent resources, I left the firm I was a litigation contractor with for almost 20 years and started Centini Law, LLC. My focus is now completely different and so is the way I run my practice. I still take litigation cases in other areas of the law, but I started my own firm to use effective estate planning to keep families OUT of court and OUT of conflict. I firmly believe that a time when families are grieving is not the time for court proceedings. Probate court (and fees) is easily avoidable.
I run my practice in the way that makes sense for the families I serve. In estate planning, I don’t charge by the hour, which means you have access to me for whatever you need without expecting a bill. You will pay a flat fee, agreed to in advance, so there are never any surprises.
I will help you get more financially organized than ever before. Right now, there is over $3.5 billion in Pennsylvania’s Department of Unclaimed Property because when people become incapacitated or die, many families and loved ones don’t know where to find bank accounts, insurance policies, deeds to property and other assets. So I do everything I can do to make sure that won’t happen to you.
I will make sure if you have minor children they would be cared for every step of the way.
I will establish guardianships well in advance of incapacity or death so there would never be a question or conflict over the care of your children if you could not do so yourself, or how their care would be financed.
I will not send you on your way once your plan is made and forget about you.
I will review and update your plan as your life changes and your family grows to make sure the plan you have works for you when you need it.
Finally, if a traditional in-person meeting at my office doesn’t work for you for any reason, I am available to meet with you virtually, via zoom.
As a mom of a teenage boy, what I’ve come to realize through this journey is that planning is not something you do for yourself. It is something you do for the people you love the most. You won’t be the one to benefit from the plan we design together. The people you love the most who will be dealing with things after you’re gone will benefit. What an amazing gift you are about to give them! I want to learn about those people and tell you how I proud I am to promise you that I am able to truly help you and your loved ones.
THE PFL PROMISE: Every Personal Family Lawyer promises to deliver the counsel you need, the legal planning you want, and a relationship you can trust, at a price you can afford.
How you hire us.
Documents aren’t good planning, they come from good planning. For that reason, we always begin with a Planning Session to guide you to clarify your financial life and legacy goals before we draft a single document.
Starting here ensures you choose the right plan for you based on your family dynamics, your assets, and your budget. And that your plan and our work covers the full picture of what matters most throughout your life, and after your death.
What we protect.
Everything that matters to you. The assets most often lost between generations are intangible - Time, Energy, Attention and Money, Values, Insights, Stories and Experience. Our Life & Legacy Planning process ensures everything from your financial assets to your values to your voice are protected during your life and for generations to come.
How we plan.
Every Life & Legacy Plan is unique, driven by your personal relationships, family dynamics, assets and risk factors. We work with you to map out the most likely scenarios for you, and plan for each as life, the law, and your assets change over time.
What you see.
Systems, processes and flat fees … from the moment you call our office, you’ll see we have a plan to help you plan and choose the right plan for you and your family. And, you’ll never be surprised by an unexpected invoice. All of our fees are flat, agreed to in advance, based on your choices, and no surprises, ensuring the transparency required to stay on the same side of the table, every step of the way.
How we deliver.
Far too many estate plans end-up unfinished, unsigned, or out-of-date, leaving families in court and in conflict. We ensure you mitigate the biggest risks of traditional estate planning: procrastination and neglect. Our 3-Meeting Planning + Yearly Review Process is designed to ensure you not only get your planning done, but that your plan stays up to date as your life changes.
EDUCATION:
Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, Carlisle, PA. JD—2000
Co-founder--Student Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union
Member—American Bar Association, Student Division; Delta Theta Phi Fraternity, Holmes Senate Division
King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, PA. BA English—1997
BAR ADMISSIONS:
United States Supreme Court—2018
United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit—2009
Commonwealth of PA and United States District Court, Middle District of PA—2000
State of Florida—2022
PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ACHIEVEMENTS:
Pennsylvania and Florida Bar Associations
Super Lawyer® (nine years)
Founder & Chairperson Criminal Defense Committee, Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association
Speaker, NBI “Handling the Police Liability Claim,” PACDL “Pretrial Motion Practice in Capital Litigation,” and MDPA Federal Practice Committee “Nuts and Bolts of Federal Practice”
Past President, Young Lawyers’ Division Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association
Former Member Executive Committee, Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association
Volunteer Guest Speaker, King’s College Annual Legal Career Day & Law Day Guest Speaker for area Elementary and High Schools
Former Board of Directors, Plains Township Rotary Club
Former Coach, Plains POWER U6 Soccer
Get more secure and financially organized than ever.
In a short 15 minute call with me, I can assess what your needs are regarding planning for you and your family’s future and the best way for me to help keep your loved ones out of court and out of conflict. Even if we do not decide to plan together, you will get more financially organized than ever before so your loved ones will be able to find you assets at death and nothing will end up in PA Department of Unclaimed Property.
