People › Deirdre R. Wheatley-Liss

Deirdre R. Wheatley-Liss

Principal

Morristown, NJ | New York, NY
(973) 889-4278
DRWheatleyliss@pbnlaw.com
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Overview

Deirdre Wheatley-Liss is a trusted advisor to families, business owners, and non-profit leaders who want to protect what they’ve built— empowering families and business owners to build legacies with clarity, confidence, and care. With over 25 years of experience, she helps clients preserve wealth, minimize taxes, navigate complex transitions, and implement legal strategies that reflect their values and goals.

For Business Owners

Deirdre serves as a legal and strategic partner to business owners throughout the life of their companies—from formation and growth to succession or sale. As a tax attorney, she understands that every business has a silent partner—the IRS—and works proactively to reduce its share. She advises clients on entity selection, operating and shareholder agreements, M&A, exit planning, and business succession, including family business transitions and partner breakups.

Her practical, business-minded approach has helped clients save hundreds of thousands of dollars through efficient legal structures and tax-smart planning. Deirdre is a sought-after national speaker on business law, tax strategy, and exit planning.

For Families and Individuals

Whether creating an estate plan, navigating aging and incapacity, or addressing the needs of a family member with special needs, Deirdre guides her clients with clarity and compassion. She crafts customized plans that protect assets from taxes, long-term care costs, family disputes, and other threats—while preserving family harmony.

Her services include wills and trusts, elder law and long-term care planning, guardianships, estate and trust administration, and representing clients in contested estate matters. Her goal is to empower clients with knowledge, so they can make confident decisions that align with their values.

For Non-Profit Organizations

Non-profit leaders rely on Deirdre for practical guidance that blends legal compliance with mission focus. She advises educational institutions, family foundations, and charitable organizations on formation, governance, tax compliance, and strategic giving. She helps clients meet IRS requirements while advancing their vision for community impact.

Thought Leadership and Credentials

Deirdre is a nationally recognized speaker and educator on estate planning, elder law, and business succession. She is the author of Plan Your Own Estate and contributes regularly to articles, blogs, and video content.

She holds an LL.M. in Taxation and is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA), accredited by the National Elder Law Foundation and American Bar Association. Fewer than 100 attorneys in New Jersey hold this distinction.

Recognition

No aspect of this or any advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. For ranking methodologies, please see here. 

  • The Best Lawyers in America® – Corporate Law (2025); Elder Law (2025); Trusts and Estates (2025)
  • New Jersey Super Lawyers®  (2023-2025)
  • NJBIZ - Leaders in the Law (2022)
  • New Jersey Rising Stars® (2009 and 2010)
  • NJBIZ - Top 50 Women in Business (2009)
  • NJBIZ  - 40 Under 40 (2008)
  • Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) by the ABA Accredited National Elder Law Foundation
  • Tri-County Scholarship Fund - Women of Achievement Award  (2014 and 2015)

Memberships

Deirdre actively contributes to both the professional and local community:

  • Morris County Chamber of Commerce - Member, Board of Directors; Past Chair (2023-2024), Vice-Chair (2021 - 2022); Women in Business
  • National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) - Chair, Tax Steering Committee; Board of Directors, NJ Chapter
  • Morris County Bar Association - Co-Chair, Tax, Trust, Estate & Elder Law Committee; Co-Chair, Elder Law Committee
  • Estate Planning Council of Northern New Jersey -  Past President, Board of Directors
  • New Jersey State Bar Association - Past Chair, Cybersecurity Committee
  • New York Bar Association
  • Legal Advisor to numerous nonprofit organizations across NJ and NY

News

No aspect of this or any advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. For ranking methodologies, please see here. 

Articles

Events

Speaking Engagements

  • "Mid-Wealth Estate Planning – Planning for the Rest of Us," Interactive Legal Speaker Series, 3/05/2025
  • "IRS Investigations and Targeting ACT 60 Recipients: Planning and Prevention," Porzio's Puerto Rico Legal & Compliance Summit, 2/04/2025
  • "Wealth preservation fundamentals and opportunity costs. Intro to crypto Trusts and Estates - what you need to know," BUIDL Here Conference, Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association, 2/04/2025
  • "Beyond Ownership: Strategic Succession Planning for Closely Held Businesses," Porzio's Wealth Preservation Symposium, 1/29/2025
  • "Scrambling for Answers: Navigating Ethics in the Age of Emerging Tech," Porzio's 8th Annual Ethics & Eggs CLE Seminar, 12/05/2024
  • "Navigating the Corporate Transparency Act and New York LLC Transparency Act – Practical Considerations," CELESQ, 11/26/2024
  • "SECURE Act 2.0 and Important Tax Updates for 2025," East Bay Trust & Estates Lawyers Fifteenth Annual Lunch, 11/15/2024
  • "The IRS Is At It Again!," 2024 National Conference on Special Needs Planning and Special Needs Trusts, 10/16/2024
  • "Orange is the New Tax," 16th Annual Porzio Employment Law Forum, 10/01/2024
  • "Washington Update," Estate Planning Council of Northern New Jersey, 9/27/2024
  • "Corporate Transparency Act - Law and Compliance," Greater Middlesex Somerset County Estate Planning Council, 9/19/2024
  • "Corporate Transparency Act," New Jersey State Bar Association, 2024 Elder and Disability Law Symposium, 9/10/2024
  • "Corporate Transparency Act (for all LLCs, Corporations, and LPs) Are the clients in compliance, and are you?" National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Online Annual Conference, 9/04/2024
  • "Dealing with IRS Criminal Enforcement and Tax Issues in Divorce," Academy for Continuing Professional Education, 9/03/2024
  • "Corporate Transparency Act (for all LLCs, Corporations, and LPs) Are the clients in compliance, and are you?" National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Annual Conference, 5/03/2024
  • "The IRS, New Trust Modifications, and Tax Consequences," National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, 3/28/2024
  • "Organizational Management Issues, Reputational Risks, and Creating a Purposeful Corporate Culture," Porzio's Seventh Annual Ethics & Eggs CLE Seminar, 12/07/2023
  • "Revenue Ruling 2023-2: Setting the Record Straight," National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), 11/14/2023
  • "Retool Your Practice – Will Drafting Fundamentals," New Jersey State Bar Association, 11/09/2023
  • "The Tax "Ins and Outs" of Gifting," Tax Intensive - Stetson Law 2023 National Conference on Special Needs Planning and Special Needs, 10/18/2023
  • "Income Tax Considerations for the Year of Death," Tax Intensive - Stetson Law 2023 National Conference on Special Needs Planning and Special Needs, 10/18/2023
  • "Cool Tips & Tricks to Help Your Clients Save on Taxes and Increase Your Bottom Line," 2023 National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys Summit , 3/10/2023
  • "Wage Issues in the Modern Economy," Porzio Employment Law Forum, 11/02/2022
  • "A Whole New World - Taxation of Cryptocurrency and Other Digital Assets," Stetson's Annual National Conference on Special Needs Planning and Special Needs Trusts, 10/12/2022
  • "No Kidding – the "Kiddie Tax" Bites," Stetson's Annual National Conference on Special Needs Planning and Special Needs Trusts, 10/12/2022
  • "Medicaid 201: Planning for Long Term Care Costs," Porzio Webinar, 4/09/2021
  • "Medicaid 101: When You Need Long Term Care," Porzio Webinar, 3/12/2021
  • "When You Are Suddenly Alone – The First Year Following Change," Porzio Webinar, 2/12/2021
  • "Clutter Clearance and Financial Housekeeping  – Supporting Wellbeing and Aging in Place," Porzio Webinar, 1/08/2021
  • "Memory Issues in Aging – Medical and Legal Perspectives," Porzio Webinar, 12/11/2020
  • "Planning for Parents of Gen Z" Porzio Webinar, 11/13/2020
  • Speaker, "CEOs, Wives, Mothers, Daughters: Legal Planning for Our Roles in Life," New Jersey Business Association's Women Business Leaders Council, 10/23/2020
  • ​​​​​​"Medicare 101: Maximizing Your or Your Loved One's Health Care in Retirement?" Porzio Webinar, 10/09/2020
  • "Protecting your Assets, Wealth Planning and Charitable Giving," Webinar, Montclair State University, 9/16/2020
  • "What does a Trustee REALLY do?" Porzio Webinar, 9/11/2020
  • "Supporting An Aging Loved One – The Intersection of Elder Care and Elder Law", Porzio Webinar, 8/14/2020
  • "Graying Marriage and Divorce: Special Considerations for Marriage and Divorce Over 60", Porzio Webinar, 7/10/2020
  • "Will Drafting Fundamentals", NJICLE Webcast, 4/29/2020
  • ​​​"New Jersey Employer Action Guide," Morris County Chamber Of Commerce Webinar, 4/14/2020
  • "GDPR and Ethical Considerations Related to Privacy," Ethics & Eggs, Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, P.C., 11/22/2019
  • "Best Practices In Managing Vendor Access To Confidential Data," Porzio Employment Law Forum, 10/03/2018
  • "Estate Planning for Unusual Assets," and "Multi-Jurisdiction Estate Planning," NJICLE, Summer CLEfest- Tax & Estate Planning Track, 8/10/2018
  • "Hot Topics: Sexual Harassment in the Workplace," NJCPA Webinar, 7/12/2018
  • "Sexual Harassment," Morris County Chamber of Commerce Not For Profit Roundtable, 6/21/2018
  • "Data Privacy & CyberSecurity: Practical Steps to Protect Your School," New Jersey Association of School Administrators, 5/23/2018
  • "A Lifetime of Support: Planning for a Family Member Who Has Special Needs," Randolph Township Library, 2/06/2018

Media Mentions

Prior Relevant Experience

  • Business Consultant, Prudential Financial - Estate Planning, Business Planning and Retirement Planning Group