Author of Life Planning in New MexicoAuthor of Life Planning in New Mexico
(Photo by Kim Jew)
Merri Rudd is currently the Probate Judge for Bernalillo County, New Mexico and owns Abogada Press. Rudd received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and has been an attorney since 1986 when she graduated from UNM's School of Law. After clerking for the Honorable William W. Bivins on the New Mexico Court of Appeals, Rudd focused her practice on elder law, addressing the needs of Albuquerque's senior citizens. She worked at the Senior Citizens Law Office (SCLO), which provides selected free legal services to Bernalillo County seniors over 60.
Rudd spent three years compiling and editing the New Mexico Senior Citizens Handbook, published by the State Bar of New Mexico in 1989. In September 1989 she received the state bar's Outstanding Contribution award for her work on the Handbook. In 1990 the state bar published the Elder Law Manual, a training manual for attorneys who work with senior citizens. Rudd co-authored the Elder Law Manual with Ellen Leitzer and Patricia McEnearney Stelzner, attorneys and co-directors of SCLO.
In 1993 Rudd, along with attorney Tom Smidt, drafted and advocated the successful passage of a law that ensures an individual's right to choose cremation.
Rudd closed her private law practice in 1997, but contributes to the elder law field in an academic capacity. Ms. Rudd taught wills, trusts and probate to TVI paralegal students and has served as an adjunct professor at the UNM Law School. In 2000 Rudd and Patrica Elliott, a retired CPA, presented a 5-part series on estate planning created by KNME-TV, the local PBS station for New Mexico. The series aired statewide.
Rudd writes a bi-weekly column for the Albuquerque Journal's Business Outlook. She also writes a legal column for Prime Time newspaper, which received the State Bar's 1998 Silver Gavel Award and the 1999 North American Mature Publishers Association's Best Entry in Editorial Category award. In 1998 Merri also received a YWCA Women on the Move Award for her many years of community service to the legal profession and is included in the national edition of Who's Who Among America's Teachers.
In her spare time Rudd enjoys raising native wildflowers, hiking, swimming, cross country skiing, baking, contra dance calling and ushering for UNM's Popejoy Hall.
Author of Family Law in New Mexico
Barbara L. Shapiro practiced family law in Albuquerque as a specialist certified by the New Mexico Board of Legal Specialization, until her retirement in 2002. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and has been listed in the New Mexico family law section of Best Lawyers in America since 1987. She graduated from UNM School of Law in 1978 and has taught several classes there as an adjunct professor, including Advanced Family Law.
Ms. Shapiro is a former Chair of the New Mexico State Bar Family Law Section and is sitting on the Section Board again. For many years, she has been acting as a draftsperson and lobbyist in support of numerous pieces of family law legislation that have now become New Mexico law. She was a member of the 1994 Child Support Guidelines Review Commission, drafted the 1985 New Mexico Domestic Relations Manual, and is presently on the Board of Editors of the AAML Journal and Matrimonial Strategist . She is a trained mediator, arbitrator, and settlement facilitator and devoted a substantial amount of time to writing and speaking about family law issues to professionals and to the general public.
In her spare time, Ms. Shapiro is also an avid gardener, reader, and walker. She has been married for 39 years and has one grown son.
Copyright © 2004 by Abogada Press
revised
6/30/05