Attorney Biography
Stephen M. Asbel, Partner in the Philadelphia, PA office of Reger, Rizzo & Darnall, LLP, focuses his practice in the areas of wills and trusts, estate planning and estate administration, business and real estate contracts and transactions, LGBT+ Law, planning second-parent and intra-family adoptions, and gestational carrier and assisted reproduction technology agreements.Mr. Asbel is passionate about helping individuals and families plan for the future, including estate taxation, choosing fiduciaries to manage funds until children or other beneficiaries come of age, planning ahead for making medical decisions, addressing special needs of family members, and all other personal decisions that go into planning an estate for a family.He has extensive experience helping families who have lost a loved one, who did not have an estate plan or who had an estate plan that was out-of-date, in navigating the probate system.Additionally, years before same-sex marriage recognition became a reality in the United States, Mr. Asbel was already serving the planning needs of the LGBT+ community and continues that service now that same-sex marriage is recognized throughout the United States.Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Asbel was a partner in a law firm in Media, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. While attending the University of Pennsylvania, Mr. Asbel majored in International Relations and graduated cum laude and as a Benjamin Franklin Scholar. He earned his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law in 1989. During his time at Villanova, he was a member of the Jewish Law Students’ Association and the Corporate Law Society, as well as a participant in The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, where he prepared tax returns for low-income individuals.Education
J.D., Villanova University, (1989)
B.A. , University of Pennsylvania, (1986) cum laude, Benjamin Franklin Scholar, Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
Delaware County Bar Association
Delaware County Panel of Attorneys for Arbitrators
Honors & AwardsMartindale-Hubbell ® Distinguished Peer Rated for High Professional Achievement with High Ethical StandingLead Counsel Rated Attorney in Estate Planning LawLead Counsel Rated Attorney in Probate LawCorporate INTL Global Awards Boutique Estate Planning (2017-2019)Main Line Today Top Lawyers (2017)Suburban Life Magazine’s Top Estate Planning and Administration AttorneysList (2015)Who’s Who in Executives and ProfessionalsPublications & Press MentionsAuthor, Why You Should Pre-Plan Your Funeral. Client Alert. (December 2018)Interviewed on Safe Money Radio. WDEL 1150 AM. (September 2013)Quoted, New End of Life Plan for Social Media Accounts. KYW News Radio. (June 5, 2012)Author, Protecting Your Will and Other Documents from Potential Challenges by Angry Relatives. Client Alert. (May 12, 2011)Author, Mark Twain was Wrong – New Land is Being Made But Who Owns It? Client Alert. (December 7, 2009)Civic & Charitable AssociationsSuburban Jewish Community Center – B’nai Aaron, Former PresidentTemple Adath Israel – Ritual Committee, Lay-prayer Leader in the synagogue and in homes of bereaved families, AdultEducation TeacherAll Corners Farm, Inc., Board Member - A non-profit dedicated to providing chemical-free, locally-grown food toorganizations which feed the homeless and hungry
