PRESERVING AND PROTECTING ASSETS SINCE 2002!
High-Quality Solutions!
Protecting Your Family. Preserving Your Legacy. Planning for Peace of Mind.
Welcome to the Law Office of Michael J. Holmes, where thoughtful guidance meets personalized estate planning. Our mission is to help you take control of your future with a clear, legally sound plan that protects your loved ones and secures your hard-earned assets.
Why Estate Planning Matters
Whether you’re planning ahead, going through a life change, or responding to an urgent issue, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Estate planning is not just for the wealthy—it’s for anyone who wants to make things easier for the people they care about most.
What Is Estate Planning?
Estate planning is the process of organizing your affairs in advance, so your wishes are followed both during your life and after your passing. A complete estate plan helps you:

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- Decide who will receive your assets and when
- Appoint guardians for your minor children
- Authorize someone to make medical and financial decisions if you become incapacitated
- Minimize estate taxes, legal costs, and court involvement
- Avoid family disputes and unnecessary stress for your heirs
At the Law Office of Michael J. Holmes, we take a customized approach to every estate plan. We get to know your goals, your concerns, and your family dynamics—then craft a plan that fits you perfectly.
Our Estate Planning Services
We offer a wide range of estate planning tools to help you plan with confidence:
Wills and Living Trusts
A Last Will and Testament directs how your property should be distributed after death. A Revocable Living Trust can help avoid probate, maintain privacy, and allow smoother transitions for your heirs. We’ll help you decide which option—or combination—is right for your goals.
Durable Powers of Attorney
A Power of Attorney allows a trusted person to manage your financial affairs if you become unable to do so. This is a key part of any estate plan and can prevent costly guardianship proceedings.
Advance Health Care Directives
Also known as a Living Will, this document outlines your wishes for medical care in case you are unable to speak for yourself. It often includes naming a health care proxy to ensure your decisions are respected.
Guardianship Designations
If you have minor children, naming a legal guardian is one of the most important decisions you can make. We help you put these choices in writing, giving you peace of mind that your children will be in good hands.
Beneficiary Designations & Asset Alignment
Estate plans must coordinate with your life insurance, retirement accounts, and property titles. We help you align these with your estate documents so that your plan actually works when needed.
Trust Administration and Probate
In addition to planning, we assist with trust administration and probate when a loved one passes. Our team ensures everything is handled correctly, respectfully, and efficiently.
Who Needs an Estate Plan?
If you own property, have children, are married, or simply care about what happens to your finances and family, you need an estate plan. Common life events that call for estate planning include:
- Buying a home or real estate
- Getting married or divorced
- Having children or grandchildren
- Starting or selling a business
- Retirement planning
- Changes in health or disability
- Inheriting money or property
No matter your stage of life or financial situation, it’s never too early—or too late—to plan ahead.
Why Choose the Law Office of Michael J. Holmes?
We understand that estate planning can feel overwhelming. That’s why we make the process as clear, comfortable, and compassionate as possible. You’ll never feel rushed, judged, or pressured.
Our clients choose us because we offer:
✅ Experienced Legal Counsel – With 23 years of combined estate planning experience in California, Texas, Washington, and Idaho, we understand the law and how to apply it to real-world families.
✅ Personalized Planning – No two clients are the same. We design your plan based on your unique goals and priorities.
✅ Clear Communication – We explain every option and document in plain English, not legal jargon.
✅ Affordable, Transparent Pricing – We offer flat-fee packages, so there are no surprises.
✅ Ongoing Support – Life changes—and so should your estate plan. We offer regular updates and reviews to keep your plan current.
Ready to Start Your Estate Plan?
Planning your estate is one of the most important things you can do for your family. Don’t wait for a crisis to take action. We make it easy to get started with a free initial consultation.
📞 In California Call 714-464-5188
📞 In Idaho Call 208-696-2772
📞 In Texas Call 469-535-6260
📞 In Washington Call 206-279-4780
📧 Email michael@michaeljholmes.com
🗓️ Schedule an Appointment Online
What we do
Business Law
Regardless of whether it is issues related to start-ups, acquisitions, or active businesses, we offer attorney services that can help with the majority of crucial business planning and deal with most business problems. From forming your corporation in a tax-friendly and easy to control manner, to the sale of your business, we are a full service law firm.
Probate Litigation
In instances where there is no will, and in some cases when there is a defective will, there may be a legal and factual basis for challenging the distribution of assets. Under these circumstances, potential beneficiaries often file legal claims, asserting a right to a portion of the estate. In this situation, having a skill probate attorney is crucial.
Estate Planning
Estate planning is the process of arranging for the management and distribution of your assets after your passing. It involves creating wills, trusts, and designating beneficiaries to ensure your wishes are honored. Considerations include minimizing taxes, appointing guardians for dependents, and addressing health care decisions. By planning ahead, you provide peace of mind for yourself and your loved ones, ensuring a smooth transition and preserving your legacy.
Real Estate Law
Regardless of whether your needs are in relation to residential or commercial real estate, we represent clients in relation to title insurance issues, easement issues, foreclosures, breach of promissory note, lender/banking issues, title litigation, land use litigation, planning/zoning litigation, landlord/tenant disputes, property nuisance issues, home owner association issues, and others.
Family Law
In the realm of family law, emotions run high as it navigates the complexities of relationships. Divorce, custody battles, and adoption weave a tapestry of human experience, each case unique.
Administration Law
Administrative law governs the activities of administrative agencies of government. It encompasses the rules, regulations, and procedures that these agencies must follow when exercising their authority, ensuring they act within their legal powers.
Where we do it

California

Texas

Washington

Idaho
Client Success Stories
- Successfully assisted overseas client in relation to the formal probate of estate totaling nearly $20,000,000.00 in the United States.
- Successfully assisted client in relation to the formation of a business plan, and subsequent drafting of partnership agreement, articles of incorporation, trademark documents, lease agreements, and regulatory compliance.
- Successfully assisted client in relation to land acquisition transaction related to formerly zones farm land to be used for residential purposes.
- Successfully assisted client in relation to sale of $100,000,000.00 business.
- Successfully litigated claim on behalf of client, resulting in judgement in favor of client in excess of $10,000,000.00.
- Successfully litigated claim on behalf of client, resulting in judgement in favor of client in excess of $8,000,000.00.
- Successfully litigated claim on behalf of client, resulting in judgement in favor of client in excess of $6,000,000.00.
- Successfully assisted clients establish and implement plan related to distribution of their estate to loves ones, without unnecessary waste on court and litigation fees.
Free Consulting
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Client Testimonial
Knowing that a judge won't ultimately decide what happens to our possessions once our time on earth ends is uplifting. We feel at ease knowing that you listened to our wishes and prepared the estate plan needed to ensure that our family will be cared for the way we desire and that our money won't be wasted on court fees and legal expenditures.

John & Kathleen M.
Attorney
Michael J. Holmes

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