Business Details
11 Years
experience
Trusted Legal Services for Estate Planning and Small Businesses
Philo Law Firm was founded in 2015 with a mission to provide accessible, client-focused legal services tailored to individual and small business needs. Our practice centers on two core areas: estate planning and small business legal counsel. For estate planning, we deliver personalized solutions through a signature two-meeting process, offering comprehensive packages that include trusts, wills, and advanced healthcare directives. We also guide trustees through trust administration and navigate probate proceedings for families facing asset transfer challenges.As general counsel for small businesses, we support entrepreneurs from entity formation to contract management, intellectual property protection, and business dissolution. Operating primarily as a virtual office, we serve Southern California with flexible meeting options in Irvine and San Diego. Our flat-rate pricing ensures transparency, while our litigation services maintain competitive hourly rates. With over a decade of legal experience, our team prioritizes trust, accessibility, and practical solutions to meet clients' evolving needs.
Services
Estate Planning
Trust Administration
Probate Services
Small Business Counsel
Conservatorships
Details
- Year established: 2015
Highlights and features
- We offer virtual legal consultations for immediate accessibility
- Our flat-rate estate planning packages ensure cost transparency
- We provide tailored legal strategies for small businesses at every growth stage
- Our team combines over a decade of legal experience with personalized service
- We simplify complex processes like probate and trust administration
What people say
Accessible virtual consultations
Transparent flat-rate packages
Personalized legal strategies
Services
Estate Planning Packages
Our customized estate plans include trusts, wills, and healthcare directives to protect your assets and wishes. We complete comprehensive plans in two meetings using a proven process, with expedited options available. Clients receive clear documentation to ensure smooth asset transfer and decision-making during life and after death.
Trust Administration
We guide trustees through asset distribution and fiduciary responsibilities with full-service or basic support packages. Our expertise handles complex trust settlements while educating trustees about their legal obligations. We simplify administrative tasks to ensure compliance with California trust laws and beneficiaries' needs.
Probate Services
Our probate specialists help families transfer assets when a loved one passes without a trust. We navigate court requirements for will validation, debt settlement, and property distribution. Our litigation experience resolves disputes between executors, beneficiaries, and creditors while maintaining legal compliance throughout the process.
Small Business Counsel
We serve as outsourced general counsel for startups and small businesses, handling contracts, intellectual property, and operational legal needs. From entity formation to business dissolution, we protect companies through customized agreements, compliance strategies, and growth-focused legal planning tailored to each client's industry.
Conservatorships
We establish conservatorships for individuals with developmental disabilities or diminished capacity, creating legal frameworks for financial and personal care management. Our services include initial filings, court representation, and interstate transfer assistance while balancing protection with the individual's independence.
People
Michelle A. Philo
Managing Attorney
Michelle A. Philo founded Philo Law Firm in 2015 after graduating from Whittier Law School. She specializes in estate planning, trust administration, and small business law while maintaining active memberships in multiple bar associations. Her legal expertise spans business formation, probate litigation, and intellectual property protection.
Hannah Elias
Paralegal
Hannah Elias supports estate planning and trust administration cases, assisting clients with document preparation and procedural guidance. Her paralegal expertise ensures efficient case management while maintaining direct client communication throughout legal processes.
Jacquelyne Yawn
Paralegal
Jacquelyne Yawn provides paralegal support for business legal services and probate matters. She coordinates document preparation, court filings, and client communications while working closely with attorneys to maintain case organization and procedural compliance.
Questions
What estate planning services do you offer?
We create customized estate plans including trusts, wills, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives through a two-meeting process with expedited options available.
How do you assist small business owners?
We act as outsourced general counsel handling business formation, contract review, intellectual property protection, employment matters, and exit strategies tailored to each company's needs.
Do you provide virtual legal consultations?
Yes, we primarily operate as a virtual office offering phone and video consultations while providing in-person meetings in Irvine and San Diego locations.
What areas do you serve?
We focus on Southern California with primary service areas in Orange County and San Diego County, offering flexible meeting options across the region.
How are your legal fees structured?
We offer transparent flat-rate packages for estate planning services and competitive hourly rates for litigation and complex legal matters.
What experience do you have with probate cases?
We handle all aspects of probate administration including will validation, asset distribution, and dispute resolution between executors and beneficiaries.
