Norman Michael Cooley

Norman Michael Cooley has been successfully representing members of the San Diego community for over thirty years. His primary areas of practice are Estate Planning and Business and Corporate Law.

​Estate planning topics include Wills, Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Powers of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directives, Elder Law, and Probate, and related litigation. Mike and his staff are highly accomplished at handling all aspects of the complicated and form-intensive probate process, with an unrelenting commitment to educating clients on its complexities from start to finish.  Mike will advise you on exactly what to expect during the process, quickly begin the formal proceedings, prepare and file all court documents, and appear in court on your behalf. He will help you understand the issues associated with your rights and responsibilities, and will represent you in your appropriate capacities ... i.e., executor, trustee, beneficiary, contestant.  Mike will fight for your rights while doing everything possible to minimize hard feelings with other family members.

As part of his estate planning practice, Mike is also experienced in handling matters regarding the rising challenges our society faces with an aging population. He and his staff have gathered an extensive array of quality resources pertaining to seniors, including those dealing with elder abuse, MediCal, senior in-home care, and senior housing and relocation.  See our section on Elder Law for additional information. Mike takes caring for our seniors very seriously.

With his MBA from UC-Berkeley and his many years in corporate management, Mike is eminently qualified to assist clients in the areas of business and corporate law. This includes such activities as deciding on the appropriate type of business enterprise (corporations - including professional and non-profits, limited liability companies, partnerships, and sole proprietorships), actually forming the entity, and assisting you in the continuing operation and maintenance of the business.

When selecting an attorney to assist you in these complicated legal matters, qualifications and experience are of critical importance. In addition to his MBA, Mike received his Law Degree and his post-doctoral Masters in Tax Law at the University of San Diego School of Law.  For fifteen years he was an adjunct Professor of Law, teaching Federal Income Tax Law, Federal Gift and  Estate Tax, and Estate Planning. That education and teaching experience, together with his thirty plus years of practice, make him a clear choice within his areas of practice