Cheri E. Michaelis

Cheri E. Michaelis leads a San Jose law office that provides estate planning and related legal services throughout the Bay Area. Her practice includes wills, trusts, probate, trust administration, real property transfers, and business succession planning. She works with individuals, families, and trustees to prepare estate documents and address the legal responsibilities involved in managing and distributing assets. Her approach emphasizes plans suited to a client’s specific goals.

Cheri completed her undergraduate education at the University of California, Los Angeles and studied law at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, graduating with honors. This academic background supports work involving estates, fiduciary duties, property transfers, and legal documentation. Her legal training, combined with more than two decades of experience in the field, informs her approach to helping clients consider estate planning choices and administration requirements.

Cheri assists clients in creating and updating estate plans, including the use of trusts and other legal documents to carry out their wishes. She also guides trustees through administration and the distribution of assets after a death. Her probate work involves preparing and filing court forms and explaining the steps needed to settle an estate. She provides business succession guidance and helps clients consider legal issues involving ownership transfers.

Cheri E. Michaelis participates in professional and community organizations, including the State Bar of California, the Santa Clara County Bar Association, the Silicon Valley Bar Association, and local estate planning groups. She focuses on explaining legal options and supporting clients through responsibilities that can be complex or unfamiliar. Her work helps families plan for future changes, manage inherited obligations, and approach estate administration in an organized way.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Law Offices of Cheri E. Michaelis
• Member, The State Bar of California
• Member, Santa Clara County Bar Association
• Member, Silicon Valley Bar Association
• Member, Santa Clara County Estate Planning Counsel
• Member, Business Networking International
• Member, San Jose Fit
• Member, Rotary Club of San Jose/Silicon Valley

Licensed State

• California

Awards & Badges