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MICHAEL OFFENHEISER | PARTNER

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Michael Offenheiser
PARTNER


 
 
 
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PARALEGAL
Marlee Reich 

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RELATED PRACTICES

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BIO

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Michael J. Offenheiser was admitted to the California bar in 2005 and has practiced as an estate planning attorney since that time. He earned his Bachelor's degree (magna cum laude) from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and his Juris Doctorate degree (cum laude) from the Ave Maria School of Law. Michael is board certified in estate planning law by the California Bar Association. He is a Blackstone Fellow and recipient of a Distinguished Scholar Award from the State of Maryland. In law school, Michael served on the Executive Board of the Ave Maria Law Review. In 2019, Michael was recognized as Attorney of the Year by St. Thomas More Society of Orange County during the 31st Annual Red Mass. 

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Michael has worked the majority of his career at Brown & Streza, and has taught estate planning as an Adjunct Professor of Law. In his practice, Michael works closely with individuals and families to create estate plans that reflect their unique goals and desires. This may involve the preparation of wills, living trusts, irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney, advance health care directives, special needs trusts, or the implementation of other estate planning techniques.

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Michael once served as a member of the Board of Directors and as a member of the Planned Giving Committee for the Orange Catholic Foundation. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the St. Thomas More Society of Orange County and leads an initiative of the St. Thomas More Society called the Charles Institute.

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Since 2022, Michael has been selected for inclusion on the Southern California Super Lawyers list by the publishers of Los Angeles magazine and The Journal for Law & Politics magazine – a distinction recognizing only 5% of the attorneys in Southern California (excluding San Diego).  He was also recognized as a "Rising Star" by Southern California Super Lawyers in 2014 and 2015.

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Click here for Michael's complete biography.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND | PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION | PUBLICATIONS

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
 

Brown & Streza LLP, Irvine, California

Partner, 2018-Present

Attorney, 2013-2018

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Copenbarger & Copenbarger, LLP, Irvine, California: Attorney, 2012-2013

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Law Office of Michael J. Offenheiser, Orange County, California: Solo Practitioner,

          2011-2012

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Bolen Fransen, LLP, Fresno, California: Attorney, 2008-2010

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Fresno City College, Fresno, California: Adjunct Professor, 2010

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Dowling, Aaron, & Keeler, P.C., Fresno, California: Attorney, 2006-2008

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Juris Doctor, cum laude, Ave Maria School of Law, 2005

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Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, The Catholic University of America, 1999

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PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
 

2022-2024 “Southern California Super Lawyer"

Published by Southern California Super Lawyers magazine, The New York Times (Los Angeles and Orange County distribution), Los Angeles magazine and The Journal for Law & Politics. Only 5% of the attorneys in Southern California (excluding San Diego) receive this prestigious honor. 

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2019 Attorney of the Year, St. Thomas More Society of Orange County

Recognized at 31st Annual Red Mass, an event that honors those in legal professions 

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Board Certified in Estate Planning Law, 7/1/2015

Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law (California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization)

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2014 - 2015 “Southern California SuperLawyers - Rising Star”

Published by Los Angeles magazine and The Journal for Law & Politics. Only 2.5% of lawyers under the age of 40 and/or in their first 10 years of practice in Los Angeles and Orange Counties receive this honor.

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PUBLICATIONS
 

Leimberg Information Services, Inc., May 2020

Co-author, "Executing Estate Planning Documents During the Pandemic and the Slow Return to the 'New Normal'"

Signing During Coronavirus - California

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SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
 

Orange Catholic Foundation, Orange County, California, 2011-2016

Estate Planning Presentations

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NAIFA Brown Bag Webinar, Irvine, California, April 21, 2016

Basic Living Trust

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Estate Planning Workshop Series 2014, Irvine, California, September 30, 2014

Advanced Healthcare Directives and More

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Goodwill of OC, Santa Ana, California, September 4, 2014

Special Needs Trust Presentation

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University of California, Irvine, 2013

Estate Planning Presentation

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Goodwill Industries of Orange County, California, 2011

Special Needs Trust Educational Seminar

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The Shea Center for Therapeutic Riding, California, 2011

Special Needs Trust Educational Seminar

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

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Charles Institute: Founding Member

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Board of Directors, St. Thomas More Society of Orange County: Member

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Orange Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Orange: Member, Former Board of         Directors member

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Orange County Estate Planning Council: Past Member

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Financial Planning Association: Past Member

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Board of Directors, Orange Catholic Foundation: Past Member

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Planned Giving Committee, Orange Catholic Foundation for the Diocese of Orange: Past Member

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