About

Quick answer

AMO LAW is an estate planning law firm with offices in Costa Mesa and Corona, California. The firm helps individuals and families consider wills, trusts, incapacity planning, guardianship planning, asset alignment, and related legacy decisions in plain language.

Attorney Cecilia Amo helps families consider estate planning goals and future needs.

After beginning her career at a civil rights firm, Cecilia Amo spent years representing families affected by catastrophic injuries. In that work, she sought fair compensation for clients and saw how court proceedings can affect families when a loved one becomes incapacitated or dies unexpectedly.

Losses can happen at any time. Thoughtful planning may help families address decisions that could otherwise require court involvement, though it cannot prevent every court proceeding.

AMO LAW Helps Families Consider Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning Goals

We welcome the opportunity to learn your story, hear what matters to you, and discuss planning options that may address court involvement and family conflict.

Meet Cecilia

M. Cecilia Amo’s Approach to Estate Planning

With a background in litigation and a commitment to service, Cecilia explains legal concepts and offers guidance as clients consider their options. At AMO LAW Legacy Planning, clients can discuss their circumstances and make decisions about their plans without pressure.

Professional Background

M. Cecilia Amo is the founder of AMO LAW Legacy Planning. Her practice includes estate planning, asset protection, and planning for children. She helps California families consider how legal documents may reflect their goals and wishes. The effect of a plan depends on its terms and circumstances.

Ms. Amo earned her Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law in 2006, attending evening classes while working full-time as a paralegal. She passed the California Bar Exam on her first attempt and is admitted to practice in all California state courts and the U.S. District Courts in California. She holds a B.A. in Political Science from Whittier College and earned her paralegal certification from Cerritos College.

Ms. Amo began her legal career at The Cochran Firm Los Angeles, where she was hired as an associate after completing a summer clerkship under Shawn Holley, a nationally recognized criminal defense attorney known for her work on the O.J. Simpson defense team. She spent several years representing plaintiffs in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases.

In 2010, she returned to Orange County and joined The Reeves Law Group, where she worked under respected trial attorneys Derek Pakiz and Marc Thompson. While at the firm, she continued to handle high-value litigation and was part of the team that secured multi-million dollar settlements. In a full-circle moment, the final case she evaluated at The Cochran Firm—declined due to anticipated challenges with liability—became the first case she worked on at The Reeves Law Group, ultimately resulting in a settlement exceeding $2 million.

In 2020, Ms. Amo shifted her focus to estate planning after training with nationally recognized attorney Ali Katz, founder of the Personal Family Lawyer® network. She was drawn to the relationship-based, client-centered model that prioritizes clarity, counseling, and long-term peace of mind for families.

Known for her calm, approachable demeanor and ability to make legal concepts understandable, Ms. Amo provides a welcoming environment for clients to explore their options without pressure or judgment. Her practice is built on the belief that legacy is more than documents—it’s about protecting your people, honoring your values, and creating peace of mind.

Outside of her legal work, Ms. Amo has served on the board of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation and founded a national nonprofit focused on mental health outreach within anime fan communities. She has been featured on Filipino-American media programs and has spoken at conferences on community engagement and faith-based outreach.

What It’s Like to Work with Cecilia

Clients often come to Cecilia expecting stress, confusion, or judgment. Instead, they find calm, compassion, and clarity. Working with Cecilia feels like finally sitting down with someone who gets it—who takes the time to listen, explain, and guide without pressure. Clients feel safe with her. Not just legally protected, but truly seen.

She helps them move through their procrastination and fear, not by pushing them—but by creating space for confidence, trust, and peace of mind. She’s the kind of attorney who changes what people think “lawyer” means.

About the Book

In 2025, Cecilia published Your After-Credits Scene: A Nerd’s Guide to Wills, Trusts & Legacy—a playful yet practical look at estate planning through the lens of pop culture and fandoms.

She wrote it for Millennials and Gen Xers with all kinds of family dynamics—parents with young kids, people without kids, blended families, singles, and chosen families. Her goal: to make this seriously important topic actually relatable (and a little less scary). Too many people either skip planning entirely or end up with cookie-cutter documents that don’t fit their real lives.

Your After-Credits Scene breaks down estate planning in plain language, through the stories and fandoms we love, showing how anyone can protect the people and passions that matter most.

Get the Book + Bonus Resources, such as companion guides, checklists, and downloadable tools that help turn knowledge into action.

Attorney Cecilia Amo founded AMO LAW to help individuals and families throughout California think through estate planning and legacy goals. She listens to each client’s circumstances, explains available options, and provides thoughtful guidance for decisions about loved ones, assets, and the future. Our offices are in Costa Mesa and Corona, and consultations are available in person or virtually.

Attorney Cecilia Amo founded AMO LAW to help individuals and families throughout California explore estate planning and legacy goals. She listens to each client’s circumstances, explains available options, and provides thoughtful guidance for decisions about loved ones, assets, and the future. Our offices are in Costa Mesa and Corona, and consultations are available in person or virtually.

Frequently asked questions

A few common questions about this page and how to use the information.

What does AMO LAW help families with?

AMO LAW helps individuals and families consider estate planning documents and related decisions, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare documents, guardianship planning, and trust administration when those services fit the matter.

Where does AMO LAW meet with clients?

AMO LAW has offices in Costa Mesa and Corona and also offers virtual consultations for clients throughout California, subject to the facts and scope of the legal matter.

Who should consider an estate planning conversation?

Anyone with family responsibilities, property, financial accounts, a business, or concerns about incapacity may benefit from learning what planning choices may fit their circumstances.