Languages

• Spanish

Law Firm Overview

After 24 years in practice with two of Visalia’s most well-established law firms, James P. Hurlbutt opened a solo practice office on July 1, 2004. The goal of the firm is to offer friendly, unintimidating legal services in a professional environment. Our well-trained staff, which includes certificated paralegals, works as a team to provide each client with timely, cost-conscious legal work. We specialize in Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts & Probate, Medi-Cal Planning, Conservatorships & Guardianships, Business Transactions, Business Entity Formation, and Business Litigation. Mr. Hurlbutt is fluent in Spanish and has many Spanish-speaking clients.

After being born and raised in Visalia, Mr. Hurlbutt graduated from University of Santa Clara in 1977 and from UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law in 1980, and he was admitted to the California State Bar that same year. During the 1980s, Mr. Hurlbutt returned to Visalia to practice law and was subsequently admitted into the United States District Courts for the Central, Eastern and Northern Districts and the US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Professional Affiliations include Tulare-Kings Counties Estate Planning Council, California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, the Tulare County Lawyers Referral Service Board of Directors, and the Tulare County Bar Association.

In addition to his law practice, Mr. Hurlbutt is a community leader, having served on boards of many community organizations and as President of the Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation, the Visalia Rotary Club, and the Visalia Chamber of Commerce.

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Probate, Conservatorship 60%
• Medi-Cal Planning 25%
• Business Formation, Transactions and Litigation 10%
• Real Estate 5%

Honors and Awards

• Board Member, Tulare County Lawyers Referral Service

Classes and Seminars

• Guest Lecturer, College of the Sequoias Paralegal Program
• Estate Planning Presenter, Various Community Organizations

West Practice Categories

Business & Commercial Law, Contracts, Transactions, Business Organizations, Formation & Business Planning, Limited Liability Companies, Partnerships, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Guardianships & Conservatorships, Living Wills, Powers of Attorney and Appointment, Trusts, Wills, Litigation & Appeals, Probate & Estate Administration, Estate Administration, Real Estate Law, Commercial Real Estate