Atty. Holly A. Surface
Holly A. Surface is a Partner at Des Moines Elder Law, PLLC focusing on appellate work, real property litigation, trust and estate disputes, and protection of vulnerable adults.
Appellate Practice & More Attorney · Serving Des Moines, WA · 4+ Years Experience
Profile Summary
About Holly A. Surface at a Glance
Holly A. Surface is a Partner based in Des Moines, Washington, practicing at Des Moines Elder Law, PLLC. They have 4+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 2022. Their practice focuses on trusts, probate, estate planning, business, and real estate. Admitted to practice in Washington (2022). Educated at Seattle University School of Law (J.D., 2021) and Colorado State University (B.S. Business, 1993). Serves clients in Des Moines, WA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
Get Legal Help from Holly A. Surface in Des Moines
Sign up free and choose one of the two methods below.
Have a legal question? Sign up free, submit it through the Ask the Attorney module and receive a focused answer from a specialist.
- Free to ask a question
- Answers from specialist attorneys
- Optional private / anonymous question
Request an online video meeting or an in-person consultation at the attorney's office. Pick a time that works for you and share the details securely.
- Online video meeting
- In-person at the attorney's office
- Secure messaging and payment
About Holly A. Surface
- Holly A. Surface is a Partner at Des Moines Elder Law, PLLC focusing on appellate work, real property litigation, trust and estate disputes, and protection of vulnerable adults
- She graduated Cum Laude from Seattle University School of Law in December 2021
- She has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with emphasis in Financial Management and Real Estate from Colorado State University and a Paralegal Certificate from Highline Community College.In addition to litigating property, trust, estate, and guardianship matters and representing fiduciaries as an attorney, Ms. Surface has served in many roles as a court-appointed fiduciary
- Formerly a Certified Professional Guardian, Ms. Surface was the founder and former director of Abacus Guardianship, Inc. a Washington Certified Professional Guardianship Agency
- As a court-appointed fiduciary for over ten years, Ms. Surface has extensive experience in complex case management
- For individuals under guardianship this includes health and personal care management, financial management, forensic accounting, and asset recovery, and regular access of the legal system to assert and protect the rights of individuals with limited legal capacity.Ms
- Surface also founded and formerly directed Abacus Fiduciary Association, a Washington nonprofit corporation acting as court appointed trustee and estate Personal Representative
- Ms. Surface has extensive experience in the probate and trust arena, both as an attorney, with knowledge of the law of trusts and estates in the State of Washington, and as a fiduciary, with the actual practice of trust and estate administration
- She has routinely managed estates and trusts following removal of a prior fiduciary.As an attorney, Ms. Surface has successfully defended appeals, prevailed at trial on guardianship and vulnerable adult protection matters, has prosecuted and defended multiple TEDRA matters, and remains committed to the protection of vulnerable adults.One such example is Matter of Est. of Quach Living Tr., 34 Wn
- App. 2d 1090 (2025), as amended on reconsideration (Aug. 20, 2025) in which Ms. Surface prosecuted a claim to quiet title in the name of the above referenced trust, prevailing on summary judgment and successfully defending on appeal.Another example is Villa Marina Ass'n of Apartment Owners v
- Collins, 33 Wash
- App. 2d 1057 (2025), in which Ms. Surface prevailed on a claim of delinquent condominium assessments, over multiple years and spanning multiple lawsuits
- Ms. Surface successfully defended the case upon the second appeal
- the matter having been remanded back to the trial court following the first appeal.Ms
- Surface primarily practices in state court and is licensed to practice in US District Court, Western District of Washington
- She has given presentations relating to addressing real property issues within probate and recovery of assets for vulnerable adults
- Ms. Surface has been appointed in TEDRA matters in Pierce County Superior Court as an ADA accommodation to qualifying adults with disabilities
- Ms. Surface regularly volunteers as a rater for YMCA Mock Trial competitions for high school students
Practice Areas Explained
Holly A. Surface's Areas of Legal Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Holly A. Surface handles, with a practical overview of what that area of law involves and how it may apply to your situation in Des Moines.
Trusts in Des Moines
Holly A. Surface is one of 103,428 trusts attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trusts attorneys in Washington →
Probate in Des Moines
Holly A. Surface is one of 127,041 probate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse probate attorneys in Washington →
Estate Planning & Probate in Des Moines
An estate planning attorney prepares wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives to protect your family and pass on your assets.
Holly A. Surface is one of 224,789 estate planning attorneys indexed nationally. Browse estate planning attorneys in Washington →
Business & Corporate Law in Des Moines
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
Holly A. Surface is one of 497,491 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Washington →
Real Estate Law in Des Moines
Real estate attorneys handle home purchases, sales, commercial transactions, title disputes, and landlord-tenant matters.
Holly A. Surface is one of 313,729 real estate attorneys indexed nationally. Browse real estate attorneys in Washington →
Jurisdictional Context
Why Local Counsel Matters in Des Moines
Practicing law in Washington. Legal matters in Washington are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Des Moines are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Washington state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Washington brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Washington courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Des Moines Courts and Legal Process
Choosing a Des Moines-based attorney means your counsel already knows the local docketing timelines, preferred filing formats, and how individual judges typically rule on procedural motions — details that only come from practicing in this jurisdiction day after day. That local familiarity can translate to better strategy, faster filings, and fewer costly surprises.
Looking for additional Washington attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Des Moines or all attorneys in Washington.
Frequently Asked
Common Questions About Holly A. Surface
Where is Holly A. Surface's law office located?
What practice areas does Holly A. Surface handle?
How long has Holly A. Surface practiced law?
Where did Holly A. Surface go to law school?
How can I contact Holly A. Surface for a consultation?
Professional Profile
Why Clients in Des Moines Choose Holly A. Surface
Selecting an attorney is one of the most consequential decisions you can make when a legal matter arises. Below are the core qualities that distinguish Holly A. Surface's practice in the field of trusts, probate, estate planning, business, and real estate.
4+ Years of Legal Practice
With 4 years in the profession, Holly A. Surface has developed the procedural fluency and courtroom instincts that come from handling real cases under real deadlines.
Broad Practice Area Coverage
Covering trusts, probate, and estate planning, Holly A. Surface can address the full spectrum of a client's legal needs without requiring referrals to separate specialists for each issue.
Local Presence in Des Moines
A Des Moines-based practice means Holly A. Surface attends hearings in the same courthouses, knows the local clerks, and understands the unwritten scheduling norms that affect every case filed here.
Case Types
Common Legal Issues Holly A. Surface Handles in Des Moines
Below is a representative sample of the types of matters Holly A. Surface has experience with under Washington law. If your situation involves one of these case categories, this attorney may be well positioned to help you understand your options.
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Contact Holly A. Surface directly to discuss the specifics of your situation.
Search Reference
How People Find Holly A. Surface Online
Prospective clients searching for legal help in Des Moines commonly use a combination of the attorney's name and their specific legal need. The following search terms frequently lead people to this profile and to attorneys like Holly A. Surface.
If any of the above matches what you searched for, you've found the right profile. Use the contact options at the top of this page to get in touch with Holly A. Surface directly.
Holly A. Surface's Practice Areas & Specializations
Education & Law School Background
Bar Admissions & Licensed Jurisdictions
Client Reviews & Ratings — Holly A. Surface
No reviews yet.