Meet Tara Cheever

Founder of Cheever Law, APC | Personal Family Lawyer®

Hi, I’m Tara Cheever. I became an estate planning attorney because I believe good planning can make an enormous difference in a family’s life.

Estate planning is not simply about signing a trust or deciding who receives your assets someday. It is about making sure the right people can step in when you need them, protecting the people you love, preserving what you have worked hard to build, and giving your family clear direction during times that may already be difficult.

That is what Life & Legacy Planning means to me.

I take a very personal approach to this work. Before we talk about documents, I want to understand you. I want to know about your family, your assets, your concerns, the people you are trying to protect, and what keeps you up at night when you think about the future. From there, we create a plan that reflects your life, your values, and the realities your family may actually face.

As a Personal Family Lawyer®, I have intentionally built my practice around long-term relationships rather than one-time transactions. My clients are not handed a stack of documents and sent on their way. I want you to understand how your plan works, why the decisions you are making matter, and what needs to happen to keep your planning effective as your family, finances, health, and circumstances change.

I founded Cheever Law, APC in 2009 after beginning my legal career in public service. I graduated Cum Laude from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, where I received multiple academic awards and was selected for a fellowship with the Center for Law, Technology, and Communications. While in law school, I also served as a certified law clerk with the California Department of Justice and had the opportunity to present oral arguments before all three divisions of California’s Fourth District Court of Appeal.

After law school, I spent three years as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Escondido. I valued that experience and the foundation it gave me as an attorney, but I knew I wanted a different kind of legal practice. I wanted to work directly with people, get to know the families and business owners I was advising, and help them make thoughtful decisions before a crisis forced those decisions upon them. I formed Cheever Law, APC.

Today, my practice includes estate planning, Life & Legacy Planning, elder law, trust and probate administration, business planning, and related matters that help individuals and families protect what they have built and prepare for what comes next. My work often extends well beyond the legal documents themselves because real life does not fit neatly into a form.

I am a graduate of Elder Law College, a member of WealthCounsel, and an active member of San Diego’s professional legal and business communities. I also believe strongly in giving back and have supported charitable organizations and provided pro bono legal service, including through the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program.

Long before becoming an attorney, I earned my B.S. with High Honors from the University of Illinois, graduating in the top 10 percent of my business school class. I grew up in the Chicagoland area, moved to San Diego for law school, and have made San Diego my home.

Outside the office, I am a dog mom to my rescued Bichon Maltese, Leo. I love being near the ocean, paddle boarding, practicing yoga, hiking, traveling, spending time with friends, and enjoying the life I work hard to help my clients protect for themselves.

I know that estate planning can bring up difficult questions. Who will make decisions for you if you cannot? What happens to the people you love when you are gone? Will your family know what to do? Will the people you trust actually have the legal authority they need?

My role is to help you answer those questions before a crisis, put the right plan in place, and make sure it keeps working as life changes.

Because a good estate plan should do more than distribute assets. It should protect the people you love, preserve your choices, and make life easier for the people you leave behind.

Plan for reality. Protect your legacy.

Meet the Team

Mia Blanco is the Executive Assistant at Cheever Law, bringing several years of experience in administrative support, client communications, and office operations. Known for her warm, positive attitude and calm professionalism, she ensures clients feel welcomed and well cared for throughout their experience. With a strong background in client relations, digital tools, and organizational systems, Mia is dependable and resourceful.

She works closely with Attorney Tara Cheever to help guide clients through the planning process by coordinating schedules, managing communications, and maintaining organized systems behind the scenes. Mia is committed to creating a smooth and supportive experience for every client, and her thoughtful, detail-oriented approach helps ensure families feel confident and at ease at every step.