About Us

Education and Achievements

  • Michigan State University, BA with honors
  • Case Western Reserve University, JD
  • Certificate in Probate Law and Estate Planning from the Institute for Continuing Legal Education-State Bar of Michigan

Memberships

  • State Bar of Michigan since 2011
  • Probate and Estate Planning Section of the State Bar of Michigan
    • ad hoc committee for Community Property Trust legislation, 2018-2019
  • Elder Law and Disability Rights Section of the State Bar of Michigan
  • National Association of Elder Law Attorneys
  • Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim-Benzie Bar Association
  • Estate Planning Council of the Grand Traverse Area

Publications and Speaking Engagements

Community Involvement

  • Disability Network of Northern Michigan, Board of Directors, 2016-present
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness, Board of Directors, 2018-present

Brandon Dornbusch

Attorney and Founder

Brandon is passionate about helping individuals, families, and business owners achieve peace of mind by developing and implementing creative cost effective solutions tailored for each client. He aims to be his clients’ attorney for life, helping to develop strategies that minimize risk, maximize returns on investment, and create legacies that last for generations to come.

Brandon received his undergraduate degree with honors from Michigan State University in History with a concentration in Mandarin Chinese, and his JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2011. While at Case, he focused his studies on Federal income, estate, gift, and generation skipping taxation.

As part of the estate planning process, he prepares plans for clients and explains complex issues in a way that clients will understand so that their plan works the way they intend. Brandon’s goal is to make this process as accessible, efficient and streamlined as possible so that individuals are more motivated to develop and complete their plan, and families do not have to deal with the fallout from a lack of planning.

In addition to creating estate plans, Brandon works in probate court assisting families in implementing plans when loved ones pass away, and in setting up guardianships and conservatorships for minors, individuals with special needs, and elderly individuals with mental or physical impairments. Furthermore, Brandon represents heirs and fiduciaries in probate and trust litigation matters. Brandon believes that just as a competent doctor should be able to diagnose, prevent, and treat a disease, a competent estate planning attorney should be able to plan, implement, and contest or defend an estate plan. Brandon treats his clients like family, protecting their interests as if they were his own, and making sound recommendations to help them accomplish their planning goals.

Brandon believes that effective estate planning is critical to the financial and emotional well-being of his clients and is grateful for the opportunity to be involved in the process.

Brandon also practices elder law, where he helps clients manage their healthcare and assets when long term care is requires, and helps clients qualify for Medicaid’s long term care benefit. Brandon helps clients and their family to preserve their family home and their assets from nursing home costs and from Medicaid estate recovery claims. He is well-versed in setting up guardianships and conservatorships and in litigating contested matters in the probate court.

As part of his estate planning practice, Brandon has the opportunity to become familiar with clients’ businesses and aspirations. Brandon helps clients start new companies, secure financing, draft contracts and deal with employee issues, sell successful businesses, and a variety of other issues inherent to running a business. Importantly, Brandon develops business succession plans to pass successful businesses on to the next generation. Brandon takes the time to understand each client’s business and their family dynamics, and then works to make sure that a succession plan is fair and will ensure the financial health of the business for the next generation. Brandon understands that each client is different, and each situation demands a unique approach.

When not practicing law, Brandon enjoys spending time exploring the outdoors around Traverse City, fishing, hunting, hiking, and spending time with his wife and twin daughters.

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    Education and Achievements

    • American InterContinental University, London, UK, Associates Degree in Fashion Merchandising
    • Notary Public, State of Michigan

    Publications

    Community Involvement

    • Northwest Michigan’s Child and Family Services, volunteer respite home provider

    Sue Kurta

    Legal Assistant

    Sue Kurta joined Brandon S. Dornbusch, PLC in 2025 as Brandon’s legal assistant. Prior to her position with the firm, she owned and operated Boss Mouse Cheese, an artisanal cheese company specializing in cow’s milk cheeses. Her experience complying with complex state and federal food safety regulations, and managing all aspects of a commercially successful business, translates well to serving Brandon S. Dornbusch PLC’s complicated and unique client needs.

    Before relocating to her historic farm in Kingsley, MI, Sue worked in New York City assisting senior executives at multinational financial institutions including American Express, Citibank and Citigroup. Her background in keeping some of the world’s busiest executives organized and prepared makes her ideally suited to keeping the firm responsive to client needs.

    Sue volunteers with Northwest Michigan’s Child and Family Services as a host/respite home for at-risk youth. She still teaches cheesemaking classes several times per year, and enjoys travel, cooking, film, music and the arts.

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