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
- Bankruptcy and Inheritances- After Acquired Property and Asset Valuation. Federal Bar Association, Western District of Michigan Chapter, Summer 2015.
- The Perils Of Success: Asset Protection To Keep The Good Times Rolling. Traverse City Business News, April 2017.
- Does Tax Reform Spell A Happy New Year For Your Business? Traverse City Business News, February 2018.
- Guardianships and Conservatorships for Adults. Brain Injury Network of Northern Michigan, Fall 2017.
- Special Needs Planning for the Beneficiary with a Mental Illness. National Alliance on Mental Illness-Grand Traverse, Spring 2019.
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.