“Families are our foundation, our legacy, and our most important asset.”

Relationships are at the core of Cortney’s business. She is passionate about family and community, recognizing the joys and complexities that those relationships bring. Cortney prepares her clients for the unknown, skillfully guiding them to a solution they not only understand, but that also gives them peace of mind.

Headshot of smiling attorney, Cortney Danbrook

MEET Cortney.

Cortney’s creative, individualized approach stems from her years of experience in wealth management, working for a national brokerage firm and a regional banking institution. The crossover between Cortney’s legal and institutional knowledge leaves her well positioned to advise her clients from different perspectives, avoiding unanticipated consequences, and providing solutions specific to her client’s needs.

Cortney represents individuals, families, and businesses in the areas of estate and wealth succession planning, family cottage preservation, and legacy asset planning. She also counsels banks, trust companies, and individual fiduciaries in all aspects of trust and probate administration and litigation matters. Cortney’s thoughtful and thorough approach puts clients at ease, ensuring their interests and their intent is protected.

Cortney provides specialized advice to her business and agri-business clients on liquor licensing and regulatory compliance, helping clients navigate the intricacies of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. With Cortney, the complex becomes clear and easy to understand.

Cortney has been a contributor to Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Traverse Magazine, West Michigan Woman and a speaker at the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s Annual Probate and Estate Planning Institute, National Business Institute’s Winery and Vineyard Law Seminar, as well as various annual estate planning and property tax seminars. She previously served on the Board of the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (Vice-Chair and Secretary) and the Impact 100 Global Advisory Council (Secretary), and currently serves on the Board of The Children’s House and Traverse Connect. Cortney is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the State Bar of Montana, the Grand Traverse-Leelanau-Antrim Bar Association, Women Lawyers Association, and is an SCAO trained general civil mediator.

EDUCATION

Michigan State University College of Law, J.D., with Honors

Michigan State University – Eli Broad College of Business, B.A., with Honors

Series 7, 63 and 65 – Licensed Securities Representative/Investment Advisor (2006-2012)

General Civil Mediator – Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Office (SCAO)

Member, State Bar of Montana

In her spare time, Cortney can be found outside or on the Great Lakes, enjoying the unspoiled beauty of northern Michigan with her husband, Chris, their two sons, and their black lab, Kubota.

FULL BIO

“Cortney handled a family estate situation that required great attention to detail and perseverance, which resulted in financial success. Each time we spoke, there was her calming influence and levity when appropriate. I had the sense that I was her only client, making her balancing of multiple clients all the more impressive!”

— Rob Turner, Phoenix, Arizona