Courtney Law Office, PLLC, serves clients in the areas of estate and incapacity planning, probate and estate administration, and elder law.  The firm is a space for clients to work in partnership with their attorney to manage the business of a loved one’s passing and to create plans for the future. 

Courtney Law Office, PLLC recognizes that every client has different needs and expectations, and the firm aims to provide tailored, attentive representation to every individual client to address those particular needs and expectations.  As a small firm, Courtney Law Office, PLLC, is flexible about meeting clients where they are.

Christine B. Courtney, Attorney at Law

Christine B. Courtney is the principal attorney of Courtney Law Office. She practices primarily in estate and incapacity planning, trust and probate administration, and elder law.  Chris represents clients of all incomes and backgrounds and seeks to partner with them to resolve their legal matters.

Quick Reference

  • Contact Chris at (612) 356-2635 or via the contact page.
  • Admitted to the Minnesota State Bar in October 2012
  • Graduated from William Mitchell College of Law in 2012
  • Graduated from University of Wisconsin—Madison in 2009
  • Practice Areas:
    • Estate planning
    • Probate administration
    • Elder law
    • And more

Chris is practiced at listening and responding to complex family dynamics.  She works with clients to determine the source of the emotional and legal issues.  Then, Chris works in partnership with her clients to create a plan that meets the client’s goals and ensures financial safety for clients.  She developed her ability to manage these difficult family situations both in private practice and while practicing at a nonprofit, where she represented and advocated for victims of elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.  Chris is a capable and efficient professional, determined to represent her client’s interests with skill and sensitivity.

Chris obtained her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law, where she was an Elder Law Scholar and worked as a research assistant to the Vulnerable Adult Justice Project and the Warren E. Burger Library.  Prior to attending law school, Chris studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  At UW-Madison, she majored in Gender and Women’s Studies and Political Science, with minors in African Studies and LGBT Studies.

Chris was recently profiled by Minnesota Women Lawyers—learn more here!

Committed to Service

Christine B. Courtney is committed to serving the local community using her expertise in estate law and experience working with victims and survivors of trauma.  She believes in the ethical responsibility of fulfilling the Minnesota State Bar Association’s requested 50 hours of pro bono service annually, and strives to exceed that goal in her practice.

Service to Legal Community

  • Board Member of Collaborative Community Law Initiative (CCLI) (2019-Present)
    • A legal incubator supporting recent law student graduates setting up affordable law practices to serve clients with low to moderate incomes
    • Program Committee, Metrics Committee, Office Location Committee (chair), Board Development Committee
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers (MWL) (2013-Present) 
    • Conference Planning Committee
    • Equity Committee/Pay Equity Subcommittee
    • Mentor Volunteer

Community Volunteering

  • Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS) (2019-Present)
    • Southern Minnesota’s Legal Aid, a nonprofit which serves those who cannot afford legal services in southern counties of Minnesota
    • Volunteer at wills clinics
    • Volunteer pro bono attorney for various estate planning, probate, and guardianship cases
  • Domestic Abuse Legal Advocacy Center (DALAC) (2019-Present)
    • A program which provides free legal services to victims and survivors of domestic violence
    • Volunteer pro bono attorney for Orders for Protection (OFPs) and Harassment Restraining Orders (HROs)
  • Cancer Legal Care (2019-Present)
    • A nonprofit which connects cancer patients and survivors with legal resources
    • Volunteer pro bono attorney for various estate planning and probate files
  • Girl Scout Troop Leader (2019-Present)
  • Ramsey County Volunteer Election Judge (2020-Present)
  • League of Women Voters, Member (2020-Present)
  • Organizer, 2019 National Healthcare Decisions Day Clinic
    • Clinic for seniors to create incapacity planning documents with an attorney, free of charge
    • One of three attorneys planning, organizing, and executing the annual clinic
  • Head Attorney Coach, East Ridge High School Mock Trial Program (2010-14)
    • Program for high school students to learn public speaking and logical analysis skills
    • Former volunteer attorney coach
  • Wills for Heroes (2010-13)
    • A program which provides free estate planning services to First Responders in Minnesota
    • Former pro bono estate planning attorney and data input volunteer
  • Low Income and Tax Planning Clinic, William Mitchell College of Law (2011)
    • Clinic through William Mitchell College of Law that provided free legal representation to low income clients on estate planning, guardianship, tax, and related civil matters
    • Former student attorney representing clients under supervision of licensed attorney

With her experience working with hundreds of victims of elder abuse and neglect, Chris Courtney is the right attorney to help you navigate the thorniest family issues and make a plan that works.

When it comes to money and real property, the law creates many options for how we can organize our lives and our estates. The Courtney Law Office is your partner in making and executing some of your life’s most significant decisions; we are here to give you peace of mind that your loved ones will be cared for after you are gone.

Publications and Presentations

Professional Presentations

  • “Powers of Attorney and Health Care Directives: How Thoughtful Incapacity Planning Can Help Prevent Financial Exploitation” (April, 2019). Webinar for the Minnesota Elder Justice Center, St. Paul, Minnesota.
  • “How to Get Rid of the Adult Child Who Overstays Their Welcome: The Dynamics of Abuse, Protective Orders, and Eviction” (October, 2018). Elder Law Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  • “Aging Panel” (October, 2018). Care Providers Conference, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.
  • “Trauma-Informed Services for Older Adults” (September, 2018). Abuse In Later Life Institute, Orlando, Florida.
  • “Experiencing Abuse: A Victim-Centered Understanding of Elder Abuse” (June, 2018). World Elder Abuse Awareness Day Conference, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

Professional Publications

  • “Negotiating Family Leave.” With Equal Right: The Official Journal of Minnesota Women Lawyers, Volume LXIX, Issue I (Summer 2018).
  • “Out of the Black Box: Highlighting Central Myths of Gender Pay Disparity in the Legal Profession in 2020.” Attorney At Law Minnesota (November 2020).

Memberships and Honors

Memberships

  • Minnesota State Bar Association
    • Elder Law Section
    • Probate & Trust Law Section
    • Solo/Small Section
    • Parental Leave Working Group (creation of Court Rules regarding family leave)
  • Hennepin County Bar Association
  • Minnesota Lavender Bar Association
  • Minnesota Women Lawyers (MWL)
    • Equity Committee/Pay Equity Subcommittee
    • Conference Planning Committee
    • Enthusiastic Book Club Participant
    • Solo/Small Firm Affinity Group

Honors

  • Mitchell Fellow and Mentor, 2009-2012
  • Elder Law Scholar, 2012
  • College of Letters and Science Honors Student, 2005-2009
  • LGBT Student of the Year (UW-Madison), 2009