Danelle Harrington is a transactional attorney at the firm.  She joined the firm in 2014 as a law clerk and was admitted to the State Bar of Michigan shortly thereafter.  Danelle practices in the areas of estate planning, probate and trust administration, business formation and succession planning, and real estate transactions.

Estate planning is one of Danelle’s primary areas of practice.  She enjoys working with clients to tailor their plan to fit their unique needs, and never takes a “one-size-fits-all” approach.  She prepares documents such as Durable Financial Power of Attorneys and Healthcare Patient Advocate Designations, Wills, and various types of Trust Agreements.  She also works with clients on the administration of probate estates and trusts after the death of a loved one.

Another one of Danelle’s practice areas involves business transactions.  Danelle grew up on a family farm and has a passion for helping farm owners transition the farm to the next generation.  She also helps a variety of other business owners, and helps with entity formation, assisting with buying and selling businesses, as well as succession planning to help transition the business to the next generation.  She reviews a variety of corporate documents and helps to keep business entity owners up to date with their legal requirements in order to maximize their liability protection.

Danelle also has a real passion for real estate work.  She has vast knowledge on Michigan’s property tax laws including helping clients transfer property without triggering uncapping.  Danelle helps clients to buy and sell property, and reviews oil and gas leases, wind energy agreements, and solar energy agreements.

Prior to joining Smith Bovill, P.C., Danelle served as a law clerk at the Michigan Tax Tribunal, and was an extern with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Indiana.  While she attended law school she clerked at several local law firms.  Prior to attending law school Danelle prepared income tax returns at McDonald’s & Associates, CPA’s, in Saginaw, Michigan, and also interned as a student financial representative at Northwestern Mutual Insurance Company, in Saginaw, Michigan.

Danelle earned her Juris Doctorate in 2014 from Valparaiso University School of Law.  Danelle served as an associate editor of the Valparaiso University Law Review and worked in the law school’s Tax Clinic to provide legal assistance to low income individuals.

Danelle is a 2008 graduate of Chesaning Union High School and currently resides in Saginaw with her husband, Dylan.

Areas of Practice

• Estate Planning
• Probate and Trust Administration
• Business Law
• Real Estate
• Agricultural Law

Bar Admissions

• Michigan, 2014

Education

• Valparaiso University School of Law, Valparaiso, Indiana
  • J.D., cum laude, 2014
• Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
  • B.S.B.A., Personal Financial Planning, magna cum laude, 2011

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Michigan Bar Association, Member 2014 – Present
• Saginaw County Bar Association, Member, 2014 – Present
• Northeastern Michigan Estate Planning Council,  Board Member and Officer, 2016 – Present
• Saginaw Chamber of Commerce, Young Professionals Network, 2015 – Present