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Associate Attorney

Micaela Wattenbarger, Esq.

Ms. Wattenbarger has extensive experience representing clients in all areas of family law, including divorce, child custody, parenting time, orders for protection, and child protection matters involving abuse and neglect. Ms. Wattenbarger’s practice includes uncontested divorce cases as well as complex interstate and international family law litigation involving Europe, Asia, Canada, Latin America, and Australia. Many of these cases have also involved complex custody matters, including interstate and international relocations, Hague Convention issues, domestic abuse, as well as property divisions in high-income divorces with complicated valuation issues. Ms. Wattenbarger has also presented on jurisdictional and noncompliance issues in international and interstate custody matters.

Ms. Wattenbarger aims to help her clients reach fair and equitable agreements while keeping legal expenses at a minimum. If an agreement cannot be achieved, Ms. Wattenbarger ensures that her clients are passionately and expertly advocated for in the courtroom.

When she is not working, Ms. Wattenbarger enjoys volunteering at the Tubman Law Clinic and the Volunteer Lawyers Network Family Law Clinic, running, finding new restaurants and coffee shops with her husband, Adam, and hiking with her dogs, Mork and Minnie.

Education

University of Minnesota School of Law

Juris Doctor 2014, Cum Laude

Cedarville University

Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science 2011, Magna Cum Laude

Experience

Admitted to Practice Law in the State of Minnesota

Bridge Fellow – Judge Susan Richard Nelson (October 2014 – February 2015)

Law Clerk – Deckert & Van Loh, P.A. (April 2013 – June 2014)

Law Clerk/Certified Student Attorney – Indian Child Welfare Act Clinic (September 2013 – May 2014)

International Moot Court Student Director (September 2013 – May 2014), Participant (September 2012 – May 2013)

Recipient of the University of Minnesota’s Dean’s Distinguished Scholarship (2011-2014)

Minnesota State Bar Association Member