Debbie Gallenberg is a compassionate and vision-oriented family and juvenile law attorney who has been licensed to practice in Minnesota since 2006.  Consistently recognized as a Super Lawyer for attaining a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement,

Debbie is a trustworthy, client-focused advocate who is intimately familiar with her clients and the law.  She strives to efficiently resolve clients’ cases through excellent negotiating and thorough preparation, yet when an agreement cannot be reached, she is prepared to litigate cases.  Debbie prioritizes educating clients about the legal process they are facing to empower them to make practical and thoughtful decisions which safeguard their short-term and long-term best interests and the best interests of any children involved. 

Debbie skillfully represents clients at court conferences, evaluations, arbitrations, mediations, motion hearings, pretrial conferences, evidentiary hearings, and appeals in matters throughout Minnesota including the following:

Practice Areas:

• Dissolution of marriage with or without children
• Custody and parenting time, including third party custody
• Custody Consent Decrees
• Paternity
• Child support, including cases in the expedited child support process
• Spousal maintenance
• Complex financial assets
• Marital and non-marital property
• Grandparent visitation, including both bringing and contesting petitions
• Registration and enforcement of custody, parenting time and child support orders from foreign jurisdictions
• Post-decree matters
• Prenuptial Agreements
• Name changes
• Orders for protection / Domestic abuse
• Harassment restraining orders
• Motions for review and amended findings
• Legal separation
• Child protection investigations
• Child in Need of Protection and Services
• Termination of Parental Rights, including both voluntary and involuntary

Over 20 years ago, Debbie’s passion for working with families and children compelled her to volunteer in the Child Advocacy Clinic and Family Law Clinic at the University of Minnesota Law School through which she appeared in both juvenile and family court representing and advocating for clients as a student attorney.  Following law school and prior to entering private practice, Debbie’s unique experience clerking for two district court judges in family court led her to develop a sophisticated knowledge of family law, court operations and the judiciary, which has served as the foundation for Debbie’s practice.

 In addition to practicing law, Debbie is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, where she teaches legal research and writing to first year students. In connection with teaching, Debbie enjoys mentoring and providing professional references and recommendations for her students.

 Prior to attending law school, Debbie taught French and Spanish at Cinnaminson Middle School in New Jersey. Currently, Debbie lives in Plymouth with her husband, two children, cat and bunny.  Debbie and her family are active in their community and at church.  They especially enjoy traveling, hiking, music, hockey, gardening and spending time at their cabin at Boy Lake in Remer.

Education:

• University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota
  o Juris Doctor, cum laude, 2006
• New York University, New York, New York
  o M.A. French Studies, 2001
• University of Wisconsin – Madison
  o B.A. French & Spanish, 2000

Professional Memberships:

• Minnesota State Bar Association
  o Family Law Section
• Hennepin County Bar Association
  o Family Law Section
• Ramsey County Bar Association
  o Family Law Section
• Dakota County Bar Association
  o Family Law Section

Community Activities: 

• Wayzata Public Schools Citizens’ Curriculum, Instruction & Technology Advisory Committee
• Volunteer Lawyers Network, volunteer attorney
• University of Minnesota, University-Appointed Advisor, Title IX Hearings, Sexual Misconduct Hearing Committee (2021)
• Open World Leadership Center, Washington, D.C., Local Coordinator for Open World Program with Judge Paul A. Magnuson, Sr. (2006) and with Justice Paul H. Anderson (2011)

Phone: 651-291-1717

Email Address: dgallenberg@dudleyandsmith.com