Debra E. Yerigan

Attorney

Minneapolis

612-672-3624

dyerigan@messerlikramer.com

Assistant: Amy Stewart

612-672-3658

Profile Representative Experience Publications & Presentations Professional & Community Honors & Distinctions
Profile

Debra Yerigan does one thing and she does it well – she zealously represents clients in Family Court matters.  During her 37 years as a family law attorney, she has become a lawyer other lawyers depend on when someone they know is facing challenging issues.

Debra’s many years in the courtroom make her well-suited to represent parties in cases involving complicated financial issues such as valuation of businesses, non-marital property, intricate income streams and spousal maintenance.  She is adept at navigating the sensitivities involved when negotiating custody and parenting time. Outside of the courtroom, individuals turn to Debra for advice when preparing to enter into prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

For her work, Debra has received multiple recognitions from her peers and Minnesota Lawyer including, “Top 40 Minnesota Family Law Attorneys,” “Top 50 Women Minnesota Super Lawyers” and “Top 100 Super Lawyers.”  Debra is also regularly recognized as a “Top Family Law Attorney in America” by Best Lawyers®.

Practice Areas

Divorce & Family Law Child Custody Divorce Family Law Appeals Mediation & Collaborative Law

Education

  • Hamline University School of Law, J.D., cum laude

  • St. Cloud State University, B.A., summa cum laude

Representative Experience

  • Represented individual in divorce proceeding to achieve his straightforward goal: retaining his fighter jet and achieving visitation rights with the family parrot.

  • Preserved multi-generational family wealth for multiple clients in numerous divorce proceedings.

  • Represented client in limiting spousal maintenance obligation to a temporary duration in complex divorce involving issues related to non-working spouse.

  • Represented client in dispute involving spousal maintenance obligation, limiting payment to less than one-third of the amount requested from opposing party.

  • Represented individual wrongly accused of abuse in obtaining custody and parenting time.

  • Successfully limited access to children by a parent with a history of behavioral issues which jeopardized the safety of the children.

Publications & Presentations

Publications

Presentations

  • Presenter, “Advanced Business Issues in Divorce and the Impact of COVID-19” – Advanced Family Law Series, Minnesota CLE, 2020
  • Presenter, “Spousal Maintenance Modifications and Terminations: What Happens in Retirement?” – Advanced Family Law Series, Minnesota CLE, 2019
  • Presenter, “Strategies for Dealing with Retirement in Spousal Maintenance Negotiation, Mediation and Litigation” – Family Law Institute, Minnesota CLE, 2019
  • Presenter, “The Journey from Baby Shark to Rainmaker” – Minnesota CLE, 2017

  • Presenter, “Preparing for ‘I don’t’: New Landmines in Antenuptial Agreement Drafting and Enforcement” – Hennepin County and Ramsey County Bar Associations, 2017

  • Presenter, “Bulletproof Prenups: Drafting and Litigating Antenuptial Agreements in a Post-Kremer World” – Minnesota CLE, 2017

  • Presenter, “Kremer V. Kremer: What’s Up With Prenups?” – Olmstead Family Bar Association, 2017

  • Facilitator, Divorce Camp – Minnesota Chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2006-2013, 2015

  • Presenter, “The Uniform Fraudulent Transfers Act: What Family Law Lawyers Need to Know” – Minnesota CLE , 2015

  • Presenter, “Trial Preparation for Your Case in Chief Including Preparation of Your Client for Direct Examination” – Hennepin County Bar Association, 2015

  • Presenter, “Uffda! In Minnesota, the Fraudulent Transfers Act (UFTA) Applies to Divorce” – Hamline University School of Law, 2014

  • Presenter, “Elimination of Bias: Working with Family Law Clients from Diverse Cultures” – Minnesota CLE, 2013

  • Presenter, “Minnesota Same Sex Marriage and Its Impact on Family Law Practitioners”- Hamline University School of Law, 2013

  • Presenter, “New Rules of Family Court Procedure” – Hennepin County Bar Association, 2012

  • Presenter, “There’s A Rule About That” – Minnesota Chapter of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 2012

  • Presenter, “Family Law Series: New Family Court Rules” – Minnesota CLE, 2012

  • Presenter, “New Rules! 2012 Amendments to the General Rules of Practice Family Court Procedure” – Minnesota CLE, 2012

  • Presenter, “Advanced Appellate Practice for Family Law Attorneys” – Minnesota CLE, 2012

  • Presenter, “Basic Appellate Practice for Family Law Attorneys” – Minnesota CLE, 2012

  • Presenter, “Basics of Spousal Maintenance” – Minnesota CLE, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2012

  • Presenter, “What Lawyers Love and Hate About Mediators and Arbitrators” – Minnesota CLE, 2011

Professional & Community

Admissions

  • Minnesota

Associations

  • Minnesota Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member

  • Hennepin County Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member

  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow

  • American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Minnesota Chapter, Board of Examiners, Fellow

  • Minnesota Women Lawyers, Member

Honors & Distinctions

  • Top Minnesota Family Law Attorney, Minnesota Super Lawyers®

  • Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® For Ethical Standards and Legal Ability

  • Recognized Lawyer, The Best Lawyers in America©, 2007-2024

  • Best Lawyers in Minnesota, Minnesota Monthly Magazine, 2016-2024

  • Top 50 Women Super Lawyer, Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2011-2023

  • Top 100 Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics and Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2005-2022

  • Super Lawyer, Minnesota Law & Politics and Minnesota Super Lawyers®,1996 – 1997; and 2000 – 2023

Best Lawyers® recognizes lawyers in 145 practice areas, and has earned the respect as a reliable, unbiased source of legal referrals widely regarded by both clients and legal professionals.
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Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent®, the gold standard in attorney ratings, recognizes lawyers for their strong legal ability and high ethical standards.
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Minnesota Monthly magazine features a listing of the top-rated lawyers in the state of Minnesota each year.
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