Elizabeth Kellner Nelson

Phone: 515-222-9111
Toll Free: 888-340-8147
Fax: 515-243-0299

Elizabeth Kellner Nelson joined Pendleton & Nelson PC in August 2005. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of Northern Iowa in 2000 with a B.A. in Family Services and went on to earn her M.S. in Family Life Education and Consultation from Kansas State University in 2002. She graduated with honors from Drake University Law School in May 2005.

While completing her master's degree, Ms. Kellner Nelson assisted Kansas State Extension specialists in developing materials for parents mandated to attend a court connected parenting class.

At Drake University, Elizabeth served as editor of the Drake Legal Research Service and was president of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Society. She was a member of the Moot Court Negotiations Tournament Team and participated three times in the National Law School Mediation Tournament where she received three Outstanding Mediator Awards.
Prior to joining Pendleton Law Firm, P.C., Elizabeth spent two summers as a legal intern at Iowa Legal Aid in Polk County and a semester as a legal intern to Polk County juvenile court judge Constance Cohen.

Elizabeth has extensive trial and appellate experience in all areas of family law. She also serves as a guardian ad litem for children in custody disputes and in juvenile proceedings and is a trained mediator for divorce and family law cases.

Areas of Practice

General Practice including but not limited to:

• Family Law
• Alternative Dispute Resolution
• Juvenile Law
• Appellate Practice

Bar Admissions

• Iowa, 2005

Education

• Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa
  • J.D.
  • Honors: With Honors
• Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
  • M.S. - 2002
  • Major: Family Life Education and Consultation
• University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
  • B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) - 2000
  • Major: Family Services

Representative Cases

• In Re R.S.N. and R.M.N., 706 N.W.2d 705 (Iowa 2005)
• In re Marriage of Dorman, 2007 WL 3085907 (Iowa App. 2007)
• In re Marriage of Miller, 2008 WL 375251 (Iowa App. 2008)
• Anderson v. Hill, 2008 WL 141156 (Iowa App. 2008)
• In re Guardianship of Curphy, 2008 WL 5234525 (Iowa App. 2008)

Professional Associations and Memberships

• Polk County Bar Association
• Polk County Women Attorneys
• Iowa state Bar Association
• Volunteer Lawyers Project
• Section Council, Family & Juvenile Law Section of the Iowa State Bar Association