Biography
Elisabeth Wolter is a Senior Attorney at Modern Family Law’s Oakland office and an experienced family law practitioner who has served families throughout the Bay Area for more than 20 years. She has dedicated her career exclusively to family law, guiding individuals through some of life’s most challenging transitions with clarity, compassion, and practical advocacy.
Elisabeth’s experience includes private practice, serving as an attorney for the San Francisco Unified Family Court and its self-help center, and leadership as Supervising Attorney for the San Francisco Bar Association’s Family Law Project. She has handled all aspects of family law, including divorce, paternity, child custody, asset division, spousal and child support, and domestic violence restraining orders. In addition, she has presented family law trainings for the Practicing Law Institute that are viewed by lawyers throughout California.
Drawing on her years of work in self-help centers, Elisabeth believes in empowering clients with clear information about the legal process and offering practical solutions. She is proud to be part of a firm committed to accessibility through technology and cost-effective representation. At Modern Family Law, she combines effective legal strategy with the support of a respected multi-state team to help clients move forward with security and peace of mind.
Because Elisabeth understands the stress and uncertainty family law matters bring, her professional ethos blends a personal, client-centered approach with unwavering advocacy for her client’s goals. And as a seasoned mediator, she strives for amicable resolutions whenever possible yet remains committed to protecting her client’s interests when necessary.
Beyond her legal work, Elisabeth enjoys spending time with her two teen children and her rescue dog Scruffy, seeing her favorite comedians and bands live in the Bay Area, yoga, hiking the Marin County hills, and tackling the NYT games section.
Elisabeth Wolter approaches every family law matter with the understanding that clients are navigating one of the most emotional and uncertain periods of their lives. With more than two decades of exclusive family law experience, she prioritizes clear guidance, practical solutions, and steady advocacy from the very first conversation. Drawing on her background in family court and legal self-help centers, Elisabeth takes care to explain complex legal processes in a way that is accessible and empowering, ensuring clients feel informed and confident in their decisions.
As a seasoned mediator, Elisabeth works to resolve disputes amicably whenever possible, helping families reach durable agreements that minimize conflict. When litigation is necessary, however, she is a strategic and determined courtroom advocate, fully prepared to protect her clients’ interests and advance their goals with clarity and strength.
Elisabeth Wolter’s legal career is grounded in a strong academic foundation and a global perspective on law and advocacy.
She earned her Juris Doctor from Notre Dame Law School, where she developed her focus on family law and client advocacy. During law school, Elisabeth also completed her second academic year at the London Law Centre through the University of Notre Dame Law School’s international program, studying in London under coursework aligned with American Bar Association standards.
Elisabeth received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Spanish from the University of Notre Dame. She further enriched her undergraduate studies with immersive international coursework in Spanish language and literature at Fundación Ortega y Gasset in Toledo, Spain, where she completed a full academic year studying in Spanish.