Matthew D. Kirschenmann

Matthew D. Kirschenmann is a litigation attorney at ABST Law in Fargo, North Dakota. He handles commercial and civil litigation, debtor-creditor matters, trust and estate disputes, and trial proceedings across North Dakota and Minnesota. Matthew has experience with guardianships and conservatorships, including service as a court-appointed guardian ad litem. His cases often involve competing claims over property, financial obligations, or a vulnerable person’s interests, requiring careful preparation and courtroom advocacy.

Matthew earned a B.S. from North Dakota State University in 2012 and a Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2015. He served as Symposium Editor of the North Dakota Law Review and completed a judicial externship with Chief Bankruptcy Judge Shon Hastings. After graduating, he clerked for North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Lisa Fair McEvers. These roles strengthened his legal research, writing, and understanding of judicial decision-making.

Matthew has litigated disputes concerning the validity of wills and trusts, breaches of fiduciary duty, and financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. He also represents manufacturers, contractors, tradespeople, and businesses in commercial matters. His trial experience includes dozens of bench and jury trials, and he regularly appears before the North Dakota Supreme Court and Minnesota Court of Appeals. This work gives him experience across trial preparation, contested hearings, appellate practice, and complex estate-related disputes.

Matthew D. Kirschenmann was appointed by North Dakota’s governor to the Guardianship and Conservatorship Operations Committee, which addresses oversight, procedures, and ethical standards for these services. He has received Great Plains Rising Stars recognition and recognition in estate and trust litigation and creditor-debtor rights. His work combines hands-on trial practice with public service concerning the legal protection of people who need guardianship or conservatorship assistance.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, ABST Law
• Member, State Bar Association of North Dakota
• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association
• Member, Cass County Bar Association
• Member, Clay County Bar Association
• Member, Guardianship and Conservatorship Operations Committee (2025 – Present)
• Member, North Dakota Apartment Association

Licensed State

• North Dakota
• Minnesota

Education

• University of North Dakota School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD) (Cum Laude)
• North Dakota State University
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges