I am Mark Fiddler, a private practice attorney in Minnesota that specializes in the areas of adoption, foster care, third party custody, and the Indian Child Welfare Act (‘ICWA’). There are several important things you should know about me.

What You See

I am a creative, aggressive, and thoughtful attorney. My clients find me to be a powerful advocate for their adoption, foster care, or third party custody situation. I have been described as a relentless strategic thinker in my process of examining and preparing a client’s case. In the courtroom, my approach is what I call “aggressive diplomacy.” That means I never lose site of my clients’ needs while aggressively pursuing every legal option to resolve a situation in their favor. My goal is to resolve custody or care situations before they wind up in expensive, contested litigation. My focus is always on the outcome that best serves the interests of the child––not on going to court just to prove the right or wrong of a case.

I am a proud member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. Among the honors I have received was my selection as one of twenty Americans to participate in the Kellogg International Leadership Program, and an award from the Minnesota Justice Foundation for providing legal services to the community. I view these honors with humility and gratitude.

I strongly believe in giving back to the community that has given so much to me and my family. I am currently a long-serving trustee for the Science Museum of Minnesota and Chairperson of the Indian Health Board of Minneapolis. I have served in other volunteer and board positions with the Urban Coalition, American Indian Services, and the University of Minnesota’s Children, Youth & Family Consortium.

I believe that I have been called to the legal profession as a way to “doing justice.” I know that what I do has a lifetime impact on children and those who love and care for them. At the end of each day, I can tell my own children that I have done something worthwhile. I consider myself to be both fortunate and blessed to practice law.