Mariah Nelson
Attorney at law
I’m a family law attorney and the founder of Via Nova Collaborative Family Law. As both a lawyer and a military spouse, I understand firsthand the unique challenges that military families face during times of transition. My goal is to provide compassionate, thoughtful, and effective support so families can resolve their legal matters without the pain and damage that often comes from traditional litigation.
​
I’ve litigated hundreds of contested divorces, and I’ve seen the toll it takes—the broken trust, the financial strain, and most of all, the emotional impact on children. That experience, along with my own background as the child of divorced parents, has shaped my commitment to collaborative family law. I am deeply grateful that my parents never took their divorce battles to court, and I strive to give my clients the same opportunity to move forward with dignity and respect.
​
Outside of my work, I’m married to a Marine and together we are raising two kids, two dogs, two cats, and a small flock of backyard chickens. My home life keeps me grounded and reminds me daily why this work matters: families deserve peace, stability, and hope for the future.
Why "Via Nova?"
Via Nova is Latin for "new way" — a name that reflects our commitment to helping families navigate separation and divorce with dignity, respect, and forward focus. At Via Nova Collaborative Family Law, we offer an alternative to the traditional, adversarial court process. Instead, we guide clients through a new way of resolving family matters: one that prioritizes collaboration, communication, and customized solutions that work for everyone involved — especially children.
Professional Bio
I graduated Cum Laude from Seattle University School of Law in 2020, where I was honored to receive both the Law Presidential Scholarship and the Law Community Service Scholarship. While in law school, I served as the Communications Director of the Student Bar Association and as an Editor of the Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental & Innovation Law (SJTEIL).
​
During law school, I had the privilege of serving as a judicial extern for the Honorable Judge Jack Nevin of the Pierce County Superior Court in Washington State. I also interned with the ABA Center on Children and the Law in Washington, D.C., where I worked on advocating for policy reforms to better support children in foster care.
Before law school, I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Seattle University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and was awarded the Xavier Scholarship. I was also a proud member of the Tau Sigma National Honors Society. During my undergraduate studies, I interned at the Seattle Municipal Court, where I worked with defendants with disabilities on probation, helping them access resources to break the cycle of repeated justice system involvement.
​
After graduation, I began my legal career practicing real estate law in Virginia before transitioning fully into family law, which has been my exclusive practice area since that time doing family law litigation.
​
​
Education​
-
Seattle University School of Law
-
J.D. - 2020
-
Cum Laude
-
Editor of the Seattle Journal of Technology, Environmental & Innovation Law
-
Communications Director of the Student Bar Association
-
​
-
Seattle University
-
B.A., Bachelor of Arts in Communications - 2017
-
Magna Cum Laude
-
Tau Sigma National Honors Society
-
Xavier Scholarship
-
​
​
Bar Admissions​
-
Indiana, 2024
-
North Carolina, 2022
-
District of Columbia, 2021
​
​
Professional Affiliations​
-
North Carolina Bar Association - Family Law section
-
Indiana State Bar Association
-
D.C. Bar Association​