Melanie Walters Chatagnier is a 2004 graduate of LSU’s Paul M. Hebert School of Law and a 1999 graduate of the University of Louisiana at Monroe, where she received her Bachelor Degree in Psychology. While in law school, Melanie was a member of the Moot Court Board. Upon graduation, she received both a Juris Doctor and a Bachelor of Civil Law. She is an active member of the American Bar Association, Louisiana State Bar Association and Baton Rouge Bar Association. Melanie is originally from Delhi, Louisiana.

In October 2005, Ms. Chatagnier opened a private practice in Baton Rouge, focusing primarily on domestic and family matters. Her areas of practice include, but are not limited to, divorce, custody, child support, spousal support, community property issues and adoptions. She has been an active member of the Baton Rouge Bar Family Section since 2006 and serves as a Volunteer Attorney for the Baton Rouge Pro Bono Project. She has recently begun the process of obtaining the training required for certification as a Family Law Specialist for the State of Louisiana.

Ms. Chatagnier joined Manasseh, Gill, Knipe & Belanger in June 2009 as an associate attorney handling primarily domestic cases.