Sterling Lawyers exists because family law shouldn't get more expensive the longer it takes. When we started the firm, the hourly-billing model in this industry was built for the firm, not the family — every phone call, every email, every minute on a meter, with the bill arriving on the back end. You know the cost when you walk in the door, and that number doesn't move because a case takes a few extra weeks. Our Green Bay office handles family law exclusively. That means divorce, child custody and placement, child support, alimony and spousal support, legal separation, marital property division, pension and retirement division, business valuations in divorce, prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, paternity, and post-decree modifications. We don't do criminal defense, personal injury, estate planning, or real estate. Family law is the only thing we practice, and that focus pays off — in the depth of our attorneys' experience, in the network of guardians ad litem, custody evaluators, appraisers, and financial neutrals we work with regularly, and in our familiarity with how Brown County family court actually runs day to day. Our office is at 225 S Monroe Avenue in downtown Green Bay, walking distance from the Brown County Courthouse on S Jefferson Street. That proximity matters more than it might sound — your attorney can step from a strategy meeting into a hearing without crossing town, and clients coming in for an appearance often combine it with a brief meeting at the office. From here we serve clients across Brown County and Northeast Wisconsin — Green Bay, De Pere, Allouez, Howard, Ashwaubenon, Bellevue, Suamico, Hobart, Pulaski, Oconto Falls, Kewaunee, and the surrounding communities. You'll work with a team, not a solo attorney. Each case is staffed with an attorney plus a paralegal and intake support, and many of our attorneys are also trained mediators or certified collaborative law practitioners. When a case calls for it, we use those skills directly to reduce conflict and avoid unnecessary court appearances. When a case calls for litigation, we're prepared to litigate. Three separation paths let us match the approach to the situation:
Uncontested divorce — for couples who agree on the major terms and want a clean, efficient resolution. Contested divorce — for cases where serious disagreement exists and a stronger advocacy approach is required. Three Stage Divorce — our structured middle path. Settle what you can, identify what you can't, and use court resources only where they're actually needed. A few questions we get often:
How much does a divorce cost in Wisconsin? Every Sterling Lawyers case is quoted as one fixed fee. The fee covers everything inside the case — research, phone calls, emails, court appearances, mediation sessions, document drafting, and travel. The number you see at the start is the number you pay. Third-party items like filing fees, expert witnesses, or evaluators sit outside the fixed fee, and we'll flag those up front so nothing arrives as a surprise. How long does a Wisconsin divorce take? Wisconsin has a 120-day minimum waiting period from the date of filing. Uncontested cases tend to resolve close to that minimum. Contested cases typically run 8–14 months depending on complexity, court calendars, and whether children, businesses, or significant assets are involved. We'll give you a realistic timeline at consultation based on your specific situation. What's the difference between custody and placement in Wisconsin? Wisconsin separates these two concepts. "Legal custody" is the decision-making authority over major issues in a child's life — education, healthcare, religion. "Physical placement" is where the child actually lives and when. Most cases involve joint legal custody, with placement schedules that vary by the family's situation. We'll walk you through how Wisconsin courts approach both and what your specific case is likely to look like. Should I use the Green Bay office or your Appleton location? Whichever fits your drive and your attorney match. Both offices handle Wisconsin family law and apply the same fixed-fee model — your case lands in whichever county courthouse covers your residence (Brown County in Green Bay, Outagamie County in Appleton). The decision usually comes down to drive time and attorney availability for clients in the overlap zone between the two cities. We'll match you with whichever office and attorney best fits during the consultation. What about complex assets — business interests, paper mill pensions, professional practices? We see these regularly in Northeast Wisconsin cases. Business valuations, pension and 401(k) division (relevant for the many longstanding local employers in paper, manufacturing, and healthcare), deferred compensation, and tracing of premarital assets are part of the work, and we coordinate with appraisers, forensic accountants, and other neutrals when a case requires it. The fixed fee doesn't change because a case has complexity — we quote based on what the case actually requires. Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce? Wisconsin doesn't require you to use an attorney, but most people benefit from one — even when both spouses agree on the major terms. An attorney makes sure paperwork is filed correctly, terms are enforceable, and nothing important is overlooked (retirement division, tax implications, custody and placement details). For straightforward uncontested cases, our fixed fee is typically the lowest in our pricing range. What's the first step? We'll listen to your situation, explain the options that fit, answer your questions, and give you a clear upfront quote for your case. There's no pressure to retain that day. Before you decide whether a consultation is the right next step, the free tools on our website may help: alimony and child support calculators, parenting plan templates, Wisconsin divorce forms, and weekly webinars led by our attorneys covering the divorce process, custody and placement fundamentals, and what to expect in court. When you're ready, call Sterling Lawyers' Green Bay team or book a consultation online.
