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 Sheboygan office handles family law exclusively. That means divorce, child custody, child support, 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 Sheboygan County and Manitowoc County family courts actually run day to day. Our office is at 1414 N Taylor Drive in Sheboygan, an easy drive from anywhere along the Lakeshore. From there we serve clients across Sheboygan County and the broader region — Sheboygan Falls, Kohler, Plymouth, Howards Grove, Cedar Grove, Oostburg, Random Lake, Kiel, Manitowoc, Two Rivers, and the surrounding communities. The Lakeshore is a tight-knit region, and we know that for many of our clients, "local" means a county or two over, not across the street. We built the office around being reachable for the whole region. 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 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 does the fixed fee cover? 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. The only costs outside the fixed fee are third-party items like filing fees, expert witnesses, or evaluators, and we'll flag those up front so nothing arrives as a surprise. I live in Manitowoc or Two Rivers — is the Sheboygan office the right one? Our Sheboygan attorneys are licensed in Wisconsin and regularly handle Manitowoc County cases. If your divorce will be filed in Manitowoc County, your attorney will work that courthouse just as they work Sheboygan's. Jurisdiction follows residency, so where you live determines which courthouse your case is filed in, not where our office sits. What about pensions, 401(k)s, and retirement accounts from longtime local employers? Pension and retirement division is one of the most common — and most overlooked — issues in Lakeshore-area divorce cases. Many of the region's largest employers offer significant pension plans, deferred compensation, or longstanding 401(k) balances, and dividing them correctly typically requires a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) or equivalent. We handle this work routinely, including coordinating with QDRO drafters when a plan requires it. The fixed fee covers our work; if a third-party QDRO drafter is needed, we'll flag the additional cost up front. Will I have to drive to Sheboygan for every meeting? We handle most communication by phone, email, and video, and reserve in-person meetings for the conversations that genuinely benefit from them. For clients coming from Manitowoc, Plymouth, Kiel, or further out, this matters — your case shouldn't require a half-day of driving every time something comes up. What's the first step? A consultation. 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 fundamentals, and what to expect in court. When you're ready, call our Sheboygan team or book a consultation online.
