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 Waukesha 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, business appraisers, and financial neutrals we work with regularly, and in our familiarity with how Waukesha County family court actually runs day to day. Our office is at N19 W24400 Riverwood Drive, just off I-94 north of Waukesha city. From here we serve clients across Waukesha County — Waukesha, Pewaukee, Hartland, Sussex, Mukwonago, Wales, Big Bend, Genesee Depot, and the surrounding communities. The I-94 corridor location is positioned for accessibility from central Waukesha County and the lake country to the west. 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 Waukesha office or one of your other Waukesha County locations? Whichever fits your drive and your attorney match. All our Waukesha County offices handle the same fixed-fee Wisconsin family law work — your case lands at the Waukesha County Courthouse in downtown Waukesha regardless of which office you walk into. The Waukesha office is typically the better drive for clients in central Waukesha County (Waukesha city, Pewaukee, S
