Divorce & Legal Separation Attorney in Neenah, WI
Facing a divorce or legal separation in Neenah or the Fox Valley? Get honest answers about your situation at a free consultation, and one attorney who stays on your case from your first call to your final hearing.
- Straight talk about cost. At your free consultation, we'll walk through what cases like yours typically cost, and tell you honestly whether your matter fits a flat fee or is the kind of case that needs phase billing as it develops.
- One attorney, start to finish. Attorney Steven Johnson personally handles your case from filing to final hearing — never a rotating roster.
- Local courts, real experience. 20+ years in the Winnebago and Outagamie County courthouses where your case will actually be heard.
- 4.4 ★ · 41 Google reviews
- 20+ years in local courts
- WI Bar #1048934
- Winnebago County owned & operated
Divorce & Legal Separation Attorney
Why Neenah Chooses Johnson Law Firm S.C.
Every new client starts with a free, confidential consultation and an honest conversation about what their case is likely to cost. A real person answers the phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — no AI intake bots, no runaround.
Divorce & Legal Separation Attorney
What Is a Divorce & Legal Separation Attorney?
A divorce and legal separation attorney represents you through the legal process of ending, or formally restructuring, a marriage under Wisconsin law — filing the initial petition, negotiating or litigating property division and custody, and guiding you through the state's mandatory waiting period to a final judgment. In Wisconsin, divorce and legal separation run through the same court process and the same 120-day waiting period under Wis. Stat. § 767.335. Wisconsin is also a no-fault state, so neither spouse has to prove wrongdoing — only that the marriage is irretrievably broken, or, for a legal separation, simply "broken," which leaves room for reconciliation.
At Johnson Law Firm S.C., Attorney Steven Johnson (WI Bar #1048934) has handled divorce and legal separation cases in Winnebago and Outagamie County courts for more than 20 years. You won't be handed off to an associate. Call 920-730-8250 to talk through your situation, free of charge.
Divorce & Legal Separation Attorney
Our Process: From First Call to Final Judgment
Our process follows six stages, whether you're aiming for a quick, amicable resolution or bracing for a contested fight.
- Free Consultation & Honest Cost Conversation. We review your situation and talk through what similar cases have cost, and whether yours is likely to be a flat-fee matter or one that needs phase billing.
- Filing & Service. We file the petition and formally serve your spouse, which starts the clock on Wisconsin's mandatory 120-day waiting period.
- The 120-Day Window. This isn't dead time — it's when we negotiate temporary orders for support and custody, gather financial documents, and often resolve most or all of the disputed issues.
- Mediation or Negotiation. When you and your spouse can agree on the major issues, mediation is faster and less expensive than a trial.
- Contested Hearings & Trial, if needed. When agreement isn't possible, Attorney Johnson presents your case directly to the court.
- Final Hearing & Judgment. Once the waiting period has passed and the outstanding issues are resolved, the court finalizes your divorce or legal separation.
Divorce & Legal Separation Attorney
Why Timing Matters
The 120-day waiting period doesn't start until your spouse is served — so filing later doesn't buy you time, it just pushes your final hearing back by the same amount. This isn't a sales deadline; it's how Wisconsin's court calendar actually works.
Divorce & Legal Separation Attorney
How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Wisconsin?
A Wisconsin divorce starts with a $184.50 circuit court filing fee, $194.50 if you're requesting child support or spousal maintenance. Attorney costs on top of that vary widely — a straightforward, uncontested case can sometimes be handled on a flat-fee basis, while a contested case involving custody disputes or a guardian ad litem typically requires phase billing, since it's genuinely difficult to predict how much a contested case will demand until it's underway. Call 920-730-8250 to get your specific quote.
What we can promise: an honest conversation about cost at your free consultation, plain talk about whether your matter is a flat-fee case or one that needs phase billing, and a heads-up before any additional work is added if your case's circumstances change.
Divorce & Legal Separation Attorney
Divorce vs. Legal Separation: What's the Real Difference?
Divorce and legal separation in Wisconsin follow the same court process, the same 120-day waiting period, and the same rules for dividing property and deciding custody. The real difference comes down to one thing: whether the marriage ends.
| Divorce | Legal Separation | |
|---|---|---|
| Ends the marriage? | Yes | No — you remain legally married |
| Waiting period | 120 days | 120 days |
| Property & custody decided? | Yes | Yes |
| Can you remarry after? | Yes, after 6 months | No — you're still married |
| Common reason to choose | Ready to move on | Insurance, tax, or religious reasons; possible reconciliation |
If you're not sure which path fits your situation, that's exactly what the free consultation is for. Call 920-730-8250 and we'll talk through it honestly, including whether legal separation makes sense at all for your circumstances.
Divorce & Legal Separation Attorney
What's Included: Every Piece of Your Case, Handled by One Attorney
Family law rarely stays in one lane. Here's what falls under this practice, and how each piece fits together.
Uncontested Divorce
When you and your spouse agree on the major issues — property, support, custody — an uncontested divorce moves through the court with less time, less expense, and less conflict than a contested case.
Contested & High-Conflict Divorce
When agreement isn't possible, your case moves to hearings and potentially trial. Attorney Johnson has represented clients through contested divorces in Winnebago and Outagamie County courts for two decades.
Legal Separation
A formal, court-ordered alternative to divorce that keeps the marriage intact while addressing property, support, and custody.
Property Division & Marital Assets
Wisconsin presumes marital property splits 50/50, covering everything from the family home to retirement accounts, though the court can adjust that presumption based on the specifics of your marriage.
Spousal Maintenance (Alimony)
Wisconsin has no fixed formula for spousal maintenance. Courts weigh the length of the marriage, each spouse's income, and their future earning capacity.
Child Custody & Placement
Legal custody and physical placement are decided separately under Wisconsin's best-interest standard, and it's rarely simple even when both parents agree on the basics.
Restraining Orders & Domestic Violence Protection
When safety is a concern during a divorce, the right protective step depends on whether you need a standalone civil injunction or whether a criminal case with a no-contact order is already involved — these are handled differently and it's worth getting that distinction right from the start.
Wills & Estate Updates After Divorce
A divorce changes who should inherit your property and who should have guardianship of your children on paper. Updating your will is a small step most people forget until it's too late.
Annulment
An annulment treats a marriage as if it never legally existed, rather than ending one that did, and Wisconsin only grants it in narrow circumstances, such as fraud, bigamy, or a party lacking the legal capacity to marry.
Divorce & Legal Separation Attorney
Why Neenah Chooses Johnson Law Firm S.C.
One attorney, every step
Steven Johnson (WI Bar #1048934) personally handles your case from the first phone call to the final hearing — never a hand-off to a rotating associate.
Honest cost conversations, not empty promises
We'll tell you what similar cases have cost, whether flat-fee or phase billing fits your situation, and give you a heads-up if your case's scope changes along the way — no firm can promise a locked-in price, and we won't pretend otherwise.
20+ years in the courthouses that matter
Winnebago and Outagamie County judges and court commissioners know this firm.
A real person answers the phone
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with no AI intake bot standing between you and an answer.
Family and criminal law under one roof
If your divorce intersects with a domestic violence charge, a CHIPS case, or a restraining order, one firm handles all of it.
Testimonials
What Fox Valley Clients Say
Reviews below are verbatim from Google. Reviewer neighborhoods are not published by Google — each card is labeled "Google Verified Review". Service labels are drawn from review content.
"Attorney Johnson gave very good advice on what steps to take for my case his paralegal Liz was amazing. She was very informative and kept me up-to-date on everything. She is amazing. I really appreciate everything that she did for me and helping assist with my case along with attorney Johnson as well. I gave five stars because I feel like Attorney Johnson was amazing but I also feel like his paralegal did a great job and what she does."
Leia G.
Google Verified Review · Criminal Defense
"Liz and Steve did a wonderful job on my case they got my case dismissed they both kept in great contact with me explained everything well I would recommend them highly Thank guys great job!!!"
Diana M.
Google Verified Review · Criminal Defense (case dismissed)
"Thank you very much on your help with my case. Mrs. Aherm was very helpful and kept me informed on all the details on my case. This is the team to go with 100% !!!"
Jesse O.
Google Verified Review
"Big thanks to Steve and Liz. Both are very helpful, listen, very skilled at there jobs and I'm eternally grateful! Thank you both!"
UP P.
Google Verified Review
Service Area
Serving Neenah, the Fox Cities & All of Winnebago and Outagamie Counties
Outagamie
- Appleton
- Grand Chute
- Kaukauna
- Little Chute
- Seymour
- Combined Locks
Calumet
- Chilton
- New Holstein
- Brillion
Winnebago
- Oshkosh
- Neenah
- Menasha
Brown
- Green Bay
- De Pere
- Howard
Waupaca
- New London
- Waupaca
- Clintonville
Shawano
- Shawano
- Bonduel
- Wittenberg
Fond du Lac
- Fond du Lac
- Ripon
- Waupun
Oconto
- Oconto
- Oconto Falls
- Lena
Kewaunee
- Kewaunee
- Luxemburg
- Algoma
Waushara
- Wautoma
- Coloma
- Redgranite
Manitowoc
- Manitowoc
- Two Rivers
- Kiel
Green Lake
- Berlin
- Green Lake
- Markesan
Door
- Stergeon Bay
- Sister Bay
- Ephraim
Sheboygan
- Sheboygan
- Plymouth
- Sheboygan Falls
Dodge
- Beaver Dam
- Watertown
- Mayville
Divorce & Legal Separation Attorney
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a divorce cost in Wisconsin?
Filing costs $184.50 ($194.50 with a child support or maintenance request). Attorney costs vary with complexity — some matters fit a flat fee, while contested cases typically require phase billing. We'll give you an honest estimate at your free consultation and explain plainly whether flat-fee or phase billing fits your case. Call 920-730-8250 to talk it through.
How long does a divorce take in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin requires a mandatory 120-day waiting period from filing to final hearing, so most Winnebago and Outagamie County divorces finalize in roughly 6 to 12 months, depending on whether the case is contested.
What's the difference between legal separation and divorce in Wisconsin?
Both follow the same 120-day process and divide property and custody the same way. The difference is that divorce ends the marriage and legal separation does not.
Is Wisconsin a 50/50 property state?
Yes. Wisconsin presumes marital property splits equally, though property owned before the marriage or received individually as a gift or inheritance is generally treated separately.
Do I need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce?
You're not legally required to have one, but a lawyer helps make sure the paperwork is filed correctly and that you understand exactly what you're agreeing to. Call 920-730-8250 for a free consultation either way.
Is spousal maintenance (alimony) automatic in Wisconsin?
No. There's no fixed formula. Courts consider the length of the marriage, both spouses' incomes, and future earning capacity on a case-by-case basis.
What happens if my spouse won't respond to the divorce papers?
If your spouse is served and doesn't respond, the case can proceed as a default divorce, which often moves faster than a standard contested case since there's no active opposition.
Can my divorce and a restraining order be handled together?
Often, yes — but it depends on whether you mean a standalone civil injunction or a no-contact order tied to a separate criminal case, since those follow different legal processes. Call 920-730-8250 to discuss your situation confidentially.
Contact
Ready to Talk?
Wisconsin's 120-day waiting period doesn't start until you file — every week you wait is a week added to your timeline, not saved from it. Talk to Attorney Steven Johnson today, free of charge.
Phone
920-730-8250
Address
2649 Cavalry Ln
Neenah, WI 54956
Hours
Monday – Friday
8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Our Legal Services
Full-Service Representation for Neenah & the Fox Valley
Criminal Defense in Neenah & the Fox Valley
Johnson Law Firm S.C. defends felony and misdemeanor charges throughout Winnebago and Outagamie counties — theft, retail theft, forgery, battery, disorderly conduct, drug charges, and traffic offenses. Wisconsin felony penalties run from 3.5 years to life under Wis. Stat. § 939.50, and even a Class A misdemeanor carries up to 9 months in jail, so early representation matters. Attorney Steven Johnson brings 20+ years of courtroom experience at the Winnebago County Courthouse and beyond, challenging stops, searches, and evidence while keeping you informed at every step. Free consultations with a written fee quote.
OWI / Drunk Driving Defense
A Wisconsin OWI conviction follows you forever — it can never be expunged. First offenses bring a 6–9 month revocation, $585+ in forfeitures and surcharges, a mandatory AODA assessment, and an ignition interlock at 0.15 BAC or higher; second offenses become criminal. We examine the traffic stop, field sobriety tests, and breath or blood testing for every client from Neenah, Appleton, Oshkosh, and the Lake Winnebago communities. Deadlines start immediately after arrest, so call 920-730-8250 before your court date.
Family Law & Divorce
Divorce, legal separation, child custody and physical placement, child support, CHIPS defense, restraining order petitions and defense, and guardianships for children and adults — handled by one attorney across Winnebago, Outagamie, and Calumet counties. We explain Wisconsin's 120-day waiting period, marital property presumptions, and the best-interest placement factors of Wis. Stat. § 767.41 in plain English, then put your strategy and fees in writing. From Doty Island to downtown Appleton, Fox Valley families get straight answers here — starting with a free consultation.
Wills & Estate Basics
A valid will keeps your property, your children's guardianship, and your final wishes out of dispute — and out of avoidable Winnebago County probate battles. Attorney Johnson drafts wills for Fox Valley families and pairs them with the guardianship experience the firm uses in family court every week. If you don't have a will, Wisconsin's intestacy statutes decide for you; an afternoon in our Neenah office fixes that. Ask about wills during any consultation.