Law Office of Sheila L Romell, SC

03/19/2026

What is mediation and is it right for my case?
Mediation is often a good option for couples looking to divorce. It helps the parties proceed amicably and usually saves the parties money on attorney fees. As an Attorney Mediator, I am able to assist parties in getting their case done quickly because I serve as a guide to keep them focused on the real issues.

While you may be getting divorced from your spouse, you are not divorcing your children. You will still have to work with your spouse if you have children together. When a child turns 18 it does not mean that you stop being their parent. Your former spouse is still their family, too, and you should both want to be able to attend graduations, weddings and birthday parties for your grandchildren. If you have a war with your spouse when you get divorced, hurtful things can be said and done that cannot be taken back. Your children have two parents and deserve to have them remain involved in their lives. As a mediator I will be able to assist you settle the issues in the divorce by working through child custody, physical placement, support and property division.

An Attorney Mediator does not represent either party as they are neutral. However, as an Attorney Mediator I will be able to draft the divorce papers, work with you to reach an amicable agreement and to resolve your issues.

In Wisconsin, the law requires, with few exceptions, that the parties mediate if they have any issue about custody and/or placement of their children in the divorce. Most judges will also require the parties to mediate financial issues before any trial is heard so that the parties attempt to resolve as many issues as possible.

The vast majority of cases settle short of trial, but often not as soon as they should as parties get caught up in the battle with their spouse. A good Attorney Mediator will guide you through the process and help you focus on an outcome that is reasonable for the parties and their children's best interests. A mediator will keep your case moving forward and often the case will be resolved
more quickly for less costs to the parties.

Call me at (262) 439-9400 for a free mediation consultation to discuss your
case.

03/19/2026

Do I have to hire a lawyer to get divorced?

No, but in most instances you should have legal representation.
You are not required to hire an attorney to represent you in a divorce. You can proceed pro se, which means you
represent yourself. The Court cannot force you to have a trained legal professional to protect your interests, but in most cases you should seek legal representation. The issues in the divorce
will affect you and your children, and many of those cannot be changed after the divorce is granted. Some orders are modifiable, such as child custody, physical placement and child
support, but even those can be difficult to change once the divorce is granted. If you want to change the placement schedule for your children, and your former spouse will not agree, then you
have the burden of proof in Court. If you change your mind about property division, in most cases you cannot change that order after the divorce is granted.

Although you probably know a friend or family member who has been through a divorce, no two cases are the same. The result in their divorce could be very different than what will happen in your divorce as there are many variables that affect the outcome. Unless you are a family law attorney, you probably do not know all of your rights and obligations, some of which will have a significant impact on your life after the marriage ends. A good family law attorney will educate you on all of the issues to make sure that each one is addressed in your case. A good divorce attorney will also be able to present your case in a manner that will put you in the best position to have the most favorable outcome.

There many decisions that you have to make in a divorce. One wrong decision could affect the rest of your life. For example, decisions that you make regarding maintenance, property division may be final and not subject to change after the divorce. The judge will not be inclined to re-open those issues, so you may be stuck with a bad decision. The judge will not re-open the case just because you did not have an attorney or did not understand the law. There are decisions about child custody or physical placement that may be modified later, but perhaps not for at least two years, if at all, and at a great expense in legal fees. If you agree to joint legal custody and change your mind after the divorce, it is your burden of proof to get that order changed. While you may think that it is obvious that the order needs to change, there is a burden of proof that needs to be satisfied to get the changes you are seeking. It is always best to do it right the first time, rather than try to change things after the divorce.

Call Law Office of Sheila L. Romell at (262) 439-9400 for a
free consultation to discuss your case

03/19/2026

https://www.martindale.com/organization/law-office-of-sheila-l-romell-s-c-2655473/brookfield-wisconsin-4156706-f/

Law Office of Sheila L. Romell, S.C. is a law firm serving Brookfield, WI in Divorce, Family Law, Premarital Agreements, Child Support, Child Custody and Spousal Support cases

02/26/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwxC12rTYYo

Brookfield divorce attorney (www.romelllaw.com) Sheila L. Romell has been selected as an Elite Lawyer. Only the most outstanding and experienced attorneys re...

02/26/2026

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Sheila L. Romell is an experienced attorney in Brookfield, WI and has been chosen as a recipient of the 2026 Elite Lawyer award. Call 262-439-9400 to schedule a consultation to discuss your legal case or learn more about Sheila L. Romell at https://www.romelllaw.com.

12/29/2025

https://profiles.superlawyers.com/wisconsin/brookfield/lawyer/sheila-l-romell/a5acfbf5-4099-4422-9949-b88e849a36d8.html

Sheila Romell is one of the top rated Family Law attorneys in Brookfield, WI. She has met the stringent Super Lawyers selection criteria.

08/19/2025

https://www.lawyers.com/brookfield/wisconsin/law-office-of-sheila-l-romell-s-c-4156706-f/

Law Office of Sheila L. Romell, S.C. is a firm serving Brookfield, WI in Divorce, Family Law and Premarital Agreements cases. View the law firm's profile for reviews, office locations, and contact information.

04/03/2025

Distinguished Award
2025 Peer Rated for High Professional Achievement

Atty. Sheila L. Romell is an attorney serving Brookfield, WI. Find contact information, experience, peer reviews, directions, and more at Martindale.com.

03/28/2025

Can one attorney represent both parties in a divorce action?

This is a question that I am frequently asked in divorce cases. Parties often want to keep their divorce amicable, and think that having one attorney will be the way to accomplish that goal. It is also thought to be a way to save money on attorney fees.

The parties cannot have the same attorney in a divorce action because by the nature of the divorce action they are opposing parties. One attorney cannot represent both sides in a lawsuit because that would be a conflict of interest. The parties can hire a mediator, but the mediator is not the attorney for either party. The mediator is neutral, and will not protect either party’s rights. Mediation is very helpful in getting most cases settled. In fact, many judges order the parties to mediate before having a trial so that the issues can be narrowed or perhaps even the entire case can get resolved.

If one party hires an attorney, then that attorney only represents that party. While the attorney can draft all of the paperwork, and even be helpful to the non-represented party, ultimately that attorney only represents one spouse and does not give legal advice or make sure the non-represented party’s interests are protected.

Often clients have come to my office after their divorce is final. They are sometimes unsure who the prior attorney represented as they thought that as there was only one attorney, that attorney represent both of their interests, which is not permissible. I have had clients who were shocked to learn that the attorney only represented their spouse, not them.

The lesson that you should take from this is that you need be involved in your divorce and make sure you have a clear understanding of which party the attorney represents.

Call me at (262) 439-9400 for a free consultation to discuss your case.

Call now to connect with business.

03/28/2025

WAUKESHA/MILWAUKEE Wisconsin Family Law
According to Wisconsin law, “custody” refers to who has the authority to make decisions for the children. The most common custodial arrangement is joint custody between both parents. The state statute requires that the court first assume that it is in the best interest of the children to award joint legal custody. This is only true, however, if both parents are proper and fit persons to have joint custody. This is separate from where the children live, which is called “physical placement.”

“Placement” refers to the parents right to have the child placed physically with them. A parent with placement has the right and responsibility to make routine daily decisions regarding how the child is cared for that are in line with the more significant decisions that are made jointly. The court, will determine how much time the children spend with each parent. This is typically done as a placement schedule so that the child or children can spend regular, consistent, meaningful time with each parent.