Will and Trust in Brookfield, Wisconsin

Mission Statement

To provide Brookfield quality Attorney assistance as a Bankruptcy, Divorce Lawyer, Family Law and Will and Trust.

Horizons Law Group LLC meeting your Attorney needs since 2000.

Reviews

Non-Rated Service

Be the first to Write A Review for Horizons Law Group LLC.

Attorney services include family law (divorce, mediation, collaborative, and pro se), bankruptcy, employment law, real estate, civil litigation, small business, wills, probate, consumer matters, and more.

Horizons Law Group offers several flat fee options and innovative programs such as our Take-a-Lawyer-to-Lunch™ program. After only one visit to Horizons Law Group, you will wonder why this sensible approach to the law was not offered decades ago.

A great idea . . . the first in Wisconsin (and the country)!
Started in 2000 in Wisconsin.... we hope to transform consumer and small business use of legal information and attorney services by providing a comfortable, friendly, low-stress atmosphere where you choose your level of service. We have attorneys and clerks offering everything from assistance with forms to full attorney services. We also offer unbundled services such as coaching, counseling, and mediation, as well as popular forms for divorce, real estate and powers of attorney.

To achieve all of the above, we have designed a unique setting and convenient locations with plenty of parking, on direct bus lines for ease of access. We hope you stop by soon!

How it Began
Horizons Law Group, LLC was founded in 2000 as Legal Horizons, LLC by attorney Michelle B. Fitzgerald, a former Milwaukee Public Schools' high school teacher for seven years. She created the concept after seeing the need for professional legal services that offered flexibility in services offered and pricing options.

Michelle hopes that after coming to Horizons Law Group, LLC and learning about what we have to offer, you will have a new vision of the legal profession, as well as a sense of comfort and empowerment when facing a legal issue.

Certifications

1) Foreclosure Services

Relief IS possible! Are you facing a foreclosure or possible foreclosure soon? Many people, including professionals, will tell you that there is nothing you can do if you are behind in payments. However, that is no longer true. If your case is pre-foreclosure, or recently filed, it is possible that we can offer a defense to your foreclosure. Even if you are working on a modification, you MUST respond to the foreclosure to preserve possible defenses. If you are past that point, it is still worth talking to us to see if we are able to offer a defense. Will the bank work with me?

No, not to stop the foreclosure. Foreclosure departments process their own documents, entirely separate from modification departments. The two departments are not coordinated and you should NOT rely on a modification going through before the foreclosure is complete. You should also not ignore foreclosure filings or deadlines because the bank or others tell you not to worry about these. There is NO guarantee your modification will go through. The banks either work out the modification with you or take the home back to resell. Either way, your legal rights are unprotected and you could lose the home you were trying to save. You may have spent thousands to update, remodel, or repair the home which is lost to you and the bank. In the meantime... You may not be aware that your mortgage had been previously bundled and sold, and the company filing foreclosure against you may not be the legal owner of the note and mortgage. Any of the above may apply to your home loan and allow you to defend against a foreclosure. What to do?

Foreclosure can be a possibility for anyone who has experienced a job loss, medical or health issues, divorce, death of a spouse, etc. Foreclosure defense can offer you relief with the possibility of saving the home you have invested in, and in a neighborhood you choose to live in. The ultimate goal of each homeowner may be different, but rest assured, you may have legal options to meet those goals

2) Family Law

The court process for divorce and legal separation are quite similar. Therefore, our services noted below can be used for either divorce or legal separation. You may use either service below or a combination of services (see Unbundled Services below).

Attorney Services (Contested Divorce / Traditional Service)
Our traditional attorney services in contested divorce or legal separation matters are flexible in payment options and we take the time to explain your options and the steps along the way. We are aggressive, thorough, and fair. We offer an initial consult at no charge (less than 30 minutes) or longer for our regular hourly fee. Also see the Divorce Process to understand the steps involved in divorce or legal separation.

Mediation
Resolve your disputes amicably and save money. Mediation is an effective way to settle your divorce related matters without prolonged litigation (and the cost and emotional drain) and yet still with the legal guidance from an experienced family law attorney. The mediator (attorney) acts as a neutral party, to help the parties reach mediated agreements on any or all issues in their divorce, including property (asset) division, debt division, child support, maintenance (alimony), and child related matters such as placement, custody and health insurance. The mediator will review your total current financial pictures, and discuss options for dividing finances - even options parties may not have thought of. This is where experience matters. Mediation will also cover child custody, placement and support. Mediation can be effective even where there is much disagreement on many issues. We offer a flat fee mediation package that includes assistance with the required court forms from start to finish of your matter, or hourly services as well to fit your individual needs. A mediator does not represent either party and cannot mediate any dispute where one party has been represented by that mediator (or law firm). Attorney Michelle B. Fitzgerald is certified in mediation and has mediated divorces for 12 years as part of her divorce practice. In addition to her certification, she teaches Mediation Advocacy at Marquette University Law School as an adjunct professor, and has completed prior coursework in negotiations and settlement techniques, and was a previous high school teacher.

Collaborative Law for Divorce
Collaborative Law is another option that allows parties to go through the process of divorce without the hurtful baggage that could go along with it. In a collaborative case, both parties chose a collaborative attorney and both parties agree up front to not litigate the case through court. The parties also sign an agreement to accomplish this commitment that becomes a court order. If either party then later decides to litigate, each party must seek new counsel and new professional advisors. It is common in a collaborative case to involve financial experts and mental health professionals. To learn more about Collaborative Law, go to the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin. You will note that Attorney Michelle B. Fitzgerald of Horizons Law Group, LLC is a member of the Council.

Uncontested Divorce (or Pro Se / Clerk Assistance)
If you and your spouse agree on ALL terms, our uncontested divorce service takes away the hassle of understanding the divorce forms and going to the courthouse to file your documents. Unlike other pro se divorce services, we provide full service, not a tutorial or instructions for creating your forms. Pro se services work best for parties who already agree on how to settle their issues (and have no questions on division of assets, child placement, etc.) or for parties who have very few assets and debts and do not anticipate any dispute from the other party. Call today for an appointment or for more information. Also see our Self-Representation for more information.

If you or your spouse cannot agree on terms or do not understand certain issues, we provide attorney services where you can consult with an attorney one or more times as needed, or hire one of our attorneys. We also provide options such as Mediation or Collaborative Divorce under both hourly or flat fee options.

Unbundled Services
You can use our clerk services AND consult with an attorney as needed. Or if you are handling your divorce on your own, you can use our attorney services as needed. What types of things can we assist with? Review of finances. Settlement ideas. Settlement response to spouse/spouse's attorney. Discovery assistance. Brief to court. Preparation of Exhibits for court. And more! You will be pleasantly surprised at how you can receive the assistance needed, yet continue to advocate for yourself. Coaching and consulting (unbundled services) during your divorce can be very effective if you choose to not hire full representation.

Divorce Forms
Divorce forms for pro se parties (no attorney) are now available on the Internet for all Wisconsin counties. If you need assistance with these forms (we recommend this as you will spend hours wading through them!), you can utilize our full-service pro se/clerk services or attorney services as listed above. To find the general state forms, go to our Self-Representation page or to http://www.wicourts.gov. Also see the Pro Se (Clerk) Assistance section above.

Legal Information & Other Divorce Resources
We have several brochures from the State of Wisconsin and the federal trade commission available in each of our offices. We also make our legal library available to the public, including Wisconsin case law (WI Supreme Court and WI Court of Appeals) and all state statutes (laws). Consumer use of the library/resource area is FREE. Consumers can also use our attorney reference binders complete with information, directions, and forms used by most attorneys at NO CHARGE. Copies of any information is only a small fee.

Take-a-Lawyer-to-Lunch™
Also too good to pass up! For the price of a lunch, you can have an hour of a lawyer's time. This is a great way to get to know a lawyer before hiring him/her for your sensitive legal matter.

3) Bankruptcy Chapter 7, 13, Or 128

4) Probate

Why is a probate necessary?
A probate is necessary when assets need to be transferred to heirs after death such as a home or financial accounts that were only in the decedent's name. Whether you have a simple estate or more complicated estate, we can guide you through the probate process to give you peace of mind going into the future. Please call us today for an appointment.

What type of probate is needed?
The type of probate will depend on the value of the estate (assets owned on the date of death). If the total value of the assets are under $50,000.00 then the distribution may be completed in a short probate process or by an affidavit of transfer. If the total value exceeds $50,000.00 and there was a will, then an Informal administration process must be completed. This is a process that allows minimal supervision by the Probate Court and is completed by the Personal Representative and the assistance of an attorney in about one year. Should a large estate exist without a will then a Formal Probate Administration would be required in the Probate Court. This is more expensive and time consuming requiring attorney involvement throughout the process.

Can a probate be avoided?
Yes, in some cases. If all solely owned assets total less than $50,000, an Affidavit of Transfer form may be used for the items that remain. Also, if the decedent listed beneficiaries, or noted transfer on death (TOD) designations on bank accounts and their real estate (new since 2006), it is possible for all assets to pass simply by completing a few forms. Preplanning is key. We assist individuals and married couples plan how they wish their assets to transfer upon death

5) Mediation & Collaborative Law

Mediation
Resolve your disputes amicably and save money. Mediation is an effective way to settle matters without prolonged litigation (and the cost and emotional drain) and yet still with the legal guidance from an experienced family law attorney. The mediator (attorney) acts as a neutral party, to help the parties reach agreements on any or all issues in their divorce. The mediator will review your total current financial picture, and discuss options for dividing finances. Mediation will also cover discussing child custody, placement and support. Mediation can be effective even where there is much disagreement on many issues. We offer a flat fee mediation package that includes drafting the Marital Settlement Agreement, or hourly services as well to fit your individual needs. A mediator does not represent either party and cannot mediate any dispute where one party has been represented by that mediator (or law firm). If you would like to pursue mediation as an option, please contact us in person. We can take care of speaking to the other party and attorneys to find out if they are willing to participate. Michelle Fitzgerald is our attorney who is trained in both mediation and collaborative divorce.

Collaborative Law for Divorce
Collaborative Law is another option that allows parties to go through the process of divorce without the hurtful baggage that could go along with it. In a collaborative case, both parties chose a collaborative attorney and both parties agree up front to not litigate the case through court. The parties also sign an agreement to accomplish this commitment that becomes a court order. If either party then later decides to litigate, each party must seek new counsel and new professional advisors. It is common in a collaborative case to involve financial experts and mental health professionals. To learn more about Collaborative Law, go to the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin. You will note that Attorney Michelle B. Fitzgerald of Horizons Law Group, LLC is a member of the Council.

Service Locations

Bankruptcy Brookfield  -  Divorce Lawyer Brookfield  -  Family Law Brookfield
Will And Trust Brookfield  -  Chapter 7 Brookfield  -  Probate Brookfield

Citations

Horizons Law Group LLC Photo Gallery
Updated as of 5/15/2024

Contact Information

Direct Email Contact