Family Law

Complex divorce and family law matters.

• Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
• Name Changes
• Restraining Orders
• Enforcement Actions

• Child Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Elder Abuse
• Sexual Abuse

• Adoptions
• Child Support
• Children's Rights
• Custody
• Foster Care
• Paternity
• State Child Protection
• Visitation

• Civil Unions
• Common Law Marriage
• Domestic Partnerships
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender Rights
• Living Together/Cohabitation
• Marriage
• Power of Attorney
• Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements

• Age Discrimination
• Competency Hearings
• Guardianships & Conservatorships
• Long-Term Care
• Powers of Attorney
• Advanced Health Care Directive
• Healthcare Power of Attorney
• Healthcare Proxy
• Nursing Home Negligence

• Grandparent Rights
• Termination of Parental Rights

Divorce

Complex divorce and family law matters.

• Alimony/Palimony/Spousal Support
• Annulment
• Child Support
• Custody/Visitation Rights
• Delinquent Support Payments
• Division of Property
• Mediation/Alternative Dispute Resolution(ADR)
• Restraining Orders
• Uncontested Divorce
• Collaborative Law
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgender (LGBT) Rights

WI, Sep 1993
Bar Number: 1022103

MN, May 1994
Bar Number: 244612

•Wisconsin State Bar;
•Minnesota State Bar;
•United States District Courts: Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin;
• District of Minnesota

• Wisconsin Association for Justice, Jury Instruction Committee; Member.
• Member of the Wisconsin Association of Mediators; Qualified Neutral - MN Rule 114;
• St. Croix Valley Bar Association (President 1999-2000);
• River Falls Lions Club (President 2008-2009)

I attend continuing legal education seminars on Family Law, Litigation, Guardian Ad Litem Training, Ethics, Mediation/Negotiation, and other topics. I always exceed the required number of continuing legal education hours, both in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I also continually review statutes and cases to stay on top of new developments in family law.

Divorce and Family Law Weblog: Western Wisconsin is available at millerandmurray.wordpress.com

Family law matters are varied and each unique. I help clients with basic matters such as drafting documents. I also help family law clients with complex property matters involving substantial asset division, property tracing, and non-marital (gifts & inheritances) property claims. Many cases also involve individualized attention to father's rights, mother's rights, children's rights, physical-abuse or control issues, substance-abuse issues, and/or mental health issues.

Example family law cases include: obtaining primary placement of a child with the father client when mother and Guardian-ad-Litem were requesting primary placement with mother; obtaining equal shared placement of a child for mother client when father and Guardian-ad-Litem were seeking primary placement with mother; obtaining property and maintenance awards from Judges more favorable than settlement offers made before trial. I have successfully mediated/negotiated over one hundred divorce/family law matters.

Published appellate court civil cases include:
D.S. Farms v. NSP, WI Ct of Appeals 94-1981 (1995), upholding jury verdict of $1,450,225, for property damage case against electric utility; Hilke v. Three Rivers Dairy and Farm, Inc., MN Ct of Appeals C6-02-1646 (2003), reinstating jury verdict of $627,000 against milking equipment dealer; Allen v. WPSC, WI Ct of Appeals, 2005 WI App 40 (2005), upholding jury verdict in favor of dairy farmer of $1,750,000, based on stray voltage negligence and nuisance claims.

2

Minnesota and Wisconsin

Attorney Barb Miller, my law partner, and I have dedicated our careers to zealously advocating for the rights of individuals and small businesses.

I am a trial lawyer and mediator whose practice areas include: family law; divorce; child custody and placement; personal injury litigation; automobile, boating, and farming accidents; electrocution injuries; civil appeals; mediation/negotiation; and agricultural, business, property, and insurance litigation.

I am committed to my clients and to obtaining the best possible result on each and every case. To each case I bring over 15 years of successful courtroom experience practicing family law in many counties throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota. I have also served as a mediator for many years and I put this experience to use in negotiating positive outcomes for clients.

Barb's practice areas include: family law; divorce; child custody and placement; personal injury litigation; and criminal and OWI/DWI matters.

Barb and I formed Miller and Murray, S.C. in May of 2008. One local Judge referred to our new firm as a "Family Law Powerhouse". Barb and I have 40+ years of combined experience. Each of us had separate long-standing established law practices before forming the new firm. Both of our law practices had been primarily focused on representing individuals in family law matters and that continues to be the focus of Miller and Murray, S.C.

In addition to representing individuals and small businesses in Wisconsin and Minnesota with family law matters and a wide variety of personal injury and property damage claims, I have extensive legal experience in many other states throughout the country in complex litigation and appellate matters including successfully representing dairy farmers against electric utilities, cooperatives, and large insurance companies on a variety of agricultural issues including economic damage cases involving stray voltage/stray electricity, faulty milking equipment, and deficient feed.

I am a member of the local Lions and Kiwanis Clubs, volunteer coach for youth athletics, member of the Wisconsin Association for Justice, and since 1993 have represented disadvantaged individuals pro bono for the Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services/Ramsey County Volunteer Attorney Program.

Kelly.

(715) 386-5180

Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Evening and weekend appointments available upon request.

Yes

I charge hourly for divorce and other family law matters.

$200.

I offer a one-hour free initial consultation.

The amount of required advance depends on the facts and nature of the case. A typical deposit is $3,500, however, the deposit range is usually between $1,500 to $5,000. Additional deposits may be required as the case progresses. If a potential client is in a bind financially and does not have funds readily available, I have on occasion agreed to divide up the initial required deposit into installment payments.