Thomas R. Napierala

Thomas R. Napierala

also known as Tom Napierala

4.6
Rating: 1.5

Licensed for 35 years

Divorce and separation Lawyer at MEQUON, WI
Practice Areas: Divorce & Separation, Litigation, Wills & Living Wills, Probate

1017 W GLEN OAKS LN, STE 209, MEQUON, WI

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2025
See Details

About Thomas

Biography

Practice Areas

4

Practice Areas

Divorce and Separation 73%

From simple to complex divorce practice involving custody, support, business and property division.

36 years | 500 cases

73%
Litigation 19%

Contract and tort litigation in State and select federal trial and appellate courts. Specific civil trials involving civil rights violations.

36 years | 200 cases

19%
Probate 4%

Administer the estates of persons who have died.

36 years | 75 cases

4%
Wills and Living Wills 4%

Wills, trusts, living wills and health care powers of attorney.

36 years | 200 cases

4%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 45 minutes

Hourly Rates

$ 305-305 per hour


Payment Methods

  • Cash
  • Check
  • Credit Card

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Licenses

Licensed in Wisconsin for 35 years

State: Wisconsin

Acquired: 1990

Good Standing

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2018

Licensed in Illinois for 35 years

State: Illinois

Acquired: 1990

Administrative - Not Authorized to Practice

Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2025

Location

Thomas Napierala

1017 W GLEN OAKS LN, STE 209, MEQUON, WI, 53092

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Thomas R. Napierala's Reviews

Avvo Review Score

4.6 /5.0

11 Client Reviews

Filter Avvo Reviews (11) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Showing 1 - 5 of 11 reviews

Posted by anonymous | November 06, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Domestic Violence

Restraining Order

Attorney Napierala stood by my side and won me a 10 year restraining order against my ex-boyfriend. I was completely terrified but he walked me through the whole entire process and kept me calm through it all. He's so intelligent, kind and big hearted. He's also never lost a restraining order case... in 30 years! I would recommend him to anyone.

Posted by anonymous | September 25, 2016 | Hired Attorney

post-judgment custody and placement proceedings

The attorney was always very professional, prepared, answered all my questions and was always available when needed. He was extremely effective and genuinely cared about my case.

Posted by anonymous | September 22, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation

Unprofessional Divorce Attorney

Napierala had me sign a contract stating that I had to pay him in $2,000 in advance when each $2,000 was exhausted. He inflated his time on the bill and claimed I owed him money even though the contract I signed said I had to pay in advance of services. He canceled mediation the day before because I ...had not paid him another $2,000 in advance and he refused to discuss his inflated bill. Even though he told me his paralegal was billed at $135 hr, he charged me at his rate when I dealt with her. Most of the time I spent with his paralegal. She had errors on documents so I had to come back four times. IMO that was a ploy to increase his bill. A motion that I had signed took three weeks for this law firm to get a date from Washington County Court due to phone tag. Another motion that I had signed did not get sent off to Washington County until four weeks later. Napierala also emailed me another client's personal information even though her email address and correspondence were in the email. I forwarded his response to his other client and she said she was not happy that he passed on her personal information. Napierala let my husband's attorney add things to an agreement close to an hour before we were to go to court. Napierala also sat silent in court while my husband's attorney lied about a phone bill. Napierala also did not speak up for me in court and let my husband's attorney make me have my separate phone account and he did not speak up when my husband's attorney requested I move out in 45 days, receive a small maintenance during that time with it being increased after I got an apartment, which was a nightmare because of the timing of payroll deductions and support payment, so I am currently short maintenance that is due to me. Napierala gave me very little legal advice. He told me to get an apartment with a pool and told me of the time he lived in an apartment. Napierala does not have a fax machine, he told me he removed the number from his site and that the fax machine belongs to an attorney he shares office space with. Napierala's paralegal is part time, with no set amount of days or hours worked each week. Napierala's voice mail system is sensitive, if you call it and don't press the button at the precise moment to leave a message, you will either get transferred to Dan Goldberg's law firm or you will get a message that says, "Thank you for using Audix." There are better divorce attorneys out there and plenty that have full time office staff, who will file motions in a timely manner and represent you properly who have a reliable answering machine and a fax machine.

Posted by anonymous | January 25, 2013 | Family

Great Family Law Attorney!

Tom is a great attorney in the difficult area of family law. He strives for negotiation and resolution, but if you need someone to litigate he shines there also. He returns emails and phone calls, which is really important. His rates are very reasonable.

Posted by Laura | December 19, 2010 | Lawsuits & Disputes

Thomas R. Napierala

Attorney Napierala was able to get me exactly what I was seeking VERY quicky and without the headache of having to go to court!!! Awesome!!!

See All Client Reviews

Thomas R. Napierala's Lawyer Endorsements

Endorse Thomas
Michael A Edwards headshot
Michael Edwards

Divorce and separation lawyer | Jun 30

Relationship: Worked together on matter

"Attorney Napierala genuinely cares about his clients. He has the experience and the knowledge to instill a sense of trust in his clients. I fully endorse Attorney Napierala."

Monica Irelan Karas headshot
Monica Karas

Divorce and separation lawyer | Mar 16

Relationship: Opposing Counsel on matter

"Tom is an family law attorney who takes a realistic approach to his cases while advocating for his client."

View All Endorsements
Michael A Edwards headshot
Michael Edwards

Divorce and separation lawyer

Shannon Corallo headshot
Shannon Corallo

Divorce and separation lawyer

Stephen D. Berman headshot
Stephen Berman

Immigration lawyer

Gregory Michael Ochalek headshot
Gregory Ochalek

Employment and labor lawyer

Experience

Rating:  1.5 (Extreme Caution)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2025.

Suspension issued in IL, 2025

updated on 12/16/2025

Suspension means an attorney lost his or her license to practice law for a specific period of time. The attorney typically returns to practicing law when the suspension expires.

Public Reprimand issued in WI, 2018

updated on 02/12/2021

Reprimand means an attorney did something wrong but may still practice law. The State gives the lawyer a public reprimand in hopes that he or she will not repeat the behavior. Details of the infraction are made part of the public record.

Thomas’s comment:

“Matter voluntarily resolved with authority.”

Work Experience

1992 - 2000

Attorney, Glojek, Ltd., Attorneys At Law

1988 - 1989

Law Clerk, Wisconsin Deprtment of Justice

Associations

2021 - Present

Ozaukee County Bar Association

member

American Bar Association

Milwaukee Bar Association

Kyles Korner

President of Board of Directors

Sample of Legal Cases

Kempfer v. Automated Finishing Inc.

Successful reversal and remand.

19-2836 Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Biegert v Administrator

See More Legal Cases

Education

1990

U of Wisconsin

law

1986

University of Wisconsin, Whitewater

BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration

Languages

English

Activity

Avvo Rating

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What determines Avvo Rating?
  • Experience & background Years licensed, work experience, education
  • Legal community recognition Peer endorsements, associations, awards
  • Legal thought leadership Publications, speaking engagements
  • Discipline
    This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2025
    Disciplinary information may not be comprehensive, or updated. We recommend that you always check a lawyer's disciplinary status with their respective state bar association before hiring them.
Avvo Rating Levels
10.0 - 9.0 Superb8.9 - 8.0 Excellent7.9 - 7.0 Very Good6.9 - 6.0 Good5.9 - 5.0 Average4.9 - 4.0 Concern3.9 - 3.0 Caution2.9 - 2.0 Strong Caution1.9 - 1.0 Extreme Caution