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Thomas R. Napierala

Divorce and separation Attorney at MEQUON, WI

4.6   11 reviews

also known as Tom Napierala


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About Thomas

Learn Thomas’s areas of practice.

4
Practice areas
  1. Divorce and separation
    73%
    From simple to complex divorce practice involving custody, support, business and property division.

    33 years, 500 cases

  2. Litigation
    19%
    Contract and tort litigation in State and select federal trial and appellate courts. Specific civil trials involving civil rights violations.

    33 years, 200 cases

  3. Probate
    4%
    Administer the estates of persons who have died.

    33 years, 75 cases

  4. Wills and living wills
    4%
    Wills, trusts, living wills and health care powers of attorney.

    33 years, 200 cases

I was born and raised in the Milwaukee area. My father died when I had just turned 5 and my sister was 3. This left me with a profound respect for how hard my mother, a single parent worked.

Further, it gave me a respect for how much a good mother, and a good father can mean to a child. I graduated from Thomas More High School ( I was the mascot one year hurray). I received my B.B.A degree (finance) from the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin Madison Law School.

I was the managing editor for the Wisconsin Law Review. My wife is a nurse practitioner and we have three children. I enjoy my children’s activities, riding my Harley Davidson and helping people obtain the best outcome in what can be difficult situations.  

 

Photos and videos

Licensed for 32 years
State WI
Status Good Standing
Acquired 1990
Updated 03/05/2023
State IL
Status Administrative - Not Authorized to Practice
Acquired 1990
Updated 01/05/2023

Contact Thomas

Similar lawyers nearby

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

Reviews

4.6 / 5.0
  11 customer reviews
5 Star
 
91%
4 Star
 
0%
3 Star
 
0%
2 Star
 
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1 Star
 
9%
Posted by anonymous | November 6, 2017
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
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.
Read less
Posted by anonymous | September 23, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| 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 | January 22, 2013
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 17, 2010
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!!!
Posted by anonymous | December 7, 2010
Prompt and responsive.
Mr. Napierala was retained to resolve a difficult probate issue. He identified a straight forward solution and resolved the problem quickly. We were very pleased with his services.
Posted by anonymous | May 6, 2009
Legal services with a personal touch!
Tom has worked with us on several different legal issues both personal and for our business during the past 18 years. We have recommended him in the past and will continue to recommend him in the future.
Posted by anonymous | March 15, 2009
Strongly recommend Tom Naperala
Tom handled my divorce with professionalism and compassion. Laying out all the options from the beginning an keeping me informed as every challenge came forward. If you need a divorce lawyer - Tom is the guy you want on your side.
Posted by anonymous | March 14, 2009
Recommendation to hire Atty. Napierala
I have hired Attorney Napierala for legal matters in real estate, business and family law. Tom is thorough, detail oriented and effeciently completes a legal issue in a professional manner. I feel confident when Tom is representing me in court. His rates are fair and will hire him again.
Posted by anonymous | December 29, 2008
Highly Recommend Mr. Napierala
Mr. Napierala is a professional who understand the law and will guide a client through the divorce process presenting options and recommending a course of action. He is responsive and will keep you informed throughout the process. I had used two other lawyers until I finally met with Mr. Napierala and have used him on several follow-up items related to my divorce.
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Posted by anonymous | December 18, 2008
Various Legal Work Through the Years
Thomas has handled multiple transactions for me. I have always found his work to be complete and accurate. He conducts himself with the utmost in professionalism and I know he is always looking out for my best interest. I have always found his billings to be very fair and rates extremeley competitive.
Posted by anonymous | September 21, 2016
This review is from a person who hired this attorney.
| Hired Attorney
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.
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Cost

Rates
  • Free Consultation 60 minutes
  • Hourly Rates $ 265-305 per hour
Payment methods
Cash, Check, Credit Card

Resume

AVVO RATING 5.1 (Average)

Professional misconduct

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2018.

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

  • Attorney
  • Glojek, Ltd., Attorneys At Law
  • 1992 - 2000
  • Law Clerk
  • Wisconsin Deprtment of Justice
  • 1988 - 1989

Education

  • U of Wisconsin
  • law
  • 1990
  • University of Wisconsin, Whitewater
  • BBA - Bachelor of Business Administration
  • 1986

Legal Cases

  • Kempfer v. Automated Finishing Inc.
  • Successful reversal and remand.
  • 19-2836 Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Biegert v Administrator

Associations

  • Ozaukee County Bar Association
  • member
  • 2021 - Present
  • American Bar Association
  • N/A
  • Milwaukee Bar Association
  • N/A
  • Kyles Korner
  • President of Board of Directors
  • N/A
View all associations

Languages Spoken

  • English

Attorney endorsements

Received (2)
Given (4)
Endorse Thomas
Divorce and separation Attorney | 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."
Divorce and separation Attorney | 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."
Divorce and separation
Divorce and separation
Employment and labor
MEQUON Divorce and separation Lawyer Thomas R. Napierala
Thomas R. Napierala
Divorce and separation Attorney
MEQUON, WI
Licensed for 32 years
Free Consultation