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Deborah Ann Stencel
also known as Deborah A. Stencel
About Deborah
Biography
I was raised in both Wisconsin and North Carolina, which explains both my passion for Kringle and love of college hoops. I attended Earlham College (Richmond, Indiana) and North Carolina State University(Raleigh, North Carolina) for my undergraduate studies and earned my bachelor's degree from the latter. I was able to study briefly in Krasnodar, Russia, during a very exciting time as that country transitioned out of the cold war.
Along with my family's support and various forms of financial aid, I put myself through college and law school working a variety of jobs such as server, bartender, salesperson, organizational consultant, and as an improvisational comedian. This variety served me well; I learned about various occupations, the value of hard work and how to work smart because my time is valuable.
To complete my formal education, I attended law school at the University of North Carolina School of Law. During those years, I had numerous experiences that helped teach me what it means to be an attorney and an advocate for my clients. During my first summer and during the year, I had the privilege of clerking for my personal legal hero, Raymond Mason Taylor, Esq., of Raleigh, North Carolina. Mr. Taylor's decades of experience as a respected and successful attorney allowed him to be a mentor to me. His advice still sounds in my head on a nearly daily basis as I perform work for my clients today.
I spent my second law school summer at Pamlico Sound Legal Services. At Pamlico Sound, I assisted clients who were struggling in the aftermath of Hurricane Floyd with FEMA and state claims. The work was rewarding and challenging and I extended my internship well beyond the original agreement to continue working with the people of Eastern North Carolina to recover from the storm.
During law school, I also clerked for my criminal law professor, Arnold H. Loewy, and contributed research for his third edition of Criminal Law in a Nutshell (2003).
After three years of course work, participation in Moot Court, involvement in various volunteer activities, and a brief study abroad observing the institutions of the European Union, I was honored with my Juris Doctor in May 2001. 

I started my legal career as a staff attorney at the Indianapolis office of Indiana Legal Services, where I practiced consumer, family, and landlord-tenant law. This experience was invaluable. Because Legal Services provides free legal services to qualified individuals, the budget was not extensive. I was able to choose interesting cases and dive right in to practicing law whereas in a more traditional firm environment I might have been expected to spend more time observing or supporting more experienced attorneys.
I moved to Chicago in 2003 to take a job with a growing law firm specializing in consumer bankruptcy. I started by taking Chapter 7 and 13 cases and working with clients. Eventually, I managed the practice for Northern Indiana, with offices in Merrillville, Fort Wayne, South Bend, and Elkhart, Indiana. Later, at the same firm, I was asked to train and manage a number of offices across the country. I have continued to work with attorneys and clients at my former firm. I have traveled across the United States and worked with people in Manhattan, Miami, Las Vegas, San Francisco and a variety of less exciting locations in between.
In 2010, I moved back to Wisconsin. I chose to live in Milwaukee because of family connections and because I simply love Wisconsin...even when it snows. Fueled by a desire to spend more time with clients and less time in airports, I opened the Law Offices of Deborah A. Stencel in summer 2011. In 2016, I joined Miller and Miller Law in Milwaukee where I am privileged to work with a team of caring and dedicated professionals.
Practice Areas
4
Practice Areas
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
55%
23 years | 3,000 cases
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
30%
23 years | 900 cases
Foreclosure
12%
25 years
Debt Settlement
3%
23 years
Fees and Rates
Cost
Payment Methods
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
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Chat withLicenses
Licensed in Wisconsin for 14 years
State: Wisconsin
Acquired: 2011
No misconduct found
Licensed in Indiana for 24 years
State: Indiana
Acquired: 2001
No misconduct found
Location
Miller & Miller Law, LLC
735 W Wisconsin Ave, Ste 600, Milwaukee, WI, 53233-2413
Miller & Miller Law, LLC
2810 Crossroads Drive, Suite 4000, Madison, WI, WI, 53718
Miller & Miller Law, LLC
6123 Green Bay Road, Suite 210, Kenosha, WI, 53142
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Deborah Ann Stencel's Reviews
Avvo Review Score
11 Client Reviews
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Practice Areas
Showing 1 - 5 of 11 reviews
Posted by Beth | April 03, 2017 | Hired Attorney
Wonderful to work with!
Working with Deborah was easy. She made us feel comfortable when we already had a stressful situation. She answered our questions and helped us move from step to step with ease. We weren't proud of what happened to us but she never made us feel like we were anything but good people who needed her ...
Posted by Shanta Marie MacFarling | March 26, 2017 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt
Completely satisfied client!
First let me say Deborah was so kind to take my phone call on a Saturday morning and I was just calling to leave her a message. Deborah displays excellent customer service and satisfaction, she is kind and patient with every question that I need answered and I can always hear and feel a warm smile o...
Posted by anonymous | January 30, 2017 | Foreclosure
Unreliable, Dishonest & Totally NOT TRUSTWORTHY!
This Woman, Deborah Ann Stencel, was paid a retainer to represent me in foreclsure court. I found her online and based on the reviews thought that she would be honest and reputable. After a few months of dealing with her she refused to return my calls and after repeated attempts to call her offic...
Deborah Stencel
Replied last January 30, 2017Dear Sir or Madam, I am very sorry you had a bad experience with my services. I am not aware of any instances in which I failed in my professional duties to you, but due to confidentiality concerns I cannot discuss any case details here. I strive for the highest client satisfaction in every case, including yours, and strongly encourage you to contact me directly to discuss your concerns. Respectfully, Deborah A. Stencel
Posted by anonymous | January 30, 2017
If only...
I picked her based on the reviews, but If I could redo this process, I certainly would and wouldn't choose this attorney for something this important and life-altering. She was evasive, not very informative, and since working with her, I am no more informed than I was prior to hiring Deborah. She ra...
Deborah Stencel
Replied last January 30, 2017Dear Sir or Madam, I am so sorry you feel you had a negative experience with me. I strive to exceed my client's expectations, which includes promptly returning calls and directly answering questions during such a stressful time. I do wish this person would reach out to me with his or her concerns so we could discuss them without breaching confidentiality here. I look forward to hearing from you and resolving your concerns. Sincerely, Deborah A. Stencel
Posted by Josh | March 25, 2015
IMPRESSED FROM THE FIRST SECOND WE MET!
I have only had an initial consultation with Ms. Stencel to this point, but I must confess that her dimeanor, patience and honesty impressed me. I have consulted with several lawyers in the past month and she is by far the easiest to communicate with, and in turn, her explanation of details is so v...
Deborah Ann Stencel's Lawyer Endorsements
"When a family member needed an attorney in Wisconsin I suggested Deb. She did a great job handling the matter. I would recommend her again to family members and friends."
"I recommend this Ms. Stencel because she has a very active presence in the Bankruptcy field. She has an especially high participation in helping Avvo askers by giving them solid, practical and honest advice. This is the type of advice that clients need when they hire a lawyer."
"I wholeheartedly endorse this lawyer. A brilliant, trustworthy and highly respected attorney in the legal community."
"Top-notch attorney. Highly respected in the legal community."
"Aggressive representation. I endorse this lawyer."
"An extremely talented and well respected attorney in the legal community, I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for a lawyer who knows the law and truly cares about protecting the rights of her clients and getting them the most favorable result possible."
"I endorse this lawyer."
"I endorse this lawyer. I was a fellow managing attorney in Illinois when Deborah started working here and took over management of a region in a state I did not practice in. I was in a position to see how she clearly transformed her underperforming offices in which the state of affairs was messy and clients were not happy, into a profitable well-run machine in which her clients loved her, her employees respected her, and order was restored. When I transitioned into a new role of managing a large litigation department, Deborah was vital in providing guidance and in helping me sort out substantive legal issues. Deborah is smart, a very hard worker, shows compassion, and explains legal issues to clients in a way that they can understand. As a bonus, she is a pleasure and quite funny. I would highly recommend her to anyone considering working with her, either as a client, colleague, or employer."
"I endorse this lawyer. I worked Deborah Stencel for several years. She is an outstanding lawyer who truly cares about her clients and is an expert in the field of bankruptcy law."
"Deborah Ann Stencel has demonstrated an expert understanding of bankruptcy laws as well as showing an appreciation of how difficult it can be for individuals going through bankruptcy. I am honored to endorse her here on AVVO."
"Deborah is one of the most intelligent, personable and driven consumer advocates I've had the opportunity to work with. She is a fearless attorney who will stop at nothing short of providing her clients with the highest level of advocacy. She has represented thousands of consumers across the United States during their most troubling times. She takes her work personally, she represents her clients tirelessly and she is the attorney that attorneys turn to for advice. Milwaukee is fortunate to have Deborah work within its border."
"I endorse this lawyer. She provides wonderful legal advise."
"I endorse this lawyer. She provides detailed and insightful analysis to questions posed by AVVO subscribers. The detailed responses and thorough explanations provided here display a vast knowledge of the law. She is an asset to the legal community."
"Deborah Stencel is a colleague of mine and one of the most experienced bankruptcy attorneys with whom I have worked. She remains sympathetic to her clients' concerns because she understands their challenges. It is safe to say that her dedication in this arena is unparalleled. She has counseled literally thousands of clients, many of whose cases presented issues that were highly detailed and complex. She is knowledgeable, diligent, and fearless. Deborah is committed to achieving her clients' goals, and her success is a testament to the competent representation she continues to provide."
"I endorse this lawyer. Attorney Stencel is an outstanding attorney with an exceptional reputation. She is a strong and zealous advocate for her clients and a credit to the legal profession. I highly endorse her legal services."
Mark Gauthier
Bankruptcy and debt lawyer
James Miller
Bankruptcy and debt lawyer
Jeffrey Hyslip
Bankruptcy and debt lawyer
Maxwell Livingston
Contracts and agreements lawyer
Monica Kapp
Bankruptcy and debt lawyer
Kevin Van Hout
Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer
Howard Lewis
Divorce and separation lawyer
Experience
Honors
2015
Client Distinction Award, Martindale-Hubbell
2015
Milwaukee's Leading Lawyers, July 2015, M Magazine
2014
Milwaukee's Leading Lawyers, July 2014, M Magazine
2013
International Women's Day Honoree for Community Leadership, Mary Kay
2013
Milwaukee's Leading Lawyers, July 2013, M: Milwaukee's Lifestyle Magazine
2013
Wisconsin Pro Bono Honor Society, Wisconsin Access to Justice Commission
2012
Milwaukee's Leading Lawyers, July 2012, M: Milwaukee's Lifestyle Magazine
2001
Certificate of Achievement for Pro Bono Service, North Carolina Bar Association
Work Experience
2015 - Present
Attorney, Miller & Miller Law, LLC
2011 - 2015
Attorney at Law, Sole Proprietor, Law Offices of Deborah A Stencel
2003 - 2011
Managing Attorney/Regional Manager, Macey & Aleman,P.C./Legal Helpers, P.C.
2001 - 2002
Associate Attorney, Indiana Legal Services
Associations
2011 - Present
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of WisconsinMember
2011 - Present
U.S. District Court, Western District of WisconsinMember
2003 - Present
U.S. District Court, Northern District of IndianaMember
1999 - Present
Phi Alpha Delta
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana
Member
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
Member
2006 - 2012
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
Education
2001
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
JD - Juris Doctor
1997
North Carolina State University
BA - Bachelor of Arts
Speaking Engagements
2016
New Bankruptcy Rules, Forms and Fees
Forms Modernization Project
2016
New Bankruptcy Rules, Forms and Fees
National Form Plan
2016
New Bankrupcy Rules, Forms and Fees
2015 Changes to Federal Rules
2012
In house continuing education
Plan Construction
2012
In house continuing education
Reaffirmation and Rescission in Chapter 7
2012
Consumer Bankruptcy from Start to Finish
Everything you need to know about preparing for the 341
2012
Consumer Bankruptcy from Start to Finish
Means Testing in Consumer Bankruptcy
Publications
2011
Stencel Law Bankruptcy Blog
Stencel Law Bankruptcy Blog
Languages
English
Activity
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Legal Answers
Q&A
What does this mean? Chapter 7.
10 Jul 2019
Q&A
How long after I file bankruptcy do the wage garnishments stop
06 Apr 2017
Q&A
Removing small claims items from CCAP
02 Feb 2017