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Gricel Santiago-Rivera

This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2003. Read more
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Avvo Rating7.7
  • Madison, WI
  • Licensed for 21 years
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About Gricel

Gricel Santiago-Rivera es una abogada de derecho familiar en el Centro Legal RISE donde representa mayormente a sobrevivientes de violencia de escasos recursos. Tiene amplia experiencia en divorcios, custodia legal y custodia física de menores, paternidad, manutención infantil y familiar. Además, Gricel representa a clientes en Órdenes de Restricción Temporales/Permanentes por Abuso Doméstico y Acoso, y actúa como Curadora ad Litem, representando el bienestar de menores de edad, tanto en casos familiares como en Órdenes de Restricción por Abuso Infantil.

 

Además de representar a clientes, Gricel provee entrenamiento, educación y asistencia técnica legal a otros abogados e intercesores legales, así como tutoría a estudiantes. Actualmente, Gricel sirve en el Comité de Asistencia Legal del Colegio de Abogados de Wisconsin, y es miembro de las Secciones de Derecho Familiar, y los Niños y las Leyes del Colegio de Abogados. Cuando estaba en la Escuela de Derecho de la Universidad de Wisconsin, Gricel hizo internados en el Programa de Asistencia Legal a Personas Encarceladas, la Oficina del Fiscal del Condado de Dane, y el Proyecto de Inocencia. Nativa de Puerto Rico, Gricel habla el español con soltura.

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Gricel Santiago-Rivera is a family law attorney at RISE Law Center where she primarily represents underserved populations who are survivors of violence. She has extensive experience with divorces, child legal custody and physical placement, paternity, child and family support. In addition, Gricel represents parties in Domestic Abuse and Harassment Temporary Restraining Orders/Injunctions, and acts as Guardian ad Litem, representing the best interests of the children, in both family cases and Child Abuse Restraining Orders/Injunctions.

 

In addition to client representation, Gricel provides training, education and legal technical assistance to other attorneys and legal advocates, as well as mentorship to students. Currently, Gricel is serving in the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Legal Assistance Committee, and belongs to the Family Law and the Children and the Law Sections of the State Bar. While at UW Law School, Gricel held internships in the Legal Assistance to Institutionalized Persons Program, the Dane County District Attorney’s Office and the Innocence Project. A native of Puerto Rico, Gricel is fluent in Spanish.

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Practice areas

OtherDomestic violenceChild supportDivorce and separationFamily
  1. Family: 50%

    This includes family cases for divorce, legal separation, custody and placement, paternity, guardian ad litem, etc.

  2. Divorce and separation: 30%

    This is incorporated in my family law cases.

  3. Child support: 10%

    This is incorporated in my family law cases.

  4. Domestic violence: 5%

    This includes protective restraining orders and injunctions.

  1. Mediation: 5%

    This includes mediation for custody and placement, financial issues, and more.

Languages spoken

English, Spanish

Photos and videos

1531264 1413904998

Contact

Rise Law Center

1245 E Washington Ave Ste 120
Madison, WI, 53703-3045

Resume

License
StateStatusAcquiredUpdated
WIGood Standing200005/22/2021

Professional misconduct


This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority.

  • Suspension
    issued in WI, 2003

    updated on 10/14/2014

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

    Gricel's comment:“2007 - LICENSE REINSTATED”

Avvo Contributions
Legal answers0
Legal guides0
Awards
Award nameGrantorDate granted
Liesel Blockstein Community Leadership AwardCommunity Shares of Wisconsin2011
Work Experience
TitleCompany nameDuration
Director/Managing AttorneyRISE Law Center2007 - Present
Adjunct ProfessorITT Technical Institute2012 - 2012
Associations
Association namePosition nameDuration
Child Advocacy Centers of WisconsinBoard of Directors2013 - Present
Legal Assistance Committee - State Bar of WisconsinMember2010 - Present
State Bar of WisconsinMember2000 - Present
Committee for the Welfare of Immigrant Children and Families - WI Department of Children and FamiliesMember2009 - 2010
UNIDOS Against Domestic Violence - Board of DirectorsPresident2009 - 2012
Publications
Publication nameTitleDate
Committe Report and Recommendations to the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Children and FamiliesServing Immigrant and Refugee Families in the Child Welfare System2010
Education
School nameDegreeGraduated
University of Wisconsin Law SchoolN/A1999
University of Wisconsin, MadisonMA - Masters1997
University of Wisconsin, MadisonMA - Masters1995
University of Puerto Rico, MayaguezBA - Bachelor of Arts1993
Speaking Engagements
Conference nameTitleDate
PINNACLE - State Bar of WisconsinFamily Law Mediation Training2014
PINNACLE - State Bar of WisconsinShelter From the Storm: Domestic Abuse & Family Law2014
Transform the Conversation: Explore. Expand. Create.Judging a Family Law Custody Case - Insights from Bench and Bar2013
Legal Action of WisconsinFamily Law2013
Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic ViolenceFamily Law Training - Basic and Advanced Topics2011
Through the Eyes of a ChildGAL and Domestic Violence2011
Legal Action of Wisconsin Volunteer TrainingFamily Law2011

Reviews

(3)
5 Star
67%
4 Star
0%
3 Star
0%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
33%
Review Gricel Santiago-Rivera

Terrific, Kind and Very Effective

Posted by

Gricel was my lawyer for my divorce. I am so grateful to have had her help me, I had met with other lawyers but they didn't understand how to handle international divorce. Gricel had tons of experience with international clients and was very honest and effective in court. She explained everything to me, helped me to prioritize what I wanted in the divorce and understand what I could reasonably expect from the judge. We were able to come to an agreement on our home and other important items and Gricel fought to help me have full time with my children. She understood what I was going through, was sympathetic and very professional. Gricel went through all the questions she anticipated which made the actual court less intimidating. She was efficient and didn't waste a lot of lawyer time making a huge bill like my friends have had happen to them. I hope you do not have a divorce, but if you have one you should hire Gricel. I highly recommend her for any divorce or child support case especially if there are international issues.

Review Gricel Santiago-Rivera

Posted by

Ms. Santiago-Rivera was prompt and helpful she listened to find out my goals for the case and helped me achieve them.

I regret that Gricel had worked with my divorce case.

Posted by

This attorney did my divorce, and I had worst experience in my life. If you thinking to hair her as your lawyer, please wast your money for something else. Do not even approach her office, if you do, you will regret about that rest of your life.

Attorney endorsements

(2)
Are you an attorney? Endorse this lawyer

Robin Dalton, Domestic violence Attorney on Dec 5, 2014
Relationship: Co-worker

Attorney Santiago-Rivera is a leader in areas of family law and mediation where they intersect with domestic violence work. She teaches statewide courses on these topics on her own, with other professionals and members of the judiciary. She works with clients from all continents and makes sure to balance and consider the cultural concerns that can arise in family law when one or both parties are foreign born.

Amber Raffeet, Family Attorney on Oct 22, 2014
Relationship: Worked for lawyer

I fully endorse Gricel Santiago-Rivera. Ms. Santiago-Rivera is completely committed to her clients and is a compassionate and skilled family law attorney.

Cost

RATES
  • Hourly Rates$75-$250/hour
    OTHER BILLING TYPES
    • Pro-bono Many lawyers provide free legal help to low-income clients. The percent listed indicates how much of a lawyer's practice is pro bono work.
      50%
    PAYMENT METHODS

    Cash, Check