$ 450-450 per hour
PRO
also known as Joni Watke
Virtual Consultation Available
I have been practicing law for 30 years. I practice in the area of family law. I enjoy helping people keep their focus on what's best for their children (if they have children) and negotiating a fair division of their assets and liabilities, so people can move forward with their lives.
I also enjoy helping clients with their estate planning. It all happened because I was out with friends one evening, having left my 3 small children with a teenage babysitter and I thought, what if I was severely injured in a car accident on the way home, or worse yet, died? As a parent of small children, I agonized for days and weeks choosing their daycare (on more than one occasion). Yet, I didn't have anything in place to protect them if I became disabled or died. I had life insurance, but that's only money. Who would raise my children as I would?
If I was hospitalized, who would pay my bills? Nowadays, most of us pay our bills online. Who knows your passwords? Who even knows what bills need to be paid?
My answer to all of these questions was easy and frightening - I hadn't done anything to protect my children if something happened to me. I quickly realized that if I hadn't done anything to protect my family, my clients probably hadn't either.
It really is surprisingly simple process to protect your assets and your children. I use plain English to explain everything to you, so you get exactly what you need.
If a loved one becomes incapacitated and doesn't have Powers of Attorney in place, I help their folks establish guardianship and conservatorship to help them care for their loved ones.
The secret is that adoptions are my favorite area to practice. Helping people create a forever family is the most fulfilling thing I do professionally.
I also have a passion for helping LGBTQ+ clients and their allies. I provide a safe, healthy, and supportive place for my LGBTQ+ clients within all my areas of practice. I also help trangender clients with name changes.
6
Practice Areas
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
$ 450-450 per hour
State: Nebraska
Acquired: 1996
No misconduct found
Other places you can find Joan online.
21 Client Reviews
Showing 6 - 10 of 21 reviews
Posted by zack | January 14, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation
Excellent Attorney
Joan helped me with my divorce. When I came into her office I was distraught and had no idea what to do or where to turn. She was very patient with me and walked me through the entire process from beginning to end. I know that there were times when I must have been bugging the heck out of her with...
Posted by anonymous | January 12, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Divorce & Separation
A lawyer you can trust
Joan Watke Stacy has been my attorney for over 15 years. She is smart, direct, caring and ethical. Over the course of the past 12 years my ex-husband has been in contempt of our divorce decree and parenting plan several times. On each occurrence, Joni's ability to effectively communicate with my e...
Posted by Scott | January 12, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Child Custody
Excellent Child Custody Lawyer!!!
Joan did an outstanding job at helping me get custody of my two sons. Throughout the process she explained what I should expect. This was a time of high anxiety for me, Joan was very empathetic and worked very hard for me to make sure I won my case. Joan also was very real in what I could and shou...
Posted by Kathy | January 12, 2016 | Hired Attorney | Probate
Personable and Professional
Trusted friends referred me to Joni Watke Stacy. I hired her to assist our family with settling our mother’s estate during a very emotional and stressful time. This included many intricacies with clearing the house title, which were all successfully maneuvered within a reasonable time frame. Joni ...
Posted by Deborah | January 11, 2016 | Hired Attorney
Professional
Joni is trustworthy, understanding, diligent and caring. She is efficient and demonstrated the utmost concern for our case while also balancing our need to keep the costs down. I completely trust her judgement and recommendations.
"I have referred clients to Joanie for over 5 years. She has always given them exceptional service and exceptional results. I will continue to refer clients to her with confidence in the future."
"I endorse this lawyer. I have known Joni professionally and personally for 20 years. She is professional, ethical and caring. She is reasonable to work with and advocates for her clients very well."
Criminal defense lawyer
2016
2016 Nationally Ranked Top 10 Attorney Award, National Academy Of Family Law Attorneys
2014 - Present
Partner, Watke, Polk & Sena, LLP
1996 - 2014
Owner, Joan Watke, PC, LLO
2013 - Present
Lambda LegalCooperating Attorney
2012 - 2016
PFLAG NationalBoard of Directors Member
2010 - 2016
PFLAG NationalCentral Regional Director
1996
JD - Juris Doctor
1990
BS - Bachelor of Science
N/A
MBA - Master of Business Administration
2015
Non-Traditional Families
2015
Advanced Issues in Contempt
English
Legal Answers
My nieces mom passed away & her husband wants to adopt her can he legally force my brother into terminating his parental rights?
07 May 2025
Adoption after bio dad passed
05 May 2024
If I have full custody of my older son, and I were to die, would my new husband retain custody if my will say so?
31 Jan 2023