“In family law, it is important to choose your battles wisely, and not let emotions and contention dictate your actions. A good attorney is not one who litigates all issues, but the right issues.”
Biography
Kate Neugent has spent her entire legal career in family law, utilizing her strong work ethic and honest approach to protect the interests of her clients. Kate represents clients in all areas of family law, including divorce, paternity, third-party visitation, prenuptial agreements, guardian ad litem work, mediation, and arbitration. She is a trained collaborative-divorce practitioner, Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, and certified mediator.
Kate’s approach begins with an honest discussion of the client’s goals, the potential options, and outcomes and what clients can expect. Family law is often emotionally driven and highly contentious. If strong emotions arise, Kate is highly-skilled at addressing her client’s immediate needs while helping them stay focused and move forward towards their established goals.
Kate is respected among her peers in the legal community for her professionalism. Her clients appreciate her compassion, understanding and respectful treatment, and have ranked her as a top attorney.
She is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin Family Law Section, is a past President and Treasurer of the Leander J. Foley Society of Family Lawyers, past Secretary of the Society of Family Lawyers, and member of the Association of Family Conciliation Courts. She is a member of the Washington County Bar Association.
More about Kate & Kate’s reviews
Membership & Leadership Positions
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Family Law Section, Member
- Leander J. Foley Society of Family Lawyers, Treasurer, 2019 to 2021, President, 2021 to present
- Society of Family Lawyers, Secretary, 2018 to 2019
- Milwaukee Bar Association, Family Law Section, Member
- Committee Member, Consulting Committee for the Milwaukee County Safe Exchange and Visitation Committee, June of 2013 to present
- Collaborative Family Law Counsel of Wisconsin, Member
- The Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, Certified Member
- National Association of Counsel for Children, Member
- Association of Women Lawyers, Member
- National Association of Professional Women
- Association of Family and Conciliation Courts, Member
- Washington County Bar Association, Member
Certified Legal Specialties
- Completion of Certified Mediator Training with Zena Zumeta
- Completion of Guardian ad Litem Training
- Completion of Certified Divorce Financial Analyst Training
- Family and Children's Court Certified
Classes & Seminars
- Critical Maintenance Principles From Temporary to Modified Maintenance,” Milwaukee County Family Court Judges and Commissioner’s Annual Retreat, Presenter, Milwaukee, February 2022.
- “Family Law Basics: Handling Post-Judgment Matters”, Milwaukee Bar Association, Presenter, February 22, 2021
- “Practitioner Panel”: Judicial Education Family Law Seminar, Presenter, Neenah, Wisconsin, March 2019.
- "Family Law: Hot Topics from Experienced GALs," Milwaukee Bar Association Family Law Section, Presenter, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 2017.
- "Hearing Children's Voices in Family Court," Judicial Education Family Law Seminar, Presenter, Manitowoc, Wisconsin, March 2017.
- "Basic Divorce," delivered at the 2016 Volunteer Lawyers Project, November 10, 2016.
- "Wisconsin Divorce Kit," delivered at the 2015 Wisconsin Solo and Small Firm Conference, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, October 2015.
- "Evidentiary Issues Concerning Medical Records from the Perspective of Parents and the Children," delivered to the Legal Action of Wisconsin's Volunteer Lawyers Project, Pewaukee, Wisconsin, November 2008.
Published Works
- Article: “The Future of Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgments” 37 Wisconsin Journal of Family Law 93 (October 2020)
- “Family Court: Chapter 3” in the State Bar of Wisconsin Guardian ad Litem Handbook, 2018.
- Supplement on Wisconsin Prenuptial Law, published in Drafting Prenuptial Agreements (Wolters Kluwer, 2014-2016)
- Article: "Enhanced Earning Capacity: Is the Haugan Decision Functionally Obsolete?" 28 Wisconsin Journal of Family Law 2 (April 2008).
- Article: "Is the Haugan Decision Functionally Obsolete?" 22 Wisconsin Law Journal 7 (Feb. 18, 2008).
Pro-Bono Activities
- Milwaukee Family Law Clinic
- Marquette Law School Mediation Clinic-Volunteer Supervisor
Education
- Marquette University Law School
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, magna cum laude
Practice Areas
- Family Law
- Child Support
- Child Custody
- Divorce
- Property Division
- Paternity
- Alimony
Honors
- Milwaukee Lifestyle, Best Lawyer, 2023
- Wisconsin Super Lawyers, 2019-2023
- Rising Star by Wisconsin Super Lawyers, 2009-2012, 2014-2017
- AIOFLA 10 Best Under 40 in 2015-2017
- America’s Most Honored Professionals, 2015
- Wisconsin’s Outstanding Young Lawyers, Family Law, 2011