Thelen & Associates, LLC | Waukesha Family Law Attorney

When your family is going through a hard time, the attorney you choose matters more than most people realize. At Thelen & Associates, we understand that people in the communities of Waukesha, Walworth, and Jefferson counties are not just looking for legal information. They are looking for someone who will listen, pay attention to what matters to them, and guide them through a difficult process without making it more complicated or unpleasant than it needs to be.

Whatever your legal situation, you deserve clear answers and steady counsel from a divorce attorney with over 30 years of experience. That is what we offer.

A Law Firm Built on Family Law

Attorney Kris Thelen has practiced family law since 1991. She founded this law firm with a clear focus: family law and divorce. Though we also provide estate planning services, that focus on helping local families has never changed. Over the course of more than three decades, Kris has handled hundreds of cases in Waukesha County Circuit Court and in courts across the surrounding region.

Family law covers a wide range of legal matters. We can assist with virtually any legal matter affecting your family, such as:

Divorce and legal separation
Child custody and physical placement
Child support and spousal maintenance
Property division
Paternity
Prenuptial agreements
Post-divorce modifications

Each of these matters carries real consequences for people’s daily lives, their finances, and their relationships with their children. Kris built her practice around the idea that clients going through these situations deserve an attorney who takes that seriously.

Handling Complex Matters Without Unnecessary Delays

Family law cases can become complicated quickly. A divorce involving a business, significant retirement assets, or a dispute over parenting time and placement schedules requires careful handling. Errors or delays at key moments can cost clients time, money, and sometimes meaningful legal ground.

Kris approaches complex matters with a steady, methodical focus. She helps clients understand what they are facing, what their options are, and what the likely consequences of each path may be. She does not push clients toward unnecessary litigation when a negotiated resolution might serve them better. And when litigation is the right approach, she is prepared for it.

Courts in Waukesha County, including the Family Court division at the Waukesha County Courthouse on Moreland Boulevard, follow specific local rules and procedures. Understanding those procedures, and following them precisely, helps avoid the kind of delays and mistakes that can drag a case out for longer than it needs to.

Keeping Legal Fees Reasonable

Legal fees are one of the biggest concerns people have when they think about hiring a family law attorney. That concern is completely understandable. A divorce or custody case can already strain a household budget. Kris keeps her fees reasonable and avoids charging for work that does not actually move a case forward.

She is straightforward with clients about costs from the beginning. If something can be handled more efficiently, she handles it that way. The goal is to provide strong legal representation without running up unnecessary expenses. For a skilled tradesperson or working professional supporting a family in Jefferson County or Walworth County, that kind of cost-conscious approach can make a real difference.

In addition, because our office is just steps from the Waukesha County Courthouse, Kris and our team can easily make court filings and appear for hearings without having to bill our clients for an hourlong car ride.

Estate Planning for Southeast Wisconsin Families

Another way we serve local families is through estate planning. Having an estate plan that is thoughtfully prepared and customized to your family’s exact situation is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself and your children. Kris Thelen understands how important it is to get your estate plan done right. She is prepared to help you with your will, trust, powers of attorney forms, and more.

Over 30 Years of Helping People Through the Waukesha County Family Law System

Experience in family law is not just about knowing the statutes. It is about knowing the system. Kris has spent decades working in courts Waukesha County and nearby communities, and that depth of knowledge shapes how she approaches each case.

She knows how local judges tend to view certain issues. She understands the timelines, the paperwork requirements, and the procedural steps that can slow a case down if they are not handled correctly from the start. That kind of practical knowledge can make a real difference in how smoothly your case moves forward.

She listens. That may sound simple, but in family law, it matters enormously. If an attorney does not understand what you actually care about, whether that is staying close to your kids, protecting a business you built, or keeping the family home in Brookfield or Hartland, they cannot advocate for it effectively. Kris pays attention to what her clients tell her, and she uses that information to shape her strategy.

Serving Waukesha, Walworth, and Jefferson County

Our law office serves clients across a broad area of southeastern Wisconsin. Waukesha County includes communities like Brookfield, Menomonee Falls, New Berlin, Muskego, Sussex, Mukwonago, Delafield, and Oconomowoc. We also serve clients in Walworth County, including those in the Elkhorn and Lake Geneva areas, and in Jefferson County, including Fort Atkinson and Watertown.

For many of our clients, family matters are handled in Waukesha County Circuit Court. Cases involving parties from Walworth or Jefferson County may be heard in those counties’ circuit courts. Kris and her team are familiar with the courts and procedures across this region, which means clients do not have to worry about their attorney being unfamiliar with the local environment.

People throughout this area travel I-94, US-18, and Highway 16 to get to work, drop their kids at school, and run their businesses. Life here moves quickly. When a legal matter disrupts that life, you need someone who can help you address it without letting it take over everything else.

Schedule a Case Evaluation Today

If you are facing a divorce, a custody dispute, or any other legal matter that is weighing on your family, do not wait to get guidance. The sooner you speak with an attorney, the more options you may have available to you.

At Thelen & Associates, we are ready to listen. We serve clients throughout Waukesha, Walworth, and Jefferson counties, and we are familiar with the courts, the procedures, and the community you live in. Contact our law office today to schedule a free case evaluation and take the first step toward moving forward.

About Our Waukesha County Family Law Firm