Mount Pleasant Family Lawyers

I have been practicing law for approximately 25 years in mid-Michigan. Generally, I practice in the areas of family law, estate planing, probate and trust administration, real estate, and commercial litigation. I also represent a number of small municipalities. In my free time, I enjoy sports cars, outdoor activities, motorcycles, and construction projects.

Shelley Kester is an award-winning attorney, a community leader, a dynamic communicator and a caring individual. She is Chair of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Her practice includes nearly all aspects of family law, including divorce law and child custody. She was among the first in Northern Michigan to complete the Family Law Certificate Program through the Institute of Continuing Education and the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. She is President of wilson Kester, the Empowered Divorce Source. A frequent contributor to the Institute of Continuing Legal Education, Ms. Kester is...

Ray's practice is mainly involved with divorce, custody, alimony and collections. Raymond Pater was born in the Netherlands and is one of eight children. After his family immigrated to the United States, and although of modest means, six of his siblings attended college and two went on to obtain PhDs, later becoming college professors. An older sister never attended high school, but was admitted to college because of a nearly illegible transcript and ironically went on to become a high school teacher. While attending grade school and high school, Ray worked in the family business selling eggs and chickens...

My practice focuses on criminal defense including misdemeanors and felonies in both the trial and appellant courts. He has a strong interest in complex constitutional law issues and their applicability in the criminal justice system. I am an active member of the Michigan Appellate Assigned Counsel System commonly known as the MAACS; an organization responsibly for nearly 84% of all assigned criminal appeals cases in Michigan. My practice also includes a strong emphasis in family and estate law including: parent’s rights, divorce litigation, custody, parenting time, child support, guardianships, estate planning, probate litigation and juvenile matters. I...

I take pride in finding solutions to difficult problems. That is why I practice law. While I focus my practice on Family Law, please feel free to contact my office with your specific problem. If I cannot provide you with a solution, I will let you know and try to point you in the right direction. I will not take on a case that I do not think that I can provide a favorable outcome for my client.

Harold Leo Emelander was raised in Newaygo, Michigan. After graduating from Newaygo High School, he attended Grand Valley State University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. He then went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2006. To further his education he then moved to Florida where he attended The University of Florida College of Law and received his LLM in Taxation in 2007. Mr. Emelander began his legal career in Miami, Florida at an accounting firm. He utilized his degree in taxation law by advising clients on individual,...

Associate Attorney

Upon Graduation from Law School in 1997, Attorney Chefalo worked in Lansing Michigan for the 30 th Judicial Circuit Court as a law clerk for the Honorable Thomas L. Brown. While there, he researched complicated legal issues and drafted proposed opinions on all civil and criminal matter that came before the court. In 1999, Attorney Chefalo moved to Traverse City Michigan to work in private practice. When asked why he picked Traverse City, Attorney Chefalo stated: “if you are going to start a law office from scratch, you might as well do it in a beautiful place.” His goal...

Joe has been practicing law for over 20 years. He serves the greater Grand Rapids area and has worked with the majority of the courts in Kent and the surrounding counties. He is well known to other attorneys in the area and has a positive working relationship with court officers and law enforcement agencies.

I am a licensed attorney in the state of Michigan, who practices criminal and family law in Genesee County and Metro Detroit. I am an experienced attorney that consistently wins favorable outcomes for clients across southeast and mid-Michigan.

Jacob A. Perrone has represented hundreds of clients throughout the State of Michigan. He has represented clients in cases including, but not limited to: class action litigation, high profile criminal trials, complex civil litigation, international business transactions, and contentious divorce and child custody proceedings. His reputation for being an aggressive attorney is supported by the results he has achieved for his clients. He was an associate of the Ambrose Law Group in the Detroit area before forming Perrone Law, P.C. in December 2009. Ambrose focused on Criminal Defense, Bankruptcy, Civil Litigation, and Family Law. He uses the principles of psychodrama...

Beth A. Striegle grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating from West Catholic High School, she attended Ferris State University where she obtained an Associate’s Degree in Commercial Art. Prior to attending law school, she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Calvin College where she graduated with honors. While attending Thomas Cooley Law School she raised two young boys. Beth completed her law school internship at the Sixty-Plus Elder Law Clinic. She considers the experience she gained while working for the clinic to be very valuable because it gave her a better understanding of the various issues...

Christopher has lived in Grand Rapids since 1st grade, He graduated from City High School, and then moved on to Grand Valley State University, where he met his wife, Devon. After receiving his Bachelor's in English and Political Science, Christopher moved on to complete his legal education at Thomas M. cooley Law School, and was admitted to the bar in 2011. His practice at The Grand Rapids Law Group handles criminal defense, divorce & child custody, business law, drunk driving defense, social security & disability, and other legal matters.

Ashley graduated from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 2019, and went on to pass the bar as a first-time test taker. Ashley has a strong passion for Family and Criminal law and began her legal career as an intern at the Genesee County Courthouse in the Criminal/Civil Division, before moving on to become a Judicial Law Clerk for the Family Division – after which she entered practice and went on to establish Birka Law PLLC.

Jamie grew up in Lake Orion, Michigan, where her office is located. She is a divorced mother of four children: Trevor, Emily, Ben and Everly. She is also a part of the special needs community, as her youngest has Down Syndrome. She has both the personal and legal experience to help you expertly navigate your legal needs. Jamie is a proud graduate of Oakland University and Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where she graduated Cum Laude in 2012, receiving the prestigious Certificate of Merit in Family Law and Trial Skills. She interned with the...

Heather Brooks-Szachta earned her Juris Doctorate in 1997 from Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, Michigan. This came after earning her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Michigan-Flint in 1992. She was licensed to practice law in the State of Michigan in 1997 and was admitted to Federal Court in 2005. Before coming to work at the Law Offices of Barry Shoults & Associates in 1999, and becoming partner in Shoults, Picard & Brooks, PLLC in 2010, she gained experience at the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office, the Wayne County Neighborhood Legal Services Clinic, and a...

Mark Reina was admitted to practice law by the Michigan State Bar in 1984.He has handled all types of Criminal cases, such as: drug offenses, CSC, larceny, OUIL/DWLS, etc. Mr Reina also handles all forms of family matters law, including: Divorce, Custody and Support. His office handles Bankruptcy (usually Chapter 7 individual). His office is conveniently located on Dixie Hwy in Clarkston, He can be reached at his cell phone (248) 390-3464.

We offer a full suite of legal services including: Criminal, Family, Divorce, Child Support/Visitation, Bankruptcy, Civil and Litigation. We cover primarily Oakland County but...

Lindsay Dangl is the Managing Shareholder of Murphy & Spagnuolo, P.C. Ms. Dangl has experience in the areas of family law, workers’ compensation, insurance defense litigation, municipal law, and civil litigation. Ms. Dangl obtained an AV Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer rating standard, and has been designated by Super Lawyers for a high-degree of professional achievement. Ms. Dangl currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Ingham County Bar Association. She also a member of the Lansing Torch Club, Women Lawyers Association of Mid-Michigan, Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, and Junior League of Lansing. Ms. Dangl is a trial...

I know that each family dynamic is unique, so I work side-by- side with clients to navigate challenging family law matters or the confusion of probate or trust settlement following the death of a loved one. As for my qualifications, I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from Western Michigan University where I double majored in both Public Law and Journalism. I went on to get a law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School where I was a Dean's List student with an academic scholarship award, a member of the school's Access to Justice Clinic, and a founding board member...

Janet M. Mistele, J.D. is a member of the State Bar of Michigan (1989), the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan (1991), and the North Carolina State Bar (2003). Ms. Mistele earned her Juris Doctor degree, Magna Cum Laude, from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where she was a member of the National Trial Team, and earned American Jurisprudence Awards for top honors in seven of her law school courses. Upon graduation from law school in 1989, Ms. Mistele accepted a position with the Michigan Court of Appeals in Lansing, Michigan as a Prehearing Attorney,...

Paul Jarboe is an experienced and dedicated trial attorney with over 30 years of legal experience. Mr. Jarboe graduated from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1982. Mr. Jarboe is a former prosecuting attorney, and has an extensive background in the areas of divorce, child custody, criminal defense and civil litigation, which includes State and Federal Criminal cases. Mr. Jarboe’s practice includes: Criminal Defense, Family Law, Personal Injury & Estate Planning.

Over the past 29 years, Ray Gregory has represented thousands of clients in family, employment, business, contract, criminal, and probate litigation in state and federal courts.

I am passionate about helping people with their family law problems. I help my clients with issues of divorce, child custody, parenting time, child support, and family abuse protection orders. As a parent myself, I understand how important these issues are to my clients. I view my job as a compassionate guide through a complex legal system that can be difficult for non-lawyers to navigate on their own. I try to resolve these issues as amicably as possible, although I have taken many cases to trial when it is necessary and appropriate to do so. I...

Born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

LAUREN K. PFEIL graduated with a Bachelors of Arts with highest honors from The University of Texas at Austin and received her law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she specialized in family law. While in law school, Lauren received family and child law fellowships from both Loyola University Chicago School of Law and The University of Michigan School of Law. Her article “Recognizing Race as a Reality, Not a Barrier: The Problems within Colorblind Adoption Policy within a Race Conscious America” was published in the spring edition of The Children’s Legal Rights Journal. Upon graduation from...

Practice Areas: Immigration Law, Social Security Disability, Family Law, Estate Planning Admissions: Michigan, 2004 U.S. District Court, Eastern District, 2005 U.S. District Court, Western District, 2005 Law School: Wayne State University, J.D., 2004 Utrecht University, The Netherlands, exchange student, 2003 College: Eastern Michigan University, B.A., cum laude, 1998 La Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, México, exchange student, 1998

Sean Patrick Cox has represented hundreds of clients since 1994 when he was admitted to practice. In addition, he was admitted to the State Bar of Florida in 1995. Sean practices in two main areas, family law and elder law. When Sean was a teen, his parents divorced, giving him personal knowledge of how devastating the divorce process can be to all family members involved. Sean has represented clients in complex divorce cases since 1994, he is considered to be one of the top divorce attorneys in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has taken hundreds of cases to trial and he...