Waukesha County, Wisconsin · Est. 1978

Family law guidance for
the hardest year of your life.

I am Mark Knutson. For more than four decades I have helped families across Waukesha County and nearby areas work through divorce, custody, and support with honesty and steady counsel. The goal is not to make a hard moment worse. The goal is a fair outcome you can live with, long after the case closes.

Schedule a Consultation Call 262-785-9000

Attorney

Mark S. Knutson

Professional portrait of an older man wearing glasses, a dark suit, white shirt, and striped yellow tie.
Avvo 10 Rating BBB A+ Accredited Wisconsin State Bar 45+ Years in Practice
01 · Focus

Family law,
and only family law.

Our practice is dedicated to one area of Wisconsin law and the people living through it. Whether you’re weighing your options or already standing in front of a courtroom, you’ll work with an attorney who’s handled cases like yours hundreds of times in this region.

01 / Divorce

Divorce in Wisconsin

The case Mark handles more than any other. From uncontested filings to contested trials involving complex assets, the work begins with understanding what you actually want the next chapter to look like, then building toward it.

Learn About Divorce
02 / Custody & Placement

Custody & Placement

Wisconsin courts focus on the best interests of the child. So do we. We help parents build placement schedules that protect a child’s stability today and the relationship both parents will need years from now.

Learn About Custody
03 / Child Support

Child Support

Support orders are calculated under Wisconsin guidelines, with attention to placement time, healthcare, childcare, and the realities of two households. We also handle modifications when income, schedules, or needs change.

Learn About Support
04 / Maintenance

Maintenance & Alimony

Whether it’s asking for maintenance or being asked to pay it, the analysis is intensely fact-specific: earning capacity, length of marriage, health, and the financial picture each spouse will carry forward. We make the case that serves the facts.

Learn About Maintenance
“

Even if people enter our offices with bitterness and discouragement, our job is not to make it worse, especially when there are children involved. The way a case is handled today decides who gets to be in the room at the graduations and the weddings, years from now, and we take this responsibility seriously.

Mark S. Knutson, Attorney
Professional portrait of an older man wearing glasses, a dark suit, white shirt, and striped yellow tie.
45+

Years practicing
in Waukesha County

02 · The Attorney

A Wisconsin lawyer, trusted by judges and clients alike.

Mark Knutson grew up in New Berlin, graduated from Catholic Memorial High School in 1971, and earned his undergraduate degree from Saint Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota in 1975. He returned to the area after Loyola University Law School in 1978 and has practiced family law in Waukesha County ever since.

He’s a seasoned trial lawyer who’s also, by reputation, a gentleman. Judges trust him. Opposing counsel trusts him. Clients describe meetings with him as the first time in months they have felt comfortable in a room. That trust is the foundation of how he practices, and it’s the reason he declines cases where a client’s goal is to harm the other party rather than resolve the matter fairly.

Bar Admission

State Bar of Wisconsin

Law Degree

Loyola University
School of Law, 1978

Hometown

New Berlin, Wisconsin

03 · Geography

Rooted in the
communities we serve.

New Berlin is literally across the street. Waukesha, Brookfield, Elm Grove, Hartland, and Oconomowoc are a short drive in any direction. This is where Mark grew up, where he practices, and where his clients live their everyday lives.

Waukesha

Hometown court

New Berlin

Office locale

Brookfield

5 mi

Elm Grove

8 mi

Hartland

15 mi

Oconomowoc

22 mi
Waukesha County Courthouse
Historic stone building with clock tower and spire under a blue sky.
04 · From Clients

What people say after their case is over.

These reviews come from former clients. The pattern across years of feedback is consistent: prepared, honest, calm in court, kind in conversation.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Mark’s (reviews) say it all. He is forward, and to the point. He helped me out, when the previous attorney couldn’t”

Radmer S.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“Mark and his staff were very professional and knowledgeable about divorce. It’s not easy to go through divorce, but I’m glad I chose Mark as my attorney.”

Chris P.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

“I trusted Mark completely, and I would recommend his services to anyone who would be in need of a trustworthy, respectable and caring attorney.”

Laura O.
05 · Questions

Plain answers to the questions we hear most.

Wisconsin is a community property state, which means most assets and debts acquired during the marriage are generally divided equally between spouses. However, equal does not always mean every asset is split exactly down the middle. Courts may consider the length of the marriage, each spouse’s financial situation, contributions to the marriage, and agreements between the parties. Separate property, such as inheritances or assets owned before the marriage, may also be treated differently depending on the circumstances.

Child placement in Wisconsin refers to the schedule outlining when children spend time with each parent. Courts focus on the best interests of the child when determining placement arrangements. Factors may include each parent’s ability to provide a stable environment, the child’s needs, school schedules, communication between parents, and maintaining meaningful relationships with both parents whenever possible. Many families are able to create customized placement agreements that work for their unique situations.

Child support in Wisconsin is generally calculated using state guidelines that take into account each parent’s income, the number of children involved, and the amount of time each parent spends with the children. Additional considerations may include healthcare expenses, childcare costs, educational needs, and other financial circumstances. Every family situation is different, and courts may adjust support obligations when appropriate under Wisconsin law.

Wisconsin courts consider many factors when determining maintenance, including the length of the marriage, each spouse’s earning capacity, education, health, age, and contributions to the marriage. Courts also look at the goal of helping both parties maintain a fair financial situation after divorce. Maintenance decisions are highly case-specific, and arrangements may vary significantly depending on the circumstances of the marriage and each spouse’s financial outlook.

Yes. Custody and placement arrangements may be modified if there has been a substantial change in circumstances and the modification would be in the child’s best interests. Examples might include changes in a parent’s work schedule, relocation, concerns about a child’s well-being, or evolving needs as children grow older. Wisconsin courts carefully evaluate modification requests to ensure stability and continuity for the child whenever possible.

Divorce mediation is a process where both spouses work with a neutral third party to resolve issues such as property division, child custody, placement, and support. Mediation is often less stressful and more cost-effective than litigation. The mediator does not make decisions for you but helps facilitate productive discussions and negotiations. Many couples find mediation helpful because it encourages cooperation, reduces conflict, and allows families to maintain greater control over the outcome of their case.

06 · Resources

Notes from the firm on Wisconsin family law.

Plain-language reading on the topics our clients ask about most. Every article is written for Wisconsin specifically, not generic legal commentary that may or may not apply where you live.

Ready when you are

Sit down with an attorney who will tell you the truth.

Work with a Waukesha County attorney who values fairness, integrity, and practical solutions during life’s most important transitions.

Schedule a Consultation call 262-785-9000
07 · Get in Touch

Visit us in Brookfield.

Located across the street from New Berlin, minutes from downtown Waukesha, and convenient to Elm Grove, Hartland, and Oconomowoc.

Office 14170 W. Greenfield Avenue, Brookfield, WI 53005
Phone 262-785-9000
Email info@knutsonlawfirm.com
Office Hours
Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Saturday By Appointment
Sunday By Appointment
Your time matters and so do your concerns. We offer evening and weekend appointments so family law guidance fits around your life, not the other way around.