Jessa Stecker
Paralegal
Jessa is new to Forward Legal Service as of January 2025. She has previously worked in probate, estate planning, and civil litigation but ultimately found that family law was the right fit. She is detail-oriented and responsive, making her a great addition to any case with our attorneys.
Jessa’s strengths are in her communication skills and writing, offering clients a point of contact for questions, concerns, and updates. She is always willing to explain further and help you through each step of your case.
Jessa comes to us as a 2022 UW-Madison alumna with a Bachelor of Arts in English-Creative Writing, Spanish, and Italian. She has a background in both the education and legal fields and is a former Fulbright grantee who taught in Northern Spain. She is expected to complete her paralegal certification in July of 2025, and she is fluent in Spanish and Italian. Outside of work, Jessa loves reading, travel, and her hedgehog, Squirt!
Speeches & Presentations
Over 100 presentations to a variety of audiences including lawyers, judges, physicians, social workers, teachers, students, community based organizations, government agencies and the general public. Topics have included high net worth divorces, complex child custody disputes, psychological profiles of parents in child custody evaluations, child support for the self-employed or business owner, the enforceability of marital property agreements, alimony/maintenance with high net income parties; the unique legal issues in same-sex divorces, grandparent visitation rights, and resolving high conflict divorces. A few recent seminars in which Christopher has presented include:
- Understanding the New Relocation Statute, American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Madison, October 18, 2019
- Family Law Update: Relocation Statute, State Bar Webcast, Madison, April 15, 2019
- Grandparent and Third-Party Visitation Rights, Wisconsin Judicial Education Seminar, Neenah, March 14, 2019
- The New Relocation Statute: When a Parent Wishes to Move Away, Milwaukee Bar Association, Milwaukee, February 25, 2019
- Staying Current on New Laws Regarding Child Support and Relocation of a Child, Wisconsin Judicial Education Seminar, Lake Geneva, November 1, 2018
- Gathering and Analyzing Financial Information in Divorce, National Business Institute, April 10, 2018
- Today’s Diversity and Inclusion Programs: Successes, Ethical Issues and Challenges, State Bar of Wisconsin, December 11, 2017
- Divorce Law: Handling Relocation Issues, National Business Institute National Teleconference, July 5, 2016
- “Divorce” for Unmarried Partners, State Bar of Wisconsin Webcast, May 2016
- Grandparent Visitation Rights, State Bar of Wisconsin Webcast, May 2016
- Case Law Update: Family Law, State Bar of Wisconsin Webcast, May 2016
- Wisconsin Child Support & Enforcement Conference, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, October 23, 2015
- Divorce 101: The Basics, Morgan Stanley, Inc., Middleton, Wisconsin, October 13, 2015
Publications
- Surviving Michels: Can Third-party Visitation Be Resurrected?, Wisconsin Lawyer Magazine, October 2019
- The Art of Splitting Up: Best Practices for High-Net-Worth Couples Who Want to Separate Amicably, In Business Greater Madison, October 2019
- Dissecting the New Family Relocation Statute, Wisconsin Lawyer, State Bar of Wisconsin, July 2018, Vol. 91, No. 7
- Imminent Demise: Register for Domestic Partnership Status Before It Ends on April, Inside Track, State Bar of Wisconsin, February 2018
- Following Alaska’s Lead: A Wisconsin Pet Custody Statute, Wisconsin Lawyer, State Bar of Wisconsin, April 2017
- “New Social Security Law Regarding “File and Suspend” Will Not Adversely Impact Right of Divorced Spouses,” Family Law Blog, March 2016
- “De Facto Marriage”: Cohabitation Claims in Wisconsin, Inside Track, State Bar of Wisconsin, Vol. 7 No. 18, September 2015
- The Wolf v. Walker Decision, Wisconsin State Bar Association Website, June 2013
- Business Owners in Divorce, Wisconsin Lawyer (June 2008)
- Owners of Closely-Held Businesses in Divorce, The Business Journal (November 2007)
Honors
- Since 2014 Best Lawyers in America in the area of Family Law
- 2017 & 2018 Lawyers of Distinction
- 2015 Leader in the Law by the Wisconsin Law Journal
- 2015 Top 10 Attorneys for Client Satisfaction by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
- 2006, 2007 & 2010 Rising Star designation with Law and Politics magazine
- 2005, 2007 & 2009 Volunteer Attorney of the Year from AIDS Network
- 2007 Executive Director’s Volunteer of Year Award from AIDS Network
- 2006 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, Dane County Bar Association
- Admission into the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
- Fellow – Fellows of Wisconsin Law Foundation
- Member of the Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin
