NOTICE OF RETIREMENT OF ATTORNEY MARY POLETTI

Dear Clients and Colleagues,

After many fulfilling years practicing family law—first in southwest Virginia and later here in Wisconsin—I am writing to share that I will be retiring from the private practice of law effective December 1, 2025. I intend to devote more time to my family and grandchildren, and I look forward to the joys of investing more time in their lives, as they so willingly invested in, and sacrificed for, my legal career.

It has been a great privilege to serve many clients and communities throughout my career. I worked first in Roanoke, Virginia, after graduating from law school. When I moved back to Kenosha, my hometown, I enjoyed having an office in the Burlington community for many years, as Nickolai & Poletti, LLC. I then practiced in Kenosha with my own Law Office of Mary Poletti, LLC, and served a term as a Guardian ad Litem.

I offer a sincere thank you to my clients for allowing me the honor of serving as your attorney. I will be transitioning my active matters well before my retirement date to ensure that each client continues to receive attentive and capable representation. If you have any questions about ongoing matters or need assistance during this transition, please do not hesitate to contact The Renier Hotopp Law Offices (262-300-5305), where I most recently practiced “Of Counsel,” or send me an e-mail.

I am deeply grateful for the trust you have placed in me, the professional relationships we have built, and the opportunities to help navigate both challenges and successes together. I have always tried to practice law with professionalism and civility for the benefit of my clients and their causes. I hope to be forgiven for any lapses in pursuing that goal. Family law is a difficult and contentious road to walk, as all participants before and behind the bench know well. I always liked to think that if we could show each other a little grace as we navigated through the contention, it could improve our professional and personal lives for years to come.

As I prepare for this next chapter in my life, I do so with great appreciation for the many colleagues, clients, friends and family who have made this work so meaningful. I wish you continued success, good health, and happiness. I also look forward to serving my community in new ways in the days to come.

With warm regards and best wishes,
Mary Poletti

A Strong Foundation in Family Law & Beyond

Mary J. Poletti graduated from Washington & Lee School of Law in Lexington, Virginia, after obtaining her undergraduate degree cum laude from Taylor University, Upland, Indiana. She practiced law in Roanoke, Virginia from 1987 to 1998, including a variety of private practice legal matters with a focus on family law.

Mary moved back to her hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and resumed private practice in 2009 after being admitted to the Wisconsin Bar. In 2012, she formed the law firm of Nickolai & Poletti, LLC, where she continued to specialize in many areas of family law including divorce, child custody and placement, termination of parental rights and stepparent adoptions, and grandparents’ rights.

Advocacy Rooted in Empathy

Mary began handling Divorce Mediations in 2021 after being trained in the Mediation specialty. Since then, she has handled couples’ divorce mediation for parties who want to try resolving divorce issues by mediation before hiring individual attorneys and going through litigation.

In 2022-2023 Mary served as a Guardian ad Litem for the Kenosha County Circuit Court, representing the best interests of children in family cases and cases through the Division of Child and Family Services, as well as serving the interests of the elderly in guardianship cases.

Compassionate Legal Guidance

Mary is committed to representing her clients through complex family situations to help them retain their assets, their dignity, and their family relationships to the extent possible. However, she believes expensive and painful litigation is not necessary to resolve all family legal problems and may suggest or recommend mediation when she thinks it is the best method to resolve family legal problems. She enjoys listening to clients’ needs and helping them navigate through tough situations, especially in the family law field. She remains committed to fostering respect, fairness, and professionalism throughout each case.