Get in Touch - 414-454-9102
Get in Touch - 414-454-9102
Margaret W. Hickey
- Managing Shareholder
Location:
Milwaukee, WI
Phone:
Fax:
414-273-3223
Email:
@beckerhickey
Margaret Wrenn Hickey practices in the areas of divorce, family law, and elder law including trusts for the disabled, title 19 and guardianship. She is a shareholder in the law firm of Becker, Hickey & Poster, S.C., Milwaukee, and received her B.A. from Marquette University (1982, summa cum laude), where she was Phi Beta Kappa, and her J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School (1986, cum laude).
Margaret is a past Chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin Elder Law Section Board of Directors and a past Chair of the Family Law Section Board of Directors. She is a past President of the Milwaukee Bar Association (President 2004-05) and served on the Board of Directors from 1999-2005. Margaret currently serves on the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors (District 2, 2005-09, Chair 2006-07) and will serve as Treasurer of the Board from 2009-11.
Margaret also serves on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society and public radio station WUWM. Margaret lectures frequently at local, state and national bar meetings and to community groups and other professionals on elder law and family law topics. She has served on the board of Aurora Family Service, Rosalie Manor and the Village of Shorewood.
Margaret is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Bar Association, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, and the Association for Women Lawyers and she is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (President for the Wisconsin Chapter, 2005-06.) She is named in the Best Lawyers in America for family and elder law and has been named as a "Super Lawyer" in elder law. She was also named in the top ten lawyers in Wisconsin by Super Lawyers (2012).
Areas of Practice
- Divorce
- Family Law
- Elder Law
Current Employment Position(s)
- Managing Shareholder
Bar Admissions
- Wisconsin, 1986
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1986
- U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1986
Education
- University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wisconsin
- J.D. - 1986
- Honors: cum laude
- Honors: Ranked in top 10%; award for highest average in second-year class.
- Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- B.A. - 08/1982
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
- Marquette-in-Madrid Study Center, Semester of study and travel (1/81 - 6/81), Madrid
- A.F.S. student to Colombia, South America, (1/77 - 1/78)
Published Works
- Cobra: Lifeline to Health Insurance, American Journal of Family Law, Vol. 3, No. 3 at 181, Fall, 1989
- How to Save Income Taxes in Divorce Cases, Wisconsin Journal of Family Law, Vol. 12, No. 3, 1992
- Medicaid Divestment by Becker, Barbara J. and Hickey, Margaret W., Attorney's Desk Reference Chapter, State Bar of Wis. CLE Books, 1994-2009
- Law in the 50 States, M. Hickey, reporter for Wisconsin to the ABA Family Law Section on family law cases and statutes , 1996-2002
- HSS 80: New Rules for Child Support Obligations, 68 Wis. Law. 14 , April, 1995
- New Methods Proposed to Collect Child Support Arrears May Violate Due Process and Could Be Counterproductive., 17 Wis. J. Fam. L. 3, July, 1993
- "Trials and Tribulations" , Column in Elder Law News, published quarterly until 2004
- Estate Planning by Hickey, Margaret W. and Hogue, Mary M., Advising Older Clients, Vol. II, State Bar of Wis. CLE Books, 1998, with updates through 2011
- Administrative Enforcement: A New Tool to Collect Support Arrears, 71 Wis. Law. 12, December, 1998
- Making a Maintenance Judgment Stick, 21 Wis. J. Fam. L. 2, April, 2001
- Legislature Looking at Child Support Changes, 21 Wis. J. Fam. L. 4, October, 2001
- Estate Planning for Cohabitants, 22 J. Am. Acad. of Matrim. Law. 1, 2009
- Is Support Different in High Income Cases? A Discussion of Ladwig and Chen, Wisconsin Journal of Family Law, 2010
- “Children with Special Needs Require Special Attention in Divorce” M. Hickey, 36 Wis. J. Fam. L. 1 (March 2019)
- “Limiting and Reversing the Arbitration Process in Divorce Cases” M. Hickey. 36 Wis. J. Fam. L. 1 (January 2020)
- “Divorce: Knowing When You Need a Guardian Ad Litem, Guardian, Both or Neither.” M. Hickey and E. Tercilla. 38 Wis. J. Fam. L. 3 (July 2021)
- “Why Run for State Bar President-Elect?,” M. Hickey. 38 Wis. J. Fam. L. 3 (July 2021)
Classes/Seminars
- Speaker, Avoidance in Bankruptcy of Liens Created in Divorce Action, Milwaukee Bar Association, April 1989
- Speaker, Tax Aspects of Divorce, LAW/Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association, December 1989
- Moderator, Defense Research Institute
- Speaker, Annual Convention, Annual Case Law Update, State Bar of Wisconsin, Family Law Section, June 1992
- Speaker, What's New in '92, Case Law Update, State Bar of Wisconsin, 11th Annual Family Law Workshop, August 1992
- Speaker, Update II: Proposed Legislation and Bibliography, State Bar of Wisconsin, Family Law Section, January 1993
- Speaker, 12th Annual Family Law Workshop, Child Support and Child Tax in the 21st Century, State Bar of Wisconsin, August 1993
- Speaker, Navigating the Medical Assistance Maze, Planning After October, 1993, Association for Women Lawyers, Estate Planning Group, 1993 to 1993
- Speaker, Divorce Taxation, State Bar of Wisconsin, February 1994
- Planner and Moderator, Ethics Presentation, Milwaukee Bar Association Professionalism Committee Seminar, 1994 to 1994
- Speaker, Tax Aspects of Divorce, LAW/Milwaukee Young Lawyers Association, December 1989
- Evidence Trial Preparation and Presentation For the Family Lawyer (yes, Rules of Evidence Do Apply), 36th Annual Family Law Workshop, State Bar of Wisconsin, speakers, M. Hickey and E. Gittings, August 2018.
- Participating in Divorce Negotiations When your Client has Special Needs, 2019 NAELA Summit, speakers M. Hickey and E. Rosner, November 2019, Washington D.C.
- Advanced Evidentiary Issues, “Advanced Skills and Techniques for Family Law Practice,” State Bar of Wisconsin, speakers, M. Hickey and A. Krueger and Hon David Wilk, October 2019
- Estate Planning and Divorce, “Navigating the Intersection of Estate Planning, Divorce and Business Law,” State Bar of Wisconsin, speakers, M. Hickey and M. Rogers, January 2020
- Ways the Title 19 Pandemic Has Impacted the Practice of Law Including Execution of Estate Planning Documents, “Legal Issues of the Aging” Seminar, State Bar of Wisconsin, Speakers, T. Cambpell and M. Hickey, September 2020
- Business Valuations: the Nitty Gritty, Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys, Divorce Wisconsin Style, speaker, M. Hickey, March 2021, M. Hickey, T. Lindsey and M. Murray
- Ethical Issues in Complex Family Law Matters, Academy of Matrimonial Attorneys, Divorce Wisconsin Style, November 2021, speaker, L. Balisle, M. Hickey and A. Kaiser
Honors and Awards
- MYLA/Law Volunteer Lawyers Award for Outstanding Service
- Women in the Law, Honoree 2011
- Super Lawyers, named in all issues in Elder Law. Named in top 25 women lawyers in Wisconsin in several issues
- Best Lawyers in America, named in Family and Elder Law
- Public Member, Child Support Advisory Committee, State of Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (2001-2002)
- Public Member, Joint Legislative Council Special Committee on Child Custody, Support and Visitation Laws (1994-5)
- Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, University of Wisconsin Law School, 1986
- Duane Mowry Award, 1985, highest-ranking student in second year law school class, University of Wisconsin Law School
- West Publishing Hornbook Award, highest average in second year law school class, University of Wisconsin Law School
- University of Wisconsin Law School Honor Roll, fall and spring semesters, 1985
Professional Associations and Memberships
- American Bar Association, Member, 1986 to Present
- Association of Trial Lawyers of America, Associate, 1986 to 1992
- American Immigration Lawyers Association, Member, 1992 to 1993
- National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Member, 1993 to Present
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Member Elder Law, Family Law Sections, 1986 to Present
- Milwaukee Bar Association, Member, 1986 to Present
- Association of Women Lawyers, Member, 1989 to Present
- American Bar Association, Member, Tort and Insurance Practice, Family Law and Litigation Sections
- State Bar of Wisconsin, Member, Elder Law, Family Law and Litigation Sections
- Milwaukee Bar Association, Committee Member, Legal Services for the Indigent, 1987 to 1988
- Milwaukee Bar Association, Member, Lawyer Referral Service, 1987 to 1989
- Milwaukee Bar Association, Committee Member, Professionalism Committee, 1993 to 1995
- Milwaukee Young Lawyers, Member
- Milwaukee Bar Association, Vice Chair Elder Law Section, 1996 to 1999
- Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Director, 2004 to Present
- Collaborative Family Law Council of Wisconsin , 2003 to Present
- Inns of Court, Leander Foley Chapter, Barrister, 1999 to 2007
- Milwaukee Bar Foundation Board of Directors, Director, 2005 to Present
- Wisconsin National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Director, 2008 to Present
- Wisconsin National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Vice Chair, 2011 to Present
- Elder Law Section Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Director, 1996 to 2000
- Elder Law Section Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Program Chair, 1997 to 1998
- Elder Law Section Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Chair, 1998 to 1999
- Elder Law Section Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Advisor, 2000 to Present
- Family Law Section Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin, Director, 1995 to 2004
- Family Law Section Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin , Co-Chair Legislation Committee , 1996
- Family Law Section Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin , Secretary , 1999 to 2000
- Family Law Section Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin , Treasurer , 2000 to 2001
- Family Law Section Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin , Vice Chair , 2001 to 2002
- Family Law Section Board of Directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin , Chair, 2002 to 2003
- Milwaukee Bar Association Board of Directors , 1999 to 2006
- Milwaukee Bar Association Board of Directors , Vice President , 2002 to 2003
- Milwaukee Bar Association Board of Directors , President-Elect , 2003 to 2004
- Milwaukee Bar Association Board of Directors , President , 2004 to 2005
- Milwaukee Bar Association Board of Directors , Past President , 2005 to 2006
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Fellow, 1999 to Present
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Secretary of the Wisconsin Chapter, 2003
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Treasurer, 2004
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, President-Elect, 2005
- American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, President, 2006 to 2007
- State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors, Governor elected for District 2 (Milwaukee area), 2005 to 2007
- State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors, Governor elected for District 2 (Milwaukee area), 2007 to 2009
- State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors, Chair, 2006 to 2007
- State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors, Treasurer , 2009 to 2011
- State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors, served on Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, 2011 to 2013
Past Employment Positions
- Charne, Clancy & Taitelman, S.C., Associate, 1989 to 1991
- Gibbs, Roper, Loots & Williams, Associate, 1986 to 1989
- Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District II, Legal Intern, 1986 to 1986
Pro Bono Activities
- Director, Rosalie Manor, 1989 to 1997
- Treasurer, Rosalie Manor, 1991 to 1991
- President, Rosalie Manor, 1992 to 1995
- Trustee, Village of Shorewood, 2006 to 2011
- Director, Aurora Family Service of Milwaukee , 1999 to 2010
- Secretary, Aurora Family Service of Milwaukee, 2005 to 2006
- Vice President, Aurora Family Service of Milwaukee, 2006 to 2007
- President, Aurora Family Service of Milwaukee, 2007 to 2009
- Member, WUWM Community Advisory Board, 2004 to Present
- Chair, WUWM Community Advisory Board, 2008 to 2010
Languages
- Spanish
Fraternities/Sororities
- Phi Beta Kappa
