John Schaefer

John F. Schaefer, founder of The Law Firm of John F. Schaefer, is one of the best-known and most highly-respected matrimonial lawyers in the United States. From its inception, Best Lawyers in America has listed John Schaefer as one of the premier matrimonial lawyers in America, and named him Lawyer of the Year, Detroit Area, in 2013. Worth magazine named him one of the top 100 lawyers in America, in any practice area.

• Divorce
• Family Law

• Credit Cards Accepted

Michigan

New York

Trustee Emeritus

Michigan State University College of Law

2001 - Current

Board of Trustees

William Beaumont Hospital

2000 - Current

Hundred Club

1999 - Current

President

The Law Firm of John F. Schaefer

1996 - Current

Board of Directors

Gil Schaefer Distributors, Inc.

1982 - Current

Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law

1971 - Current

Board of Directors

Walker Motors, Inc.

1969 - Current

President (2005-2006)/Board of Directors (1996-2006)

Oakland County Bar Association

1996 - 2006

Board of Directors

Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL)

2000 - 2005

Board of Directors-Secretary

J.P. McCarthy Foundation

1997 - 2004

Chairman

Detroit College of Law Foundation

1995 - 2001

Board of Trustees

Detroit College of Law

1985 - 2001

Of Counsel

Williams, Shaefer, Ruby & Williams

1989 - 1996

Shareholder

Williams, Schaefer, Ruby & Williams, P.C.

1973 - 1989

Board of Trustees

Michigan Cancer Foundation

1985 - 1988

Board of Governors

Cranbrook Schools

1983 - 1988

Board of Directors

Consortium for Human Development

1982 - 1988

Board of Directors/Secretary/Treasurer/President

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

1980 - 1987

Corporate Board

Boys and Girls Club of Metro Detroit

1980 - 1986

Buesser, Buesser, Snyder & Blank

1968 - 1973

Michigan State University

Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree

Honors: Distinguished Alumni Award

Michigan State University

B.A.

Detroit College of Law

J.D.

Lawyer of the Year - Family Law - Detroit Area

The Best Lawyers in America

2013

Receipient of the Hon. George N.Bashara '60 Distinguished Alumni Award

Michigan State University College of Law

2012

Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree

Michigan State University College of Law

2011

Naming of the John F. Schaefer Law Library

Michigan State University College of Law

2010

Top Lawyers

Crain's Detroit Business

2010

A True Friend to the Detroit Police Athletic League and to the Youth of Detroit

Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL)

1999

10 Divorce Lawyers You'd Want in Your Corner

Detroit Monthly

1994

America's Top Divorce Lawyers

Town & Country Guide to Civilized Divorce

1988

Super Lawyer

Super Lawyers

2006-Present

The Top Lawyers in Metro Detrot

DBusiness

2006-Present

The Nations' Top 100 Attorneys

Worth Magazine

2006-2008

Who's Who

Oxford

1992-Present

Whos Who in the World

Marquis Who's Who, Inc.

1995-Present

Who's Who in American Law

Marquis Who's Who, Inc.

1995-Present

Who's Who in America

Marquis Who's Who, Inc.

1995-Present

Notre Dame Club of Michigan

2010 - Current

International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

2000 - Current

Michigan State Bar Foundation Fellows

1977 - Current

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

1976 - Current

State Bar of Michigan # 19948

Member

1969 - Current

American Bar Association

1969 - Current

Oakland County Bar Association

1969 - Current

Detroit Bar Association

1969 - Current

Judicial Review Committee

Member - U.S. Senate Committee

1997 - 1999

Michigan Association of the Professions

1976 - 1985

Michigan Inter-Professional Association on Marriage, Divorce and the Family

1974 - 1981

American Judicature Society

1969 - 1979

Divorce in Michigan - The Legal Process, Your Rights and What to Expect

Addicus Books, Inc.

2015

The Effective Handling of the Non-Routine Divorce Case

University of Detroit Continuing Legal Education

An Extended Program on Family Law

The Law Society of Upper Canada

Divorce Settlement: Compulsory Arbitration of Mediation

Michigan Inter-Professional Association on Marriage, Divorce and the Family

Tax Ramifications of Divorce Cases

Southfield Bar Association

Trying the Big Case-Divorce

Dearborn Bar Association

Michigan Judicial Institute Principal Instructor to Michigan Circuit Judges

1981 - Domestic Relations: Substantive Law" 1980 - Domestic Relations: Substantive Law"

WXYZ-TV

"Kelly and Company" Appearance with Joel Hyatt and Discussion on advertising by lawyers

Legal Malpractice

Michigan Trial Lawyers Association and State Bar of Michigan

Family Law in Michigan

Legal Education Institute, Inc.

Oakland University Continum Center

1988 - Speaker: "The Economics of Divorce" 1987 - Speaker: "Choosing an Attorney"

Straight Talk About Divorce-Bitter Reality

Oakland County Friend of the Court Divorce and Family Counseling Workshop

WJBK-TV

1992 - "Comment" Family Values 1981 - "Kelly at Night" Discussion on Living Together and Palimony with reference to the book Living Together by Marvin Mitchelson 1981 - "Kelly and Company" Appearance with Marlene Adler Marks and discussion on her book The Suing of America: Why and How We Take Each Other to Court 1979 - "Women to Women" Interview and Discussion on Marvin v. Marvin

WDIV-TV

"Henry Baskin Show," Discussion Regarding Child Custody and Shared Responsibility

The Role of the CPA Regarding Pre-Trial Discovery, Financial Analysis and Advice, Valuations, Tax Matters, Trial Preparation and Testimony, Use of Reports and Other Visual Aids

The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants

Why Michigan Should Divorce Antenuptial Agreements from Divorce Cases

Michigan Bar Journal

Legal Trends in Family Law

Women's Information Network

Judicial Educational Seminar

Oakland County Circuit Court-Family Court Judges

The Uncertain State of Michigan Equitable Distribution Law Post-Reeves

State Bar Journal

Evidence by the Rules From the Experts

Oakland County Bar Association

Institute on Continuing Legal Education

2002 - Speaker: "Handling Separate Property in the Divorce Case" 1997 - Speaker: "Spousal Support Post Judgment" 1979 - Speaker: "Michigan Divorce Law and Procedure" 1979 - Speaker: Child Custody Contests" 1978 - Speaker: "Divorce Trial Advocacy" 1978 - Speaker: "The Divorce Case: From Separation to Settlement" 1977 - Speaker: "Settlement Agreements in Divorce Cases" 1976 - Speaker: "The Contested Divorce Case"

WJR

1997 - "Paul W. Smith Show", Law Day Discussion 1979-1992 - "The J.P. McCarthy Focus Show" Law Day Discussion 1983 - "J.P. Show" Interview

State Bar of Michigan

2001 - Speaker: "State of Michigan Spousal Support Law" 1995 - Speaker: "Handling the Million Dollar Divorce Case" 1991 - Speaker: "Divorce Tips from the Experts" 1989 - Seminar Panelist and Speaker: "Ask the Experts" 1985 - Speaker: "Pitfalls of a Domestic Relations Practice" 1978 - Speaker: "Discovery Procedures in Divorce" 1978 - Speaker: "Post-Divorce Motion Practice" 1978 - Speaker: "Alimony, How Would You Decide?" 1977 - Speaker: "Attitudes of Circuit Judges Regarding Alimony" 1976 - Speaker: "The Motion Docket" 1975 - Principal Participant: Attorney for Plaintiff, Mock Trial 1972 - Speaker: "Attorney Fees in Divorce Cases"

Beyond Rinvelt: Where do Prenuptial Agreements Go from Here?

Laches - Family Law Issue

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

2015 - Speaker: MCR 3.206(C) 2014 - Speaker: "What is the true meaning of a "double-dip" from a Mathematical Perspective, and Why do I need to know this? 2013 - Speaker: "Creating a Statement of Net Worth; Date of Valuation" 2012 - Speaker: "Laying the Foundation for Specific Types of Exhibits and Voir Dire of Proposed Exhibits" 2011 - Moderator: "Ask the Judges" 2010 - Mediator of Panel Discuss w/ Judges Feeney, Hallmark and Newblatt 2009 - Speaker: "Is the Attorney Culpable of All Acts of the Private Investigator" 2007 - Speaker: "Big Bucks, Big Risks: The role of Results-Oriented Fees in the Practice of Matrimonial Law 2006 - Speaker: "The Problem with a 'Holder's Interest' Standard of Value" 2005 - Speaker: "Tricky and Difficult Evidence Problems in Domestic Relation Case Made Plain" 2004 - Speaker: "Nuances in Blue Cross Conversion Policies" 2000 - Speaker: "Revisiting Reeves and Making QDROs part of Judgments of Divorce" 1999 - Speaker: "Stock Options Revisited" 1998 - Speaker: "Stock Options: How to Value" 1995 - Speaker: "Presentation of Direct and Cross Examination of CPA" 1994 - Speaker: "Valuing Closely Held Corporations"

John F. Schaefer, Courtly Lawyer

dBusiness

For Love or Money

Worth Magazine - The Divorce Issue

Fighting Words

Worth Magazine - The Divorce Issue

When Your Own Private Investigator Lands You Behind Bars

The Journal-Family Law Edition

Non-Refundable Retainers and Value Added Billing

ICLE

In View Series

Hosted by Larry King featuring John F. Schaefer, preeminent family law attorney

Appearance before the Michigan Supreme Court

Addressing Proposed Alternative Amendments of Rule 1.5 of the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct and Proposed Amendment of Rule 7.215 of the Michigan Court Rules