Shilts & Setlak LLC

Shilts & Setlak LLC represents an award-winning partnership dedicated exclusively to family law practice in Fort Wayne and surrounding Indiana communities. Founded as a boutique firm focused exclusively on divorce and family law matters, Shilts & Setlak brings together complementary expertise: Perry D. Shilts' 45+ years of legal experience and Michael A. Setlak's 20+ years of family law expertise. Together, they have earned recognition as Fort Wayne's premier family law practitioners through consistent excellence, client satisfaction, and demonstrated results.

Perry D. Shilts brings exceptional credentials and impressive career trajectory. He earned his B.A. from Indiana University in 1975 and his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law in 1978. His legal career spans 45+ years from 1978 through present day, demonstrating commitment to continuous practice and professional development. Perry's early career was spent at Haller and Colvin, where he practiced for 27 years, developing family law expertise through extensive litigation and client service.

Perry's decision to found Shilts Law Office reflected his recognition that family law deserved dedicated focus and specialized expertise. In founding his practice, Perry made clear that high-quality family law representation must be his sole focus. This commitment to specialization has defined his 45+ year career.

Perry holds impressive professional certifications and recognitions. He is a Board-Certified Family Law Specialist, a distinction requiring demonstrated competence, ethical practice, and continuing education in family law. This certification is held by only a small percentage of attorneys, reflecting Perry's elite standing among family law practitioners. He holds an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale Hubbell, maintained for 25 consecutive years, reflecting consistent recognition as an outstanding attorney by judges and peers. He is an Indiana Super Lawyer, a distinction held by only top family law attorneys in Indiana. He has been designated "Superb" by Avvo each year since 2013, reflecting consistent client and peer recognition of his competence. He has been recognized as a Top Divorce Lawyer in Fort Wayne for 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Michael A. Setlak brings complementary expertise and significant family law experience. He began practicing law in 2002 in Fort Wayne and surrounding counties, immediately focusing his practice on family law. His deliberate choice to concentrate exclusively on family law from the beginning of his career reflects recognition that family law practice deserves specialized expertise. With more than 20 years of experience, Michael has developed substantial expertise in all aspects of family law.

Michael's professional recognitions include designation as "Superb" by Avvo and recognition as a Top Lawyer in Fort Wayne in 2014 and 2015. He holds a Distinguished Peer Review Rating from Martindale Hubbell, reflecting professional recognition of his competence and ethical conduct. Like Perry, Michael is a registered family law mediator, enabling both attorneys to facilitate settlements when mediation serves clients' interests.

Shilts & Setlak's partnership combines Perry's 45+ years of general legal experience with specialized family law expertise and Michael's 20+ years of focused family law practice. This combination creates ideal partnership: Perry brings decades of litigation experience and established relationships; Michael brings cutting-edge family law knowledge and contemporary understanding of current legal developments.

The firm's boutique structure reflects deliberate choice to focus exclusively on family law. Rather than serving as generalists dabbling in family law, every attorney at Shilts & Setlak focuses entirely on family law, creating deep expertise in Indiana family law statutes, case law, and procedural rules. This specialization ensures that clients benefit from attorneys who understand family law intimately and stay current with legal developments.

Shilts & Setlak's philosophy emphasizes that reasonableness and cooperation, where possible, serve families better than adversarial litigation. The firm understands that negotiation and mediation offer the most affordable and least stressful means for settling divorce and family law issues. However, when litigation becomes necessary, Perry and Michael bring sophisticated advocacy skills and extensive litigation experience to courtroom representation.

The firm's practice encompasses all family law areas. Divorce representation includes both contested and uncontested dissolutions. Child custody and parenting time receive careful attention with focus on children's best interests. Child support is calculated with attention to both parents' financial circumstances and children's actual needs. Alimony and spousal maintenance are determined considering statutory factors and fairness principles. Property division is handled with sophisticated analysis ensuring equitable distribution of marital assets.

Post-dissolution modifications serve clients whose circumstances change after divorce, requiring modification of custody, support, or other decree provisions. Paternity establishment serves unmarried parents and children. Guardianship and adoption matters round out the firm's comprehensive practice.

Shilts & Setlak's multiple office locations provide convenient access for Fort Wayne area clients. The firm maintains offices in Fort Wayne and Columbia City, serving all of Allen County and surrounding communities.

For families in Fort Wayne and surrounding Indiana communities facing divorce, custody disputes, support matters, or other family law issues, Shilts & Setlak LLC offers expert representation from award-winning attorneys dedicated to family law practice. Perry Shilts' 45+ years of experience, 25-year Martindale Hubbell AV rating, and Board-Certified Family Law Specialist status, combined with Michael Setlak's focused family law expertise, make Shilts & Setlak an outstanding choice for Fort Wayne families. Contact Shilts & Setlak at 260-422-1655 to consult with recognized leaders in Fort Wayne family law practice.