Richard A. Roane

With over three decades of experience, Ric Roane specializes in family law and domestic relations litigation. His practice encompasses divorce, complex business valuation and asset distribution, non-marital domestic relationships, domestic relations mediation, arbitration and collaborative law, spousal support, child custody and support, pre-nuptial agreements, LGBTQ+ family issues and more. His international family law expertise extends to various countries, including Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Argentina, Chile, England, Canada, Mexico and matriarchal Palau in Oceania – the South Pacific among other locales.

Ric wholeheartedly embraces “alternative dispute resolution” techniques – especially mediation – as methods of resolving family conflict. While he is a litigator, the majority of his cases are resolved through careful preparation and skilled negotiation. And Ric remains keenly aware of changes in tax laws or policies that could impact clients, ensuring that tax benefits and liabilities are properly assigned to the appropriate parent.

Clients appreciate Ric’s reasoned approach to problem solving, which balances being a tough negotiator when he needs to be, with being kind and fair whenever he can be. “My work involves entire families,” he says. “My goal is to find a resolution to the problems facing the family I’m serving. It’s a less contentious approach.”

Ric attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa for undergrad, where he majored in international business and received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1982. He then enrolled at Whittier Law School in California and obtained his Juris Doctor in 1986. Ric is admitted to practice before all Michigan state courts.

Throughout his distinguished career, Ric has received many accolades from his fellow professionals. The holder of an AV Preeminent* peer review rating through Martindale-Hubbell, he has also been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® each year since 2009. Ric has had several articles on family law topics appear in such publications as the Michigan Family Law Journal and the Michigan Bar Journal. A member of the International Academy of Family Lawyers, he is also an active participant in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Active in his community as well, Ric is a member of the board of directors of the Grand Rapids Symphony.

Ric is a partner with Warner Norcross + Judd LLP and former chair of Warner’s Family Law Practice Group.