Family Law

Michael Wesley

Owner & Founder

Michael was raised in Bethalto, Illinois, and graduated from Civic Memorial High School in 1995. With deep roots in the local community, Michael takes pride in serving clients and helping them navigate their legal matters with confidence and understanding. He went on to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he earned his law degree.

From 2003 to 2009, Michael worked with HeplerBroom, a prominent civil defense law firm in Madison County, Illinois. During his time there, he gained valuable experience in taking depositions, managing cases, negotiating settlements, and building and maintaining strong client relationships. In 2009, Michael established his own law practice, which has continued to serve clients successfully for more than 15 years. He also served part-time with the State’s Attorney’s Office before choosing to focus exclusively on his private practice in 2025.

Michael is admitted to practice law in both Illinois and Missouri and is a member of the bar in each state. His broad legal background and practical experience allow him to approach each case with careful attention, professionalism, and a commitment to his clients’ needs. He believes in providing personalized attention and practical legal guidance, taking the time to understand each client’s unique circumstances, and helping them make informed decisions about their legal matters.

Outside of the office, Michael resides in Bethalto with his wife, Courtney. Together, they have four children; Jacqueline, Ayden, Hudson, and Sienna and are proud grandparents of two grandsons Norris and Ellis. In his spare time, Michael enjoys watching his children excel in their sports, usually catching him at a baseball field and, most importantly, spending quality time with his family.

Personal & Professional Achievements:

• 1995 Bethalto Boys’ and Girls’ Club “Youth of the Year”
• Fontbonne University- Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science/Pre-Law- 1999
• Southern Illinois University School of Law- JD cum laude-2003

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Christie Sands

Office Manager

Christie serves as Office Manager for the Law Office of Michael Wesley, where she has been an integral member of the firm since 2017. With more than three decades of experience in office administration, human resources, and accounting, Christie provides strong leadership and organizational oversight to the firm’s daily operations. In her role, Christie assists with the development and implementation of firm policies and procedures and oversees the administration of human resources policies, programs, and practices. She is also responsible for managing the firm’s accounts payable and receivable, monthly billing, and other essential administrative functions that support the firm’s continued efficiency and success.

Beyond her professional responsibilities, Christie believes strongly that every individual has a unique life story and deserves to be treated with integrity, compassion, and respect. This philosophy guides her interactions with clients, colleagues, and everyone she encounters and reflects the values she brings to the firm each day.

Christie treasures time with her husband, Justin, and daughter, Bryn, and is proud to be a bonus mom to Alex, LJ, Jacob, and Chloe. Whether trying new things, enjoying family adventures, or simply spending quality time together, Christie cherishes every opportunity to make memories with the people she loves most. Her experience as a mother, combined with her background in the medical, healthcare, and legal fields, has given her a personal appreciation for the importance of family and brings an added level of compassion and understanding to the clients she works with every day.

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Kari Prott

Paralegal

Kari Prott graduated with honors from the Paralegal Program at Lewis & Clark Community College in May 2012. Since that time, she has actively assisted attorneys throughout the Metro East area, developing extensive experience in the legal field and serving as an integral part of the day-to-day management of client matters. During her career, she briefly stepped away from the legal profession to work in education as a paraprofessional, an experience that strengthened her communication skills and ability to work closely with children and families. She later returned to the legal field, bringing that additional perspective to her work with clients.

She returned to our law practice in June 2024, where she assists and works closely with Mike in managing the firm’s caseload and daily operations. She coordinates cases, communicates with clients and other professionals, prepares matters for court, and helps ensure the firm’s day-to-day activities. Her primary area of experience is family law, including divorce, allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time, child support, post-decree matters, relocation, mediation, and matters involving Guardians ad Litem (GALs). She assists Mike throughout all stages of a case, from initial client intake and preparation of pleadings and discovery through mediation, hearing, and trial preparation.

With more than a decade of legal experience, Kari brings organization, practical knowledge, and a strong understanding of the demands involved in managing complex family law matters. She recognizes that clients are often navigating difficult and highly personal circumstances and strives to provide professional, responsive and compassionate support throughout the legal process while working closely with the attorney to keep each matter moving efficiently toward resolution.

When she is not at the office, Kari is first and foremost a proud mom. Her son is her world, and spending time with him is what she enjoys most. Her experience as a mother, along with her background in education, has given her a personal appreciation for the importance of family and brings an added level of compassion and understanding to the families she works with every day.

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Desiree Turner

Paralegal

Desiree primarily supports matters involving personal injury, adult guardianships, allocations, traffic, evictions and criminal law. With a strong commitment to helping others, Desiree is dedicated to providing attentive and compassionate support to our clients throughout their legal matters.

Before joining the firm, Desiree proudly served our country in the United States Army as an 88M Motor Transport Operator. Her military experience instilled in her a strong sense of discipline, dedication, and service qualities she brings to her work with our clients and the legal team each day.

Desiree holds an Associate in Applied Science degree and is also a Licensed Medical Massage Therapist. Her diverse professional background has provided her with a well-rounded perspective and a genuine desire to serve and assist others. Originally born in Maine and raised in California, Desiree also lived in New York while stationed at Fort Drum. Her varied experiences and travels have contributed to her appreciation for different communities, people, and perspectives.

Desiree is committed to being a strong advocate and resource for our clients and approaches each case with enthusiasm, compassion, and a willingness to help. She takes pride in making clients feel heard, supported, and confident that their concerns are being addressed.

Outside of the office, Desiree enjoys spending time with her three children, extended family, friends, and her beloved pets: two dogs, Gizmo and Gunner, and two cats, Samson and Klaus. She enjoys traveling, discovering new places, and making meaningful memories with the people and pets she loves most.

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Ashley Brown

Legal Assistant

As a Legal Assistant Ashley focuses primarily on Family Law, she provides compassionate and professional support to both the attorney and clients she serves. She understands that family law matters can be deeply personal and often challenging, and she takes pride in helping clients navigate these difficult times with care, understanding, and attention to detail.

Outside of the office, Ashley enjoys spending quality time with her family and especially loves cheering on her boys as they participate in sports. She also enjoys bowling and making memories with the people she loves most. Family is at the heart of who she is, and she brings that same compassion and genuine care into her work each day.

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