GETTING TO KNOW: Jon Midtgard

Co-owner of Bowyer, Midtgard and Nacy, which is the Metro Detroit office of ADAM, the American Divorce Association for Men, family law attorney Jon Midtgard identifies himself first as a “proud father and happy husband.”

A graduate from James Madison College at Michigan State University with honors, and a graduate of the Michigan State University School of Law, Midtgard has been a family law attorney for more than 21 years and has litigated hundreds of divorce cases.

Admitted to the State Bar of Michigan and U.S. District Court, he is a member of the Family Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, as well as the Oakland County Bar Association for which he has served on the Family Court Committee, American Inns of Court, Law Day Committee, and has participated in Bench/Bar conferences relative to family law. He is also a frequent speaker on family law topics for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education and a member of the Michigan Inter-Professional Association.

An Oakland County resident, Midtgard was a guest on the Michigan syndicated news talk radio show, WJIM AM 1240 with Michael Patrick Shiels; a repeat guest on the Hardcore Mortgage and Business Show on 97.1 FM, and he was a commentator on “Due Process” WDIV Channel 4 Detroit. He also trains in and sometimes teaches martial arts.

By Jo Mathis

Legal News

Favorite local hangouts?
Inn Season Café, Royal Oak; Rochester Hills Academy of Mixed Martial Arts.

Favorite websites?
Google, Freep, ESPN, Twitter.

What is your most treasured material possession?
My wedding ring.

What is your proudest moment as a lawyer?
When we closed on the purchase of our law firm in 2006.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received?
The best professional compliment I’ve ever received is from a client who once told me sincerely that the Lord must have sent me to get him through a difficult time in his life.

When you were considering law school, what was Plan B?
 I studied political theory and international relations and had considered applying for the State Department.

What would surprise people about your job?
Family law is only 50 percent knowledge—with the rest being compassion, interpersonal skill, and a lot of patience.

What do you wish someone would invent?
A mass-produced high-speed hovercraft to help me survive Metro Detroit potholes.

When you look back into the past, what do you miss most?
My parents. Oh, and my hair. 

What is your most typical mood?
I’m typically pretty calm.

If you could have witnessed any event in history, what would it be?
The first person setting foot on the moon. I was only four months old and had other things on my mind that day.

What were you doing in your last selfie?
Watching “A Chorus Line” with my family at the Fox.

What kind of time-managing system do you use?
I live and die by my IPhone calendar.

What question do you most often ask yourself?
How can people treat each other like that?

If you could trade places with someone for a day, who would that be?
I’m OK just being me.

What’s the most awe-inspiring place you’ve ever been?
Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah.

What was always written on your grade school report card?
I’m guessing that I talked a lot but studied hard.

What is your happiest childhood memory?
I loved every Christmas morning as a kid. Still do.

What’s something you changed your mind about recently?
That this country will ever get serious about gun control.

What word do you overuse?
“Bleep.”

What is one thing you would like to learn to do?
Play a musical instrument.

What is something most people don't know about you?
I know all the words to the theme song for “WKRP in Cincinnati.”

What is the best advice you ever received?
A tie. My dad always reminded me to “Keep It Simple Stupid.” One of my mentors in law once told me that encouraging clients to do the right thing is just as important as legal advice.

What’s the one question you like to be asked?
“Tell me about your son.”

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