Dera L. Johnsen-Tracy

Dera L. Johnsen-Tracy is a distinguished estate planning attorney and co-founder of Horn & Johnsen SC. She earned her Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School in 2008, where she excelled academically, earning the CALI Award for the highest grade in Probate Procedure and securing a place on the Dean’s List. Before law school, she graduated summa cum laude from Concordia University-Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice.

With over 14 years of experience as a paralegal in Texas and Wisconsin before becoming an attorney, Dera developed a strong foundation in legal practice, which she now applies to her estate planning, probate, and guardianship work. Her dedication to education complements her legal expertise—she served for over five years as an adjunct professor in the paralegal studies program at Globe University, affiliated with the University of Minnesota School of Business.

Dera is a licensed Wisconsin attorney and is admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for both the Western and Eastern Districts of Wisconsin. She is an active member of WealthCounsel, a leading national network of estate planning attorneys and wealth planning professionals. Known for her dedication to pro bono legal services, Dera has earned significant recognition, including the Dane County Bar Association’s 2015 Individual Attorney Pro Bono Award and the State Bar of Wisconsin’s 2016 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award.

Her outstanding contributions to the legal profession have earned her multiple honors, including selection to the Wisconsin Rising Stars list by Super Lawyers from 2016 to 2019, a recognition given to only 2.5% of attorneys in the state. In 2016, she was named a Fellow of the Wisconsin Law Foundation, and in 2023, she was an ATHENA Award Nominee for leadership and community impact.

Dera L. Johnsen-Tracy frequently speaks on estate planning topics at national and regional conferences, sharing her knowledge with investors, financial professionals, and families. She is also a regular contributor to legal and financial publications, reinforcing her position as a trusted leader in estate planning law.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder and Co-Founder, Horn & Johnsen SC
• Member, WealthCounsel
• Fellows, Wisconsin Law Foundation
• Member, Legal Association for Women
• Member, Dane County Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Wisconsin
• Member, American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys
• Member, Madison Area Paralegal Association

Licensed State

• Wisconsin

Education

• Marquette University Law School
  Juris Degree (JD)
• Concordia University Wisconsin
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges