ABOUT RAYMOND PATER

Raymond Pater was born in The Netherlands as one of eight children. After his family immigrated to the US, and although of modest means, six of his siblings attended college and two went on to obtain PhDs, later becoming college professors. An older sister never attended high school, but was admitted to college because of a nearly illegible transcript and ironically went on to become a high school teacher. While attending grade school and high school, he worked in the family business selling eggs and chickens on the streets of South side Chicago. After graduating from high school he worked in a steel mill in East Chicago, Indiana. That experience convinced him to change course and he attended Indiana University, Calvin College and Grand Valley. After graduation he worked in sales, then taught school, and then attended law school. 

Ray graduated Magna Cum Laude from law school in 1983, one day after his youngest daughter was born. He started in general practice as a solo practitioner, then went to work for a leading collection law firm. In 1990 he began to be affiliated with the firm of with Coupe & VanAllsburg; that became Coupe, VanAllsburg & Pater; and finally Coupe Pater, PC. He has been in solo practice since 2006.

Ray has been involved as a Big Brother, deacon in his church, school board president, and has served as a mentor at Guiding Light Missions in Grand Rapids.

Ray and his wife of 35 years have three children: a businessman in Grand Rapids, an attorney in Manhattan, and a seminary student in Denver (who claims to be his favorite child).

His practice includes family law, collections, contracts and contract litigation. He has practiced in courts over much of the State of Michigan, now working primarily in Ottawa and Allegan Counties. Assisting in the office are Heather Prince and Judy Tiemeyer.

Lawyers were formerly called Attorneys & Counselors at Law. Ray attempts to fulfill the tradition when attorneys knew their clients well and could counsel them to avoid or minimize the costs and travails often associated with the legal system.

Areas of Practice

* Divorce
* Child Custody
* Child Support
* Spousal Support / Alimony
* Collections
* Business Law
* Litigation

Litigation Percentage
* 25% of Practice Devoted to Litigation

Bar Admissions
* Michigan, 1984

Education

* Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan
* Indiana University, Gary, IN
* Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
* Grand Valley State, Allendale, MI

Birth Information
* 1951, Baarn, Netherlands