Tristan R. Pettit is an attorney and the President of Pettit Law Group S.C. He concentrates his practice in the area of Landlord-Tenant law, representing landlords and property management companies throughout the state. Tristan focuses on both commercial and residential evictions, as well as the accompanying damage claims for his clients.
Tristan also consults with landlords and property management companies on best practices in the management of both commercial and residential rental properties. He further assists clients with the drafting and interpretation of commercial leases, residential rental agreements, and other rental documents.
Tristan has handled litigation dealing with lead-based paint, bed bugs, Fair Housing (discrimination) claims, building code orders, public nuisance lawsuits, and the defense of Wisconsin Administrative Code - ATCP 134 violations and investigations.
He is also past president of the Rental Property Association of Wisconsin, Inc. (formerly known as the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc.) and is currently serving on its Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Tristan presents seminars on Landlord-Tenant law and related matters throughout the state. He has been producing and presenting his popular all-day seminar entitled Landlord Boot Camp since 2008.
He is the author of The Landlord’s Companion: A Comprehensive Handbook of Residential Landlord-Tenant Law in Wisconsin which was published in 2024. Tristan has also contributed to the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Pinnacle publication entitled Wisconsin Landlord & Tenant Manual writing the Preface and the chapters on Screening and Qualifying Prospective Tenants and Rental Documents.
Tristan is also the author of the popular Wisconsin Landlord-Tenant Law Blog that can be found at www.LandlordTenantLawBlog.com and he is also the author of the Landlord-Tenant legal forms sold at Wisconsin Legal Blank Co., Inc., which are used by landlords and property management companies throughout the state.
Assistants / Paralegals
Jesse Shefchik
jshefchik@pettit-law.com
Samantha Liedtke
sliedtke@pettit-law.com
Justin Pond
jpond@pettit-law.com
Areas of Practice
Landlord-Tenant Law
Litigation
Admissions
State of Wisconsin
U.S. District Court: Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin
Education
J.D.: Marquette University
B.A. with Honors: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Professional + Civic Activities
Rental Property Association of Wisconsin, Inc. (RPA) — formerly known as the Apartment Association of Southeastern Wisconsin (AASEW)
President (2009-2012)
Board of Directors (2006-present)
Member (2005-present)Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
Friend of IREM (2010-present)Apartment Owners & Management Association (AOMA)
Member (2010-present)State Bar of Wisconsin
President - Young Lawyers Division (2000-2001)
Board of Directors - Young Lawyers Division (1998-2001)
Board of Governors (2000-2001)
Executive Committee (2000-2001)Milwaukee Bar Association
Member (1995-present)
Committee to Revise Small Claims Local Rules (2024)
Authorship
The Landlord’s Companion
A Comprehensive Handbook of Residential Landlord-Tenant Law in Wisconsin.
Read Tristan’s take on screening and qualifying prospective tenants, rental documents, ATCP 134 (Residential Rental Practices), causes for eviction and termination of tenancy, notices terminating tenancy, the judicial eviction process, security deposits, and collections as well as legal issues surrounding bedbugs and how landlords can protect themselves. The Landlord's Companion also includes applicable Wisconsin laws and sample rental forms.
Wisconsin Landlord & Tenant Manual
At some point in their lives, most Wisconsinites have been renters and leased an apartment, duplex, townhome, or single-family home. Wisconsin Landlord & Tenant Manual provides attorneys, landlords, and tenants with a solid guide to residential landlord-tenant law. This highly accessible guide walks readers through the life cycle of a tenancy from the perspectives of both landlords and tenants.