Family

In Wisconsin, property is presumed to be equally divided between the parties in a divorce action. Almost all property owned by the parties is subject to equal division. This includes property that is titled solely in one spouse’s name and property acquired by a spouse...

It’s that time of year again, back to school!  For many families, the new school year is full of excitement and anticipation of new opportunities.  For others, it brings sadness and anxiety as relaxed summer schedules are replaced with earlier bedtimes, routine,...

In 2000, the United States Supreme Court found in Troxel v. Granville that parents have a constitutionally protected interest in the care, custody, and control of their children. The Supreme Court concluded that a trial court must give some special weight...

Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat provide an abundance of opportunities to undermine your family law case. For many, social media has become a type of semi-public journal of their day-to-day life. Whether your...

A physical separation of spouses is not a “legal separation” regardless of how long it has been since the parties have lived together. A “legal separation” occurs through a court proceeding that is almost identical to a divorce proceeding. There are two main...

Child support is calculated based on a percentage of the payor’s income (generally 17% for one child, 25% for two children, 29% for three children, and up). After the calculation is established, a fixed dollar amount is determined based on the payor’s average gross monthly income at the time the support order is entered. In other words, the obligation does not automatically change from week to week or month to month based on a payor’s actual earnings where those earnings either fluctuate or the payor experiences a significant and sudden change in his or her income.

What happens when you make your significant other a joint tenant in your home and your relationship subsequently dissolves?

We have been receiving an increase in the number of calls from potential clients who tell us that they own a home as a joint tenant with their significant other and that the relationship is ending. They want to know how to go about removing their partner from the deed to their home.

In Wisconsin, all drivers under the age of 18 are required to have a sponsor before they can be issued a driving instruction permit or a driver’s license. When a sponsor (usually a parent) signs a minor’s driver license application, the sponsor accepts complete liability for any damages caused by the minor while driving. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes, “any negligence or willful misconduct of a person under the age of 18 years when operating a motor vehicle upon the highways is imputed to the parents where both have custody and either parent signed as a sponsor, otherwise, it is imputed to the adult sponsor who signed the application for such person’s license.

One of the most frequent questions posed by my clients involved in physical placement disputes is “At what age can my child decide which parent he/she wants to live with?” My short answer is usually “When he/she is 18.” Although “the wishes of the child” is one of approximately fifteen statutory factors that the court is required to consider in deciding what type of physical placement schedule to order, what the child “wants” is not always what is in the child’s best interest. In addition, the courts generally believe children (even older children) are not emotionally mature enough to make such an important decision and do not want to create a situation where children are placed in the middle of their parents’ legal disputes or where they feel forced to choose one parent or the other.