Below are the most frequently asked questions we see about Wisconsin divorce and basic Wisconsin divorce procedures.
HOW DO I BEGIN DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS?
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To begin a divorce, you must file with the Court a Summons and Petition for Divorce (generally referred to as the divorce pleadings). Your spouse must then be served with this Summons and Petition for Divorce within 90 days after filing. You can file a motion with the Court asking that this 90-day deadline be extended; however, it would be up to the Judge assigned to your case to decide whether or not to extend this deadline. There are two ways you can serve the Summons and Petition for Divorce on your spouse: (1) your spouse can sign an Admission of Service, or (2) a process server or a sheriff's deputy can personally serve the pleadings upon your spouse.
WHAT DO I DO IF I AM SERVED WITH DIVORCE PAPERS?
After you are served with divorce pleadings, you should consult with an attorney to explore your rights and your options. Most attorneys offer a free initial consultation. Whether you retain an attorney or not, you should file a written Response and Counterclaim within 20 days from the date you are served with the Summons and Petition for Divorce. This must be sent to the Court with a copy sent to your spouse or his/her attorney. If you do not file a written Response, the Court could enter a default judgment against you in the future.
If you also want the divorce, you should also file a Counterclaim for Divorce. This means that if your spouse changes his/her mind in the future and asks that the divorce be dismissed, the Court could deny that request and grant you a judgment of divorce instead based on your counterclaim.
WHAT IF I DON'T WANT A DIVORCE?
Wisconsin is a "no fault" divorce state. The only basis for a divorce in Wisconsin is that the Court finds that your marriage is irretrievably broken and that there is no likely possibility of reconciliation. Because it takes two willing people to have a marriage, the Court will most likely grant a judgment of divorce even if only one party wants the divorce as long as one party testifies that he or she feels that the marriage is irretrievably broken and that the marriage cannot be repaired.
HOW LONG DOES A DIVORCE TAKE?
There is a mandatory 120-day waiting period in Wisconsin during which your divorce cannot be finalized. Most divorce cases take between six months to one year to finalize. The time period can vary based on the County in which your divorce is filed and the issues involved in your case. The specific facts of your case will determine the timetable for the completion of your case.
HOW DO I SUPPORT MYSELF OR SEE MY CHILDREN WHILE THE DIVORCE IS PENDING?
In most cases, Temporary Orders are needed to determine where each party will live, when each party will see the children and how each party will be financially supported and pay bills. These Temporary Orders are Court Orders and can be determined by the Court's decision or upon an agreement (called a Stipulation) between the parties. These Temporary Orders remain in effect during the time it takes to complete your divorce case.
Temporary Orders could cover the issues of temporary custody, placement, support, maintenance, temporary use of personal property and/or bank accounts, temporary use of the marital residence, and temporary allocation of debts. While these orders are temporary and should have no bearing on the final outcome of your divorce, in reality, many courts continue temporary orders as permanent orders if they are appropriate in your case, especially orders regarding custody and placement of your children.
HOW DO I OBTAIN THESE TEMPORARY ORDERS?
To request Temporary Orders, you must file an Order to Show Cause for Temporary Orders and an Affidavit for Temporary Orders. These documents compel your spouse's appearance at a first or temporary hearing which is almost always scheduled before a court commissioner rather than a judge. This temporary hearing is usually scheduled within three to six weeks of the date you request a hearing depending on the County in which your case in pending.
Prior to the hearing, you and your spouse can negotiate terms of a Temporary Stipulation. These stipulated orders are done without the need for you to appear in Court and, when filed with the Court, carry the same legal protection as if you personally appeared in Court.
WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE THE COURT COMMISSIONER'S DECISION?
If you do not agree with the court commissioner's Orders at this first or temporary hearing or any other hearing before a court commissioner, you may request a Hearing De Novo before the judge assigned to your case. A Hearing De Novo is a hearing where the judge hears the matter as if it had not been heard before and is not supposed to give any deference to the court commissioner's decision. A Hearing De Novo must be scheduled promptly after the hearing before the court commissioner's (7 - 15 days in most counties).
WHAT IF MY SPOUSE LEAVES ME FOR SOMEONE ELSE OR IS LIVING WITH SOMEONE ELSE?
Because Wisconsin is a "no-fault" divorce state, one party's infidelity is irrelevant in most cases. The court cannot consider this fact in dividing property, awarding maintenance, setting support or other financial matters. It can impact on custody and placement issues, however, if the significant other has a negative or harmful impact on the minor children.
HOW ARE PROPERTY AND DEBT DIVISION, SUPPORT, CUSTODY AND PLACEMENT DETERMINED AT THE END OF MY DIVORCE CASE?
There are statutory factors that the court must follow when making decisions regarding these issues in your case set forth in Chapter 767 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Specifically, the presumption is for an equal division of property and debt. Child support is pursuant a specific formula set forth in the statutes. And, custody and placement decisions are based on a "best interest of the child" standard. However, there are exceptions to all of these rules and the court must follow the statutes when making any decisions.
WHAT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO AVOID A TRIAL IN MY DIVORCE CASE?
Your attorney should suggest options to the successful resolution of the issues in your divorce without the need for a court trial. For example, settlement negotiations with the parties and the attorneys, mediation and arbitration are all alternative measures that are common in divorce cases to help resolve conflicts.
Basic Divorce Procedures in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Family Law Info is a forum of up-to-date legal information related to all aspects of divorce and family law. It is our goal to provide meaningful, real time solutions and information to individuals in need of legal advice and fresh perspective. We understand that legal information and knowledge about your family law rights is critical when needing to make important decisions. We invite you to explore our Wisconsin Family Law Blog and research various topics on divorce, child custody and placement, child support, maintenance (alimony), etc. to better your knowledge about your legal rights.
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