Recently, I heard a lawyer advertise on a Chicago based radio station that his firm specialized in father’s rights. The lawyer’s “pitch” was that in divorce, the Court’s favor mothers when it comes to custody and placement. Although I have not heard or seen advertisements from law firms claiming to “specialize” in representing mothers of a Wisconsin divorce I have heard other advertisements for law firms claiming to understand father’s rights and how unfair the legal justice system is toward fathers within Wisconsin divorces.
I have been representing families involved in divorce for close to 30 years. Although there is always the exceptional case where the evidence is contrary to the Court’s finding for the most part, if there is anyone to blame for a custody and/or placement decision it can generally be blamed on the parent’s and his or her legal counsel’s approach to the case. The problem is that many parents of divorce focus on their rights and disregard the rights of their children. If parents and their legal counsel truly focus on what is best for the children most of the animosity between the parents would disappear and the results would be more acceptable to both sides.
Children are not property. Who gets the children within a Wisconsin divorce is much more complicated than who gets the house, the 401k or the timeshare. Children of divorce have a right to be loved by both parents. They have a right for both parents to treat each other with dignity and respect. The children have a right to have both parents actively involved in their lives regardless of what night the children sleep at mom or dad’s house. The children have a right to be able to talk with, spend time with and share their feelings with both parents regardless of the placement schedule.
Of course, there are always cases in which one parent may be guilty of physically and/or verbally abusing their children and in those cases it is not in the children’s best interest to be with that parent. Children have the right to be safe in their house. Safe from verbal and/or physical abuse. In those cases, a parent must fight to protect their children; however, in most cases, there is no abuse.
If parents and their legal counsel keep in mind the rights of the children and what is truly best for them, Wisconsin divorces would be less emotionally and financially expensive. Remember, children do not get to pick their parents but once they are born they have a right to maintain a relationship with both parents, regardless of the parent’s decision to divorce. After all, you are not a parent just when you have placement, but you are a parent 24-7!
At Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC we focus on families and children matter most within. If you have questions about Wisconsin divorce or post-divorce issues with respect to custody, placement, support, etc., please contact me for a no cost, no obligation consultation. In the Baraboo area at (608) 356-3961, Madison area at (608) 824-9540 or Statewide at (866) 455-2993. Please feel free to email at mark@kh-law.net and check out our website at https://khtlawyers.com. Remember, at Krueger Hernandez & Thompson SC we listen, we care, we get results!
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