Joint custody means that both parents have the right to make custodial decisions, with neither parents’ rights being superior to the other. Unfortunately, that is not a very helpful description. If the parents disagree, what happens? For example, mom wants the child to receive a vaccination; dad refuses to give consent. Doesn’t dad’s refusal effectively […]
paternity
Wisconsin Paternity Law: Do I Have to Wait Until my Child is Born to Establish Paternity?
No. You can file a petition to establish paternity before the birth. Particularly if you are concerned that mom will not cooperate in establishing your parental rights, filing prior to the birth puts mom and the court on notice that you wish to be involved with the child. It also ensures that there is no […]
WISCONSIN DIVORCE AND FAMILY LAW: WHY MUST I ESTABLISH PATERNITY OF MY CHILD?
The legal custody of a child born to unmarried parents is granted to the mother, by default. This is because the legal status of the biological father must first be established. Simply placing a male’s name on the child’s birth certificate is not enough. A male who believes that he is the father of a […]
WISCONSIN DIVORCE AND FAMILY LAW: DOES MY SPOUSE/SIGNIFICANT OTHER HAVE TO HELP PAY MY ATTORNEY’S FEES?
In general, courts follow the “American rule” regarding attorney’s fees and order each party to be responsible for his/her own fees. However, in a family matter, including divorce, paternity, child support, property division, maintenance, or child custody, judges are authorized to order one party to pay the other’s reasonable attorney’s fees. Judges are usually reluctant […]
WISCONSIN DIVORCE AND FAMILY LAW: WHAT ARE SOME TAX ISSUES THAT AFFECT MY DIVORCE?
Wisconsin is a marital property state, meaning that each spouse has a one-half interest in the total assets and income of the marriage. This rule requires some careful tax planning to achieve the best outcome. Following are some issues to consider: Couples generally file married joint tax returns during a marriage. However, after the separation, […]
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