Joint Legal
Custody
Wisconsin child custody laws gives courts the option to award either joint or sole legal custody. Joint custody means both parties share legal custody, while sole custody means only one parent has legal custody of the child. Wisconsin courts commonly award joint custody because Wisconsin law presumes it is in the best interest of a child unless the court is shown otherwise. Under joint custody, neither party’s rights are superior unless specified in the final court order. The most common arrangement is a 50-50 split between parents. Parents share the ability to make major parental decisions and have to work together on decisions like schooling, religion, and marriage as a minor and joining the miliary as a minor.
Sole Legal
Custody
Sole custody is much harder to receive from the court. Courts always put the best interest of the child first, so typically the only way a parent can be awarded sole custody is if the court determines the other parent is unable to perform their parental responsibilities. Another way one parent can receive sole custody is if the parties cannot agree on major life decisions like religion or schooling. If the parties were not married when the child was born, the mother has sole custody until the father establishes a paternity action. A parent that does not have custody may still be granted visitation rights and required to pay child support. Different father's rights apply to divorced fathers and unmarried fathers.
Mediation for Child
placement & custody
Successful mediation can help you save on the cost, time, and general hassle of taking an issue to trial. Even an unsuccessful mediation can give the court a better starting place to resolve the matter faster. We offer expert family mediation services for parents who can’t agree on a custodial issue. Our trained family attorneys can facilitate a compromise to avoid taking your disagreements to court. If two parties remain in opposition, the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem to represent the best interest of the children while the case is pending.
Post-Judgement Child Custody & Placement Modification in Appleton
Occasionally, as time goes on the original custody or placement agreement doesn’t work as well as it used to. This could be a result of someone moving, children switching schools, or something else entirely. In these circumstances, Wisconsin divorce law states how you can modify placement schedules. Consult one of our lawyers to see if a post-judgement modification is feasible for you, and explore our co-parenting resources to make any placement arrangement the best it can be for the child.
File for divorce in Appleton
