When you are contemplating a divorce, it is natural to want to look toward the future. Going through a divorce is a challenging time, and the results of your divorce can impact your life for years to come. So, what can you expect once your divorce is over? The answer depends on how you approach the process.
Four Key Aspects of a Wisconsin Divorce
In a typical divorce involving children, there are four key aspects to determining your rights and obligations once your marriage comes to an end:
1. Division of Marital Property
The first is the division of your marital property. Wisconsin is a “community property” state, and this means that most of the assets that you and your spouse acquired during your marriage (and potentially some assets that you each acquired prior to the marriage) will be subject to division in your divorce. There are a number of important considerations involved in preparing for your property division, and you will need to comprehensively and honestly assess what matters most in terms of the assets that you want to keep after your divorce.
2. Custody and Physical Placement
The second is child custody. In custody and physical placement matters, the primary consideration is always serving the best interests of the children involved. Whether you and your spouse will be able to work together to establish a parenting plan, or you will need to fight for custody in court, it will be crucial to understand both: (i) how the “best interests” standard is applied, and (ii) what you can do to put yourself in the best possible position to secure the custody rights that you desire.
3. Child Support
Along with establishing custody and physical placement rights, you will also need to address the issue of child support during your divorce. In Wisconsin, child support obligations are determined according to a set of statutory guidelines that take into account the parents’ respective incomes, placement rights, pre-existing child support obligations, and other factors. In order to ensure that you receive the support to which you are legally entitled (or do not undertake an obligation that exceeds your legal responsibility), you will need to work with your attorney to uncover and assess all of the information required to make an accurate calculation under the statutory guidelines.
4. Maintenance (Spousal Support)
The fourth major component is maintenance, or what is commonly referred to as spousal support or alimony. As compared to child support, there are typically more complications involved in establishing maintenance, as spouses have more flexibility in their negotiations regarding spousal support, and a maintenance award will not be warranted under all circumstances. To understand if you or your spouse will be likely to receive maintenance, the best thing that you can do is speak with an experienced divorce attorney.
Special Considerations During Your Divorce
While these are the four primary issues which you are likely to face in your divorce, they are by no means the only issues that will come into play. From deciding on the method of divorce that makes the most sense for your personal circumstances to addressing issues like your children’s college expenses and the division of retirement accounts, there are a number of other important decisions that you will need to make, as well. In order to set reasonable expectations, you should discuss your financial and family circumstances with an experienced attorney as soon as possible.
Disclaimer: This Article Is Not Legal Advice.
Never rely on an article for legal advice as the law frequently changes, information may not be accurate, there may be exceptions to a rule, and reliance may be detrimental. Always consult one of our experienced attorneys for competent, current, and accurate legal advice.
Speak with a Divorce Lawyer at Crooks, Low & Connell, S.C.
For more information on what you can expect from your Wisconsin divorce, we invite you to schedule a confidential consultation at our law offices in Wausau, WI. To speak with an attorney at Crooks, Low & Connell, S.C. about your divorce, please call (715) 842-2291 or contact us online today.