When facing family law matters in Wisconsin, understanding your rights and responsibilities is crucial. Whether you're dealing with divorce, child custody, or support issues, having the right legal guidance can make all the difference. Here's what you need to know about family law in Wisconsin an...
For those that didn't know, the first Friday in November is National Love Your Lawyer Day. This can oftentimes be a thankless profession, and attorneys are the butt of many jokes. If you have a lawyer who has made your life easier or helped you out of a tough spot, today is the day to let them kn...
...But is it legal? March Madness is upon us, and I have been asked this question more than once: "Is it legal to have an office pool for March Madness?". The answer, in Wisconsin (and nearly every other state) is no. Technically, office pools are considered sports gambling, and are therefore il...
A seldom used tool in divorce Typically a divorce will have two possible areas where money exchanges hands on a monthly basis from one party to another. Those two areas are child support and maintenance, which is the term Wisconsin law uses for alimony. Whether or not one or both of these types ...
Can One Attorney Represent Both Parties In A Divorce? A question I frequently get from those who call my office for a free consultation is whether or not each party to a divorce needs their own attorney. Many times a married couple have grown apart, and they mutually agree to a divorce with the ...
Paying or receiving maintenance? You need to read this. A contentious issue in divorces after a medium or long-term marriage is maintenance. Maintenance is the term Wisconsin law uses to describe what is known in other States as alimony. Under current federal tax law, maintenance payments are t...
A large percentage of the cases we handle involve changing existing placement orders. Those changes are subject to a state statute that greatly restricts a court's ability to change placement orders within two years of a "final judgment." I will spare you the technical legalities. Suffice it to s...
Changes may be coming regarding how Wisconsin handles move cases It is not infrequent for one parent to want to relocate during a divorce. It is also relatively common for one parent to want to relocate if those parents were never married but share children together. Currently, Wisconsin law pro...
A recent proposed bill to the Wisconsin Assembly would have increased consequences for some people convicted of multiple drunk drivings. In recent years the legislature has steadily increased drunk driving penalties. A new bill would permanently revoke the driver's license of any person convicted...
It is (thankfully) the time of year when it is time to pull the cover off the boat and head out on the water for fun, sun, fishing, water-skiing, or whatever your favorite boating activity is. If you are like me, having a cold beer or two on a hot Saturday on the water is tough to beat. Few thing...
A deterrent to offending? Or counterproductive to the goal? Recently Attorney General Jeff Sessions directed federal prosecutors to be more harsh in the sentences they seek. He wants longer prison times and longer commitment periods for all crime, including non-violent drug offenders. This is co...
Should your beloved companions be treated as family? Or as property? This Friday's post considers an issue I have seen raise its head multiple times in divorce proceedings. What happens to a couple's beloved furry (or scaly if that's your thing) pets in a divorce? Certainly, to most people, our ...
In today's digital age it is easy to forget that as you sit behind your keyboard and type, or on your phone to post to Facebook or Tweet, that what you are posting or tweeting can have very real consequences. In many ways your behavior online can be legally treated the same as if it were face to ...
For a perfect example of how the law does not always reflect the will of the people, we need look no further than March Madness and the office pool you are probably a part of right now. Don't worry, this does not mean you are going to be in trouble, or that you shouldn't post on social media abou...
I have some personal rules about laughing in court: Rule 1 - Don't laugh in court Rule 2 - If the Judge tells a joke, abandon Rule 1 and laugh loudly whether said joke was funny or not. Rule 3 - Do not grin, smirk, or otherwise disrespect any victim or victim's family member making a heartfelt...
I am going to try to create a blog post every Friday on an issue that is pertinent to Wisconsin as a whole, and of some legal significance. What better way to start than by addressing a problem that most Wisconsin residents either don't know exists, or if they know of its existence many times the...