Paternity
State ex rel. Kalal v. Circuit Court for Dane County, 2004 WI 58
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has accepted review on Kalal, the seminal statutory interpretation case in Wisconsin. What does it mean? The case holds that statutory interpretation should primarily focus on the language enacted by the Legislature. Courts have a duty to apply the law as written. While outside sources such as legislative history can sometimes…
Read MoreChild Support Garnishments
What is wage garnishment and how does it relate to child support? Wage garnishment is a process in which the court will allow a creditor (the person who is owed the debt) to collect a portion of a debtor’s (the person who owes the debt) earnings to satisfy a legal judgment. This can occur in…
Read MoreGrandparents Rights (Updated 10/09/2019)
Grandparent Rights in Wisconsin Many states allow at least some form of grandparent visitation, after a determination as to whether such visitation is in the best interests of the child. However, under a new WI Supreme Court case this process has gotten much more difficult. The first thing the grandparents must prove is that the…
Read MoreSchool District Choice: Who makes it?
So, you and your significant other separated and have a joint custody/joint placement order. Sharing placement has been relatively calm but now your child needs to start school. The two of you live in different school districts so who gets to choose the school district? Under Wisconsin statutes, joint legal custody means that the parents…
Read MoreDo I have to go to mediation? And why do I have to take a parenting class first?
I have had many parents ask me why they have to participate in mediation. They often explain that they have not been able to reach an agreement with their child’s other parent on their own, and therefore mediation just won’t work. What those parents don’t realize, and what I explain to them, is that Wisconsin’s…
Read MoreBenefits of Establishing Paternity
Establishing paternity has many benefits outside child support, but proof of paternity is required to receive those benefits. Many of the benefits only come into play in the event of the father’s death, therefore you shouldn’t delay establishing legal fatherhood. Social Security Benefits Paternity must be established for a child to receive a Social Security…
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