How to establish paternity in Wisconsin Wisconsin law does not automatically grant legal rights to unwed fathers. Unless you establish legal paternity, the mother has sole legal custody of the child. This means the father has no legal right to decide issues like where the child will live, what schools the child will attend, or what religious instruction the child will receive. Even if you have been a part of the child’s life, these rights can be removed at any time unless you establish...

What are a Father’s Rights in Wisconsin? If you father a child but are not married to the mother, Wisconsin law does not give you parental rights as a matter of course. The default position is that the mother of the child has sole legal custody of the child. This includes not only the right to determine where the child will live, but also the right to make decisions in his or her life: authorizing non-emergency health care, consent to marriage or military service, and even the choice...

One goal of a parenting plan is to create a smooth transition for the child and to avoid further disagreements in the future. In fact, the plan may address how future disagreements are to be handled, for example, through mediation. Here are some topics to address in a Parenting Plan: Days and times for placement, including summer, holidays, and other special days Pick up and drop off arrangements Arrangements for medical appointments Responsibility for the children’s variable expenses Childcare...

A significant percentage of all marriages end in divorce, and this disheartening fact means that many couples in Wisconsin must address the division of marital property.  Wisconsin is a marital property state , which means that all marital property is generally divided equally in divorce. Our Madison, WI divorce attorneys can guide you through this difficult time, and help ensure your rights are represented. Wis. Stat. 767.61 sets forth the statutory guidelines concerning property subject...