West Bend Law Blog

Changing child support orders in Wisconsin

On behalf of Mayer Law Office, LLC posted in family law on Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

After divorce, Wisconsin parents will still usually have joint financial responsibilities when it comes to caring for their child, regardless of what the custody set-up looks like. However, the circumstances behind custody decisions may change, leaving a parent wondering if the child support order can change with it.

The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families states that changes made to child support orders can either increase or decrease the amount given. Additionally, medical support may be added to the order. They suggest requesting a review if the change would either involve a difference of $50 a month or more, if the current order does not follow the Percentage of Income guideline, or if it doesn't yet include medical support.

Do you need to prepare for a high-conflict divorce?

On behalf of Mayer Law Office, LLC on Thursday, May 16, 2019.

The reasons behind your decision to end your marriage may vary. You may have felt this outcome coming for some time, or you may have made a split-second decision when your spouse finally pushed you too far. If he or she has a high-conflict personality, the latter cause is not necessarily unlikely.

You may have been putting up with your spouse's bullying and unnecessarily contentious behavior for years before you decided to end the unhealthy relationship. Though you may feel some relief in knowing you will no longer have to live under the same roof, you may also know that you have a long road ahead of you when it comes to your divorce case.

Can guardianship powers be limited?

On behalf of Mayer Law Office, LLC posted in family law on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.

The idea that your mother or father is no longer capable of making important life decisions is a painful one and may necessitate consideration of having someone serve as a guardian for your parent in Wisconsin. Still, your parent may not be fully disabled and you may wonder if appointing a guardian is an excessive move. If you are wrestling with this question, one answer is to consider only limited guardianship.

Many individuals are only partially impaired. Although a person may be elderly, he or she can still comprehend many things. They may not suffer from dementia but could have trouble with complex financial matters or are unable to keep up with changing laws that affect their finances. There are also individuals who are mentally sharp but are physically disabled and cannot travel, only requiring some level of care but not full time care.

What should I know about trespassing?

On behalf of Mayer Law Office, LLC posted in criminal defense on Sunday, May 5, 2019.

Trespassing is one of those areas of law that may seem confusing to some. Are you breaking the law if you cut through someone’s yard without permission? What if you are exploring an abandoned property? You and other Wisconsin residents should understand the potential criminal repercussions for trespassing.

As FindLaw explains, trespassing is against the law. To qualify as trespassing, you would need to knowingly enter the property without permission. There are several ways a property owner can convey an order to stay off the premises – installing a fence around the property, putting up signs and verbally warning you to get off the property are clear indications that you are not welcome there. You could be charged and face a fine and other consequences for remaining on the property after you are told to leave or for entering premises with a fence and posted notices.

Women's earnings and divorce

On behalf of Mayer Law Office, LLC posted in family law on Sunday, May 5, 2019.

Most married people in Wisconsin would likely acknowledge that marriage can be hard work, despite its potential to be very fulfilling as well. What makes some marriages thrive and last a lifetime and what makes other marriages fall apart and end in divorce is often not clear. The factors that contribute to a divorce may vary from couple to couple but some researchers are looking at data that may provide insight about some trends in this arena.

MarketWatch recently reported that heterosexual marriages in which the wives out earn their husbands may have a higher risk of ending in divorce. One Harvard study even went so far as to indicate that if a man does not work a full-time job, the couple's overall risk of getting divorced increases by as much as 33%.

What protections do restraining orders offer?

On behalf of Mayer Law Office, LLC posted in family law on Friday, April 26, 2019.

Unfortunately, not all divorcing couples in Wisconsin will have a calm and collected split. Not all relationships are the same, and Mayer Law Office, LLC, is here to help you if you are trying to escape from a situation in which a restraining order may be necessary.

Restraining orders are protective measures meant to guard you against the following:

Stalking
Abuse
Unwanted physical contact
Sexual assault
Harassment
Threats

Issues that may mean you're at risk for divorce

On behalf of Mayer Law Office, LLC on Friday, April 19, 2019.

When you got married, you no doubt hoped your union would last a lifetime. Perhaps 10 or 20 (or more) years later, several children and maybe a move from one house to another a time or two, and you're just not so sure anymore. There are many issues that can crop up in a marriage that place a strain on the relationship.

If you've been raising children for a decade or more, you've likely already overcome challenges, as parents and as spouses. As for the latter, there are several reasons people who get divorced often cite as causal factors in the breakdowns of their relationships. If you've been experiencing one or more of these issues, it might signal trouble. If that's the case, it pays to determine where to seek support, especially if divorce occurs.

Your gender may no longer determine your divorce responsibilities

On behalf of Mayer Law Office, LLC posted in family law on Wednesday, April 17, 2019.

In times past, it was primarily men who were responsible for making alimony payments to their wives, as well as funding the majority of the required child support for their children. However, with changes in the prevalence of women in the workforce, your gender may no longer be a determining factor in the decisions made by court officials during your divorce. At Mayer Law Office, LLC, we have helped many people in Wisconsin as they work through their divorce.

If you have been working for a substantial period of time and are making a good amount of money, regardless of your gender, the courts may require that you pay for spousal support for your ex. These payments may be temporary depending on the nature of the agreement you have made, your ex's ability to secure a stable job and his or her educational background. However, you should be prepared to continue making payments until further notice and budget your finances accordingly.

Are you driving while distracted?

On behalf of Mayer Law Office, LLC posted in criminal defense on Thursday, April 11, 2019.

As a resident of Wisconsin, you may not be aware of exactly how many different driving behaviors or habits could actually be considered dangerous forms of distracted driving. Because of this, you could end up getting into a bad situation without even realizing it.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention take a look at different distracted driving behaviors and how dangerous they could be to a driver, as well as other people on the road. Some distracted driving behaviors are known as being obviously dangerous. This includes texting while driving, turning around to hold a conversation with passengers in the back seat, or reaching down to the floor to pick up something you dropped.

Learning to compromise during joint custody

On behalf of Mayer Law Office, LLC posted in family law on Thursday, April 4, 2019.

Wisconsin parents who decide to share custody of their children will have unique hurdles to deal with. Compromise and learning how to work around each other as well as together will become a crucial part of making sure the arrangement works out.

FindLaw starts by defining joint custody as a situation in which parents share equal responsibility for a child and have an equal say in how the child will be raised. This pertains to all large life-shaping decisions such as where a child will go to school, what their medical treatment options will be, and what religion they will grow up with.