Family Court - University of Wisconsin Law School

DANE COUNTY FAMILY COURT RESOURCE BOOKLET

A collaborative project of Dane County's Family Court Counseling Service, Legal Resource Center,

Court Commissioner Center, Child Support Agency and Volunteer Attorneys

Dane County Courthouse 215 S. Hamilton Street Madison, WI 53703

Children's Rights

The right to be treated as important human beings with unique feelings, ideas, and desires. The right to have a meaningful relationship with both parents. The right to express love, affection and respect for each parent. The right to know and appreciate what is good in each parent. The right to care and guidance from both parents. The right to know that their parents' decision to divorce was not their fault. The right to regular and consistent contact with both parents. The right to have a relaxed, secure relationship with both parents without being placed in the middle. The right to not be a source of argument between the parents. The right to focus on being a child and not be burdened by adult conflicts.

Parents' Responsibilities

The responsibility to acknowledge the importance of the child's access to both parents. The responsibility to support the child's healthy relationship with the other parent. The responsibility to protect the child from adult conflicts. The responsibility to achieve respectful and courteous communication with the other parent. The responsibility to notify the other parent regarding any emergencies concerning the child. The responsibility to be knowledgeable about their child's medical and mental health care needs. The responsibility to effectively address his or her own medical and mental health needs. The responsibility to keep the child safe, secure and happy.

Table of Contents

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 4 Commonly Used Acronyms in the Courthouse....................................................................................................... 5 Divorce Procedures ................................................................................................................................................. 6

Divorce Flowchart .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Starting the Action .............................................................................................................................................. 6 Temporary Orders............................................................................................................................................... 7 120 ?Day Waiting Period/Marital Settlement Agreements/Status and Pretrial Conferences ............................. 8 Final Hearing/Trial ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Legal Issues in Divorce Actions.............................................................................................................................. 9 Maintenance/Family Support/Section 71 Payments ........................................................................................... 9 Property Division/Attorney Fees/GAL Fees..................................................................................................... 10 Legal Custody ................................................................................................................................................... 11 Physical Placement ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Parenting Plan ................................................................................................................................................... 14 Third-Party Visitation ....................................................................................................................................... 15 Child Support/Health Expenses/Tax Exemption................................................................................................... 16 Arrears/Failure to Pay Support ......................................................................................................................... 18 Paternity Procedures.............................................................................................................................................. 19 Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment ............................................................................................................. 19 Paternity Action to Establish Paternity ............................................................................................................. 20 Genetic Testing Procedure................................................................................................................................ 21 Paternity Issues Addressed by the Court .......................................................................................................... 21 Court Orders.......................................................................................................................................................... 22 Enforcing Court Orders: Remedial Contempt .................................................................................................. 22 Changing Court Orders: Custody and Physical Placement............................................................................... 23 Permission to Move/Remove Children ............................................................................................................. 24 Changing Court Orders: Family/Child Support and Maintenance.................................................................... 25 Domestic Abuse/Child Abuse/Harassment Restraining Orders ............................................................................ 26 CHIPS (Children in Need of Protection or Services)............................................................................................ 27 Termination of Parental Rights ............................................................................................................................. 28 Guardian ad Litem (GAL) ................................................................................................................................ 28 Capacity to Consent .......................................................................................................................................... 28 Notice................................................................................................................................................................ 29 Voluntary TPR.................................................................................................................................................. 29 Involuntary TPR ............................................................................................................................................... 29 Adoption................................................................................................................................................................ 30 Officials and Agencies Involved in Family Court Cases ...................................................................................... 32 Community Services ............................................................................................................................................. 36 Canopy Center Healing and Family Support Services (Formerly Parental Stress Center) ............................... 37 Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................................................. 46 General FAQs ................................................................................................................................................... 46 Divorce FAQs ................................................................................................................................................... 50 Post-Divorce (or Post-Paternity) FAQs ............................................................................................................ 52 FAQ by Kids (answered by Family Court Counselors) .................................................................................... 55 Appendix 1: Divorce Flowchart ............................................................................................................................ 56 Glossary of Common Legal Terms ....................................................................................................................... 57 Works Consulted ................................................................................................................................................... 66 Parental Guidelines (Created by FCCS Staff) ....................................................................................................... 67

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Introduction

This booklet is designed as a resource for people involved in a family court process. Although it contains several state and county court statutes, it is not to be considered as legal advice. Also, it does not constitute an endorsement of any agency or course of action. Instead, it is designed to help people understand the legal process of obtaining a divorce through procedural explanations, resources for starting legal research, and contact information for organizations that can provide more assistance with family court matters.

If you need specific legal advice, it would be best to consult an attorney or review relevant Wisconsin statutes, such as Chapter 767 ? Actions Affecting the Family, and other legal sources. Public libraries should have copies of the statute books or they can be accessed online at:

For more information on matters contained in this booklet, please contact the Dane County Legal Resource Center at (608-266-6316). The Legal Resource Center contains information on family law matters, including court-approved forms, and staff available to assist you with finding materials. Unfortunately, the staff is unable to give legal advice. If you would like to visit the resource center, it is located in Room L1007 of the Dane County Courthouse and it is open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. It allows visitors to copy particular statues or other information for $.25 per page

In reviewing the booklet, please be aware that the information contained is current as of January 1, 2012. Efforts will be made to update this booklet as needed, but you are responsible for ensuring that relevant statutes, cases, state regulations or other legal authorities you cite in your case are the most current and up to date versions available. You may access the current version of many legal resources at the Legal Resource Center or online through the Wisconsin State Law Library's website at . If you need additional help finding current legal information online or in print, please contact the Legal Resource Center.

As you are reading through this booklet, you may encounter terms that are unfamiliar to you. Please check the glossary at the end of the book for the proper definition. Unless specifically noted, the room numbers for offices presented in this book are all in the Dane County Courthouse.

This book is not intended to cover all family court situations. If you still have questions about your specific family court situation, you can contact the Legal Resource Center for additional information or resource center staff can refer you to an agency that provides legal services, such as the State Bar of Wisconsin's Lawyer Referral and Information Service.

This resource book is available for purchase at the Family Court Counseling Service (Rm 2030) or the Legal Resource Center (Rm L1007). It can be accessed online for free at

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Commonly Used Acronyms in the Courthouse

CCB=City-County Building CCC=Court Commissioner Center COC=Clerk of Courts CSA=Child Support Agency DCF=Department of Children and Families DCLRC=Dane County Legal Resource Center FCAP=Family Court Assistance Project FCCS=Family Court Counseling Service FDS=Financial Disclosure Statement FLAC=Family Law Assistance Center MSA=Marital Settlement Agreement PSB=Public Safety Building SCR=Supreme Court Rules TPR=Termination of Parental Rights TRO=Temporary Restraining Order VPA=Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment WSLL=Wisconsin State Law Library

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