Divorce Residency Essentials to Get Divorce in Wisconsin

To file an online divorce or any other form of divorce in Wisconsin, at least one of the spouses must have been a resident of the state for at least six months. Also, the spouse must be a resident of the actual county where the divorce is to be filed for at least thirty days before the filing.

Reasons for Divorce in Wisconsin

There is only one recognizable ground for divorce in the state of Wisconsin. That ground is an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. This covers most reasons that would be considered no-fault and at-fault grounds for divorce in other jurisdictions.

Custody of the Children in Wisconsin

The court will generally attempt to award joint legal custody as long as the child’s best interests are preserved. In most cases, the court will approve custody arrangements agreed upon by the parents, assuming both parties want to have an active role in raising the child. Further details regarding child custody in Wisconsin will be included in your divorce forms.

Wisconsin Child Support Guidelines

Wisconsin’s child support guidelines apply in nearly every divorce case unless there are exceptional circumstances. Both parents’ gross income and child related expenses are taken into consideration when calculating the child support obligation. Payments continue until the child reaches the age of 18, but they may be extended until the child completes secondary school.

Venue

Divorce in the state of Wisconsin must be filed in the county where the defendant lives and legally resides. If the defendant lives out of state, the divorce may be recorded in any county of the state chosen by the plaintiff.

Divorce Mediation

Every county in Wisconsin offers mediation services for issues that are being contested. Custody issues, in particular, may be referred for mediation by either party or by the court. If there are disputed issues, either spouse may file a motion requesting arbitration. Any or all problems may be brought before a mediator before divorce proceedings are recorded. Utilizing mediation is one way that a contested divorce could become an uncontested action allowing for a quick, easy, online divorce using a DIY divorce service like OnlineDivorceSolutions.com.

Filing fees

The local court fees are in addition to the costs to use OnlineDivorceSolutions.com. The filing fee varies from county to county. You can check with your local courthouse to find out the exact amount.