In the realm of Wisconsin family law, “service by publication” is often viewed as the procedural safety net of last resort. Under Wis. Stat. section 801.11(1)(c), when a spouse cannot be located after “reasonable diligence,”[1] the law allows for
Latest from Family Law Blog | Family Law Section
Divorce by Affidavit: What Wisconsin Family Lawyers Need to Know
May 11, 2026Divorce by Affidavit: What Wisconsin Family Lawyers Need to KnowDivorce by affidavit offers a more flexible path for uncontested divorce cases in Wisconsin, particularly for clients facing scheduling, mobility, distance, child care, or emotional barriers to appearing in
Why Wisconsin’s Balance Placement Standard Works without a Presumption of Equal Time
Physical placement disputes are often some of the most contested issues in family law cases.
The current physical placement standard directs courts to maximize the time children spend with each parent consistent with their best interest. This strikes a thoughtful
The current physical placement standard directs courts to maximize the time children spend with each parent consistent with their best interest. This strikes a thoughtful
The Case for Mental Health Training in Law School – A Proposal
This conversational-style article explores the ways that we, as family law attorneys, must address mental health issues, from our clients’ cases to our own lives. More importantly, we have to start looking at how we best address mental health struggles
Waiting for All Issues to Resolve? You May Miss the Appeal Window
In Wisconsin, litigants may only appeal a final circuit court judgment or order to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals per Wis. Stat. section 808.03(1) as a matter of right – appeals from nonfinal orders are permissive. Litigants must strictly follow
Finding Fault: The History of Grounds for Divorce in Wisconsin
Fault divorce, a process requiring one spouse to prove the other’s misconduct as grounds for dissolving a marriage, has undergone a significant transformation in Wisconsin. The Origins of Fault The concept of fault divorce dates back to English common law.
Addressing Issues of Cellphones and Social Media Access in Custody and Placement
Decisions involving cellphone and social media access for minor children have become one of the biggest aspects of parenting in today’s age. Those decisions impact everything from communication to safety to social development to mental health. Case law on the
Revising Placement: The Harm Standard, Section 767.451, and the Two-year Limit
Do you ever read a statute looking for a straightforward answer – only to be left more confused?My favorite legal exercise is when a particular statute directs you to a different statute which then directs you to yet another statute.
Should You Respond to Bad Legal Advice on Social Media?
It’s a Sunday Night. Dinner is done and you’re winding down and getting ready for another week ahead.
You decide to scroll social media when you see a post from a distraught mother of two young children asking some legal
Equal But Not Separate: Joint Custody Means Both Parties Must Agree
There are a lot of differing opinions about whether one custodial parent may make a major decision for a child independently and without the involvement and consent of the other custodial parent. The history of joint custody and placement in