Western Wisconsin Family Law & Divorce Lawyers
We can help protect your family, finances and future.
- Prenuptual agreements
- Divorce
- Paternity
- Child custody
- Post-divorce issues
- Spousal Maintenance (alimony)
- Child Support
- Step-parent adoption
- Asset Protection and Property Division
- Domestic Restraining Orders
- Grandparent Rights
- Mediation
- Legal Separations
Whether it's a matter of divorce, paternity, child custody, or any other family law issue, you can count on Williamson & Siler, S.C., to stand up for your rights and make sure you receive solid guidance and representation throughout the course of your case. We will assist you in every step of your case. Our aim is to deliver a peaceful resolution to parties and to all children involved. We provide a full range of services for family law. Our experienced attorneys and staff assure you that we will work zealously to bring you the results you seek.
Divorce
In order to commence a divorce, one of the spouses needs to file a Summons and Petition with the Clerk of Courts office. The papers must then be served on the other spouse. After the documents are served, the parties must wait a minimum of 120 days from the date of service to be divorced. If the parties can agree on all of the issues, they may enter into a written Marital Settlement Agreement and present it to the court for acceptance. While the divorce is pending, the parties may request a Temporary Hearing be held in order to obtain an Order regarding the rights and responsibilities the parties will have during the divorce process.
The court must decide numerous issues in a divorce including: legal custody, which includes decision making for the children; physical placement of any minor children; child support; maintenance, which is financial support from one spouse to the other; property division; and debt division. While there are exceptions based on length of marriage and other issues, it is generally presumed that all of the parties’ property will be divided equally in a divorce. Exceptions to this are assets received as inheritances and gifts which are kept in the name of one party.
A guardian ad litem is an attorney appointed by the court to represent the best interest of the minor children when the parties cannot agree on legal custody and/or physical placement. The divorcing parents are usually responsible for paying the fees of the guardian ad litem, even though the guardian ad litem is not responsible to them at all. The guardian ad litem’s only job is to represent the minor children’s best interests.
During this difficult time in your life, the law office of Williamson & Siler, S.C. is available to assist you through the divorce process.
Williamson & Siler, S.C., offers a full range of experienced family law legal support. Family law matters are often very sensitive situations. We provide sensitive, practical and fair advice during these highly emotional times.