How to Get a Wisconsin Divorce
Getting a divorce can be tricky to navigate. Each state has its own rules and regulations about the divorce process. You need to learn as much as you can before you file so you can make the best decisions for you and your children. Here is some Wisconsin divorce help information you need to know to help you make the process much smoother.
What Are My Options?
There are three options for ending a marriage in Wisconsin: legal separation, annulment, and divorce. Legal separation provides some components of a divorce but doesn’t end the marriage completely. A court order must be obtained that includes orders regarding the division of assets, child custody matters, and spousal support. Divorce provides these orders as well but severs all marital ties completely.
Annulments dissolve a marriage as if it never happened in the first place. However, certain requirements must be met for this option to be granted by the court. One spouse must prove that either person in the marriage lacked the ability to enter the marriage because of age, impotency, force, fraud, mental incapacity, or lack of parental permission. A marriage can also be annulled if it creates illegal bigamy, or one of the persons was under the influence of alcohol or drugs when the marriage ceremony occurred.
What Are The Requirements?
Wisconsin is a no-fault state, which means you don’t have to give a reason why you want the marriage to end. If you and your spouse disagree that the marriage is irretrievably broken, you can provide proof to the court that you and your spouse lived separate lives from each other for at least a year. One of the spouses must have been a Wisconsin resident for at least six months prior to filing. The spouse also must have a resident of the county where the divorce is being filed for at least three months.
How Much Does A Divorce Cost?
The total cost of a typical divorce in Wisconsin, as well as the rest of the United States, can be anywhere between $15,000 to $42,000. Filing fees vary between $175 to $200, depending on which county you live in. You will need to contact your local courthouse to find out the exact information. You may also need to pay fees for photocopies, process servers, mailing, and notary. It’s possible to get divorce help by having these fees waived through filing a request to the judge, depending on your circumstances.
What Is The Process?
The first thing you need to do is gather all your financial paperwork and other important documents in one place before you file. You will need them to fill out the divorce forms. You can submit these documents to the court yourself either online or at the courthouse. A divorce attorney can provide you with divorce help in making sure these are filled out correctly and submit them on your behalf. These papers will then need to be served in-person to your spouse by either yourself, a local sheriff, or through a friend or relative.
How long it takes before the divorce is final depends on a few factors. A mandatory 120 day waiting period is required in Wisconsin before a divorce can be declared final. How long your courthouse takes to complete the process is another factor. It generally takes anywhere from six months to one year for a divorce to be finalized.
Take your time and make sure you understand everything completely before you file. Weigh your options carefully before making any decisions on proceeding further in the process. Get divorce assistance and legal advice from a divorce lawyer if necessary. Getting divorce help is absolutely crucial for making the process as smooth and stress-free as possible.