There are many reasons why couples divorce. Maybe they realized they were better off just as friends, or perhaps someone’s needs were not being met. Whatever the circumstances, the divorce process is almost always more difficult and more complex when there are hostilities between the spouses. It is not uncommon for one spouse to have sole responsibility for the bills or finances. Divorcing with less-than-amicable feelings can sometimes cause that spouse to attempt to hide assets out of spite or anger. Not only is this untruthful, but it is also illegal and can carry some serious consequences. 

Requirements for Financial Disclosure

During a divorce, Wisconsin courts require both spouses to be fully transparent about their finances. All assets owned fully or partially by the individual spouses and all assets owned jointly between the spouses must be disclosed. This includes assets such as:

Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) exists for the purpose of helping people who are unable to work, for whatever reason. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), around 35.2 percent of SSDI recipients in 2013 were eligible for benefits based on a mental health condition. Mental disorders are some of the most difficult and subjective conditions to prove and accept in order to begin receiving benefits. The symptoms and severity of mental disorders are not as obvious as physical disorders, which is why many SSDI applications claiming a mental disorder are denied the first time a person applies. If you are applying for SSDI benefits in Wisconsin, it is important to understand what constitutes a mental disorder.

Types of Qualifying Disorders

In addition to a slew of physical impairments, the Social Security Administration (SSA) also recognizes that certain mental disorders have the ability to prevent you from working. The 11 categories for qualifying mental disorders are:

In any divorce that involves children, it is likely the case will also include child support. Many parents wonder how they will continue to support themselves and their children after a divorce, especially because they will be essentially running a household on a single income. To help mitigate some of the costs of raising a child, child support is typically ordered to be paid by the parent who spends less time with the child, although a handful of other factors also go into calculating child support. No two child support cases are the same, which is why it is important to understand how Wisconsin law specifies that child support is calculated.

Sole Custody Cases

Child support in sole custody cases is typically easier to calculate than in shared custody cases. When one parent has sole custody of the child, the child is with the non-custodial parent for less than 92 overnight visits per year. Typically, this amounts to spending every other weekend with the non-custodial parent. Wisconsin uses a standard percentage model to calculate the amount the non-custodial parent owes to the custodial parent:

With summer comes the welcome of warm weather, and people typically like to spend more time outside. For many Wisconsin residents, boating is a fun outdoor pastime. What some people may not know is that many of the same restrictions that are placed on drivers regarding drugs or alcohol are also true for boat operators. Thus, who are boating while under the influence can be charged with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI). Even though relaxing on the water with a drink in hand may seem like a perfect summer day, it can pose serious consequences for those who are not responsible about it.

Wisconsin OWI Laws

Laws are very similar when it comes to the legal operation of motor vehicles and watercraft in Wisconsin. You are not permitted to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or more when you are operating a motor vehicle or a boat. For the first offense, you could be fined up to $500. A second offense carries up to $1,000 in fines, in addition to possible jail time. A third offense results in up to $2,000 in fines and 30 days to one year in jail. You will also be required to complete a boating safety course and obtain a certificate of completion.

Going through a divorce can be one of the most confusing times in your life. You probably will make mistakes because of the slew of emotions a divorce can bring out. You may feel sad, angry, depressed, or even anxious over the divorce, which are all emotions that can distract you and prohibit you from thinking clearly. Even just a simple mistake made during your divorce can impact the rest of your life, which is why it is important to tread carefully in a divorce and seek experienced legal counsel.

The following are a few common mistakes you should avoid in your Wisconsin divorce: