Getting a divorce may be one of the most difficult decisions you have to make in your life, and along with it often comes a sense of dread regarding the legal process you will have to go through. There are many issues to consider and resolve, including how you and your spouse will divide your property, assets, and debts. If you have children together, you will need to determine parental responsibilities and parenting time. A divorce may never truly be without its complications, but it is possible to make it somewhat easier using some of the strategies provided below.

Tips for a Less Stressful Divorce in Wisconsin

You may be able to manage your divorce more effectively if you have a clear idea of what you need, how to achieve it, and who can best help you throughout the process. Here are some tips to consider:

During the divorce process, it is important for parents to come to an agreement on child custody, visitation, and child support, either through a cooperative negotiation or a court order. This agreement should focus on the best interests of the children at the time of the divorce. However, in the years that follow, changing circumstances may make it necessary to pursue modifications to the parenting agreement to ensure that it continues to work for both the kids and the parents.

Reasons to Modify a Parenting Agreement in Wisconsin

After a divorce, there are a number of situations in which it may be beneficial or necessary to modify the original parenting agreement. Some possible reasons for a change include:

Divorce can be challenging not only emotionally, but also financially, as couples will need to work to determine how their shared property will be distributed between the two spouses. You may go into your divorce understanding that you will need to divide your marital assets, but it is important to remember that you will also be expected to divide your debts and to prepare yourself for the impact on your personal finances. In Wisconsin, with few exceptions, assets obtained and debts incurred by either spouse during the marriage are considered shared marital property to be divided equally in a divorce. 

Loans Need to Be Paid Off Regardless of Marital Status

It is not uncommon for couples to acquire a lot of property during their marriage. Likewise, they can also rack up a lot of debt due to loans for education, vacation homes, vehicles, furniture, appliances, and even electronic devices such as phones and computers. Some common marital debts that can factor into your divorce settlement or resolution include:

Ending a marriage is a big step for any couple, but this is especially true for couples who have been together for years. Even if you know that your marriage is not working and that neither of you is particularly happy, you may not be ready to officially divorce. Perhaps, for financial reasons, you cannot afford to divorce your spouse, but you know you cannot stay married either. Or maybe, unbeknownst to you, your spouse was actually married to another person when you got married to him or her. In situations such as these, it may be worth looking into other options for your marriage. Wisconsin recognizes three separate actions for dealing with legal marital issues: annulment, legal separation, and divorce. Although they are fairly similar, they do have separate requirements and outcomes. 

Annulment

If you have your marriage annulled, you are asking to have your marriage legally erased, as if it never happened. Annulment is a process that is only done in very limited circumstances. To get an annulment, you must meet at least one requirement outlined in Wisconsin’s laws. Grounds that qualify for annulment include:

• You or your spouse lacked the capacity to consent to the marriage as a result of mental illness, intellectual disability, drug or alcohol use, or through the use of force or duress.

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Getting a divorce is an end of what is usually a long and intimate relationship. Many people who go through a breakup or a divorce have difficulty coping with and accepting the end of the union. This can lead them to do things that they normally would not do. Unfortunately, in some divorces involving children, one parent might begin to use the children as a weapon against their spouse. This is known as parental alienation and it can be damaging to both the parent who is being alienated and the children who are being manipulated. If you suspect that your spouse may be alienating you, it is critical that you seek professional legal counsel to make sure your parental rights are protected. 

What Is Parental Alienation?

In many divorces, one spouse is usually more upset about the situation than the other. In these types of situations, one parent may begin to lash out and attempt to hurt the other parent in any way possible. Children are an easy target for hurting the other parent because of their emotional connection. The alienating parent can begin to use the children against the other parent as a form of revenge.