Wisconsin is the only state in the country that does not treat a first offense of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) as a criminal offense. Currently, it treats a first-time OWI as a traffic violation, although some lawmakers and citizens are currently trying to change that. 

With multiple OWIs, you can face harsh penalties, such as incarceration, long-term driver’s license suspension, and heavy fines. One option available to third- or fourth-time OWI offenders is Wisconsin’s Alcohol Treatment Court.

Divorces are difficult for everyone involved, but they can be especially tough for children. Even children of divorcing parents who are adults have a hard time coping with the fact that their parents are splitting up. Children’s emotions after receiving news of a divorce can range from shock to anger to guilt. While there is nothing you can do to change the situation you are in, there are things you can do to help your children cope. Here are a few tips you can use to help your child deal with your divorce:

Encourage Your Child to Talk

Your child will be feeling a lot of emotions during this time, some of which they may have never felt before. Like adults, children do not always know how to cope with their feelings, so it is important that you help them talk through what they are feeling and thinking throughout the divorce process.

Wisconsin police law enforcement and the courts do not take OWI charges lightly. In the state of Wisconsin, even a first offense of operating a vehicle while intoxicated can result in a fine of up to $300, a $435 OWI surcharge, a six- to nine-month driver’s license revocation, and a significant mark on your criminal record.

In recent years, Wisconsin lawmakers have pushed to make consequences for first-time OWI offenses more strict, although lawmakers typically punish OWI charges to the fullest extent of the law. However, there are certain elements a strong DUI defense can focus on to help mitigate the consequences.

Not all divorces will involve spousal maintenance, also known as alimony. In the 1960s, around 25 percent of divorce cases involved an alimony award, while today that number is somewhere around 10 percent. In Wisconsin, that number is estimated to be even lower, with only an estimated 8.6 percent of divorces involving spousal maintenance. When alimony was more common in divorce cases, it was mostly awarded to women who had expected to be stay-at-home parents or homemakers for life and who would rely on alimony as their only source of income post-divorce. Today, alimony is only awarded in special circumstances. Though it is not impossible to think that you may receive spousal maintenance payments, it is rare, especially in Wisconsin.

Is a Spousal Maintenance Award Warranted?

If you end up going to court to determine whether or not spousal maintenance will be awarded, the judge will look at a variety of factors before making their decision. These factors can include:

• The length of the marriage.

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Throughout the United States, the general trend for DUI arrests and convictions has been a good one — for the past couple of years, the number of DUI arrests and convictions has been decreasing. Despite this, operating a vehicle while intoxicated is still a big issue in Wisconsin. One of the ways states have tried to prevent DUIs is by placing a suspension or revocation on the offender’s driver’s licenses. 

While this has been effective in lowering DUI rates, it can greatly affect someone’s life who is arrested for OWI, including their ability to earn a living and complete household duties. Getting your driving privileges back can also be a long and tedious process, and one best navigated by a driver’s license reinstatement attorney.