Month: April 2014

Can I Move Out of State With My Child in Wisconsin?

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***NOTE:  THE LAW IN WISCONSIN HAS CHANGED. PLEASE SEE OUR UPDATED BLOG POST ON THIS TOPIC:  New Wisconsin Statute Changes Procedure s to Move a Child’s Residence

The law in Wisconsin is that you cannot move with your child(ren) more than 150 miles from your residence or out of state without providing notice to the other parent, with a divorce or paternity case pending.  The exception to this is if the other parent does NOT have visitation or placement rights which, of course, is rare.

You must provide sixty (60) days advance written notice to the other parent explaining when and where you intend to move and the reasons for said move.  Make sure you have some proof of notice such as a certified mail receipt.  If the other parent objects, he or she can file an objection with the court but must do so within fifteen (15) days of receiving your notice. It is wise to make no definite plans to move until you learn whether or not the other parent will object.

If there is an objection, the court can prevent the child(ren) from moving. The law in Wisconsin is somewhat complicated but states that the court can either prevent the move or modify the custody and placement provisions if the court finds all of the following:

∙ The modification is in the best interest of the child.
∙ The move or removal will result in a substantial change of circumstances since the entry of the last order affecting legal custody or the last order substantially affecting physical placement.

This means that the court could award placement/custody to the other party if you move. It would depend on what type of relationship the other parent has with your children and how much he/she sees the children but the court could transfer custody and/or placement to him or her if the court believes it would be in the best interests of the children.

The court arrives at this decision by considering the following factors:
∙ Whether the purpose of the proposed action is reasonable.
∙ The nature and extent of the child’s relationship with the other parent and the disruption to that relationship which the proposed action may cause.
∙ The availability of alternative arrangements to foster and continue the child’s relationship with and access to the other parent.

If you wish to move less than 150 miles away, your current placement schedule may still be affected. For example, the current placement schedule may not be workable due to the distance and either party may ask the court to modify the placement schedule based on a substantial change in circumstances. However, the court could still determine that it is not in the best interests of the children to move and/or change schools. Therefore, if the other parent’s residency permits, the court could still award placement to the other parent so that the children could remain in their current school district. Again, it is best to wait to make definite plans until you can be sure the other parent agrees or the court will agree that the children may move and change schools.

To be clear, YOU can always move. The question of whether you can move with your child, however, is one that must be decided by the court after following the steps described above.

If there is no divorce or paternity case pending or a judgment previously entered, there are no restrictions on a move.  However, you should note that (a) you cannot conceal the whereabouts of a child from the other parent and (b) the other parent could always file an action and then request that the child be returned to the State of Wisconsin.  If you are concerned about this type of situation, it would best to speak to an experienced family law attorney about the facts of your case.

If you have any questions regarding moving with your child(ren), please contact our office at 414-258-1644 to schedule a free initial office consultation or visit our website for more information.

What if I Am Unhappy With My Current Divorce Attorney?

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If you are not satisfied or unhappy with your current attorney, you may have the option to hire a new attorney who would “substitute” into a case for your current attorney.

Typically, an unhappy client seeks new counsel while their current attorney is still retained. Clients seek new counsel for a number of reasons. One of the most common is because the client believes there has been a breakdown in the communication or relationship with their current attorney. The client then seeks the advice and counsel of a new attorney and if the client believes the new attorney would provide more suitable counsel, then they can hire this new attorney and the new attorney is “substituted” for the current attorney.

In Wisconsin, there is a formal process that your current attorney and the new attorney must go through in order to complete the substitution. A Substitution of Attorneys agreement is required. This agreement, or stipulation, must be signed by both the client and the former attorney and is typically prepared by the new attorney. If the client wishes, they do not need to communicate with their prior attorney at all. This can be handled strictly by the old and new attorney. However, the client can certainly tell their current attorney directly that they wish to substitute attorneys as well. Once this form is signed, it must be sent to the court and the court must also approve the substitution.

It is important to note that even if a substitution is approved by the client’s current attorney and then ultimately by the court, the client still must resolve all fees and costs associated with their prior attorney. In Wisconsin,  the previous attorney is entitled to a judgment for outstanding fees against client when a substitution occurs and sometimes they demand that this is stated in the Substitution of Attorneys form prior to signing same.

Also, there are instances where the court will not approve a substitution. For example, if there is an upcoming trial date and the new attorney would need an adjournment to give them time to prepare. Or, if there have been too many substitutions in the case already.

It is also important to note that there are drawbacks to substituting attorneys. The drawbacks include that a new attorney has to learn your case, essentially starting over, whereas your current attorney has your complete file and is more familiar with your case history. There are also costs associated with a new attorney: retainer fees, costs for having to have your file copied, and costs for completing the formal process of substituting the attorneys.

Despite the above drawbacks, creating and maintaining a healthy and working client/attorney relationship as you navigate through your case is often superior to the costs and drawbacks.

If you have any questions regarding substitution of attorneys or if you are seeking new counsel, please contact our office at 414-258-1644 to schedule a free initial office consultation or visit our website for more information.