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Recent Blog Posts
Do Not Neglect These 5 Asset Classes in Your Wisconsin Divorce
Over the course of a marriage, a couple can accumulate a vast array of assets as they build their marital net worth. During a divorce, every one of these marital assets must be divided, a process that can involve extensive valuation, negotiation, and investigation. It is essential to take the time to pursue the asset division process with the requisite care; failing to do so can result in an unfair division that can have long-term consequences on your financial future. Here are five asset classes to be sure to include in your asset division.
Business Assets
Businesses can provide an easy way to disguise assets and income for a spouse who is trying to hide money during a divorce. It is essential to carefully account for business assets, especially if one or both spouses want to maintain ownership of a portion of the business after the divorce. Valuating the business itself will be an important part of this process, as will keeping track of employees, accounts receivable, and tax filings.
Does a Wisconsin Teenager Charged with a DUI Go to Jail?
Teenagers are in a thrilling stage of life - faced with all of life’s possibilities and very little notion of practical limitations; they are often under the illusion that they are invincible. Life has a way of soon teaching them that this is not the case, however, and nothing can bring a teen crashing down to reality faster than getting caught driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Operating a vehicle while under the influence, or OWI, is a serious mistake - not only because of the significant legal penalties it carries, but also because of the danger involved. Fortunately, with the help of a great OWI defense attorney, your teen may be able to recover from his mistake.
What is the Legal Limit for an Underage Driver?
Until a young adult turns 21, the legally acceptable blood alcohol limit for driving a car or engaging in any other motor vehicle activities is zero. This includes boats, jet skis, snowmobiles, and more. Wisconsin’s “Not a Drop” law prohibits minors from consuming any amount of alcohol and driving. Police may test teen drivers by making them take a breathalyzer, asking them to perform walking or speaking tests, or arresting them and taking them to the police station for blood testing. Refusing to cooperate with the police can lead to further consequences.
Can I Ask a Judge to Terminate My Alimony Payments?
Following a Wisconsin divorce, both spouses tend to have strong negative feelings about alimony and spousal maintenance. The spouse paying often feels as though the payments are unjustified since the relationship has ended, while the spouse receiving payments frequently feels as though they are insufficient considering their contributions to the marriage over the years. However, regardless of how you feel about spousal maintenance, once an order has been entered into a divorce decree it is legally enforceable and must be followed until it has been terminated. Failing to send alimony payments before the allotted time is up can result in serious penalties, so it is important to understand this area of Wisconsin family law.
How Long Does Alimony Usually Last in Wisconsin?
Traffic Offenses in Wisconsin That Could Land You in Jail
Seeing the flashing lights of a police cruiser pulling up behind you is never a fun event. Most of the time, drivers in Wisconsin are pulled over for simple traffic infractions like speeding or not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. However, in some cases, the traffic offense is much more serious and could lead to your arrest and even jail time. In addition to Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), there are other traffic offenses that could leave you with a criminal record. If you are charged with any of the following offenses, it is best to contact an experienced attorney who can take on your case.
Serious Consequences for Traffic Offenses
If you accumulate enough minor traffic offenses, you may eventually face criminal charges and even a revoked license. However, the following offenses are considered criminal, with much more serious consequences:
Signs Your Spouse May Be Hiding Money Before a Wisconsin Divorce
There can be many different warning signs that your marriage is in trouble. While disagreements over money and finances are common in every marriage, they can come to a head before a divorce. In some cases, a spouse may take steps to hide income, conceal purchases, or take other questionable and secret financial steps. Whether it is to avoid the scrutiny of their spouse or to hide assets from division during an anticipated divorce, there are signs you can look for if you suspect your spouse is hiding money.
Five Financial Signs to Watch in a Marriage
Taken individually, these steps may not arouse suspicion, but if you see more than one sign or if your marriage is already headed for a divorce, it may be time to act. Contact a divorce attorney who can help you discuss your next steps with a financial expert.
Is Marijuana Headed for Legalization in Wisconsin?
While more states, including neighboring Michigan and Illinois, have decriminalized and legalized marijuana use over the past few years, the substance remains illegal in Wisconsin. However, more momentum may be gathering in Madison for legalization, as bills to legalize medicinal and recreational marijuana use were both introduced this past year but did not advance. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke said that legalization is likely to happen eventually in Wisconsin. Hearings were held this spring and while there was support from members of both parties, numbers were not great enough to take action on the bills. Other lawmakers believed the bills were nothing more than an election-year strategy to get publicity with no real hope of getting them passed.
A Marquette University poll indicated that 61% of Wisconsin voters favor legalization, with even higher percentages supportive of medical marijuana, with 80% in favor. Medical marijuana is now legal in 38 states.
Common Ways That Children React to a Divorce
While your divorce may be the best decision for you and your spouse, children and teens may react in different ways depending on their emotional level, their age, and even the situation in the house at the time of the divorce. Most children will adjust to the new situation over time, but they will still go through a range of emotions and behaviors. Here are some of the more common ways that children will react to the news of their parents’ divorce.
Shock, sadness, and disappointment – Children often feel overcome and blindsided by a divorce. They may get emotional and feel you betrayed them. You can let them know that it is natural to be sad, but reassure them that they will be okay, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time.
Relief - If your marriage had been rocky and the children were subject to hearing loud arguments on a regular basis, they may feel relieved that they may get a break from a stressful environment.
Restrictions on the Use of Firearms in Wisconsin
The second amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, but that right is not always absolute. To protect public safety, states including Wisconsin have put restrictions on the type of firearms and other weapons that can be possessed, and the manner in which they can be used. While some of these restrictions may be common knowledge, others are more obscure. Violating any of firearms laws could result in misdemeanor or felony charges, depending on the severity of the case or the conduct of the violator.
Examples of Firearms Restrictions
Here are some of the restrictions that have been placed on firearms or the conduct of citizens by the Wisconsin legislature. These laws have exceptions for members of law enforcement or the military while operating in the course of their employment or their official capacity.
Can I Be Arrested For Acting Obnoxiously in Wisconsin?
No one likes to be the target of loud or obnoxious behavior from another person. But where is the legal line, and what are the potential penalties for going too far? In Wisconsin, depending on the severity and frequency of the offense, you may be charged with disorderly conduct, harassment, or stalking, with generally increasing severity of penalties. If you face any of these charges, hiring an experienced criminal defense attorney is essential.
Potential Charges for Obnoxious Behavior
Disorderly Conduct - If you are accused of conduct that is considered violent, indecent, boisterous, profane, or unreasonably loud, you may be charged with disorderly conduct. This can include shouting lewd things at people on the street or acting threateningly. Wisconsin law allows disorderly conduct to be charged if the behavior happened in a public or a private place. The penalty for being found guilty of disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor, is a fine of up to $1,000 and a maximum of 90 days in jail.
What Factors Determine Spousal Support in Wisconsin?
During a divorce, one of the more important and potentially contentious issues is ongoing payments from one spouse to the other. Spousal maintenance, also known as spousal support or alimony, is designed to allow a spouse who was not employed or brought in less income than their partner to maintain their standard of living after a divorce. In the state of Wisconsin, judges have wide latitude on how to grant maintenance payments and to determine how long they will last. It is important to work with an attorney who can make sure that the money you are receiving, or the amount you are ordered to pay, is appropriate.
Factors for Maintenance Payments
While there is no set formula to determine maintenance payments or duration in Wisconsin, judges largely base their order on the following factors:
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