Before you can file for divorce in Appleton, you must fulfil the necessary residency requirements. One of the first steps is to understand whether it would be a contested or uncontested divorce. If your spouse also wants to end the marriage and is okay with negotiating critical terms, you may have the scope to simplify the legal work. Even when the circumstances are not as horrible, you need to consult an Appleton divorce attorney, and in this post, let’s talk about the things you need to discuss during the consultation session.
- Division of Marital Assets: Whatever you and your spouse have acquired and accumulated during the course of the marriage must be divided equally between both parties. Wisconsin is a community property state in that context. Discuss these details with your lawyer if you think your spouse is unlikely to be fair with you.
- Spousal Maintenance: If you don’t make as much money as your spouse or have been a homemaker all your life, you could be entitled to spousal support or alimony. Talk to an attorney who can tell what to expect when you ask for maintenance.
- Child Custody/Visitation: You could ask for the physical custody or placement of your kids or can have legal custody, where you are involved in all the vital decisions. Child custody battles often get worse because parents refuse to cooperate with one another. With a lawyer on your side, you may see things in a better light.
- Child Support: The needs of a child, the income of both parents and primary custody/physical placement of the kids – These are some factors that determine what a parent would pay for child support. Even when you have a court order, you may want to talk to an attorney to ensure that the order is enforced.
- Restraining order: If your spouse has been abusive or when there is a situation where you fear for your life and safety, you may want to get an attorney. Your lawyer will help you get a restraining order to keep an abusive spouse away.
Sometimes when things are okay with your spouse, you may still need an attorney to negotiate and ensure you don’t settle for less. The eventual goal of your divorce lawyer is to address all concerns, which may also concern a prenuptial agreement. Make sure that you hire a lawyer who has experience in local county courts.
