Wisconsin laws sets forth criteria to establish, enforce and alter child support obligations in divorce, legal separation, annulment and paternity cases in the state, according to the Wisconsin Legislative Council. In most cases a child support obligation in Wisconsin continues until a child reaches the age of 18 or 19 if the child is still finishing high school.
Establish Child Support
The procedures for establishing child support in the state of Wisconsin are set forth in the guidebook entitled "Your Guide to Setting Child Support Amounts" published by the Wisconsin Bureau of Child Support. The guidebook is available through all local clerk of the court offices throughout the state. The guidebook includes the worksheet and calculation guidelines mandated by the laws of the Wisconsin legislature and the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Enforcement of Child Support
A parent who fails to honor her child support obligation faces enforcement action by the state Child Support Bureau and supplemental orders of the court, according to the Wisconsin Legislative Council. Enforcement actions include everything from the issuance of a contempt citation by the court to a jail sentence. If a parent is sentenced to jail because of a failure to pay child support, that individual likely will be placed in a work release program, the bulk of her earnings being used to pay off the child support arrearage.
Alter Child Support
Either parent and the Child Support Bureau have the ability to file a motion to change child support. Typically a motion to change child support is approved only when there has been a change in a parent's income sufficient to alter the child support obligation up or down by 15 percent, according to the Wisconsin Legislative Council. The motion to change child support is filed with the court that issued the initial child support order.
Legal Representation
Child support cases represent some of the more complicated types of family law cases. Facing such a case, seriously consider engaging the services of an experienced family law attorney qualified to deal with child support issues. The State Bar of Wisconsin maintains a directory of attorneys that practice in different areas of the law. Contact the State Bar of Wisconsin at:
State Bar of Wisconsin
5302 Eastpark Blvd.
Madison, WI 53718-2101
608-257-3838
800-728-7788
wisbar.org
