When you’re a parent who’s getting a divorce in Wisconsin, you need to know that the court system is built to ensure fairness to every party involved—including your children. Wisconsin child support laws exist so that your kids don’t have to unduly suffer the financial consequences of your divorce. While child support can’t always keep children at the same standard of living they enjoyed during their parents’ marriage, the law is designed to make sure both parents are providing support to their children.
What is Child Support Under Wisconsin Law?
Child support is a financial sum that the court will order you or your soon-to-be ex-spouse to pay. Once the judge has created an official order, it’s legally binding—and each party has to hold up his or her end of the bargain or face legal consequences, which can even include jail time.
How Does the Court Follow Wisconsin Child Support Laws?
When one parent has physical placement with the child less than 25 percent of the time, child support is usually (but not always) based on a percentage of that parent’s pre-tax income. The standard support percentages applied to that parent’s income, which can vary based on the circumstances of each case, are:
- One child: 17 percent (of the parent’s income who has placement less than 25 percent of the time)
- Two children: 25 percent
- Three children: 29 percent
- Four children: 31 percent
- Five or more children: 34 percent
The court can adjust these percentages as necessary, and they may change when the paying parent’s or the receiving parent’s circumstances change.
Do You Need to Talk to a Milwaukee Divorce Lawyer About Wisconsin’s Child Support Laws?
If you’re divorcing, you may benefit from the guidance and advice of an experienced divorce attorney in Milwaukee or Waukesha.
Call us at 414-383-6700, or get in touch with us online to tell us about your situation. We’ll start developing a strategy that helps you and your children reach the best possible outcome.
