Residency Requirements
At least one of the parties must be a resident of the state of Wisconsin for a minimum of 6 months before filing. Either the marriage must have been contracted in the state of Wisconsin within a year of the divorce, or at least one of the two parties must be a resident of the county in which the divorce is filed for at least 30 days.
Fill Out your Forms
When filing for a no-fault divorce, you'll need to complete various forms. Some forms should be completed by all people filing for no-fault divorce in Wisconsin. These include:
- Summons
- Initial Petition
- Joint Petition for Divorce
- Confidential Petition Addendum
- Financial Disclosure Statement
- Marital Settlement Agreement
- Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and Judgment
If the parties have reached an agreement and they do not desire to proceed with a lengthy trial they can use Rocket Lawyer's easy interview process to complete a Divorce Settlement Agreement. The Divorce Settlement Agreement allows the division of property, assets, debts and liabilities and settles matters of child support, custody and visitation.
Additional Forms for Couples with Children:
- Initial Petition with Minor Children
- Joint Petition for Divorce with Minor Children
- Summons with Minor Children
- Marital Settlement Agreement
- Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law and Judgment with Minor Children
Other Forms You May Need:
- Stipulation for Temporary Order
- Stipulation for Temporary Order with Minor Children
- Local forms: You may have to fill out a local form depending on your court. If this is the case, get in touch with your county clerk's office, a family law facilitator, or use Rocket Lawyer.com to find a family a lawyer and ask about your county's forms.
Once you have filled out the appropriate forms, make at least three copies of each. Take the original and your three copies to your county courthouse to file the case. If everything is in order, the clerk will use the original forms and ask you to pay a fee to file. You can also ask for a Petition and Waiver of Fees/Costs, Affidavit of Indigency and Order if you cannot afford to pay them.
If your spouse lives in another state or country, make sure to consult a lawyer before filing.
This article contains general legal information and does not contain legal advice. Rocket Lawyer is not a law firm or a substitute for an attorney or law firm. The law is complex and changes often. For legal advice, please ask a lawyer.
