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Recent Blog Posts
Is Child Support Affected When a Parent Has Another Child?
About 1,300 new stepfamilies are forming every day, and more than 50 percent of all U.S. families are remarried or re-coupled. One out of every two marriages ends in divorce, and 75 percent of those who divorce will remarry. Since it is common for one or both parents to remarry following a divorce, this can affect the children of the first marriage. If the parent who is responsible for child support has another child after the remarriage, will this affect the monthly child support amounts for the child or children from the previous marriage? This is a complicated question and can depend on the specific situation.
If you are the parent receiving child support, it can be nerve-wracking to find that your ex is expecting a new child. Blended families generally go through at least a few bumps on the way to family harmony. You may worry that your child will be pushed aside or will no longer receive sufficient financial support from his or her other parent. These are legitimate concerns that a knowledgeable Muskego, WI child support attorney from Bucher, Wolff & Sonderhouse, LLP can help you address. Once you have a knowledgeable family law attorney by your side, you can be sure that your child’s best interests will be protected.
How Are Wisconsin Cash Bail Reforms Progressing?
A person in Wisconsin charged with a crime and in need of a strong criminal defense may be unsure of how recent changes to bail laws will affect his or her ability to meet bail requirements. A 2023 change to the Wisconsin state constitution created a fundamental shift in how judges in the state set bail. Prior to this change, a judge was only allowed to set a specific dollar amount for bail in an amount sufficient to ensure the defendant would return for trial.
The change allows judges to consider whether the defendant is a threat to the community when setting bail. Judges can also consider prior violent crimes committed by defendants. Those against the change to the constitution say there is already a mechanism in place for judges to keep the public safe: release conditions. Release conditions can include curfews, GPS monitoring, or regular check-ins with pretrial services.
More than a year later, criminal justice advocates argue that this cash bail constitutional amendment – which was approved by voters – suffered from procedural flaws that should have invalidated it. Submission deadlines may not have been properly met, and the ballot questions were not sent to the correct election officials. An effort to stop the 2023 vote was rejected, with the judge stating there was no irreparable harm if the measures were not blocked.
Stay-At-Home Parents and Wisconsin Divorce
For many families, having one parent stay at home instead of leaving every day for work is a necessity. It can sometimes be a full-time job being responsible for maintaining a home and caring for the children, especially if they have busy schedules packed with after-school activities or special medical needs. When both parents have demanding jobs, it can feel impossible to take care of everything the family needs.
It might be a logical arrangement for some, but it can be stressful for a stay-at-home parent to consider divorce if the couple is no longer happy together. Not earning an independent income can make you feel like you have no money of your own. Spending several years out of the workforce can make you think you are a less attractive candidate for jobs when you are ready to work again. You might worry about how you would maintain your and your children’s lifestyle after a divorce. Luckily, Wisconsin courts recognize the important contribution of stay-at-home parents and consider it when making decisions about spousal maintenance. If you are a stay-at-home parent nervous about the financial impact of divorce, speak with a skilled Oconomowoc, WI family law attorney to review your options.
Self-Defense and Deadly Force in Wisconsin
When police are called to respond to a violence complaint, they can not always predict what they will find on the other side of the door. Several people inside might offer different versions of what happened. When people who are accused of assault, battery, or the use of force claim that they were acting in self-defense, it can be difficult to know who the actual victim was and who was the perpetrator. This article will examine some Wisconsin laws addressing your ability to use deadly force against someone in self-defense. If you were defending yourself and are now facing criminal charges, speak with an experienced Waukesha, WI criminal defense lawyer to understand your options.
Wisconsin Self-Defense Laws
American citizens are entitled to defend themselves against harm, but the specifics of what that means differ from state to state. According to Wisconsin law, the right to self-defense is based on a few aspects:
Why More Political Disagreements Are Leading to Divorce
It is becoming more common for people to see their political views causing problems in their relationships. As surprising as it might seem, disagreements about politics are increasingly cited as a big part of why some couples decide to get a divorce. This article will explore how these disagreements can create tension and stress in a marriage and what you can do about it. If it seems like a description of what is happening in your home, speak with a qualified Waukesha, WI divorce lawyer to hear about your options.
How Political Disagreements Can Lead to Divorce
You might find it surprising that political disputes can reveal deeper problems in a marriage. While a strong couple in a healthy relationship generally has the tools to move past disagreements, already shaky relationships can crumble following political arguments. This has led to a recent increase in people stating political differences as the reason for their divorce. There are several reasons for this:
Legal Liability Against Pornographic Deepfakes
We are privileged to live in a time where technological innovations are having a major impact on daily lives. However, it can sometimes feel hard to keep up with all the new advances and terms. One new term that comes up a lot these days is "deepfake''. A deepfake is a fake video or image that was created using AI technology. Deepfakes manipulate faces and voices to make it look like someone said or did something they didn’t actually do or say.
New laws are emerging to address these new technological capabilities, and you might not even be aware of the criminal charges you could face. For example, a new law prohibits non-consensual deep fake pornographic material. If you use emerging technologies to create fictitious photos or videos, speak with a knowledgeable Waukesha, WI criminal defense attorney to understand how to protect yourself legally.
Understanding the DEFIANCE Act
The Disrupt Explicit Forged Images and Non-Consensual Edits Act of 2024, otherwise known as the DEFIANCE Act, is a fairly new act addressing the manipulation of explicit images and videos, commonly known as deepfakes, without the consent of the person whose image you are using. It makes it criminal to create, distribute, and possess deepfakes made with AI technology that show someone in an explicit situation without their consent.
Is It a Crime to Have Medication Without a Prescription?
Prescription medications help millions of people cope with a range of conditions. Whether someone is suffering from a physical or mental ailment, often there is a pharmaceutical drug that has been designed for it. However, possessing or taking some of those drugs can be a drug crime if it is done without a valid doctor’s prescription. This may come as a surprise to someone who holds medication for a family member or who was given medication by a friend as a short-term aid.
Although most people think of cocaine or crystal meth when they think about drug crimes, crimes involving prescription drugs are taken just as seriously in Wisconsin. In this article, we will discuss which drugs are illegal to possess without a prescription and the penalties for doing so. If you have been charged with possessing or taking an illegal drug, contact a Wisconsin drug crime defense attorney right away.
Can I Relocate With My Child After a Wisconsin Divorce?
Wisconsin law respects the rights of both parents to be part of their child’s life. When parents get divorced, therefore, they cannot make unilateral decisions that limit each other’s access to the child. If both parents have physical custody — what Wisconsin law refers to as "placement" — one parent cannot decide on his or her own to relocate with the child if it impacts the other parent’s placement rights.
However, sometimes things happen and life circumstances change. A parent may need to relocate for work, for example, or to care for an ailing family member. The law recognizes this and prescribes a legal process for parents to follow if they want to relocate with their children. Discuss your relocation needs with a Wisconsin child custody lawyer who can assist you with the legal process.
Can I Relocate With My Child?
If you want to relocate with your child, there are two questions that first need to be asked:
What Happens If I Buy Fireworks Without a Permit in Wisconsin?
Fireworks are used to celebrate events all over the world. In the US, they are traditionally used on the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve, delighting families with beautiful pyrotechnic displays. They are also used to mark other festivities such as graduations, weddings, and birthdays.
But fireworks can also be dangerous explosives. At an Independence Day celebration last week in Chicago, for example, a man died after he lit a firework too close to his face. The firework exploded and likely killed him instantly.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reported eight firework-related deaths last year, in addition to 9,700 emergency room visits for firework injuries.
Some states like Wisconsin, therefore, require that permits be obtained before having or using certain fireworks. This article will discuss when you need a permit for fireworks in Wisconsin and the penalties for using fireworks without one, which in some cases can be a crime. If you have questions about using fireworks legally or if you have been charged with illegal fireworks use, contact a Wisconsin criminal defense attorney.
3 Ways to Prepare for a High-Conflict Divorce
Not all divorces involve high amounts of conflict. Although divorce is not a pleasant procedure, many couples are able to get through it smoothly and manage their emotions about the process. Up to 80 percent of couples transition to post-divorce life and find a degree of normalcy within the first two to three years.
Other divorces, however, are much more tumultuous. An estimated 20 percent of divorces in the United States are considered high-conflict. A high-conflict divorce is usually characterized as one that is exceedingly hostile, and some academic literature defines it as one that lasts longer than two years. Couples in a high-conflict divorce often:
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Experience high degrees of anger
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Exhibit high rates of distrust
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