Whether married, unmarried, or divorced, parents are legally obligated to provide financial support for their children. Parents must ensure that their children have the resources needed on a day-to-day basis, including food, shelter, clothing, and other basic requirements.

Child support is based on the income that a parent earns, and it is typically paid by a non-custodial parent to a custodial parent. When parents experience an increase or decrease in the amount of income they earn, they should be sure to understand how these changes will affect their child support obligations.

Wisconsin Child Support Calculations

All children have the right to receive support from both of their parents. When a child is born to unmarried parents, however, it is thus necessary to legally establish the child’s paternity. Doing so allows a child’s custodial parent to receive financial support from the other parent and provides both parents with rights to share in custody and visitation of their children. Moreover, the establishment of paternity gives children rights to inherit their parent’s assets, to access family health history, and to receive insurance or Social Security benefits.

In many cases, establishing paternity is a straightforward process. However, when one or both parents are under the age of 18, complications can arise.

Establishing Paternity for Minor Parents

People get divorced every day. Yet despite the practice being common in the United States, many people are unfamiliar with the steps that must be followed and the legal obligations that must be met.

If you are considering divorce , the first step you will need to take is to file a petition for divorce. If your spouse has filed a petition for divorce, you will need to file a response. Consider the following procedures for completing these initial steps of the divorce process in Wisconsin.

File a Petition for Divorce

When parents decide to dissolve their marriage, one of the court’s top concerns during divorce proceedings is ensuring that the children’s best interests are protected. One of the primary ways this is done is by requiring one or both parents to pay child support that will provide for the children’s needs—food, shelter, clothing, personal care, medical expenses, etc. However, while parents are obligated to support their minor children, what happens when children graduate from high school and begin attending college?

Paying for Children’s College Expenses

In Wisconsin, a parent’s requirement to pay child support ends when his or her child turns 18.

Getting married can be a complicated, overwhelming process. As couples plan their wedding, they have several requirements that must must be met. Along with finalizing the guest list, putting down a deposit on the venue, and hiring a photographer, one item that appears on more and more wedding checklists is “Sign the prenup.”

Planning for a divorce before a wedding takes place may seem to be in poor taste, but the fact remains that nearly half of all marriages end in divorce. Therefore, you may want to ensure you are protected in the event your relationship breaks down in the future. However, before you sign a prenuptial agreement, make sure that the agreement fits your needs.

When a Prenuptial Agreement is a Good Idea