Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements for High Net Worth Couples

Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements for High Net Worth Couples

Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements for High Net Worth Couples

Prenuptial & Postnuptial Agreements for High Net Worth CouplesWhile divorce is likely not on the minds of engaged or newly-married couples, high net worth individuals are smart to make a contingency plan in the unfortunate case that their marriage ends in divorce. Latest counts indicate that right around 40% of marriages end in divorce. So, while it isn’t the most romantic subject to think about, there are many benefits to putting a plan in place just in case – particularly if you have significant assets to protect.

Prenuptial (pre-marriage) and postnuptial (after marriage) agreements are legal tools that dictate what should happen if the married couple decides to divorce. At The Ohiku Law Office, we are the greater Milwaukee area’s leading high-net worth divorce attorney and are skilled at drafting both prenuptial and postnuptial agreements for our clients. Read on for everything you need to know about these tools.

Why should my spouse and I draft a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement? 

There are many compelling reasons to put a plan in place in case you and your spouse decide to divorce down the road. One of the biggest is this: Wisconsin is a marital property state. This means all property and debts held by either spouse during the duration of the marriage are subject to equal division during divorce (with some exceptions). So, if you have assets you treasure, considerable wealth, or are a business owner, divorce could mean you face significant losses. A prenuptial or postnuptial agreement will help you protect what’s important to you by outlining in advance how your assets would be divided should you and your spouse divorce.

What is a prenuptial agreement? 

A prenuptial agreement is a legally-binding document drafted prior to two people getting married. In the state of Wisconsin, this tool is sometimes referred to as a Marital Property Agreement. A prenuptial agreement dictates how property, assets, and debts the couple hold should be divided if they divorce. This may include: homes or other owned property, vehicles, retirement and investment holdings, inherited wealth, owned businesses, electronics, jewelry, antiques. A prenuptial agreement may even address the issue of alimony. A prenuptial agreement does not outline issues related to child support, custody, or visitation.

Importantly, if a prenuptial agreement doesn’t explicitly state that the terms outlined therein should apply to divorce proceedings, a judge may decide the document is invalid and divide the property in a different way. The judge must also find that the terms outlined in the agreement are reasonable, that both spouses were honest and forthright about their financial situations, and that both spouses had appropriate legal support when the agreement was drafted. An experienced divorce attorney should always help draft prenuptial agreements to ensure they hold up in court.

What is a postnuptial agreement? 

A postnuptial agreement is a legal document created after a couple has gotten married. Most often, a couple will create a postnuptial agreement if one receives an inheritance or they acquire new property. Inherited wealth is often an exception to marital property division as it is considered the property of only one spouse, but that is not always the case. A married person who wants to protect an inheritance should take the necessary precaution of drafting a pre- or postnuptial agreement.

As with a prenuptial agreement, a postnuptial agreement does not outline what should happen in regards to child custody and visitation should a couple decide to divorce.

I’m Attorney Odalo Ohiku. At The Ohiku Law Office, I help high net worth clients just like you with all aspects of family and divorce law, providing expert legal services that protect what’s important to you. If you’re engaged, newly married, or considering divorce and have significant assets to consider, it’s smart to consult an experienced Milwaukee divorce attorney. Our team is ready to answer your questions – give us a call today.

5 common high net worth divorce challenges

5 common high net worth divorce challenges

If you have assets totalling more than one million dollars and are considering divorce, you may face certain challenges during the process. Your high-net-worth status means there is a lot at stake in your divorce, but you are also likely in a position to hire an excellent divorce attorney with experience helping individuals like you navigate this process and protect your interests.

At The Ohiku Law Office, we help high net worth individuals in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin with expert divorce law, dispute resolution, custody, and other legal issues. Whether you are considering divorce and have questions on your mind or are ready to hire a lawyer to get the process started, we are here for you.

We do everything we can to support you during divorce. Those with considerable assets tend to face certain challenges that we do everything we can do ameliorate. Here are the five most common challenges we see high net worth individuals face in the divorce process.

  1. Division of assets. High net worth couples often have a considerable amount of valuable assets to be divided during divorce. These may include property such as homes, second homes, and commercial property; businesses and related income and debt; investment holdings and multiple retirement accounts; vehicles like cars, boats, or planes; and more. In the State of Wisconsin, all property and debt acquired during the course of a marriage is considered marital property and is divided equally between divorcing spouses. Despite this fact, division of assets is not as simple as drawing a line down the middle. To prepare yourself for the process of dividing assets, take an inventory and consider what you’d like to walk away with and what you are willing to give up. An experienced Milwaukee divorce attorney can help you with this process.
  2. Evaluating assets. Because high net worth individuals often have a complex asset profile, it can take extra time to ensure proper valuation of what is at stake. This is especially relevant when one or both spouses own or hold partnership in a business. The best thing you can do is hire an expert to value the business so you know what it is worth before going into mediation or court. An outside valuation can also be extremely helpful for retirement and investment accounts, stocks, and property. Make sure to hire someone who will be willing to testify to the value of these assets in courts if requested. At Ohiku Law, we can help you identify experts to help you with these valuations.
  3. Alimony. High net worth couples come in all shapes and sizes. Some couples built their wealth due to both spouses working jobs with a sizable income. In other households, one spouse was the breadwinner and the other stayed home to care for the children. Sometimes inheritance is the basis of a high net worth couple’s wealth. Decisions about spousal support, also known as alimony, can be complex when both spouses are used to a certain lifestyle but may have contributed in different ways to the marriage. Courts consider many factors when making an alimony decision, including how each spouse contributed to the upkeep of the household (income, providing unpaid childcare, etc.), the future earning potential of each spouse, and the resources required for each spouse to maintain a lifestyle that is comparable to their current situation.
  4. Length of divorce proceedings. High net worth divorces are naturally more complicated because there is more at stake. Often, this complexity translates into lengthier court proceedings due to the time it takes to value assets and determine how to divide up property. Contested divorces or ones where spouses are not able to agree on asset division can make the process even longer. At Ohiku Law, we know mediation and respectful negotiation outside of a courtroom is the best way to expedite a divorce process. We are experts at mediation and dispute resolution and can help you limit the stress of divorce by encouraging a peaceful negotiation process wherever possible.
  5. Privacy. Some high net worth couples might be concerned about unwanted publicity or public interest around their decision to divorce. While Milwaukee is not a major news hub, the small-town nature of our community can make privacy more difficult. At Ohiku Law, we can support you in protecting your privacy and planning for how to minimize public attention around your divorce.

If you’re considering divorce, the best thing you can do is hire an experienced divorce lawyer with expertise in advocating for high net worth individuals like yourself. I’m Odalo Ohiku. My team at The Ohiku Law Office are dedicated, passionate professionals with combined decades of experience in all areas of divorce and family law. Get your questions answered today – we are standing by to take your call.

High net worth divorce & COVID-19: What you should know

High net worth divorce & COVID-19: What you should know

High net worth divorce & COVID-19: What you should know

If you have recently decided to divorce your spouse, you are not unique. Divorces have skyrocketed over the past six months, largely due to the fact that couples are spending more time cooped up at home together and have found that their marriage no longer makes them happy. Economic stressors such as job loss, market fluctuation, and disagreements about how to respond to the current health climate are other reasons people are seeking divorce during this time.

Due to the logistical and economic implications of COVID-19, divorce is slightly more complicated right now than it was in pre-pandemic times. The process becomes even more complex for high net worth individuals seeking divorce who have alimony considerations, many assets to divide, and may own one or more businesses.

If you are a high net worth individual considering divorce, you need an exceptional Milwaukee divorce lawyer on your team. I’m Odalo Ohiku. At The Ohiku Law Office, my team and I help guide people just like you across the greater Milwaukee area through the divorce process with a focus on collaboration, fairness, and ensuring you get what you deserve out of the process. We prioritize mediation with the spouse and their team whenever possible to lessen the stress and resentment divorce can cause. If mediation is not possible, we fight tirelessly for your goals and interests, resulting in favorable outcomes for our clients.

Are you a high net worth individual considering divorce during COVID-19? Here’s what you need to know.

Timing is critical. 

While you may be anxious to begin divorce proceedings as soon as possible, it’s important to consider the potential economic implications of divorcing at this current moment in time. COVID-19 has set the markets in flux, and the value of your assets today could be very different from their value three or six months from now. This could impact the settlement amount you or your spouse receive, despite the fact that Wisconsin is a marital property state, with assets and debts acquired during the marriage divided equally between divorcing spouses. Exceptions to this rule could mean one spouse walks away with significantly more, and the value of those excepted assets at the time of settlement could make a big difference.

Alimony is another element of divorce that could be impacted by the current economic climate. A judge may rule that you need to pay more in alimony due to the difficulties your ex-spouse may face in the current job market or in balancing at-home virtual learning with needing to work outside the home.

Take stock of your assets.

If the total value of your assets exceeds one million dollars, you fall into the high net worth divorce category. As you start on your divorce journey, take some time to inventory your assets and assess their current value and how that value may fluctuate over the coming year. For example, during COVID-19, your home value may be rising, while the value of your investment or retirement accounts may fluctuate or dip down temporarily.

Now is also the time to consider what assets you want to retain after the divorce and which you could stand to lose. The ultimate outcome may not be exactly what you wish, but knowing what you can stand to part with will be very helpful in expediting the settlement process.

Consider these assets in your inventory:

  • Homes, second homes, vacation properties, investment properties, timeshares.
  • Business you own or in which you are a partner.
  • Vehicles – cars, boats, airplanes, motorcycles, etc.
  • Investment and retirement accounts.
  • Bank accounts.
  • Copyrights, trademarks, and patents.
  • Valuables, antiques, and collectibles.
  • Debts – either personal or business.
  • Tax refunds.
  • Insurance policies.

Be patient.

This can be the hardest pill to swallow when it comes to divorce, and COVID-19 only slows things down. Whether we are in a pandemic or not, divorce for a high net worth couple can be extremely complex and can easily turn contentious. Knowing you are likely in for a long divorce process from the start can help you manage your expectations and stress levels and keep things in perspective. Having a divorce attorney on your team with ample experience delivering favorable outcomes for high net worth clients won’t hurt either.

If you have considered the above implications and have decided you want to proceed with your divorce, let’s get started right away. At The Ohiku Law Office, our team puts your needs and goals front and center. We help high net worth individuals in Milwaukee and surrounding areas with expert divorce and family law services, including dispute resolution, child custody and placement, alimony, and more. Give us a call with questions or to get started today.

What business owners need to know about divorce in Milwaukee

What business owners need to know about divorce

What business owners need to know about divorce

If you own a business and are considering divorce, it’s important to be proactive to ensure your business is protected throughout the process. Most business owners spend a significant amount of money, time, and sweat equity getting their business off the ground and work hard every day to ensure that business is successful. During COVID-19, business owners are facing additional challenges to keep their businesses running.

If you own a business and are considering divorce, it’s time to do your research to determine exactly what you need to know and do to protect your business moving forward. Reading this article is a great first step. Milwaukee divorce lawyer Odalo Ohiku has extensive experience helping individuals and couples protect their businesses through the divorce process. Read on for our top tips for protecting your business through a divorce.

Tip #1: Hire the right team

One of the biggest reasons to hire a divorce lawyer is to ensure you have an advocate on your side who understands the ins and outs of divorce law and the impact it has on business owners. An experienced divorce attorney like those at Ohiku Law can help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a business owner facing divorce proceedings.

The consequences of not hiring an experienced divorce lawyer can be significant and costly. Even if you are a legal expert, going through your own divorce can be mentally and emotionally taxing. You are navigating a divorce while taking care of a family and running a business. This leads to mistakes and oversights that can easily be avoided by hiring a lawyer to take care of these things for you.

Tip #2: Understand community property laws

Wisconsin is one of a handful of states that employ community property laws in regards to marriage and divorce. Community property laws dictate that any income, assets, or property earned or acquired during the course of a marriage are considered equally owned by both spouses. This includes income earned from a business and likely the business itself. Additionally, most debts incurred during a marriage are the joint responsibility of the couple – including business debts.

Tip #3: Make sure your business is accurately valued

Aside from hiring an experienced lawyer, getting a correct and fair valuation of your business is the most important step you can take as a business owner going through a divorce. You may choose to hire an experienced appraiser jointly with your spouse, or each spouse may choose to hire their own appraiser. The appraiser will take their time analyzing the business and appropriate documentation to make their final valuation, which will then be used to assess how the business will be handled during divorce proceedings. The valuation will be determined by a number of factors, including:

  • Revenue, sales, and potential future revenue
  • Tax returns relating to the business
  • Payroll records
  • Outstanding business debts and loans
  • Patents
  • Any property or assets owned by the business

If you and your spouse have an amicable relationship, the valuation process may be as simple as hiring a single appraiser and agreeing that the final valuation is fair and accurate. If your divorce is contentious, one spouse may try to undervalue the business or proceed without investigating at all. This can cost you a lot of money and extra time in court.

Divorce is overwhelming, particularly for a business owner. Hiring the right Milwaukee divorce lawyer, like Odalo Ohiku and his team at Ohiku law, can make the process much easier on you and your family. When a couple with shared interests in a business decide to divorce, it’s imperative to take the necessary steps to protect the business interests, assets, employees, and customers.
For questions about your specific situation or to get started on the road to securing a divorce that protects your business, call the offices of Ohiku Law today. We also provide expert estate planning, child custody, bankruptcy, and other services to protect you and your family.

5 Ways to Ease the Strain of Divorce | Ohiku Law

5 Ways to Ease the Strain of Divorce | Ohiku Law

Divorce is simply a fact of modern life. Studies estimate between 35 – 40% of marriages end in divorce. If you and your spouse have decided that divorce is the best way forward, you are embarking on what can be an emotional, stressful, and complex legal and personal process that will have profound implications for your life and that of your family.

At Ohiku Law, we provide expert divorce and family law service for people in Milwaukee and surrounding communities. We have helped a lot of people get through the divorce process and have seen firsthand the negative impact it can have on everyone involved. If you are considering divorce, or if you have started down that road, read on for some simple ways you can make the process a little easier on yourself and your family.

  1. Be mindful of the big picture. When it comes to divorce, no one gets everything they want. Divorce is a legal process that often involves a lot of emotions and other complex feelings for those involved. The client’s we’ve worked with who have had the best experiences with divorce go into the process knowing they will have to compromise. Focusing too much on getting every little detail to go your way will leave you frustrated. Instead, try to focus on the end goal of the process and what you want your future to look like. This type of visualization can help you get through the tough moments with your feelings and sanity intact.
  2. Prepare your finances. As soon as you decide to get divorced, it’s time to get organized. We can’t stress this enough: divorce is a complicated process that involves nearly every aspect of a person’s life, with finances playing a major role. First, get all your financial account information and contact info for key advisors in one place. Next, make copies of important documents, like your will, bank statements, recent pay stubs, loan/mortgage information, important bills, insurance policy information, etc. Finally, start saving money to put toward legal expenses. By getting prepared early, you will save yourself a headache down the road.
  3. Take advice with a grain of salt. As outlined above, a lot of people have gone through the divorce process and it is likely you know more than one person who has gotten divorced. Friends and family will want to share their personal divorce experiences with you and give you advice. While they probably mean well, taking divorce advice from someone not familiar with all the details of your situation, the goals and outcomes you want to achieve, your family dynamics, and divorce law in your state can steer you in the wrong direction. Having an experienced attorney like Odalo Ohiku as your primary advisor in the process will help ensure you have the best experience possible.
  4. Do your best to protect the feelings of your children. If you are considering divorce and have children – no matter what age – they will be impacted by this major life change. While this fact is unavoidable, there are steps you can take to make the divorce experience much, much easier on your children. First, avoid talking negatively about your soon-to-be ex-spouse in front of them. In almost all situations, children of divorce continue to have a relationship with both parents and it’s important that they are given the space they need to build their own feelings about that relationship. Another tip: consider exploring therapy resources specifically designed to support children going through divorce. Having someone to talk to who has experience with this specific issue can be helpful for children as they navigate their emotions about this significant life change.
  5. Get professional support. Many people considering divorce are concerned about how much it will cost. The truth is: divorce is not cheap. To save money, some people decide not to hire a divorce attorney to support them in the process. This is a mistake. An experienced divorce attorney can help you navigate the complex process of divorce, avoiding mistakes and pitfalls that make the process last much longer and cost significantly more. A divorce attorney can also give you advice on how to prepare your finances so you are ready for the cost, and will keep the process moving to ensure you get through this experience in the best way possible.

I’m Odalo Ohiku, an experienced divorce attorney in Milwaukee with expertise in family law, child custody and placement, dispute resolution, and much more. Every client I work with has a unique situation and my ethic is to provide the exact service each needs to meet their goals and have the best experience possible. If you have questions or are ready to get started, give the offices of Ohiku Law a call today.

Who Gets the House in a Wisconsin Divorce?

Separation vs. Divorce: What’s the Difference?

Divorce & Student Loans: What You Need to Know

Divorce & Student Loans: What You Need to Know

If you are considering divorce, it’s important to know that Wisconsin is what’s called a marital property state. That means all income, assets, and debts acquired during your marriage are considered marital property and will most likely be divided equally between you and your soon-to-be-ex spouse. Yes, you read that right: debts are also split equally. Examples of debts include credit card debt, medical debt, outstanding mortgage or vehicle loans, and student loan debt.

Under certain circumstances, the court may rule that income, assets, or debt should not be divided equally due to certain factors like length of marriage, the earring potential of each spouse, each spouse’s contribution to the marriage (example: unpaid childcare), tax consequences, and more. The court will carefully analyze these and other factors to determine the best way to divide all property and, yes, debt.

Divorce & Student Loan Debt

In general, any debt incurred during the duration of a marriage is considered marital debt and the responsibility for paying it off is split equally between the spouses. This includes student loan debt.

However, certain factors can make student loan debt a complex issue to settle in divorce court. Many factors must be taken into account:

  • Are both spouses names on the loan or just one?
  • How much is still owed?
  • How did the education earned as a result of the loan impact the earning potential of the beneficiary?
  • Was the loan used exclusively for tuition and books or for things that benefitted the whole family, like housing costs?
  • Will both spouses have the means to pay off their portion of the debt after the divorce is settled?

Once a settlement has been reached, it’s important to update the loan paperwork to reflect who will be responsible for paying the debt moving forward. Otherwise, the loan company may still be able to call on both spouses to pay towards the debt.

Interesting fact: if one spouse earned their degree while married, the degree itself will likely be factored in as marital property and any increased earning potential acquired as a result of holding the degree used to determine a fair financial settlement.

Caveats to Consider

Student loans generally fall into one of two funding categories: private and federal. Private loans, or those distributed by a private organization, often allow one spouse to release a co-signer from responsibility. Government (or federal) loans usually do not allow this as they often do not ask for a co-signer. So, if you or your spouse hold privately-funded loans, it is possible to reach an agreement outside of divorce court if the primary borrower agrees to release the other from responsibility for the loan.

Another consideration: before 2006, married couples had the option to consolidate federal student debt from each spouse into one, jointly-held loan even if the debt was incurred before marriage. If this is the case for you and your spouse, the court will consider who is named on the consolidated loan rather than the state of each spouse’s debt prior to consolidation.

The Bottom Line

When it comes to divorce and student loans, no two situations are exactly the same. The court will take many factors into account when determining who will be responsible for the debt moving forward. However, it is important to remember that Wisconsin is a marital property state, meaning assets, income, and debt are divided equally between spouses unless extenuating circumstances make equal division inappropriate.

In our experience, here is what we’ve seen: If only one spouse is named on the loan and it is the same spouse who used the loan to access education, it is probable that they will be solely responsible for the debt on the loan. If both spouses’ names are on the loan and both have the means to make the payments, it is likely that responsibility for the debt will be split between the spouses.

The best thing you can do is hire an experienced Milwaukee divorce attorney to help guide you through this complex process. At Ohiku Law, I take the time to get to know my clients so I can make recommendations based on their unique circumstances. My ultimate goal is to make the divorce process as seamless as possible so you can get on with your life. I have extensive experience in marital property law, debt division, divorce, and family court so you can feel confident knowing your interests are protected.

Are you looking for a divorce lawyer in Milwaukee? Give Ohiku Law a call today to get started.

When is alimony awarded in divorce?

When is alimony awarded in divorce?

When is alimony awarded in divorce?

Divorce happens every day in Wisconsin and people may decide to end their marriage for many different reasons. However, some people who would like to end their marriage may feel they are unable to due to financial constraints. Particularly in cases where one partner is financially dependent on the other, it may feel like divorce is simply not an option.

In the State of Wisconsin, people seeking a divorce but concerned about finances may request alimony when going to court. This request can be made regardless of the reason for ending the marriage.

What is alimony? 

Alimony – sometimes referred to as “spousal maintenance” – is a court-ordered payment system wherein one former spouse in a divorced couple receives ongoing financial support from the other as part of the divorce agreement. Alimony is usually awarded in cases where one partner makes a lower income or has no income at all.

Alimony is not meant as a punishment to the paying spouse. Rather, the goal of alimony is to ensure the lesser-earning spouse is supported and can maintain their lifestyle after the divorce is finalized. An example of when alimony may be appropriate is when, during the marriage, one spouse chose to stay home to take care of children rather than continue their career. Alimony is commonly granted with the expectation that the recipient partner will seek career education or training with the goal of eventually becoming financially self-sustaining.

When is alimony awarded in Wisconsin divorces?

In the State of Wisconsin, judges have a lot of freedom in deciding when and where it is appropriate to award alimony. A variety of factors are considered, including:

  • Length of the marriage
  • Physical health of the spouses
  • Age of the spouses
  • How property will be divided in the divorce agreement
  • Education level and potential earning capacity of both spouses, including certifications, training, amount of time spent out of the workforce, and the resources necessary to obtain the necessary skills to reenter the workforce.
  • Parenting responsibilities
  • The ability of the recipient spouse to eventually come financially self-sustaining
  • Whether one spouse financially contributed to the other’s education during the marriage
  • Agreements made between spouses during the marriage
  • Tax considerations

How long does alimony last? 

Once again, the judge has the freedom to decide the appropriate length of time alimony must be paid. Length of marriage is often a factor in this decision. For example, a decades-long marriage where the recipient spouse did not work and is past a reasonable age to go back to school may result in a judgment that orders alimony to be paid for the lifetime of the recipient. In contrast, a shorter marriage where the recipient spouse is in a good position to become financially self-sufficient will likely result in a judgment of short-term alimony payments. In very short-term marriages, it is uncommon to receive an alimony order unless the recipient spouse health issues or is otherwise unable to financially support themselves.

If the paying spouse dies, alimony will be terminated. If the recipient spouse remarries or becomes financially stable, alimony will also likely be terminated. When the paying spouse retires, alimony may be terminated if they have no source of income outside their retirement benefits.

How much are alimony payments? 

Typically, a judge will determine the amount to be paid in alimony according to one of two factors: the total income of both spouses divided in half or the amount required for the recipient spouse to maintain the lifestyle they had during the marriage.

Tax-wise, the recipient spouse must claim and be taxed on alimony payments received. The paying spouse may deduct alimony payments on their taxes and usually can also deduct attorney fees related to alimony.

Considering divorce? Get the legal assistance you need.

Here at Ohiku Law, we are experts in divorce law, custody and placement, dispute resolution, family law, and estate planning. No matter where you are in the divorce process, you will want an experienced divorce attorney on your side to help you navigate the complicated legal considerations. We are proud to serve clients in Milwaukee with expert divorce law and family law services. Give us a call to get started today.

5-things-to-consider-before-filing-for-divorce

5 things to consider before filing for divorce

5 things to consider before filing for divorce

Divorce is a big decision in more ways than one. In my years supporting individuals and families through the divorce process, those who get through the process smoothly have something in common: they’ve thought the decision through thoroughly.

It is estimated that anywhere from 40 to 50% of all marriages end in divorce, with overall numbers declining since 2016. Young adults today tend to wait longer to marry and wait longer before making the decision to divorce. Those who choose to divorce set themselves up for a much smoother experience by hiring an experienced divorce lawyer.

Here are 5 things to consider before filing for divorce:

What is your vision for the divorce process? When you first sit down with your divorce attorney, you will have a conversation about what you can expect from the divorce process. Divorce requires a lot of decisions, paperwork, time, and patience. It can also be an emotional time, particularly if there are children involved. Having this in-depth conversation will help your divorce attorney understand your situation and vision for how you want the process to go, such as your wishes for custody arrangement or division of property. Once your divorce attorney understands your situation and desires, they will be better able to support you through the process.

Do you have the necessary documentation handy? When meeting with your divorce attorney for the first time, be sure to bring your valid marriage certificate. You will also want to outline the reason you are getting divorced, such as abuse or irreconcilable differences, as the attorney will need to prove cause. Your attorney will also help you understand the financial and legal steps you must take before submitting your application for divorce to the courts. While this may seem like an overwhelming process, these steps are made much easier with an experienced divorce lawyer by your side.

What is your ideal child custody arrangement? If you have children and are considering divorce, one of the best choices you can make is to choose to settle your divorce with mediation rather than litigation. When a divorce case goes through litigation, it is the obligation of the judge to decide custody arrangements. In mediation, you, your spouse, and your respective attorneys work together to find a custody solution that is best for everyone – especially the children.

How will your property be divided? The state of Wisconsin is what is known as a “community property state,” which means assets are divided 50/50 in a divorce settlement. When it comes to a home owned as marital property, this can make things complicated. Together with your attorney, you will need to decide if you are willing to sell your half of the house to your spouse, if you want to buy it from them, or if you will both decide to sell. This can be a contentious topic, and your attorney can help you understand your options and navigate this challenge.

Can you afford to get divorced? There’s no way around it: the divorce process can be expensive. In the state of Wisconsin, the average cost of a divorce is around $11,000. Add cost considerations to the other stressful elements of divorce and it can end up becoming quite taxing. Divorces that involve young children and custody disagreements can become even more expensive. Once again, having an experienced, empathetic attorney on your team will help you understand how to manage costs, stress, and all of the decisions you must make.

Are you planning to remarry? If you are planning to remarry shortly after getting divorced, you will want to consider your options when it comes to the length of the divorce process. Often, divorces get tied up in courts when documents aren’t followed on time or are filed with errors. Extensive disagreements between divorcing spouses can also lengthen the process. You may also have options for expediting the divorce process depending on your situation. Your divorce lawyer can help you navigate these situations and understand your options so you can get through the process as seamlessly as possible.
I’m Odalo Ohiku, one of greater Milwaukee’s top divorce attorneys. I am passionate about caring for my clients as whole people, providing strategic legal services that rely heavily on attorney-client collaboration. If you are looking for an experienced divorce law, family law, or general practice attorney in Milwaukee, give Ohiku Law a call today.