Wisconsin family law guidance for divorce, custody, physical placement, support, mediation, and post-judgment disputes affecting families in Madison and Dane County.
Dane County family matters may involve the Clerk of Courts, the Court Commissioner Center, and Family Court Services. The correct office depends on the filing, motion, or service being requested.
Vanden Heuvel & Dineen, S.C. helps Madison clients prepare for negotiation, mediation, hearings, and litigation when court intervention is necessary.
A parenting schedule should work beyond the next hearing. A property agreement should account for debt, retirement, housing, and implementation. A support order should be based on complete and reliable financial information.
The firm connects the legal issues and practical consequences so clients can make informed decisions, not rushed ones.
Public information: Dane County Clerk of Courts and Wisconsin Court System family law resources. Confirm requirements for your specific case.
Determine whether a new Dane County action, a response, or a motion in an existing case is the right procedural step.
Read every current order, notice, scheduling instruction, and filing deadline before changing course or signing an agreement.
Organize financial records, parenting history, communications, calendars, and other material relevant to the disputed issues.
Pursue practical agreement where appropriate and prepare a clear evidentiary presentation when the court must decide.
From the first filing through a post-judgment dispute, the team evaluates the immediate issue and the decisions connected to it.
Strategy for pleadings, temporary orders, financial disclosure, property division, maintenance, settlement, and final hearings.
Explore DivorceChild-focused guidance for decision-making authority, parenting schedules, mediation, Guardian ad Litem issues, and contested hearings.
Explore CustodyInitial orders, income analysis, support calculations, enforcement, and requests to modify support after a substantial change.
Family Law OverviewPreparation for productive negotiation, mediation, cooperative processes, and durable written agreements when resolution is possible.
Explore MediationLegal guidance for parentage, parental rights, custody, placement, support, stepparent adoption, and other family-building matters.
View Family ServicesReview of existing orders, enforcement concerns, relocation, changed circumstances, and requests involving custody, placement, or support.
Discuss an Existing OrderThese answers are a starting point for Madison and Dane County families. Individual facts, orders, and court instructions control.
Many Madison family cases are handled through the Dane County Circuit Court at 215 South Hamilton Street, Room 1000, Madison, WI 53703. The correct county and filing location depend on residency, jurisdiction, existing orders, and the type of action, so confirm the requirements before submitting documents.
Wisconsin law generally requires at least one spouse to have lived in the state for six months and in the county of filing for at least 30 days before a divorce is filed. Special jurisdictional facts may affect where a case belongs.
Custody and physical placement disputes may involve mediation or other Dane County family court procedures. The steps depend on pending motions, safety concerns, prior orders, and direction from the court or family court commissioner.
Legal custody concerns authority to make major decisions for a child. Physical placement concerns when the child is in each parent's care. A parenting arrangement may address both, but they are legally distinct issues.
VHD Law serves clients in Madison and Dane County, but does not list an office in Madison. The nearest office currently listed by the firm is West Bend at 246 S 5th Ave., West Bend, WI 53095. Contact the firm to confirm the best office or meeting arrangement before traveling.
VHD Law does not list an office in Madison. The nearest currently listed office is in West Bend at 246 S 5th Ave., West Bend, WI 53095. Contact the firm to confirm attorney availability and the best meeting arrangement before traveling.
246 S 5th Ave.
West Bend, WI 53095
W175N11086 Stonewood Dr
Germantown, WI 53022
10589 S Highland Rd., Suite 9
Sister Bay, WI 54234
342 Louisiana Street
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Your first consultation is free. Share the Dane County case number if one exists, the current orders, the next hearing date, and the issue you need to resolve.
Provide the basic facts and a safe way to reach you. Sending the form does not create an attorney-client relationship.