Clear, steady legal guidance for divorce, child custody, physical placement, support, mediation, paternity, adoption, and post-judgment matters across Wisconsin.
No two families have the same history, priorities, property, parenting concerns, or tolerance for conflict. The right legal plan begins with careful listening, a review of the documents and deadlines, and an honest assessment of the available paths.
Vanden Heuvel & Dineen, S.C. helps clients evaluate negotiation, mediation, cooperative resolution, and litigation when court intervention is necessary.
A divorce or custody dispute rarely involves just one issue. Parenting schedules can affect support. Property decisions can affect housing and cash flow. Temporary orders can influence daily life while a case is pending.
The firm works to connect those pieces, explain the tradeoffs in plain English, and prepare each matter for practical resolution or court.
General information only. See Wis. Stat. § 767.301 and Wis. Stat. § 767.335. Exceptions and jurisdictional issues require individual review.
Identify deadlines, safety concerns, existing orders, financial pressure, and decisions that should not be made without advice.
Gather court papers, financial statements, tax returns, account records, parenting calendars, and important communications.
Evaluate negotiation, mediation, temporary orders, discovery, settlement, or litigation based on the facts and level of conflict.
Build a practical plan for parenting, property, support, and implementation—not just the next court date.
Start with the issue in front of you. The attorneys will also evaluate related concerns that may affect the final plan.
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 provide a general starting point. A consultation can connect the law to your facts, county, orders, and deadlines.
A family lawyer can advise and represent clients in divorce, legal custody, physical placement, child support, maintenance, paternity, adoption, mediation, premarital agreements, and post-judgment disputes. The right strategy depends on the family, the existing orders, and the goals of the client.
Wisconsin law generally requires at least one spouse to have lived in Wisconsin for six months and in the county of filing for at least 30 days before a divorce is filed. Jurisdiction and venue can be fact-specific, so confirm the filing county before starting the case.
Wisconsin generally has a 120-day minimum waiting period before the final hearing, measured from service of the summons and petition or the filing of a joint petition. Contested issues, discovery, evaluations, court scheduling, and settlement can make a case take longer.
Legal custody concerns authority to make major decisions for a child. Physical placement concerns when a child is in each parent’s care. Both are evaluated under Wisconsin law with the child’s best interests at the center.
Many matters resolve through direct negotiation, mediation, cooperative processes, or a written stipulation. When agreement is not safe or achievable, the attorneys can prepare for hearings and trial.
Choose a convenient office, or contact the firm to discuss the best meeting arrangement for your matter.
W175N11086 Stonewood Dr
Germantown, WI 53022
246 S 5th Ave.
West Bend, WI 53095
10589 S Highland Rd., Suite 9
Sister Bay, WI 54234
342 Louisiana Street
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Your first consultation is free. Share the issue, the county, any existing orders, and upcoming deadlines so the team can help you identify the next step.
Provide the basic facts and a safe way to reach you. Sending the form does not create an attorney-client relationship.