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Paternity actions
Establishing legal paternity so custody, placement and support can be decided.
Milwaukee / Milwaukee County, WI
Milwaukee
Child Custody Lawyer Paternity comes first.
For parents who were never married, a Milwaukee custody or placement order usually begins with establishing legal paternity. VHD Law can help you understand how and what comes next.
Helping clients in Milwaukee and Milwaukee County
ServingMilwaukee, Wisconsin
CountyMilwaukee County
VHD OfficeGermantown
Practice FocusChild Custody & Placement
The support you need to move forward
Not married? Start with paternity.
When a child is born to parents who are not married to each other, the father is not automatically the child's legal parent. Until paternity is legally established, through a signed acknowledgment or a court order, a court generally cannot award him custody or placement, and he may have no enforceable schedule with his child.
Once paternity is established, the court can decide legal custody, physical placement and child support using the same best-interests standards that apply in divorce cases. In Milwaukee County, these cases often involve both parents and the state's child support agency, so understanding who is involved matters.
A parent without legal paternity often has no enforceable time with the child, no matter how involved he has been.
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Check whether paternity exists
Find out whether an acknowledgment was signed at birth or a court order was entered.
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Gather proof of involvement
School records, photos, messages and calendars that show your role in your child's life.
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Think about support
Child support is often decided in the same case as custody and placement.
Child Custody & Placement matters
Custody help for
Milwaukee parents.
We help married and unmarried parents in Milwaukee County with custody, placement and related issues.
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Legal custody
Joint or sole decision-making authority on major issues in a child's life.
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Physical placement
Creating a placement schedule that fits the child's needs and both parents' lives.
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Child support
How support is calculated alongside custody and placement.
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Enforcement
What to do when the other parent does not follow a placement order.
Legal guidance for your community
Family cases in Milwaukee County
Milwaukee County family cases are heard at the Milwaukee County Courthouse downtown. Many paternity and support cases involve the county's child support agency, which may file or participate in the case.
If you received papers from the child support agency or the court, bring them to your consultation. They show what has already been filed and what the next hearing is about.
Our Germantown office serves families across the Milwaukee area. Contact our team to discuss consultation options.
Find Wisconsin court contact informationYour attorney can explain which local court or agency is involved once the details of your matter are known.
What happens next
Securing your place in your child's life.
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Confirm where things stand
We check whether paternity has been established and what orders exist.
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File what is needed
If paternity or a custody order is missing, we discuss how to start the case.
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Propose a schedule
We help you present a placement plan focused on your child.
A closer look at your options
Child Custody & Placement for Milwaukee, Milwaukee County.
Many unmarried parents share caregiving informally for years without any court order. That works until it does not, and then there may be no order to enforce.
Putting an arrangement in an order protects both parents and the child; we can explain what that would involve.
Attorneys for your legal issue
Experienced Wisconsin counsel.
Get to know the VHD Law attorneys who work in this practice area. Contact our team to discuss appointments and your legal needs.
Divorce & Family Law
Linda S. Vanden Heuvel
Linda works with clients navigating divorce and other important family law decisions.
View Attorney Profile
Family Law, Custody & Mediation
Lisa M. Vanden Heuvel
Lisa helps families work through legal concerns involving children, relationships and changing circumstances.
View Attorney ProfileFrequently asked questions
Questions about child custody & placement in Milwaukee?
Questions Milwaukee parents ask about paternity, custody and placement.
Do I need to establish paternity to get custody?
If you were not married to the child's mother, yes. Paternity must be legally established, by acknowledgment or court order, before the court can award custody or placement to the father.
What is the difference between custody and placement?
In Wisconsin, legal custody is the right to make major decisions for the child. Physical placement is the time the child spends with each parent.
Is child support decided in the same case?
Often, yes. Child support is commonly addressed together with paternity, custody and placement.
Where are Milwaukee custody cases heard?
They are heard in the Milwaukee County Circuit Court at the courthouse downtown.
Related practice areas in Milwaukee
Explore Other Legal Services.
See other legal matters our team can discuss with clients in the area.
Let’s talk about your next step
A good next step starts
with a conversation.
Unmarried and need a custody or placement order in Milwaukee? Schedule a consultation to talk about paternity and your next step.