Custody/ Placement

Custody is the right to make major decisions concerning a child. Major decisions include, but are not limited to, decisions regarding non emergency health care, choice of school, religion, consent to obtain driver's license, consent to marry or join military prior to age 18. Wis. Stat. 767.001 (2) and (2M). Custody may be “sole” with one parent or “joint” between both parents.

Placement is the time the child spends in the care of each parent.  Placement may be “primary” with one parent or “shared” equally between both parents.  Sometimes families have specific schedules that they have agreed to follow or that the court has ordered.
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Third Party Visitation is the term for a non-parent (grandparent, step-parent, great-grandparent) to request specific visitation time for a child.  This can be a complicated question and may require an attorney’s assistance, depending on the status of the child’s parents and if the family is involved in a current court case.  You should seek legal advice about requesting this information.  More information can be found here: http://wilawlibrary.gov/topics/familylaw/grandparents.php

Enforcement of Physical Placement is a process that is most commonly used in these scenarios:
  • You have “Primary placement” of your child and the other parents has not returned the child according to the court order or agreement.
  • You have a specific placement schedule and the other parent is not allowing you to see your child.

You may ask the court to hold the other parent in “contempt”, ask for a court order instructing the other parent to specifically follow the placement schedule, and / or ask for the court to set a more specific placement schedule.

Click here to learn more about child custody and placement.
Would you like to change custody / placement and BOTH parents AGREE on the change?
Would you like to change custody / placement and the parents DO NOT agree on the change ?
Do you want to go to court because your child's other parent is not following a court order regarding custody or placement?
  • CONTEMPT for custody
  • ENFORCEMENT of PHYSICAL PLACEMENT for specific placement schedules or court-ordered shared placement without a schedule. (If you do not have a specific placement schedule, you may considering changing the court order to request a specific schedule.  See Modification or Parenting Conferences).
Do you disagree with a court commissioner's ruling about the custody or placement and want to have it looked at by a judge?

​Are you moving with the children further than 100 miles from the other parent? 

​How do I get the papers to my spouse/other parent/other party?
Would you like to reopen a paternity case for DNA testing?
 Would you like more information about custody or placement?
Would you like help finding a lawyer?
Would you like information on how to resolve disagreements with your child’s other parent without having to go to court?