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Wisconsin family law distinguishes between legal custody and physical placement. Legal custody is the right of a parent to make major decisions about a child, such as decisions about education, health care, and other important matters. Physical placement determines when a child will live with or be cared for by each parent. Legal custody can be shared with unequal physical placement by parents. When parents cannot agree on a custody arrangement, the court will consider the circumstances of the family and make a determination of what is in the best interests of the child.
There is no one custody arrangement that fits every family. Wisconsin courts might look at things like how each parent relates to the child, what the child needs developmentally and educationally, how much time each parent has spent taking care of the child, how well the parents can talk and work together, and how the child is adjusting to home, school, and the community. Safety concerns and evidence of abuse can also have a significant effect on a custody or placement decision. So whether you are drawing up a parenting arrangement for the first time or are in dispute over an existing order, understanding how these factors may apply to your family can help you make informed decisions.
Disagreements over custody can become stressful very quickly when parents disagree about schedules, decision-making authority, relocation or changes to existing arrangements. At O’Flaherty Law, we partner with Beloit parents and the surrounding communities to understand what is most important to you and create a plan that works for you. We can help with negotiated parenting agreements, mediation, contested custody and placement issues, modifications and enforcement issues. Our goal is to communicate clearly throughout the process as we work toward an outcome that protects your parental rights and supports the long-term well-being of your child.
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The purpose of a consultation is to determine whether our firm is a good fit for your legal needs. Although we often discuss expected results and costs, our attorneys do not give legal advice unless and until you choose to retain us.
I am personally committed to ensuring that each one of our clients receives the highest level of client service from our team. Our mission is to provide excellent legal work in a cost-effective manner while maintaining open lines of communication between our clients and their attorneys. Many of our clients are going through difficult times in their lives when they reach out to us. They should feel comfortable leaning on the experience and knowledge of our attorneys as their counselors and advocates. We are here to help!

A child's wishes may be considered, but a child does not automatically get to decide where they will live at a particular age. The court considers the child's wishes along with many other factors affecting the child's best interests. Depending on the case, the child's preferences may be communicated through a guardian ad litem or another appropriate professional rather than having the child directly participate in the parents' dispute.
Possibly. Wisconsin law allows parents to request changes to legal custody or physical placement orders, but the requirements depend on the type of change requested and how much time has passed since the existing order was entered. Significant modifications can be more difficult during the first two years after a final custody or placement judgment. An attorney can review the current order and the circumstances that have changed to determine what options may be available.
If a parent repeatedly refuses to follow a court-ordered physical placement schedule, the other parent may have options to ask the court to enforce the order. It can be helpful to keep records of missed exchanges, denied placement, communications between the parents, and efforts to resolve the issue. Avoid making your own changes to the court order in response, as that can create additional problems. A Beloit child custody lawyer can help determine the appropriate way to address ongoing placement violations.