{"id":377327,"date":"2016-03-31T21:37:19","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:37:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/wisconsin-law\/wisconsin-legal-requirements-for-divorce.html"},"modified":"2025-02-21T16:49:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-21T21:49:51","slug":"wisconsin-legal-requirements-for-divorce","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/wisconsin-law\/wisconsin-legal-requirements-for-divorce.html","title":{"rendered":"Wisconsin Divorce Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Wisconsin Divorce Laws <\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

When we get married, we’re full of love and happiness. But it doesn’t always last. When things go south, a divorce<\/a> is often the only option.<\/p>\r\n

According to Wisconsin Statute 767.315<\/a>, you must affirm your marriage is irretrievably broken to qualify for divorce. You can also file for a no-fault divorce if you and your spouse have lived separately for at least 12 months.<\/p>\r\n

Wisconsin is one of the few states that recognize legal separation<\/a>. You can submit a separation agreement to the court when you decide to live apart. The court can issue temporary orders that align with your agreement. If you decide to get divorced, the court can convert your separation agreement to your marital settlement agreement.<\/p>\r\n

You don’t have to prove that you and your spouse lived separately before filing your divorce petition. If both parties agree that the marital relationship is broken, the court will begin divorce proceedings<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

This article will discuss Wisconsin divorce law<\/a> to help you better understand what will happen in your divorce case.<\/p>\r\n

Contested Divorce and Uncontested Divorce in Wisconsin<\/b><\/h2>\r\n

There are two types of divorce in Wisconsin: contested and uncontested. Uncontested divorces<\/a> take a lot less time and money to resolve. In this type of divorce, the parties agree to the divorce terms. You and your spouse can write a stipulation outlining the significant divorce terms.<\/p>\r\n

Your divorce attorney can submit a copy of your stipulation to the judge. If the judge approves it, they will move on with your final hearing. After this hearing is over, the court will issue your final divorce decree<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

In a contested divorce, the parties disagree on some or all material terms. Some of the outstanding issues in a contested divorce include:<\/p>\r\n