Laster & Associates

How do you deal with a high-conflict co-parenting situation?

2026-09-09T10:14:10Z

Co-parenting is hard. When you are dealing with a high-conflict co-parent, it becomes even harder. It drains you emotionally and tests your patience daily. However, you can protect your children and yourself with the right approach. In Wisconsin, these conflicts matter legally. They affect placement exchanges, communication and decisions about your kids. However, state law provides tools and sets clear expectations for co-parenting after you separate or divorce. Furthermore, learning your options and using smart communication methods makes your life easier.

Follow exact orders

Outlined in Wisconsin Statutes Section 767.41, your guiding principle is the “best interest of the child.” Typically, most co-parents work under orders addressing legal custody (decision-making) and physical placement (your child’s housing). High conflict often arises when you and your co-parent have different interpretations of the order. High conflict often happens when each parent reads the order differently. If you are in a high-conflict situation, change your approach. The safest legal move is to follow the order exactly. Then, only make changes if both parents agree in writing to a temporary change.

Establish clear communication

Do texts or conversations turn into fights? Request a court-monitored app instead. Written communication helps in high-conflict cases. These apps create a permanent record that no one can edit. If needed, they work as evidence in Wisconsin family court. Keep messages short and focused only on your child. Do not respond to provocative statements. This reduces emotional triggers and stops fights before they start. Similarly, even without an app, put communications in writing. Whenever possible, avoid phone calls or face-to-face meetings when possible.

Consider professional services

Wisconsin counties offer helpful resources for those in high-conflict situations. Here are a few examples:

Family court services
Mediation options
Conflict reduction programs

Courts sometimes order mediation or other help. Thus, if you face repeated disputes, structured dispute resolution often works better. Additionally, a court can also appoint a parenting coordinator. They can help you resolve ongoing disputes without constant court involvement.

Legal strategies

Above all, remember that your behavior is always under scrutiny by the court. Do not “get back” at the other parent for problems like unpaid child support. Retaliation can create serious legal risk. For example, Wisconsin courts can find a parent in contempt or even treat certain actions as custody or placement violations. Instead, consider seeking a qualified family law professional to discuss modifying your current orders. Ultimately, getting legal counsel can better protect your peace of mind and your child’s well-being.

What happens if you die without a will in Wisconsin?

2026-08-24T13:45:03Z

If you die without a valid will in Wisconsin, you die intestate. State law then decides who receives property that does not pass another way. That outcome may not match your wishes, especially if you have children from a previous relationship.

Who inherits your property without a will?

Who inherits depends on which family members survive you. Wisconsin inheritance rules generally follow this order:

If you leave a spouse but no descendants, they generally inherit the entire estate.
If you leave a spouse and all your surviving descendants are also their descendants, your spouse generally receives the entire estate.
If at least one surviving descendant is not also your spouse’s descendant, different rules apply. Your spouse keeps their own half of marital property but does not inherit your half. Your descendants inherit your half. Your spouse also generally inherits half of certain nonmarital property.
If you have no surviving spouse, your descendants inherit first. If you have no descendants, your parents come next, followed by siblings and certain other relatives.

Marital property generally includes assets acquired during the marriage, although there are exceptions. If no eligible relatives survive you, your assets may eventually pass to the state’s school fund.

How are your assets handled without a will?

If probate is needed, a personal representative handles the process. This person gathers assets, pays valid debts and distributes what remains under state law. Not all assets pass this way. Some may go directly to another person because of a named beneficiary, transfer-on-death arrangement or ownership rights that pass the asset to a survivor. If the gross value of property subject to probate administration is $50,000 or less, the transfer-by-affidavit process may be available instead of full probate administration.

Make sure your plan reflects your wishes

Understanding Wisconsin’s default inheritance rules gives you a useful starting point. You can compare them with your own wishes and review whether your will, beneficiary designations and property ownership reflect those choices. If you have a blended family or questions about which assets would pass through your estate, an estate planning attorney can explain how the rules apply and identify estate planning documents that may need attention.

What you should know about international adoptions

2026-08-04T16:06:03Z

International adoption can be a meaningful way to grow your family, but it is different from adopting a child in the United States. Knowing what to expect before you begin can help you avoid surprises and prepare for each step. Here are some important things to know before you start.

International adoption follows multiple legal systems

International adoption must meet the laws of both the United States and the child's home country. That means you will likely need to follow two sets of rules before the adoption is complete. Each country decides who may adopt, what records are required and how children become eligible for adoption. U.S. immigration law also affects whether your child may enter the country after the adoption or placement. Once you return home, Wisconsin courts play a role in recognizing the adoption under state law. Because each step builds on the last one, it is important to understand how the different legal systems work together.

Documentation and approvals take time

Most international adoptions require a large amount of paperwork before the process can continue. Some records confirm your identity and family situation, while others help government officials decide whether legal requirements have been met. You may need to provide:

Proof of identity and citizenship
Income information
Background check results
A completed home study
Immigration forms

Some countries also ask for certified translations or additional records. Keeping everything organized can help you respond more quickly if you need to provide more information.

Timelines can vary from case to case

International adoption often takes time because several agencies and government offices must review your case. Even if you submit everything on time, you may still need to wait while each office completes its part of the process. The timeline may also change if the child's home country updates its adoption rules or requests more information. While waiting is never easy, knowing that delays are sometimes outside your control can help you set realistic expectations from the start.

Prepare for the journey ahead

Learning about international adoption before you begin can help you understand what the process may involve and where challenges are most likely to arise. Meeting with an adoption attorney early can help you learn which laws apply to your situation, review your paperwork and address potential issues before they slow your case. Even a little preparation at the beginning can make the process easier to manage as your adoption moves ahead.

How is child custody determined in Wisconsin?

2026-07-21T03:26:32Z

When parents separate or divorce, child custody often becomes one of the most important and emotional issues they face. If you are navigating a custody dispute in Wisconsin, understanding how courts make these decisions can help you prepare for the process and focus on what matters most your child's well-being.

What factors do Wisconsin courts consider?

Wisconsin courts make custody decisions based on the best interests of the child. Rather than favoring one parent over the other, judges evaluate each family's unique circumstances to determine the arrangement that best supports the child's health, safety, and development. The court may consider factors such as:

Each parent's ability to provide a safe, stable, and supportive home.
The child's relationship with each parent and other important family members.
Each parent's willingness to encourage a healthy relationship between the child and the other parent.
The child's adjustment to home, school, and community.
The mental and physical health of the parents, when relevant.
Any history of domestic violence, abuse, neglect, or substance abuse.

Depending on the child's age and maturity, the court may also consider the child's preferences, although those wishes do not determine the outcome.

Legal custody vs. physical placement

Wisconsin distinguishes between legal custody and physical placement. Legal custody refers to a parent's authority to make major decisions about the child's upbringing, including education, health care, and religious instruction. Physical placement determines where the child lives and how much time they spend with each parent. In many cases, courts award joint legal custody because they believe children benefit when both parents remain actively involved in important decisions. However, every family situation differs, and the court will tailor its orders to meet the child's best interests.

How can you strengthen your custody case?

Parents who focus on their child's needs often present stronger custody cases. You can help your case by:

Demonstrating your ability to provide a stable and supportive environment.
Following existing parenting schedules and court orders.
Maintaining respectful communication with the other parent.
Keeping detailed records of parenting time and significant events.
Remaining actively involved in your child's education, medical care, and daily life.

Judges generally look favorably on parents who encourage healthy co-parenting whenever appropriate.

Work with an experienced family law attorney

Child custody decisions can have a lasting impact on your family. An experienced Wisconsin family law attorney can explain the legal process, help you gather evidence, advocate for your parental rights, and work toward a custody arrangement that protects your child's best interests. If you have questions about child custody in Wisconsin, consulting a knowledgeable family law attorney can help you understand your options and pursue a parenting plan that supports your child's future.

What documents should you update first after divorce?

2026-07-15T08:44:15Z

Your divorce may be final, but there are still important legal and financial tasks to complete. Updating key documents helps ensure they reflect your new circumstances and reduces the chance of confusion or unintended consequences in the future. Here are some of the most important items you should immediately review.

Estate planning documents

Your estate plan should reflect your current wishes once your marriage ends. Review your will, trust and powers of attorney to make sure they still name the people you want making important decisions or receiving your property. If these documents no longer reflect your circumstances, they may give authority to someone you would not choose today. Reviewing them now helps ensure your future decisions remain in the hands of the people you trust.

Titles and ownership records

Some assets require more than a divorce judgment to show who owns them. If ownership of a home, vehicle or other property changed during your divorce, you may also need to update deeds, titles or account ownership. Completing these changes helps prevent confusion later and makes it easier to show who legally owns an asset if questions arise in the future.

Financial accounts and personal records

Keeping your personal records current helps your everyday affairs run more smoothly after a divorce. As you move into this new stage of life, review items such as:

Bank and investment accounts
Insurance policies
Your name on account records, if it has changed
Emergency contacts associated with your accounts

Making these updates helps ensure your information stays accurate and grants access only to the right people.

Give yourself a fresh start

If you are unsure which updates apply to your situation, legal guidance can help. An attorney can review your documents, identify anything you may have overlooked and answer questions before small issues become bigger ones. Completing these updates now can help prevent unnecessary problems later and ensure your records remain up to date.

What to do if you are falsely accused of burglary?

2026-06-24T14:35:57Z

A false accusation of burglary can turn your life upside down. It may affect your job, strain personal ties and leave you unsure about what comes next. If you have been arrested on suspicion of burglary, you may feel pressure to explain what happened. Knowing which steps to take can help you avoid choices that could harm your case.

Steps that can help strengthen your position

Before taking action, it helps to know what prosecutors must prove. In Wisconsin, a burglary charge usually requires proof that a person entered a building or dwelling without permission and intended to steal property or commit a felony inside. The prosecution must prove every required element beyond a reasonable doubt. Nonetheless, your choices after an accusation still matter. They may affect what proof remains available and how well you can respond to the allegations. Consider these approaches:

Remain silent: Avoid answering questions about the allegation without legal counsel present. Investigators may misunderstand your statements or interpret them differently than you intended.
Work with a defense attorney: An expert can review the facts, protect your rights during questioning and find weaknesses in the allegations.
Avoid contact with the accuser: Reaching out to the person involved can create added concerns. Others may also question your reasons for making contact.
Collect supporting evidence: Documents and records may help show where you were when the incident allegedly occurred. Examples may include receipts, security footage or witness statements.
Preserve existing records: Keep text messages, call logs and other details intact. Changing or destroying material can create separate legal issues and make the facts harder to review.

These steps can help protect information that may support your version of events. Clear records may also make it easier to compare the accusation with what actually happened.

Protecting your future

A burglary accusation can affect your reputation and job before a case ends. Because those consequences may arise quickly, careful choices can matter from the start. When records and witness accounts support your version of events, they can help create a clearer picture of what occurred. Taking prompt and thoughtful action can also help ensure that important information remains available as the matter moves forward.

Can saturation patrols lead to OWI arrests without alcohol?

2026-06-24T08:38:21Z

Ever wonder why you see a sudden surge of squad cars lining the highways during a holiday weekend? Saturation patrols are highly visible enforcement efforts scattered within an area. Instead of setting up a stationary checkpoint (which is illegal under Wisconsin law), law enforcement floods a specific area with extra roving officers. Their goal? To pull drivers over for the slightest technical infraction to see if it leads to an OWI arrest. If you have a professional license—or are in the process of getting one—you must understand how these intense patrols operate to protect your driving record and your career.

How innocent driving cues lead to prescription OWI investigations

During major holidays like Memorial Day, the Fourth of July or Labor Day, local police and the Wisconsin State Patrol send out extra manpower to high-traffic areas. Officers on saturation patrols are not just looking for outright, reckless speeding. They watch for hidden driving behaviors that might suggest that a driver should not be driving. Unfortunately, many completely innocent factors can seem dangerous, including:

Weaving slightly within a lane or drifting over the fog line.
Braking abruptly or driving significantly under the posted speed limit.
Delayed reactions to green lights or stop signs.

While exhaustion or a minor distraction can easily cause these mistakes, an officer on high alert will often interpret them as signs of intoxication.

The prescribed OWI risk in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) laws do not just involve alcohol. The state strictly bans driving under the influence of any substance that makes it unsafe for you to be behind the wheel. Police officers can arrest you for an OWI even if your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is a perfect 0.00%. Many adults take legal, doctor-prescribed medications to stay healthy without realizing it is a massive legal risk. The state can charge you with impaired driving if an officer thinks your driving is affected by:

Prescription painkillers or muscle relaxants
Anti-anxiety medications (such as Xanax or Valium)
Sleep aids taken the night before
Strong over-the-counter allergy medicines

Following your doctor’s instructions exactly will not automatically protect you from a Wisconsin OWI charge if the state believes you should not have been driving in the first place.

What is at stake for your professional license?

Facing an arrest for OWI is incredibly stressful for anyone. However, for everyday professionals like nurses, teachers, pilots, and business executives, the stakes are much higher. Just one conviction can trigger an official investigation by the state licensing board (the DSPS). While Wisconsin law generally gives you 30 days to report a criminal conviction, protecting your job and your future career requires a smart plan right away.

What is a transfer on death deed; how can it keep your home out of court?

2026-06-22T15:26:37Z

For many Wisconsin homeowners, the family home is the most valuable asset they own. It also tends to be one of the most frequent reasons that an estate ends up in probate. A transfer on death deed in Wisconsin offers a straightforward way to pass your home directly to a loved one without a judge, without delays and without the expense of the probate process.

What is a transfer on death deed?

A transfer on death deed (TOD deed) gives a property owner the power to name a beneficiary who will inherit the property upon the owner's death. Unlike a traditional deed, the beneficiary receives no ownership rights while you are alive. You remain in full control of your home, free to sell it, refinance it or even change your mind about who inherits it.

In Wisconsin, TOD deeds are governed under Wisconsin Statutes § 705.15. In order to ensure the document's validity, it requires a notary's signature and must be filed with your county's register of deeds before your death.

How does it keep your home out of probate?

When someone dies without a plan in place, the courts step in to oversee how their property is divided. That process, known as probate, can drag on for months or longer, and it comes with real costs including court filing fees, legal expenses and the loss of financial privacy. A TOD deed sidesteps this entirely. Ownership passes to your named beneficiary the moment you die, with no court involvement required. All they need to claim the property is a certified copy of your death certificate.

One important requirement Wisconsin homeowners often overlook

If you are married, your spouse must sign the TOD deed even if their name is not on the original property title. This requirement protects a surviving spouse's marital property rights under Wisconsin law and is a common reason TOD deeds are invalidated when not properly executed.

Is a TOD deed right for you?

A TOD deed is a simple, cost-effective planning tool, but it is not the right solution for every situation. Complex estates, blended families or properties with outstanding liens may require a more comprehensive approach.

Speaking with an estate planning attorney can help you make sure that your home and everything you have worked for ends up exactly where you intend.

How can unmarried same-sex co-parents create parenting plans in Wisconsin?

2026-06-01T11:07:06Z

When you are raising a child with your same-sex partner in Wisconsin without being married, creating a clear parenting plan is essential for your family's stability. While the laws continue to change, taking early steps can help protect your parental rights and your child's best interests.

Understanding your legal position

Wisconsin law does not automatically give parental rights to unmarried co-parents, regardless of sexual orientation. If you are the non-biological parent, you may face unique challenges in establishing your legal relationship with your child. This reality makes it important to consider making your parenting arrangement official through legal channels. You could consider creating a co-parenting agreement to outline your mutual intentions. However, it is important to know that private agreements regarding child custody and financial support are not independently binding. They must be reviewed and approved by a Wisconsin court to become legally enforceable.

Key elements to consider in your parenting plan

Your parenting plan would ideally cover several provisions to reduce future conflicts and confusion. Consider including details about physical custody schedules. These should specify where your child will live and when. You may also want to outline how you and your co-parent will make major decisions. This may include decisions about education, healthcare and religious upbringing. Financial responsibilities also deserve careful attention in your plan. Think about how you will handle child support and medical expenses. You might also want to consider other costs that come with raising your child. Being specific about these matters now can prevent disagreements later. Communication rules between co-parents may also strengthen your arrangement. You might set up guidelines for how you will discuss parenting issues. These guidelines can cover how you resolve disputes. They can also address how you keep each other informed about your child's welfare.

Moving forward with confidence

Creating a comprehensive parenting plan requires thoughtful consideration of your unique family situation. Knowing your rights and options is essential. Ideally, your parenting plan should evolve as your child grows and circumstances change. Regular reviews and updates can help keep your arrangement relevant. They can also keep it effective for your family's needs.

What is parallel parenting, and when do Milwaukee judges recommend it?

2026-05-29T14:27:31Z

Co-parenting after a breakup can feel tense when every exchange turns into a fight. Parallel parenting offers structure that lowers conflict and shields kids from adult disputes. You and the other parent run your homes separately with minimal direct contact. Clear rules and a detailed plan keep decisions on track and reduce chances for flare-ups.

What parallel parenting looks like

Parallel parenting works when you limit contact and rely on written tools. You set rules in advance so you do not need to negotiate at the curb. Keep these plan must-haves in mind:

Communication channel: Use email or a parenting app only, and keep messages short and child focused.
Exchange rules: Pick neutral sites, set exact times and add backup plans for delays.
Decision-making: Divide routine choices by domain, and name who decides school, medical and activities.
Tie-breakers: Build a step-by-step path for deadlocks, such as a set mediator or a neutral professional.
Information sharing: Set deadlines to upload report cards, schedules and doctor notes.
Boundaries: Bar direct contact at events, set rules for new partners and limit off-hours messages.

When you spell out details, you remove guesswork and give your child a calmer routine.

When Milwaukee judges may recommend it

Judges in Milwaukee favor parenting plans that lower conflict and protect your kids post-divorce. They may steer parents toward parallel parenting when cooperation keeps failing or contact feels unsafe. Watch for these signals and requirements:

Repeated fights at exchanges or school events that draw staff or security
Long threads of hostile texts that derail simple plans
No-contact or restraining conditions that block live talks
Ongoing disputes over day-to-day decisions that never resolve
Kids who report stress, missed activities or late pickups

In cases with minor children, the Family Court Commissioner orders both parents to attend a state-approved program about how separation affects children, up to four hours in length. Courts across Wisconsin accept Children In Between Online as a course option. Many families learn skills that fit a parallel model, like calm messaging and firm boundaries. Parallel parenting does not fix every issue but it can lower heat fast and keep kids out of the crossfire. Careful legal guidance could help you tailor a plan that fits Milwaukee practice, meets court requirements and gives your child steadier days.