Wisconsin divorce: 5 signs that you need to lawyer up

Marital disputes can turn ugly in no time. If you and your spouse have reached a point where there is no room for reconciliation, getting a divorce may seem like the only option. In Wisconsin, you have to wait for at least 120 days to get through the process, and while you don’t need to hire a lawyer to file for divorce, it could be an essential step for your rights and interests. Here are five signs that you need to hire a Wisconsin divorce attorney for your case.

Your ex has all guns blazing. If your spouse has made it clear that they wouldn’t compromise on any aspect and has hired an attorney for the divorce, you need legal counsel too. People often forget that there are no winners in a divorce, but because it could be a case of power imbalance, hiring a lawyer is a wise thing to do.
You have considerable marital assets. If you and your spouse have considerable assets and debts together, you should consider seeking legal advice. Wisconsin is a community property state, which means assets would be divided equally between the spouses. Your spouse may try to deny your rights, and an attorney can take up the battle for you.
Your spouse has been hiding assets or income. Experienced divorce lawyers know what it takes to uncover hidden income and assets, and they often do their share of investigation to find details that would help their clients. If you think your spouse is capable of doing something like that, consider talking to a lawyer.
You have a child custody battle. Matters concerning child custody are not only sensitive but often hard to discuss, especially if the spouses are not on talking terms. To protect the best interests of your child, get a lawyer who has experience working on child custody matters.
You have reasons to believe that your spouse can harm you. In case your spouse has threatened you, it is wise to get an attorney to understand how you can stay safe, which could also mean getting a restraining order.

While you may hope that the divorce would be an amicable one, things may not pan out as expected. For something like child custody or alimony, an attorney can assure you don’t settle for less. Just make sure you hire an attorney with relevant experience in similar matters.