Handling a Basic Divorce 2024

  • OnDemand seminar
  • Family Law
View schedule and faculty
Handling a Basic Divorce 2024

Endorsed by the Family Law Section and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin

The basics of breakups

Because every divorce is different, family lawyers must possess a wide range of skills and legal knowledge. Understand the key components of divorce and be prepared to address common scenarios with help from Handling a Basic Divorce.

Explore the unique procedural elements of legal separation, annulments, and divorce proceedings. Experienced practitioners will provide:

  • Insights on managing client expectations and helping them achieve their desired results
  • Tips for client interviews, conflict checks, referrals, and research
  • An overview of property division, support, and custody and placement issues
  • Effective and ethical fact gathering strategies
  • Advice for assembling compelling exhibits

9:00 am
The Elements of Divorce

Amy T. Collins O’Hara

  • Understand the differences between legal separation, annulments, and divorce and the jurisdictional requirements of each
  • Get an overview of the primary substantive aspects of divorce: property division, maintenance, custody, placement, child support, and the role of guardians ad litem
  • Learn different ways to resolve family law issues outside of litigation
  • Tips and tricks for managing client expectations and helping clients achieve the results they want
9:50 am
Client Interviews and Divorce Process Tools

Ashley J. Richter

  • Triage: Listening for issues, identifying red flags, formulating a response
  • Possibility of physical harm or depletion of assets
  • Conflict checks
  • Retainer and billing process
  • Filing the information: petition, confidential addendum, notice of retainer
  • Referrals to other professionals
  • Temporary orders, restraining orders, and other initial actions
  • Legal resources and research tools
10:40 am
Break
11:00 am
Getting Started: Discovery

Megan E. Corning

  • When is formal or informal discovery actually needed?
  • Avoid common mistakes in formal written discovery, abusing the discovery process, and the pitfalls of “scorched earth” attitudes
    • • Best practices to supplement further discovery including depositions and e-discovery
11:50 am
Lunch (on your own)
1:00 pm
Trial Preparation

Megan E. Corning

  • Organize your argument: tips on your outline
  • Assist your witness in their presentation
  • Organize your exhibits/trial binder
  • Prepare for arguments on rules of evidence: avoid objections, and when they are not avoidable, overcome objections to your evidence
1:50 pm
Post-Judgment Issues

Christopher S. Krimmer

  • Post-judgment tasks for the attorney before closing the client file
  • How and when to file a motion to revise custody, placement, maintenance, and child support
  • How and when to file a contempt motion and the appropriate purge conditions to request from the court
  • Tips for provisions to include in Marital Settlement Agreements that avoid issues or disputes for the parties after the divorce.
2:40 pm
Program Concludes
Amy T. Collins
O’Hara Stafford Rosenbaum LLP · Madison
Megan E. Corning
Your Family Law Center, S.C. · Madison
Christopher S. Krimmer
Forward Legal Services LLC · Madison
Ashley J. Richter
Richter & Phillips LLP · Madison

Sponsored by

Interested in sponsoring this program? Find out more.

  • Understand the basic elements of a divorce
  • Know the differences between legal separation, annulment, and divorce
  • Gain tips for effective client interviews and trial preparation
  • Learn best practices for discovery, mediation, and negotiation
  • Examine the components of settlement agreements
  • Find out how to handle common post-judgment issues
  • New lawyers
  • Attorneys new to family law practice
  • Lawyers considering adding family law to their practice
  • Lawyers seeking a refresher in family law
  • Lawyers looking to take GAL appointments

YLD Discount!

Young Lawyers Division members receive a $20 discount on tuition.* Discount applied automatically upon log-in.

*Young Lawyers Division Members are State Bar member attorneys 36 years of age or younger, or within five years of admission to the State Bar of Wisconsin. If you’ve opted out of YLD, you will not receive this discount. The $20 discount only applies to in-person, live webcast, and webcast replay versions of this seminar – not CLE OnDemand.. YLD members with Ultimate Passes, other CLE passes, or PINNACLE discounts are not eligible for this discount.

Book Bonus!

Family Law in Wisconsin: A Forms and Procedures Handbook
Save 15% on Family Law in Wisconsin: A Forms and Procedures Handbook.* Tame the clutter and complexity of family law cases with this tool designed to streamline your practice.Use discount code CA3594 when you order online or by calling (800) 728-7788.

*Discount applies to both print and digital Books Unbound editions of this title and cannot be applied to previous purchases. Offer valid through 12/31/25. For Books Unbound users, discount may be applied to purchase of individual Books Unbound title only and may not be used on purchase of libraries. Discount cannot be combined with any other offers.

BYP

The Build Your Practice Series from State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE® introduces you to the fundamentals of various practice areas. Gain the tools and information you need to develop a new area of practice and expand your firm's offerings. Build Your Practice Series programs are endorsed by the State Bar's Young Lawyers Division.