Milwaukee Family Law Blog

Revising your health care proxy after divorce

On behalf of Stephanie Benske of Brazil & Benske, LLC posted in divorce on Friday, January 11, 2019.

Many people understand the different ways in which their lives are affected by the divorce process, such as those who have to deal with a custody dispute, child support payments, alimony, property division or some other common family law matter. It is crucial to keep in mind that some people face unique responsibilities during and after their divorce. For example, someone may have to make changes to their estate plan or revise their health care proxy following the end of their marriage. There are various reasons why it may be crucial to look over your health care proxy after divorce and make any necessary changes.

Often, people who set up a health care proxy grant their spouse the power to make key health care decisions for them in the event that they become incapacitated. For example, if someone is incapacitated following an unexpected motor vehicle crash, their spouse may have the ability to step in and make crucial decisions related to the victim’s health care.

4 signs you should adopt a child

On behalf of Stephanie Benske of Brazil & Benske, LLC on Monday, January 7, 2019.

Every child deserves to grow up in a warm and welcoming environment. Unfortunately, for many children in Wisconsin, the possibility of joining an inclusive family seems to be moving further and further away from reach.

Adopting a child is not right for everyone. Before deciding to pursue adoption, you should be certain you have weighed its benefits and drawbacks. If you are on the fence, however, you may want to look for certain signs that adoption may be a good fit for you. Here are four signs you should adopt a child.

Anxiety and high-asset divorce

On behalf of Stephanie Benske of Brazil & Benske, LLC posted in high asset divorce on Friday, January 4, 2019.

Preparing for a divorce can be incredibly hard for anyone, regardless of their financial circumstances or whether they have children. For certain couples, the process of divorce can be even more complicated, such as those who have a high net worth. If you are getting ready for divorce and you are in this position, you may have even more things to take into consideration and you could be especially worried about the potential financial repercussions of ending your marriage. By doing everything you can to prepare yourself, you may be able to ease some of your fears and even increase the odds of a favorable outcome.

There may be a number of things to worry about for someone with a high net worth with respect to the process of divorce. First, the various financial aspects of family law can be stressful and costly, such as alimony, child support payments and property division. Moreover, people may worry how their divorce will impact their lives in other ways, such as the possible ways in which a business they run could be affected by their marriage coming to an end.

Finding happiness after divorce

On behalf of Stephanie Benske of Brazil & Benske, LLC posted in divorce on Friday, December 28, 2018.

People sometimes view divorce as an experience that is negative, overall, and very challenging. While this can be true in some cases, it is important to consider the different benefits that may be associated with divorce. For example, someone who is in the middle of an unhealthy and unhappy marriage may find that breaking up with their spouse brings a number of positive changes in their life. Ultimately, every couple is in a different position, so it is important for you to approach your divorce (and life after divorce) from a unique perspective.

There are a number of ways in which ending a toxic marriage can improve one’s life. For example, you may be able to find a sense of calm and pursue your goals once your marriage is over. From moving to a new place for work to pursuing activities that you have not been able to enjoy due to your marriage, there are many different ways in which divorce can change things for the better. If you have kids, they may benefit as well, especially in instances where verbal or even physical abuse were present.

How to budget during divorce

On behalf of Stephanie Benske of Brazil & Benske, LLC on Friday, December 28, 2018.

Divorce rates have substantially fallen in recent years. The Guardian reported that in 2018, the United States divorce rate was the lowest it has been in 45 years, and with any luck, that rate will continue to drop in years to come.

For now, many people in Wisconsin still contend with divorce. It is a difficult time that can stretch for months or even years, depending on how much you and your former spouse can agree upon. During this time, you need to budget accordingly so you can have a healthy post-divorce life.

Items with sentimental value and property division

On behalf of Stephanie Benske of Brazil & Benske, LLC posted in property division on Saturday, December 22, 2018.

When marital property is split up, all sorts of different problems may arise. Some people may become very upset with the way in which marital property was split up, while others may suffer negative financial consequences. Moreover, losing property can have more than just a financial impact on someone, it can also have a strong effect on them emotionally. For example, items that have sentimental value may be especially difficult to lose, such as something that was given to a person by a relative who is now deceased.

When it comes to sentimental value and property distribution, some people are able to retain these assets and others are not. Not only do the laws from one state to the next vary, but some people are able to work through these issues with their spouse on an amicable level, while others are highly contentious. It is crucial to take a thorough look at your options if you are worried about losing some of your marital property that has sentimental value. You could benefit from going over the situation with your spouse, or it may be necessary to take a different approach.

How can I lessen family conflict over the holidays?

On behalf of Stephanie Benske of Brazil & Benske, LLC posted in child custody & support on Sunday, December 16, 2018.

The holiday season can be tough for recently divorced couples in Wisconsin. This is especially true when it comes to celebrations and gatherings, where those in attendance may cause problems among family members. While conflict can’t be avoided, there are steps you can take to reduce family stress, which can be exacerbated by a recent separation. Very Well Mind offers the following tips so you can make it through this holiday season unscathed.

Prepare yourself for issues

High asset divorce and your investments

On behalf of Stephanie Benske of Brazil & Benske, LLC posted in high asset divorce on Saturday, December 15, 2018.

Whether you have made a fortune by investing in the stock market or you have recently come across large sums of money due to cryptocurrency investments, you may be worried about how your divorce will affect your investments. This is a serious concern for many people who have significant assets and it is important to do what you can to make this transition easier. To be clear, divorce is often an incredibly difficult time in one's life, but there are different strategies that may help you protect yourself emotionally and financially. In Milwaukee and all over Wisconsin, recognizing these steps is an important part of approaching divorce.

First, you should take a thorough look at all of your different options. For example, there could be different divorce options on the table, from the collaborative process to minimizing conflict with your ex via open communication. You should also make sure that you do not rush when approaching your divorce. Although you may feel antsy and simply want to leave your toxic marriage behind promptly, this can lead to additional problems later on. Make sure that you take a careful, collected and rational approach to the end of your marriage.

Breaking up with a narcissistic spouse

On behalf of Stephanie Benske of Brazil & Benske, LLC posted in divorce on Friday, November 30, 2018.

Married couples find themselves in court moving forward with a divorce for countless reasons. Some are the result of an unexpected incident, such as a one-off occurrence of domestic violence, while other couples break up over longstanding challenges that they have been dealing with throughout the course of their marriage. For example, some people may not be compatible with respect to their personalities, such as someone who is very narcissistic. If your spouse displays signs of narcissism, it may be helpful to take this into consideration during the divorce process. It is important to avoid being judgmental in life, but there are times when you may need to pay special attention to these details, especially if you will be involved in a custody dispute, for example.

Ending a marriage with a narcissist can be challenging for many reasons. For one, they may be worried about protecting their reputation and they could spread lies about you in an attempt to make themselves look better. They may bring you down by making false claims about you on social media, for example. A narcissist may also have certain personality traits and social abilities that impact how they present their case in the courtroom. Moreover, these divorces can be full of conflict and very contentious.

4 signs you are not receiving enough child support

On behalf of Stephanie Benske of Brazil & Benske, LLC on Friday, November 30, 2018.

Like many women in Milwaukee, you thought you had found the perfect spouse. As you and your husband raised children and pursued different careers, however, you grew apart. Following your divorce, you focus much of your attention on the wellbeing of your kids.

To provide care for your children, you rely on child support. While payments may have been enough during the first few years after your divorce, they may now seem grossly inadequate. Here are four signs it may be time to seek a modification of your child support order.