1999 Wisconsin Act 9

2. The modification sought would not substantially alter the amount of time that a parent may spend with his or her child.

3. The court determines any of the following:

a. That the appointment of a guardian ad litem will not assist the court in the determination regarding legal custody or physical placement because the facts or circumstances of the case make the likely determination clear.

b. That a party seeks the appointment of a guardian ad litem solely for a tactical purpose, or for the sole purpose of delay, and not for a purpose that is in the best interest of the child.

9,3051p Section 3051p. 767.045 (1) (e) of the statutes is created to read:

767.045 (1) (e) Nothing in this subsection prohibits the court from making a temporary order under s. 767.23 that concerns the child before a guardian ad litem is appointed or before the guardian ad litem has made a recommendation to the court, if the court determines that the temporary order is in the best interest of the child.

9,3051q Section 3051q. 767.045 (4m) of the statutes is created to read:

767.045 (4m) Status hearing. (a) Subject to par. (b), at any time after 120 days after a guardian ad litem is appointed under this section, a party may request that the court schedule a status hearing related to the actions taken and work performed by the guardian ad litem in the matter.

(b) A party may, not sooner than 120 days after a status hearing under this subsection is held, request that the court schedule another status hearing on the actions taken and work performed by the guardian ad litem in the matter.

9,3051r Section 3051r. 767.078 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

767.078 (1) (a) 1. Is an action for modification of a child support order under s. 767.32 or an action in which an order for child support is required under s. 767.25 (1), 767.51 (3) or 767.62 (4) (a).

9,3052 Section 3052. 767.078 (1) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.078 (1) (b) (intro.) Except as provided in par. (c) or (d), in a case involving a dependent child, if the child's parent who is absent from the home is not employed, the court shall order that parent to do one or more of the following:

9,3053 Section 3053. 767.078 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.078 (1) (c) An order is not required under par. (b) or (d) if the court makes written findings that there is good cause for not issuing the order.

9,3054 Section 3054. 767.078 (1) (d) of the statutes is repealed.

9,3054c Section 3054c. 767.078 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.078 (2) Subsection (1) does not limit the authority of a court to issue an order, other than an order under sub. (1), regarding employment of a parent in an action for modification of a child support order under s. 767.32 or an action in which an order for child support is required under s. 767.25 (1), 767.51 (3) or 767.62 (4) (a).

9,3054cd Section 3054cd. 767.11 (12) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.11 (12) (b) If after mediation under this section the parties do not reach agreement on legal custody or periods of physical placement, the parties or the mediator shall so notify the court. The Except as provided in s. 767.045 (1) (am), the court shall promptly appoint a guardian ad litem under s. 767.045. After the appointment Regardless of whether the court appoints a guardian ad litem, the court shall, if appropriate, refer the matter for a legal custody or physical placement study under sub. (14). If the parties come to agreement on legal custody or physical placement after the matter has been referred for a study, the study shall be terminated. The parties may return to mediation at any time before any trial of or final hearing on legal custody or periods of physical placement. If the parties return to mediation, the county shall collect any applicable fee under s. 814.615.

9,3054ce Section 3054ce. 767.115 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.115 (title) Educational program in action programs and classes in actions affecting the family.

9,3054cf Section 3054cf. 767.115 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

767.115 (4) (a) At any time during the pendency of a divorce or paternity action, the court or family court commissioner may order the parties to attend a class that is approved by the court or family court commissioner and that addresses such issues as child development, family dynamics, how parental separation affects a child's development and what parents can do to make raising a child in a separated situation less stressful for the child.

(b) The court or family court commissioner may not require the parties to attend a class under this subsection as a condition to the granting of the final judgment or order in the divorce or paternity action, however, the court or family court commissioner may refuse to hear a custody or physical placement motion of a party who refuses to attend a class ordered under this subsection.

(c) 1. Except as provided in subd. 2., the parties shall be responsible for any cost of attending the class.

2. If the court or family court commissioner finds that a party is indigent, any costs that would be the responsibility of that party shall be paid by the county.

9,3054cg Section 3054cg. 767.23 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.23 (1) (a) Upon Subject to s. 767.477, upon request of one party, granting legal custody of the minor children to the parties jointly, to one party solely or to a relative or agency specified under s. 767.24 (3). The , in a manner consistent with s. 767.24, except that the court or family court commissioner may order joint sole legal custody without the agreement of the other party and without the findings required under s. 767.24 (2) (b) 2. This order may not have a binding effect on a final custody determination.

9,3054ch Section 3054ch. 767.23 (1) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.23 (1) (am) Upon Subject to s. 767.477, upon the request of a party, granting periods of physical placement to a party in a manner consistent with s. 767.24. The court or family court commissioner shall make a determination under this paragraph within 30 days after the request for a temporary order regarding periods of physical placement is filed.

9,3054ci Section 3054ci. 767.23 (1) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.23 (1) (c) Requiring Subject to s. 767.477, requiring either party or both parties to make payments for the support of minor children, which payment amounts may be expressed as a percentage of parental income or as a fixed sum, or as a combination of both in the alternative by requiring payment of the greater or lesser of either a percentage of parental income or a fixed sum.

9,3054cj Section 3054cj. 767.23 (1) (k) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.23 (1) (k) Requiring Subject to s. 767.477, requiring either party or both parties to maintain minor children as beneficiaries on a health insurance policy or plan.

9,3054ck Section 3054ck. 767.23 (1n) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.23 (1n) Before making any temporary order under sub. (1), the court or family court commissioner shall consider those factors which that the court is required by this chapter to consider before entering a final judgment on the same subject matter. In making a determination under sub. (1) (a) or (am), the court or family court commissioner shall consider the factors under s. 767.24 (5). If the court or family court commissioner makes a temporary child support order that deviates from the amount of support that would be required by using the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9), the court or family court commissioner shall comply with the requirements of s. 767.25 (1n). A temporary order under sub. (1) may be based upon the written stipulation of the parties, subject to the approval of the court or the family court commissioner. Temporary orders made by the family court commissioner may be reviewed by the court as provided in s. 767.13 (6).

9,3054cL Section 3054cL. 767.24 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.24 (1) General provisions. In rendering a judgment of annulment, divorce or, legal separation or paternity, or in rendering a judgment in an action under s. 767.02 (1) (e) or 767.62 (3), the court shall make such provisions as it deems just and reasonable concerning the legal custody and physical placement of any minor child of the parties, as provided in this section.

9,3054cm Section 3054cm. 767.24 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

767.24 (1m) Parenting plan. In an action for annulment, divorce or legal separation, an action to determine paternity or an action under s. 767.02 (1) (e) or 767.62 (3) in which legal custody or physical placement is contested, a party seeking sole or joint legal custody or periods of physical placement shall file a parenting plan with the court before any pretrial conference. Except for cause shown, a party required to file a parenting plan under this subsection who does not timely file a parenting plan waives the right to object to the other party's parenting plan. A parenting plan shall provide information about the following questions:

(a) What legal custody or physical placement the parent is seeking.

(b) Where the parent lives currently and where the parent intends to live during the next 2 years. If there is evidence that the other parent engaged in interspousal battery, as described under s. 940.19 or 940.20 (1m), or domestic abuse, as defined in s. 813.12 (1) (a), with respect to the parent providing the parenting plan, the parent providing the parenting plan is not required to disclose the specific address but only a general description of where he or she currently lives and intends to live during the next 2 years.

(c) Where the parent works and the hours of employment. If there is evidence that the other parent engaged in interspousal battery, as described under s. 940.19 or 940.20 (1m), or domestic abuse, as defined in s. 813.12 (1) (a), with respect to the parent providing the parenting plan, the parent providing the parenting plan is not required to disclose the specific address but only a general description of where he or she works.

(d) Who will provide any necessary child care when the parent cannot and who will pay for the child care.

(e) Where the child will go to school.

(f) What doctor or health care facility will provide medical care for the child.

(g) How the child's medical expenses will be paid.

(h) What the child's religious commitment will be, if any.

(i) Who will make decisions about the child's education, medical care, choice of child care providers and extracurricular activities.

(j) How the holidays will be divided.

(k) What the child's summer schedule will be.

(L) Whether and how the child will be able to contact the other parent when the child has physical placement with the parent providing the parenting plan.

(m) How the parent proposes to resolve disagreements related to matters over which the court orders joint decision making.

(n) What child support, family support, maintenance or other income transfer there will be.

(o) If there is evidence that either party engaged in interspousal battery, as described under s. 940.19 or 940.20 (1m), or domestic abuse, as defined in s. 813.12 (1) (a), with respect to the other party, how the child will be transferred between the parties for the exercise of physical placement to ensure the safety of the child and the parties.

9,3054cn Section 3054cn. 767.24 (2) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.24 (2) (a) Subject to par. (b) pars. (am), (b) and (c), based on the best interest of the child and after considering the factors under sub. (5), the court may give joint legal custody or sole legal custody of a minor child.

9,3054co Section 3054co. 767.24 (2) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

767.24 (2) (am) The court shall presume that joint legal custody is in the best interest of the child.

9,3054cp Section 3054cp. 767.24 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.24 (2) (b) The court may give joint sole legal custody only if it finds that doing so is in the child's best interest and that either of the following applies:

1. Both parties agree to joint sole legal custody with the same party.

2. The parties do not agree to joint sole legal custody with the same party, but at least one party requests joint sole legal custody and the court specifically finds all any of the following:

a. Both parties are One party is not capable of performing parental duties and responsibilities and or does not wish to have an active role in raising the child.

b. No One or more conditions exist at that time which that would substantially interfere with the exercise of joint legal custody.

c. The parties will not be able to cooperate in the future decision making required under an award of joint legal custody. In making this finding the court shall consider, along with any other pertinent items, any reasons offered by a party objecting to joint legal custody. Evidence that either party engaged in abuse, as defined in s. 813.122 (1) (a), of the child, as defined in s. 48.02 (2), or evidence of interspousal battery, as described under s. 940.19 or 940.20 (1m), or domestic abuse, as defined in s. 813.12 (1) (a), creates a rebuttable presumption that the parties will not be able to cooperate in the future decision making required. This presumption may be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence that the abuse will not interfere with the parties' ability to cooperate in the future decision making required.

9,3054cq Section 3054cq. 767.24 (2) (c) of the statutes is created to read:

767.24 (2) (c) The court may not give sole legal custody to a parent who refuses to cooperate with the other parent if the court finds that the refusal to cooperate is unreasonable.

9,3054cr Section 3054cr. 767.24 (4) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 767.24 (4) (a) 1. and amended to read:

767.24 (4) (a) 1. Except as provided under par. (b), if the court orders sole or joint legal custody under sub. (2), the court shall allocate periods of physical placement between the parties in accordance with this subsection.

2. In determining the allocation of periods of physical placement, the court shall consider each case on the basis of the factors in sub. (5). The court shall set a placement schedule that allows the child to have regularly occurring, meaningful periods of physical placement with each parent and that maximizes the amount of time the child may spend with each parent, taking into account geographic separation and accommodations for different households.

9,3054cs Section 3054cs. 767.24 (4) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

767.24 (4) (a) 3. Notwithstanding subd. 2. and sub. (5), the court shall presume that any proposal submitted to the court with respect to periods of physical placement that has been voluntarily agreed to by the parties is in the child's best interest.

9,3054ct Section 3054ct. 767.24 (4) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.24 (4) (c) No court may deny periods of physical placement for failure to meet, or grant periods of physical placement for meeting, any financial obligation to the child or, if the parties were married, to the former spouse.

9,3054cu Section 3054cu. 767.24 (5) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.24 (5) Factors in custody and physical placement determinations. (intro.) In determining legal custody and periods of physical placement, the court shall consider all facts relevant to the best interest of the child. The court may not prefer one parent or potential custodian over the other on the basis of the sex or race of the parent or potential custodian. The court shall consider reports of appropriate professionals if admitted into evidence when legal custody or physical placement is contested. The court shall consider the following factors in making its determination:

9,3054cv Section 3054cv. 767.24 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

767.24 (5) (a) The wishes of the child's parent or parents, as shown by any stipulation between the parties, any proposed parenting plan or any legal custody or physical placement proposal submitted to the court at trial.

9,3054cw Section 3054cw. 767.24 (5) (bm) of the statutes is created to read:

767.24 (5) (bm) The right of the child to spend the same amount of time or substantial periods of time with each parent.

9,3054cx Section 3054cx. 767.24 (5) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

767.24 (5) (cm) The amount and quality of time that each parent has spent with the child in the past, any necessary changes to the parents' custodial roles and any reasonable life-style changes that a parent proposes to make to be able to spend time with the child in the future.

9,3054cy Section 3054cy. 767.24 (5) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:

767.24 (5) (dm) The age of the child and the child's developmental and educational needs at different ages.

9,3054cz Section 3054cz. 767.24 (5) (em) of the statutes is created to read:

767.24 (5) (em) The need for regularly occurring and meaningful periods of physical placement to provide predictability and stability for the child.

9,3054d Section 3054d. 767.24 (5) (fm) of the statutes is created to read: