Wisconsin divorce at a glance
Official source: Wisconsin court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in Wisconsin: step by step
Wisconsin is no-fault with a mandatory 120-day waiting period and a simple percentage-of-income child-support rule. Here is the path to your divorce.
- Confirm you can file in Wisconsin
One spouse must have lived in Wisconsin for 6 months and in the county for 30 days. Wisconsin is no-fault (irretrievably broken), with a mandatory 120-day wait.Source: Wis. Stat. § 767.315 - Generate the statewide forms
Prepare the Petition (or Joint Petition) for Divorce and Summons using the statewide mandatory forms.Source: Wisconsin statewide forms - File with the Circuit Court
File with the Circuit Court and pay about $184.50 ($194.50 if you request support/maintenance), or file a fee-waiver petition.Source: CV-410A/B (fee waiver) - Serve your spouse (or file jointly)
Serve your spouse, or file jointly so no service is needed.Source: Wis. Stat. § 801.11 - Set child support (if children)
Wisconsin child support is a percentage of the paying parent’s gross income (17% for one child, 25% for two, and so on) — use the calculator above.Source: Wis. Admin. Code DCF 150 - Finalize after the 120-day wait
After the 120-day waiting period, attend the final hearing; the court grants the divorce.Source: Wis. Stat. § 767.335
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in Wisconsin?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In Wisconsin you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat prepares your Wisconsin pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in Wisconsin
Percentage of the paying parent’s gross income (17% for one child, 25% for two, 29% for three, 31% for four, 34% for five or more). (Wis. Admin. Code DCF 150)
For example, a paying parent with $60,000 a year and two children (25%) would owe roughly $1,250 a month. Try your own numbers:
How long does a Wisconsin divorce take?
A mandatory 120-day waiting period from filing/service to the final hearing. After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons Wisconsin divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. Low–moderate. Statewide mandatory forms dominate; counties differ on family-court-commissioner procedures and parenting-class requirements.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
Wisconsin document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Wisconsin. In the meantime, the official Wisconsin court forms are linked below.
Official Wisconsin forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
Wisconsin divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Wisconsin divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Wisconsin to file for divorce?
6 months state + 30 days county.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Wisconsin?
$184.50; $194.50 when child support or maintenance is requested. Fee waiver: Petition for Waiver of Fees and Costs — Affidavit of Indigency (CV-410A/B). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.