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Recent Blog Posts
Determining Child Support When a Parent is Voluntarily Unemployed
Whether married, unmarried, or divorced, parents are legally obligated to provide financial support for their children. Parents must ensure that their children have the resources needed on a day-to-day basis, including food, shelter, clothing, and other basic requirements.
Child support is based on the income that a parent earns, and it is typically paid by a non-custodial parent to a custodial parent. When parents experience an increase or decrease in the amount of income they earn, they should be sure to understand how these changes will affect their child support obligations.
Wisconsin Child Support Calculations
Wisconsin uses a “percentage of income” standard to determine child support payment amounts. A paying parent’s child support obligation is calculated using a percentage of his or her gross income that is based on the number of children being supported. The following percentages are used to determine Wisconsin child support payments:
Young Parents and the Importance of Establishing Paternity
All children have the right to receive support from both of their parents. When a child is born to unmarried parents, however, it is thus necessary to legally establish the child’s paternity. Doing so allows a child’s custodial parent to receive financial support from the other parent and provides both parents with rights to share in custody and visitation of their children. Moreover, the establishment of paternity gives children rights to inherit their parent’s assets, to access family health history, and to receive insurance or Social Security benefits.
In many cases, establishing paternity is a straightforward process. However, when one or both parents are under the age of 18, complications can arise.
Establishing Paternity for Minor Parents
Can the US Government Regulate Bitcoin and Other Cryptocurrencies?
By: Kenneth Baker & Jason Luczak
If you haven’t heard of Bitcoin by now, you haven’t been paying attention. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies such as Litecoin, Ethereum, and Ripple have dominated headlines for the past six months. Cryptocurrencies are digital assets designed to work as a medium of exchange that uses cryptography to secure its transactions, to control the creation of additional units, and to verify the transfer of assets. What does that mean? Basically, it is a computer generated asset that is capable of being bought and sold. There is a finite number of Bitcoins, which creates demand, and therefore creates value for the crypto-asset. The Blockchain is what secures the cryptocurrency. Blockchain technology is a public ledger that tracks Bitcoin transactions. Every second, millions of people are buying and selling Bitcoin. Every transaction has a specific transaction code and is part of the Bitcoin Blockchain. This procedure creates a record of authenticity that is verifiable by a user community, increasing transparency and reducing fraud. This is where miners come in.
How an Attorney Can Assist With Residential Transactions and Offers to Purchase Real Estate in Wisconsin
Whether you are selling your home, or thinking about buying a new home, you should consult with an experienced Wisconsin real estate attorney before you sign a residential offer to purchase. When a buyer makes an offer to purchase a home, and the seller accepts the offer, both parties typically sign a residential offer to purchase. The offer to purchase then becomes an enforceable contract. As a contract, the offer to purchase is the key document that governs the real estate transaction. Both parties are bound by its terms as they work towards completing home sale or purchase.
In order to ensure that the offer to purchase protects the parties’ rights and interests, and details the parties’ intentions, it is essential to consult with an attorney who can advise you and draft the offer to purchase in your favor. Some considerations for the offer to purchase include:
Common Car Accidents Caused By Winter Weather
Winter in the Midwest brings bitter cold and a great deal of snow and ice. While these conditions are often seen as an inconvenience, they can have a major impact on roadway safety. Every year, winter car accidents lead to more than 1,300 deaths and 116,000 injuries across the United States. People should be aware of the potential for accidents that can result from the following causes.
Slippery Roads
Snow and ice on the road can create a major hazard for drivers, affecting their ability to slow down, stop properly, and negotiate turns and hills. “Black ice,” which results when a thin layer of water freezes on the road, can be especially dangerous, since it is difficult to recognize and can lead to a complete loss of control of a driver’s vehicle.
Compensation for People Who Have Been Wrongfully Imprisoned
When a person is accused of a crime in the United States, he or she is presumed innocent until proven guilty—our legal system is meant to protect the innocent. However, all too often, miscarriages of justice occur, and people are convicted of crimes they did not commit.
When someone is wrongfully imprisoned and he or she is later exonerated, the individual deserves to be compensated for the time he or she was incarcerated. Unfortunately, the amount of compensation that exonerees are eligible to receive is often inadequate.
Compensation for Exonerees in Wisconsin
Under current Wisconsin law, a person who was convicted of a crime and served a prison sentence but was later found to be innocent can petition the state claims board for relief. However, the amount of compensation he or she can receive is limited to $5,000 per year of imprisonment and a total of $25,000. This statutory compensation cap is the lowest of any state in the United States.
Proposed Wisconsin Legislation Will Expand Texting While Driving Law
By: Kenneth John Anthony Baker
In August, the Wisconsin Assembly proposed new legislation that will expand on current texting while driving laws. Under current law, it is illegal for a person to engage in certain activities while driving a motor vehicle. One of the activities prohibited by the inattentive driving statute is driving any motor vehicle “while composing or sending an electronic text message. This prohibition on texting and emailing while driving does not apply to operators of emergency vehicles and hands-free devices. The authors of the bill list three main reasons the bill is necessary:
- Data distracted driving is a serious problem;
- Wisconsin law needs an update to keep pace with smart phone technology; and
- Wisconsin’s penalties are now out of step with neighboring states.
Filing a Divorce Petition and Response in Wisconsin
People get divorced every day. Yet despite the practice being common in the United States, many people are unfamiliar with the steps that must be followed and the legal obligations that must be met.
If you are considering divorce , the first step you will need to take is to file a petition for divorce. If your spouse has filed a petition for divorce, you will need to file a response. Consider the following procedures for completing these initial steps of the divorce process in Wisconsin.
File a Petition for Divorce
In Wisconsin, spouses may file for divorce either jointly or separately, and the forms which must be filed differ depending on whether they have minor children or not. If spouses file together, they will file either a Joint Petition With Minor Children or a Joint Petition Without Minor Children.
Medical License Concerns When Investigated by the Wisconsin Medical Examining Board
As a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional, you have worked hard to obtain the professional license that allows you to practice medicine. After putting in years of work to achieve the required education and training, a threat to your license can endanger your career and your ability to earn an income. When you are facing a disciplinary investigation, it is important to understand your rights as you work to defend your medical license.
The Department of Safety and Professional Services governs professional licenses in Wisconsin, and the Medical Examining Board (MEB) is tasked with investigating and reviewing complaints against medical professionals. If you are being investigated by the MEB, it is important to understand the legal ramifications of the decisions you make.
Your Rights in a MEB Investigation
Avoiding Common Winter Slip and Fall Injuries
The winter season is upon us — temperatures are dropping, cold winds are blowing, and snow and ice are likely to build up on every outdoor surface. As you prepare for cold weather by wearing warm clothing, making sure your house is insulated, and keeping winter supplies on hand, also be aware of the increased danger of slip and fall injuries caused by slippery walking surfaces.
Common Winter Injuries
Snow and ice on roads, sidewalks, and driveways present a major hazard, and melting snow and ice can also lead to wet, slick floors, creating additional dangers nearly everywhere people will be walking in the winter. These conditions can lead to a wide variety of injuries, including:
- Head injuries - Slipping on an icy sidewalk or wet floor and hitting one’s head on the ground, pavement, or a nearby object can result in traumatic brain injury, which can be very serious. Symptoms of brain injuries do not always show up right away; therefore, be aware of any headaches, nausea, dizziness, memory loss, confusion, or loss of consciousness.
