Lawyer Directory & State Resources.

Legal Action of Wisconsin — legalaction.org — 1-855-947-2529

39 southern Wisconsin counties, 6 offices. Free civil legal aid for low-income individuals. Family law services for DV victims and specialized populations. Madison office: 608-256-3304.

Wisconsin Judicare — judicare.org — 1-800-477-7322

33 northern Wisconsin counties. Civil legal aid for low-income residents.

Farmworker Project — 1-800-324-9090 (Legal Action of Wisconsin)

State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral Service (LRS)

Phone: 1-800-362-9082 or 608-257-4666

Website: wisbar.org

Free initial consultation with referral attorney. Online service available 24/7. You'll be matched with an attorney who handles family law in your area.

Wisconsin does NOT have formal state board certification for family law specialists. Look for:

• AAML (American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers) membership
• State Bar of Wisconsin Family Law Section membership
• NBTA (National Board of Trial Advocacy) Family Trial Law certification
• Extensive experience in Wisconsin Circuit Court family law cases

Hourly rate: $200-$450/hour (varies by county — Milwaukee/Dane typically higher)

Retainer: $2,500-$7,500 typical for contested custody cases

Flat-fee: Some offer uncontested divorce packages $1,500-$3,000

GAL costs: $1,000-$3,000 total (each parent typically deposits $1,000)

Ask about payment plans, limited scope representation (where the lawyer helps with specific tasks rather than the whole case), and whether they offer a free initial consultation.

Wisconsin Court System: wicourts.gov

Self-Help Law Center: wicourts.gov self-help — online form assistant for divorce, legal separation, custody, placement, and support

Wisconsin State Law Library: wilawlibrary.gov — legal information and resources

Wisconsin Law Help: wislawhelp.org — simplified legal resources

Circuit court forms: wicourts.gov family forms

DCF Child Support Program: dcf.wisconsin.gov/cs

County child support agencies administer enforcement. Services include: income withholding, license suspension, tax refund interception, passport denial, credit reporting, and contempt proceedings.

Calculator: DCF tools

County agencies: DCF agency list

Interest on arrears: 0.5% per month (6% annually)

End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin: endabusewi.org

National DV Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (24/7)

DAIS (Madison/Dane County): 608-251-4445 or text 608-420-4638 (24-hour help line)

211 Wisconsin: Dial 211 for local programs and services

Safe at Home Program (WI DOJ): Legal substitute address for survivors of domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual abuse, stalking, and trafficking

Report Child Abuse: Contact the county where the child lives — DCF Report Abuse

CPS Appeal Process: DCF CPS Appeal

Milwaukee Child Protective Services: DCF MCPS

Wisconsin CPS is county-administered (except Milwaukee, which is state-run). The 60-day initial assessment determines if maltreatment was substantiated or unsubstantiated.

911 — Emergency

988 — Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

1-800-799-7233 — National DV Hotline (24/7)

1-800-422-4453 — Childhelp Child Abuse Hotline

211 Wisconsin — Free, confidential connection to local programs

Text HOME to 741741 — Crisis Text Line