Nobody marries with the expectation of failure. Married couples never contemplate that the person they once loved could later seem to be a stranger and perhaps even an enemy. Yet, statistics paint an ugly picture. Approximately four out of 10 marriages today end in divorce. In divorce proceedings, women lose financially, their standard of living may drop as much as thirty percent in the first year following a divorce. Men, may not suffer as great financially, however, they tend to lose precious time with their children.

DON’T lie to your children with stories like Dad is visiting relatives. Children know if you are trying to hide something, even if the purpose is honorable. DO talk to your children. Give them simple and straight-forward answers without vilifying or blaming the other parent.

Wisconsin has a "no-fault" divorce law: the only ground for divorce is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. If one party claims that the marriage is irretrievably broken but the other party claims that it is not, the court considers all relevant factors and makes a determination as to whether there are any reasonable prospects of reconciliation.