767.315 Grounds for divorce and legal separation.
(1) Irretrievable breakdown.
(a) If both of the parties to a legal separation or divorce action by petition or otherwise have stated under oath or affirmation that the marriage is irretrievably broken, or if the parties have voluntarily lived apart continuously for 12 months or more immediately prior to commencement of the action and one party has so stated, the court, after hearing, shall make a finding that the marriage is irretrievably broken for purposes of s. 767.35 (1) (b) 1.
(b) If the parties to a legal separation or divorce action have not voluntarily lived apart for at least 12 months immediately prior to commencement of the action and if only one party has stated under oath or affirmation that the marriage is irretrievably broken, the court shall consider all relevant factors, including the circumstances that gave rise to filing the petition and the prospect of reconciliation, and proceed as follows:
1. If the court finds no reasonable prospect of reconciliation, it shall make a finding that the marriage is irretrievably broken for purposes of s. 767.35 (1) (b) 1.
2. If the court finds that there is a reasonable prospect of reconciliation, it shall continue the matter for further hearing not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days later, or as soon thereafter as the matter may be reached on the court's calendar, and may suggest to the parties that they seek counseling. The court, at the request of either party or on its own motion, may order counseling. At the adjourned hearing, if either party states under oath or affirmation that the marriage is irretrievably broken, the court shall make a finding whether the marriage is irretrievably broken for purposes of s. 767.35 (1) (b) 1.
(2) Breakdown of marital relationship. If both of the parties to a legal separation or divorce action by petition or otherwise have stated under oath or affirmation that the marital relationship is broken, the court, after hearing, shall make a finding that the marital relationship is broken for purposes of s. 767.35 (1) (b) 2.
History: 2005 a. 443 ss. 66, 146.
Abolition of guilt in marriage dissolution: Wisconsin's adoption of no-fault divorce. 61 MLR 672 (1978).
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 767 - Actions affecting the family.
767.041 - Full faith and credit; comity.
767.055 - Uniform Divorce Recognition Act.
767.105 - Information from the office of family court commissioner.
767.117 - Prohibited acts during pendency of action.
767.127 - Financial disclosure.
767.13 - Impoundment of record.
767.16 - Circuit court commissioner or law partner; when interested; procedure.
767.18 - Actions to affirm marriage.
767.201 - Civil procedure generally governs.
767.205 - Parties; title of actions.
767.215 - Initiating action; petition and response.
767.217 - Notice to Child Support Program.
767.225 - Orders during pendency of action.
767.235 - Trial or hearing on judgment.
767.241 - Award of attorney fees and other fees and costs.
767.251 - Content, preparation, and approval of judgment.
767.264 - Dismissal; vacation; substitution or withdrawal of attorney.
767.273 - Allowances pending appeal.
767.281 - Filing procedures and orders for enforcement or modification of judgments or orders.
767.301 - Residence requirements.
767.315 - Grounds for divorce and legal separation.
767.323 - Suspension of proceedings to effect reconciliation.
767.331 - Actions for certain interspousal remedies.
767.333 - Initial orders based on stipulation prior to judgment.
767.335 - Waiting period for final hearing or trial.
767.34 - Court-approved stipulation.
767.35 - Judgment of divorce or legal separation.
767.36 - Copies of judgment to parties.
767.375 - Effect on transfers at death.
767.385 - Maintenance, legal custody, and support when divorce or separation denied.
767.401 - Educational programs and classes.
767.405 - Family court services.
767.407 - Guardian ad litem for minor children.
767.41 - Custody and physical placement.
767.43 - Visitation rights of certain persons.
767.44 - Prohibiting visitation or physical placement if a parent kills other parent.
767.451 - Revision of legal custody and physical placement orders.
767.461 - Revisions agreed to by stipulation.
767.471 - Enforcement of physical placement orders.
767.481 - Relocating a child's residence.
767.501 - Actions to compel support.
767.513 - Child health care expenses.
767.521 - Action by state for child support.
767.54 - Required exchange of financial information.
767.55 - Child support: employment-related orders.
767.553 - Annual adjustments in support orders.
767.57 - Maintenance, child support, and family support payments; fees.
767.58 - Notice of change of employer, address, and ability to pay; other information.
767.59 - Revision of support and maintenance orders.
767.63 - Disposed assets may be subject to division.
767.70 - Child support enforcement: notice and service of process.
767.71 - Reconciling percentage-expressed support orders.
767.73 - Delinquent child or family support; suspension of operating privilege.
767.75 - Assignment of income for payment obligations.
767.77 - Enforcement of payment obligations.
767.78 - Enforcement; contempt proceedings.
767.80 - Determination of paternity.
767.803 - Determination of marital children.
767.804 - Genetic test results.
767.805 - Voluntary acknowledgment of paternity.
767.814 - Names on pleadings after paternity determined.
767.815 - Enlargement of time in a paternity proceeding.
767.82 - Paternity procedures.
767.84 - Genetic tests in paternity actions.
767.853 - Paternity hearings and records; confidentiality.
767.855 - Dismissal if adjudication not in child's best interest.
767.86 - Time of first appearance.
767.865 - Deceased respondent.
767.87 - Testimony and evidence relating to paternity.
767.88 - Pretrial paternity proceedings.
767.893 - Default and stipulated judgments.
767.895 - Motion to reopen judgment based on statement acknowledging paternity.