Family Court Program

401 S. Elm Street, Appleton, Wisconsin 54911

Telephone: (920) 832-5660

Fax: (920) 832-4418

Office Hours:
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

It is the mission of the Outagamie County Family Court Program to provide mediation and evaluation services to parents who are unable to resolve legal custody, placement and periods of physical placement (visitation).  Mediation is a confidential process and there are no recommendations made to the court.  Custody mediation is defined as a dispute resolution process which parents, with the assistance of a mediator, attempt to work out issues regarding their child/ren.  Parents have the capacity, authority, and responsibility to determine what is best for their child/ren.  When parents are unable to resolve their disputes in mediation, an evaluation may be ordered by the Family Court.  The evaluation is an in-depth assessment on the family including, but not limited to, areas of parents’ childhood, adolescence and adult life, relationship history, life since separation/divorce, and child/ren history.  Recommendations are made to the court.

Legal advice is not provided

FINANCIAL ISSUES ARE NOT ADDRESSED

Cost for Services:

    Mediation: $200.00

    Custody Evaluations: $700.00 retainer fee paid upfront ($350.00 per parent);
                                              billed at $30.00 per hour.

    Parenting Coordinator Program: $50.00 per hour.  A $1,000.00 retainer fee is paid upfront
                                              ($500 per parent).  No fee waivers are available for this program.


"Children Caught in the Middle” Orientation Session

Promotes parents’ understanding on how to co-parent children in
separate households.

Offered the second Thursday of every month, 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Covers areas of:

           Child Development

           Common Myths

           Cooperative Co-Parenting

           How to keep children out of parents’ battles.

The cost of this program is $10.00 cash at the door, and open to the public.  Seating is limited, so you need to be registered ahead of time.  

To register, please call (920) 832-5660 or send an e-mail to KrauseKa@co.outagamie.wi.us.


Mediation Services:

         Child Custody

            Child Placement

            Holidays

            Vacation Periods

            Transportation

            Child Care

            Right of First Refusal

            Grandparent Visitation

            Permission to Move


Child Custody/Placement Evaluations:

            In-depth family assessment

            Interviews may include:

                    Joint interviews with both parents

                    Individual interviews  

                    Interviews of children 

                    Interviews of significant others

                    Home visits (where applicable)

            Recommendation made to the court regarding
            custody and placement
 

Parenting Coordinator Program:

Arbitrates non-custody and placement issues.  Parents must both agree to arbitration and arbitration has to be court ordered.

Issues that may be addressed, but not limited to: interpret ambiguous orders; school district and programming; children's activities; day care; transportation and exchanges; participation of non-parent in placement periods; routines of children; medical/therapy needs, etc.      

Obtain Forms Here:

Policies and Procedures

Waiver of Fees

Mediation Order

Mediation Request

Payment Form

Stipulation & Order - Parenting Coordinator

Payment Form - Parenting Coordinator