Home Wisconsin Uncontested Divorce Kit
2026 edition • Wisconsin Circuit Court Filing RoadmapWisconsin Uncontested Divorce Kit
File a Joint Petition with the real Wisconsin Circuit Court packet, explained field by field — including the mandatory 120-day waiting period before your case can be finalized.
- Guidance for the real Joint Petition packet — FA-4110V / FA-4111V, the GF-179 Addendum & more
- Step-by-step instructions for Wisconsin’s 120-day waiting period, in plain English
- Free eligibility check before you pay anything
- Instant PDF download — $129 one-time, no subscription
Takes 2 minutes to check · no commitment
“I’m not good with paperwork, but this was foolproof. Easy to navigate.”
Carlos N. · Green Bay, Wisconsin
Do You Qualify for a Joint Petition?
Wisconsin lets couples file together — check below to see if you can file yourself.
Use this kit if:
- You or your spouse has lived in Wisconsin for at least 6 months and in the filing county for 30 days.
- You both agree the marriage is irretrievably broken and are willing to sign a Joint Petition.
- You're both willing to complete a full Financial Disclosure Statement — individually or jointly.
- You agree, or expect to agree, on property, debts, and any custody/placement/support terms.
Talk to a lawyer if:
- Neither spouse meets the 6-month state / 30-day county residency rule.
- Your spouse won't sign a Joint Petition, requiring the individual Summons-and-Petition-plus-service route instead.
- There's domestic abuse, a safety concern, or contested custody/placement — these need mediation, a Guardian ad Litem, or a lawyer.
- You have a business, a pension/retirement plan, or other complex property to divide.
120 Days Is a Floor, Not a Finish Line
Three things determine when your Wisconsin divorce is actually final. Confusing them is the most common mistake in a DIY filing.
The 120-Day Wait
Wis. Stat. § 767.335 bars the court from holding a final hearing or trial until 120 days after you file a Joint Petition (or after service, if filing alone). It's the earliest possible date — not a guaranteed one.
Your County's Calendar
After 120 days pass, your county still has to schedule your final hearing. Some counties do this automatically; in others you must request a date yourself — and each of Wisconsin's 72 counties' Circuit Courts can schedule and process cases a little differently.
Court Approval
At the final hearing, the judge reviews and must approve your Marital Settlement before signing the Findings of Fact & Judgment. Since 2025 Wisconsin Act 40, some represented couples can finalize by affidavit instead — see our FAQ below.
We can't promise a specific hearing date or timeline — no honest DIY product can, and your Circuit Court controls its own calendar. Our guide focuses on assembling complete, correctly executed paperwork the first time, since missing documents are what actually cause delays.
Includes Joint Petition, Addendum & Financial Disclosure Guidance • 30-day refund
Why Use a Wisconsin Filing Kit?
Wisconsin's joint-petition packet is bigger than a Petition and a settlement — the Court System's own Basic Guide lists a Confidential Petition Addendum, a Financial Disclosure Statement, and a Findings/Judgment form as required for every filer, plus a full parenting-plan track if you have minor children.
Save Thousands
You do the filing yourself and keep the difference between a lawyer's fee and a one-time kit price — see the breakdown alongside.
The Real Form Set, Explained
We walk you through the Joint Petition, Confidential Petition Addendum, Financial Disclosure Statement, Marital Settlement, and Findings/Judgment field by field.
Your Total Out-of-Pocket
*$184.50 is the current family-action filing fee with no request for support or maintenance; $194.50 if you request support or maintenance (Wisconsin Circuit Court Fee Tables, updated September 2, 2026). Electronically filed cases add $35 per party ($70 for attorney-mediators); Milwaukee County adds $3.50. A mediation fee ($200, first session often free) can apply if custody/placement is disputed. Confirm your county's current total with your Circuit Clerk before filing. Attorney figure is an illustrative estimate, not a quote.
What's Inside the Kit
A plain-English guide to the real Wisconsin joint-petition filing packet.
Marital Settlement Agreement
- Template for the Marital Settlement Agreement (FA-4150V / FA-4151V)
- Covers property, debt & support terms
- Subject to Circuit Court review & approval
Core Filing Packet
Guidance on every form the joint-petition route requires:
Children & Support Route (If Applicable)
- Guide to the Parenting Plan (FA-4147V)
- Mediation requirements explained
- Wisconsin's child-support percentage guidelines
- An addition to the base packet, not a substitute
What this kit does not include
- A guarantee that your county Circuit Court will schedule or hold your final hearing on any particular timeline
- A guarantee that you can skip the in-person final hearing — the new affidavit option under 2025 Wisconsin Act 40 requires both spouses to be represented by an attorney or a registered attorney-mediator
- Cases where your spouse won't sign a Joint Petition, can't be located, or contests the divorce
- Full coverage of minor-children cases — mediation, the Parenting Plan, and child-support calculations need their own careful review, and a Guardian ad Litem may be appointed
- Real estate, retirement/pension accounts, business interests, or other complex property division
- Your county Circuit Clerk's own filing, e-filing, and mediation fees — separate from our $129 price
- Coverage for domestic-violence or personal-safety situations — Wisconsin has a separate records-sealing process (GF-177/GF-178) and these cases often need an attorney
PlainDivorce is a private publisher, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Wisconsin Court System or any Circuit Court. Local court practices can require additional documents beyond the statewide forms; using our guide does not certify any document as court-approved or guarantee it is sufficient for your case. Always confirm current requirements with your county Circuit Clerk.
A plain-English companion to Wisconsin's own divorce statutes and statewide court forms, for filing in your local Circuit Court.
How It Works
A roadmap to your Judgment — not a promised timeline, since your county's calendar and case facts both matter.
File the Joint Petition
File the Joint Petition and Confidential Petition Addendum with your Circuit Clerk and pay the fee — confirm the current amount with your clerk.
Disclose & (If Needed) Parent Plan
File your Financial Disclosure Statement within 90 days. If you have minor children and don't agree on custody/placement, complete mediation and file a Parenting Plan.
Wait Out the 120 Days
The court cannot hold your final hearing before 120 days pass. Use this time to finish your Marital Settlement Agreement and get a hearing date from the court.
Attend & Finalize
Attend your final hearing per your county's procedure. The judge reviews and approves your Settlement and signs the Findings of Fact & Judgment of Divorce.
Simple Pricing vs. Lawyer Fees
| Feature | PlainDivorce Kit | Typical Lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Total Cost | $129 | $2,500+ |
| Process Control | You set the pace (DIY) | Lawyer's schedule |
| Includes Forms? | Yes (Petition, Addendum, Financial Disclosure & more) | Yes |
Secure One-Time Payment · No Subscriptions
If Your Case Isn't Eligible, You Get Your Money Back
If you buy the kit and then discover you have minor children needing a full custody/placement review, your spouse won't sign a Joint Petition, you own a business or retirement account, there's a domestic-violence situation, or another circumstance this kit isn't built for, email us within 30 days and we will refund you in full. We would rather lose the sale than have you file something that doesn't fit your situation.
Refunds are handled by our support team. See our Terms of Use for full details.
What Our Clients Say
Real stories from people who used PlainDivorce to complete their own filing.
4.7 out of 5 based on 300+ customer reviews
Customer reviews are collected from purchasers and support conversations. Names may be shortened for privacy, and individual results vary by court, case facts, and filing requirements.
“I’m not good with paperwork, but this was foolproof. Easy to navigate.”
Carlos N.
Green Bay
“Why pay more? This kit does it all for a fair price.”
Charlotte G.
Madison
“The fastest way to untie the knot. Highly recommended for anyone in a rush.”
Isabella C.
Milwaukee
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 120-day waiting period actually guarantee?
Wis. Stat. § 767.335 says the court may not hold a final hearing or trial — or grant a divorce based on an affidavit — until 120 days after you file a Joint Petition (or after service, if filing alone). It is the earliest possible date, not a promised judgment date. Your county still has to schedule the hearing, and any outstanding paperwork or disagreement can push it later.
What is a Joint Petition, and does it mean no service is required?
A Joint Petition (FA-4110V with minor children, FA-4111V without) is signed by both spouses together. Because both of you are already petitioners, there is ordinarily no separate respondent to serve with an initiating summons and petition. It does not waive the filing fee or eliminate the need to deliver later documents, like the Financial Disclosure Statement, to your spouse.
Do we have to complete the Financial Disclosure Statement even if we agree on everything?
Yes. Wis. Stat. § 767.127 requires full financial disclosure in every family action, whether made individually or jointly. It is due within 90 days after filing a joint petition (unless the court sets another time) and must be updated on the record to the date of your hearing. The form alone does not guarantee a "fair" division or that the clerk won't flag it for more detail.
Can we skip the final hearing entirely?
Sometimes, but not through a self-represented DIY filing. 2025 Wisconsin Act 40 added an option to finalize by sworn affidavit instead of appearing in person, but it requires both spouses to be represented by an attorney or to have worked with a registered attorney-mediator who prepared the stipulation. If you're filing this kit on your own, plan to attend your county's final hearing.
What if we have minor children together?
You will need a Parenting Plan (FA-4147V) if you and your spouse don't reach a custody/placement agreement in mediation, and the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem to represent your children's interests. Child support is calculated using Wisconsin's percentage guidelines (17% for one child, 25% for two, and up), though the court can adjust these for your specific circumstances.
What does it cost to file, beyond the kit price?
The current family-action filing fee is $184.50 with no request for support or maintenance, or $194.50 if you request support or maintenance (Wisconsin Circuit Court Fee Tables, updated September 2, 2026). Electronically filed cases add $35 per party ($70 for attorney-mediators); Milwaukee County adds $3.50. Confirm your county's current total with your Circuit Clerk before filing.
Is this an official, court-issued kit?
No. The Wisconsin Court System provides its own current, voluntary forms and a Basic Guide free of charge, and that guide itself warns that self-representation carries real risk. Our kit is a private, independently written guide to completing those statewide forms; it is not issued, approved, or endorsed by the Wisconsin Court System or any Circuit Court.
What if it turns out my case isn't right for this kit?
Email support within 30 days and we will refund you in full. See our Terms of Use for details. We are not a law firm, cannot give legal advice, and cannot appear or file on your behalf — you file with the court yourself.
Important Legal Disclaimer
PlainDivorce is not a law firm and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by the Wisconsin Court System or any Circuit Court. We do not provide legal advice, do not represent you in court, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using this site or the kit. The Wisconsin Uncontested Divorce Kit is a self-help information product explaining Wisconsin's own divorce statutes and statewide court forms; it is not a certification that any document or process is court-approved for your specific case or county.
We do not guarantee that your spouse will sign a Joint Petition, that your final hearing will be scheduled within any particular timeframe, that you will qualify for the affidavit-based finalization option under 2025 Wisconsin Act 40 (which requires representation by an attorney or a registered attorney-mediator), or that the Circuit Court will approve your Marital Settlement Agreement as submitted. The Circuit Clerk's filing fee (currently $184.50 or $194.50 depending on your request, plus e-filing and county-specific surcharges, subject to change) is separate from, and not included in, our $129 price; you are responsible for verifying current requirements and fees with your county Circuit Clerk before filing. This kit does not fully cover cases involving contested custody, domestic violence, real estate, retirement account division, or business interests.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, coercion, or feel unsafe, do not rely on a self-help filing in place of legal advice or protective measures. Contact a family law attorney or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.
Content last reviewed: September 2026.