Attorney Jody Usow is an experienced Guardian ad Litem. Guardians ad Litem are not privately retained and are instead appointed directly by the courts. In family law cases, such as divorce and paternity cases, Guardians ad Litem are appointed to act in the best interests of minor children, they do NOT represent either parent.
As part of the process, the Guardian ad Litem will typically interview the minor children and the parents, and communicate with other interested or influential individuals, such as teachers, counselors, therapists, psychologists or psychiatrists.
Child custody and placement are also some of the most contentious issues between parents and require skillful and effective negotiation. Communication is at the heart of family law. In most cases, disputes over child custody and placement are deeply affected by emotional undercurrents.
Maintenance, also known as Spousal Support or Alimony, is a monthly support payment that, in some circumstances, one spouse pays to another as part of the property division terms in a divorce.
Children’s Court is typically a specific branch of the Circuit Court in each County. In Milwaukee County there is an entire juvenile justice complex, the Vel R. Phillips Youth & Family Justice Center (Children’s Court Center), in Wauwatosa for hearing Children’s Court matters.