Family Court Services

To provide a safe environment where we serve and support families in the Family Court process through education, collaboration, and facilitation. Our focus is on reducing parental conflict to improve family functioning and help parents meet the best interests of their children.

Legal advice is not provided.
Financial Issues are not addressed.

Disclaimer: The information and forms on this site are for convenience purposes only, and may not represent the most current version.

Positive Co-Parenting Mediation Orientation Class

The Positive Co-Parenting orientation is an educational seminar for a parent who has been in a shorter term relationship with the other parent. The parents who attend this group typically have younger children. The educational seminar will cover the following areas: brain development and child developmental stages, how to develop/promote the relationship of the children with both parents, how to keep the children out of the middle of the parents' battles, and how to co-parent effectively when living in separate households.

Positive Co-Parenting is offered the third Tuesday of every month from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in person at the Outagamie County Government Center 2nd floor.

Cost: $20 (cash payment day of the class)

Fee waivers are not available.

Note: Effective 2/1/19, these classes are required to be re-taken every 5 years.

To register, please call (920) 832-5660 or send an email to Joshua.Escher@outagamie.org. Please include case number and reason for taking class.

Children Caught in the Middle Mediation Orientation Class

Each month we hold two Children Caught in the Middle Classes, one via Zoom and one in person. The in person class is held on the second Thursday of the month and the Zoom class is held on the third Wednesday of the month. All classes are 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Children Caught in the Middle orientation is an educational seminar for a parent who has been in a long term relationship with the other parent. The parents who attend this group typically have older children. The educational seminar will cover the following areas: child developmental stages, how to keep the children out of the middle of parents' battles, and how to co-parent effectively when living in separate households.

To register, please call (920) 832-5660 or send an email to Joshua.Escher@outagamie.org. Please include case number and reason for taking class.

Cost for Zoom class: $40 plus an administrative fee - please see the link at the bottom of the page to make the payment.

Cost for in person class: $20

In person class participants can pay day of. Cash only, checks and credit/debit cards are not accepted.

Fee waivers are not available.

Note: Effective 2/1/19, these classes are required to be re-taken every 5 years.

Family Court Services - Online Payment Portal for Children Caught in The Middle

Mediation Services

The philosophy of mediation is that parents have the capacity, authority, and responsibility to determine what is best for their children.

  • Legal Custody: sole vs. joint
  • Legal Placement: periods of physical placement
  • Holidays
  • Vacation Periods
  • Transportation
  • Child Care
  • Right of First Refusal
  • Grandparent Visitation
  • Permission to Move

Financial issues are not addressed.

Cost: $250 ($125 each if court ordered).

Fee waivers are available.

Child Custody/Placement Evaluations (In-Depth Family Assessments)

When parents cannot reach resolution regarding their children, an evaluation is conducted. The evaluation is an in-depth assessment on the family, with recommendations to the court regarding custody, periods of placement, and treatment recommendations.

Interviews may include:

  • Joint interviews with both parents
  • Individual interviews
  • Interviews of children
  • Interviews of significant others
  • Home visits (where applicable)

Cost: $700 retainer fee paid upfront ($350 per parent); billed at $45 per hour.

Fee waivers are available.

Stepparent Adoption Screenings

Brief screening to gather information for the court. Consists of a single home visit in which the screener will:

  • Interview the child's biological parent
  • Interview the stepparent
  • Interview the child
  • Tour the home

Cost: $400

Note: Should the adoption be approved there is a $20 filing fee for the Report of Adoption; a $20 fee for a new birth certificate for the child - if changing the child's last name; and a $3 fee for any additional birth certificates.

All payments must be made with cash, check or money order

Credit/debit cards are not accepted.

Brief Focused Assessment

Brief Focused Assessments (BFA) are not a custody and placement evaluation.  They are for court cases with concrete issues, limited in scope.  They will provide an answer to a well defined, specific question, which has been identified by court.  They will be completed within 60 days, and include a summary analysis which may include opinions and/or recommendation(s) related to the issue specified in the B.F.A.

Potential Areas of Focus may include:  Special Needs of children; Counseling for parents, children, and/or families;  Psychological evaluation, chemical evaluation, and other evaluations/assessments; Home environment; Violence (physical, emotional, and sexual abuse); Travel and exchange; Supervision/safe exchange; Travel consideration.

COST: FEE PAID UP FRONT

$600 ($300 PER PARENT)

(FEE WAIVER AVAILABLE)

 

Forms and Fee Waivers

Contact Us

Family Court Services
320 S. Walnut Street
Appleton, WI 54911-5985

Phone: (920) 832-5660
Fax: (920) 832-4418

Office Hours

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

Staff

Director Paul H. Schroth
(920) 832-5197
paul.schroth@outagamie.org

Office Specialist Joshua Escher
(920) 832-5660
joshua.escher@outagamie.org

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