It's time to Modernize
Our Mission
What We Want
What We Want
Wisconsin Maintenance Reform is committed to ending unjust, nonmodifiable alimony agreements that trap payors in lifelong financial servitude—regardless of hardship, retirement, or even abuse. We advocate for fair, modern maintenance laws that reflect current realities, protect survivors, and restore the right to rebuild one’s life after
Wisconsin Maintenance Reform is committed to ending unjust, nonmodifiable alimony agreements that trap payors in lifelong financial servitude—regardless of hardship, retirement, or even abuse. We advocate for fair, modern maintenance laws that reflect current realities, protect survivors, and restore the right to rebuild one’s life after divorce.
Born from lived experience and personal tragedy, our mission is to reform Wisconsin’s outdated maintenance system through public awareness, legislative action, and grassroots mobilization. We believe that no person should be forced to support an ex-spouse indefinitely—especially when that support comes at the cost of justice, dignity, or safety.
Together, we fight for change that puts fairness before permanence, and gives all Wisconsinites the right to move forward.
What We Want
What We Want
What We Want
We are calling on lawmakers in Wisconsin and beyond to enact fair, modern, and humane reforms to maintenance (alimony) laws that reflect today’s social and economic realities. Our proposals include the following:
🔁 Modifiability & Flexibility
- Ban Non-Modifiable Agreements
- Outlaw all non-modifiable maintenance agreements, which trap payor
We are calling on lawmakers in Wisconsin and beyond to enact fair, modern, and humane reforms to maintenance (alimony) laws that reflect today’s social and economic realities. Our proposals include the following:
🔁 Modifiability & Flexibility
- Ban Non-Modifiable Agreements
- Outlaw all non-modifiable maintenance agreements, which trap payors in outdated terms regardless of life changes.
- Outlaw all non-modifiable maintenance agreements, which trap payors in outdated terms regardless of life changes.
- Mandatory Sunsetting Clauses
- Require an automatic end date for maintenance obligations, especially for long-term payors or retirees.
- Require an automatic end date for maintenance obligations, especially for long-term payors or retirees.
- De-escalation Provisions
- Implement scheduled reductions in payment amounts (monthly or annually), ensuring a path toward independence for both parties.
- Implement scheduled reductions in payment amounts (monthly or annually), ensuring a path toward independence for both parties.
- Income-Based Adjustments
- Allow for reductions or suspensions of payments when the payor suffers a significant and sustained drop in income.
- Allow for reductions or suspensions of payments when the payor suffers a significant and sustained drop in income.
- Catastrophic Illness/Injury Protection
- Permit modification or termination when a payor becomes disabled or catastrophically ill.
- Permit modification or termination when a payor becomes disabled or catastrophically ill.
⚖️ Public Policy & Criminal Conduct
- Termination Upon Criminal Activity by Payee
- Maintenance should terminate immediately if the payee:
- Is convicted of a felony
- Is incarcerated
- Is charged with sexual assault or crimes against children
- Engages in behavior that causes physical, emotional, or financial harm to the payor
- Maintenance should terminate immediately if the payee:
- Public Policy Violations
- Maintenance should be terminated when the payee engages in conduct that violates public policy or is morally repugnant, including but not limited to:
- Drug distribution
- Fraud or financial abuse
- Perjury or witness tampering
- Maintenance should be terminated when the payee engages in conduct that violates public policy or is morally repugnant, including but not limited to:
🔓 End Debtors' Prison Tactics
- Prohibit Jail for Proven Inability to Pay
- Courts must not jail individuals for civil contempt without proving willful nonpayment. Financial hardship must be considered in accordance with Bearden v. Georgia.
- Courts must not jail individuals for civil contempt without proving willful nonpayment. Financial hardship must be considered in accordance with Bearden v. Georgia.
- Mandate Income Review Hearings
- Require judges to conduct a formal ability-to-pay review before any contempt ruling.
- Require judges to conduct a formal ability-to-pay review before any contempt ruling.
🧾 Additional Reforms
- Transparency in Family Court
- Mandate full disclosure of assets, inheritance, and government benefits by both parties, and require financial updates every two years.
- Mandatory Mediation Prior to Contempt
- Before any contempt proceedings, enforce mediation to explore adjustments, temporary hardship relief, or mutual resolution.
- Before any contempt proceedings, enforce mediation to explore adjustments, temporary hardship relief, or mutual resolution.
- Victim Safeguards for Payors
- Maintenance should not be awarded, or should be terminated, in cases where the payor is a documented
- victim of abuse or criminal conduct by the recipient.
Capping maximum duration of payments based on years married.
- Mandating income caps or parity formulas, so the payor is not forced below the payee’s standard of living.
- Requiring independent review boards for maintenance disputes.
🔧 Wisconsin Maintenance Reform – Legislative Change Demands We are calling on lawmakers in Wisconsin and beyond to enact fair Reform
It's been over 50 years and we still use the same laws
Support Wisconsin Maintenance Reform Today
Your donation helps fund legal filings, legislative outreach, and public awareness campaigns to reform Wisconsin’s outdated maintenance laws. Every dollar supports our fight to end lifetime alimony and protect the rights of those trapped in nonmodifiable agreements.