Jackson County Family Court Commissioner
FAMILY COURT COMMISSIONER The Jackson County Family Court Commissioner handles issues involving divorce (awarding temporary use of property while the divorce is pending, awarding maintenance, etc…), mediation referrals, child custody and physical placement.  Forms and instructions are available to bring the appropriate matter before the Commissioner both online at www.wicourts.gov and at the Clerk of Court’s Office.  The website will walk you through how to start a divorce action and will help you complete the appropriate forms.  The website also provides you with valuable links to other resources such as legal research and finding legal assistance. If you have questions about modification of an existing child support order, you should start by contacting the Jackson County Child Support Agency to determine whether the matter can be handled outside of court.  Please remember: If you need legal advice, you must consult an attorney. You can appear in family court without an attorney, but an attorney's help may improve your chances of getting what you want in your case and prevent future misunderstandings; The information provided at this site is general information, not legal advice and is not a substitute for legal advice. By law, the Family Court Commissioner, the County Child Support Agency, and Clerk of Court cannot give you legal advice. We make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to this web site. The Family Court Commissioner will not talk to you about the merits of your case unless the other party is present. To avoid potential problems with Ex Parte communications, we do not provide e-mail addresses.                      "SCHEDULING A TEMPORARY HEARING "You should refer to page 2, number 2, of the printed form, or the www.wicourts.gov website for instructions on completing the forms.    1.    A request for temporary hearing shall be made by sending a letter to the Family Court Commissioner which includes all of the following enclosures:  q  a completed Order to Show Cause form; q  a completed Affidavit for Temporary Hearing; and q  a self-addressed, stamped envelope indicating the address to which the documents are to be returned.  2.    The Commissioner will sign the Order to Show Cause and will insert the date selected for the hearing.  The Commissioner will file the originals with the Clerk of Court’s Office, retaining copies for the Commissioner’s Office.  The Commissioner will then return the remaining authenticated copies to you in the self-addressed, stamped envelope you have provided.   3.    Upon receipt of the authenticated copies it is your responsibility to serve the copies upon the appropriate parties as is indicated on the website or the printed instructions.  This includes service upon the other party and (if minor children are involved) upon the child support agency at the following address:  Child Support Agency P.O. Box 457 Black River Falls, WI   54615   If these steps are not followed or the forms are not completed correctly, the documents will be returned to you unsigned.  The Family Court Commissioner, Clerk of Court, and Child Support Agency cannot give legal advice or aid in completing forms.  You should consider retaining legal counsel in this matter.  You cannot contact a commissioner "to talk about your case" or to complain about the other party.  This is prohibited by law.  Deputy Commissioner Becker will be hearing all cases scheduled for hearings through December 15, 2009.  Commissioner Laabs will be unavailable. Commissioner Gerald W. Laabs                Deputy Commissioner Anna L. Becker P.O. Box 573                                                 P.O. Box 573 Black River Falls, WI  54615                      Black River Falls, WI  54615 PHONE:  (715) 284-5065                             PHONE:  (715) 284-0436   If you already have an order in place that is not being followed by the other party and you need the order enforced, you can request a CONTEMPT hearing.  This matter will be heard by the Circuit Court Judge, not the Family Court Commissioner.                                                                                Court Forms    Child Support Divorce Mediation Additional Forms