OPERATING AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE
The Family Court Commissioner (FCC) is empowered
to issue temporary orders in divorce actions. Parties
filing a divorce action must appear before the Family
Court Commissioner, who issues orders concerning child
custody, child support, visitation and the use of property
during the transitional period.
FCC conducts hearings on all post-judgment motions
brought to modify and enforce custody and child support
orders, domestic abuse injunction hearings, all divorce
pre-trials and most stipulated divorces. Court commissioner
hearings and clerical support are provided to the Racine
County Child Support Division for actions brought to
establish and enforce child support obligations, including
all paternity actions. This office also enters orders
in all paternity cases for custody and placement.
Under Sec. 767.11, Wis. Stat., this office also operates
the Family Court Counseling Service of Racine County.
Mediation and evaluation services are provided in child
custody and child placement disputes by the service
providers, who use offices in our work area on the
fifth floor of the courthouse.
EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE
MEASURES
-
One goal is to continue to provide the same level
of services in an efficient fashion. One way we have
achieved this goal has been by expanding the number
of hearings at the Western Racine County Service
Center, where we now conduct hearings seven one-half
days per month. This reduces travel for families
who live in western Racine County.
- Another goal was to work with guardians ad litem
to facilitate custody and placement disputes in order
to avoid contested custody and placement trials.
This year, through effective coordination with the
guardians, we have maintained our established case
timelines despite a 20% increase in placement and
custody work. By attempting to resolve placement
and custody issues early in the cases, we have been
able to handle the demands created by recently enacted
custody laws.
- An additional goal for 2004 was to work on a daily
basis with the Child Support Department to establish,
enforce and modify child support. Working with Child
Support, as of June 2004, we had converted nearly
3,900 orders from percentage-expressed orders to
fixed orders.
- For 2004, we have continued to increase our custody
fee collection efforts by use of the State Income
Tax Intercept Program.
2005 GOALS AND BUDGET STRATEGIES
-
Increase our paternity calendar capacity by 50%,
to reduce the timeline and increase (possibly double)
the number of paternity judgments entered, with the
cooperation of the Racine County Child Support Department.
(Renewed Goal).
- Continue to increase the collections of custody
and mediation fees by at least 10%. Racine County,
through the assistance of area legislators, continues
to seek legislative authorization to increase the
fees charged for custody studies from $300 to $500.
(Renewed Goal).
- Continue to transition to contract for services
provided by Family Court Evaluators and Mediators
funded solely by user and filing fees.
