Attorney Renee Read

10/18/2026

Divorce can be difficult for children, even when parents are doing their best to help them through the transition.

Children may respond differently depending on their ages, personalities, and circumstances. Maintaining routines, offering reassurance, and minimizing their exposure to parental conflict can make a meaningful difference.

This article from the Child Mind Institute offers some helpful insights into understanding and supporting children during divorce.

How to support kids during a divorce, from how to listen to their feelings to how to respond to anxiety, disruptive behavior and more.

10/09/2026

Sometimes the view is reason enough to stop for a minute.

It’s easy to get caught up in the noise of everyday life. I recently had a moment to quiet my mind and take in the views of Lake Michigan.

And perhaps my favorite part of this photo is that it’s exactly as I saw it - no Photoshop, no filters, no edits. Just beautiful, raw nature (and one perfectly timed bird).

10/06/2026

Divorce usually involves financial decision-making with long-term consequences. For example, as indicated in this NerdWallet article, two assets with the same value on paper may not leave you in the same financial position once taxes, liquidity, and future growth are considered.

The article offers a helpful overview of when it may make sense to involve a divorce financial professional and the types of issues that can benefit from careful financial planning. Understanding the long-term impact of a financial decision can be just as important as resolving the immediate issue.

A certified divorce financial analyst (CDFA) can help locate income sources, evaluate assets to keep, select asset mixes, analyze spousal support and weigh insurance.

10/02/2026

You don’t need to wait.
An early consultation with a divorce attorney can be valuable even if you aren’t ready to file, or haven’t decided whether divorce is ultimately the right path for you.

This can be particularly useful when there are significant assets, a business, retirement benefits, complex compensation, or other financial issues to understand.

Learning how Wisconsin divorce law may apply to your circumstances can help you identify information to gather, avoid decisions that may complicate matters later, and think through the timing and practical considerations involved.

Sometimes the most valuable first step isn’t taking legal action. It’s understanding your options so that, if you decide to move forward, you can do so thoughtfully and strategically.

09/27/2026

“Why is my divorce taking so long?”

It’s a question I hear often, and an understandable one. Once someone has made the decision to move forward with a divorce, it can be frustrating when the legal process doesn’t seem to move nearly as quickly.

The reality is that some causes of delay are outside of your control. Others aren’t.

In my latest article for Divorced Girl Smiling, I discuss some of the things that can slow a divorce down, including obtaining financial information, completing discovery, addressing valuation issues and unnecessary conflict.

Just as importantly, I discuss some of the things you can do to help keep your own divorce moving forward.

If you’re going through a divorce, or considering one, I hope this provides some useful perspective on why the process sometimes takes longer than expected and where you may have more control than you realize.

https://www.divorcedgirlsmiling.com/why-does-divorce-take-so-long/

Attorney Renee Read, such a great article, which answers this question that almost everyone getting divorced asks. Plus, if you're going through a divorce, there are things in your control that can speed up the process! Article link is in comments section of this post.

09/23/2026

There is something about the changing seasons that reminds us that change can be uncomfortable and promising at the same time. As summer gives way to fall and the leaves begin to turn, we can appreciate what lies ahead even while recognizing what is being left behind.

The seasons of life can be much the same. Divorce is a significant change, and turning the page isn’t always easy. But change can also bring new opportunities, unexpected growth and a different perspective on the future.

Sometimes we don’t recognize the beauty in a new season until we’ve had a little time to live in it.

09/19/2026

I always enjoy going to the State Bar Center, although there seem to be fewer reasons to go in person these days. I inevitably notice something of interest, including this beautiful Lady Justice carving, which always gives me a moment to reflect.

Yesterday, the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors gathered for one of its meetings. I was able to join as a guest through my role as one of Wisconsin’s delegates to the American Bar Association House of Delegates. The day included thoughtful discussion, different perspectives and collaborative problem-solving on issues affecting Wisconsin’s legal profession.

I may not always see myself as a “traditional lawyer,” but I appreciate opportunities to have a voice, listen to the perspectives of others and participate in conversations that help shape our profession. There is always something to learn when people with different experiences come together around a common purpose.

09/15/2026

Most of what I share here relates to family law or the legal profession, so I thought I would share a little bit about myself for a change.

I’ve been practicing law for more than 20 years, with much of my career focused on divorce and family law. Over the years, I’ve learned that being a good family lawyer requires more than knowing the law. You have to listen, understand what really matters to your client, and appreciate how much the decisions being made can affect their life and their family.

I grew up in a large, agricultural family in rural Iowa. Hard work was simply part of everyday life. Everyone pitched in, you finished what needed to be done, and when something didn’t go according to plan, you figured it out. I think a lot of the work ethic and persistence I bring to my career started there.

These days, I’m a wife and mom of three, and the Fox Valley has been home to our family for many years. Like most people, I’m usually balancing work, family and everything else that needs to get done.

More than two decades into my career, I still enjoy sitting down with a client, learning what is important to them, and helping them work through a difficult time. My life looks very different from the one I knew growing up, but many of the things I learned have stayed with me. They’re a big part of who I am today.

09/10/2026

Why Does Divorce Take So Long?

It’s a question I hear often - and one I recently discussed with Divorced Girl Smiling (DGS) for a podcast released today.

We talked about some of the reasons a divorce may take longer than expected and what can affect the timeline along the way.

You can listen now on Apple Podcasts. Additional platforms will also be available through the Podcast button on the DGS website.

Podcast Episode · The Divorced Girl Smiling Podcast · September 10 · 30m

09/07/2026

Labor Day is a good reminder that what we build over the course of our lives comes from many different forms of labor and effort.

There is the work that builds a career, a business or financial security. There is also the work that happens within a family — raising children, caring for a home and supporting a spouse or partner in building a career. Over many years, those efforts become intertwined with the life a family has built together.

When a marriage ends, the decisions that follow can affect much of what took years, and sometimes decades, to build.

I believe family law representation should reflect the importance of those decisions. That means taking the time to understand the individual client, the family, the finances and what matters most going forward. It also means maintaining a practice where each client receives meaningful attention, thoughtful advice and strong advocacy.

On Labor Day, it seems especially appropriate to recognize the value of what people have worked so hard to build.