Wisconsin Court & Family Education Guide
Information for anyone navigating a court order, custody case, or probation requirement in Wisconsin that involves anger management, parenting, co-parenting, or substance-abuse education.
What does Clearway offer?
People are sometimes ordered or referred to an educational program as part of a family-law, custody, probation, or other Wisconsin court-related matter. The type of program required can depend on the circumstances of the case and the exact wording of the court order.
Clearway Institute offers four self-paced online courses: anger management, parenting, co-parenting, and substance-abuse education. Not every course is appropriate for every court order, and completing an online course does not automatically mean a particular Wisconsin court, probation department, or agency will accept it — always read your order carefully and confirm the required program with the court, probation officer, attorney, or other referring agency when you're not sure.
Which type of class do you need?
Start with whichever matches your order or situation — each course page has the full curriculum before you enroll.
What if a Wisconsin court ordered it?
The Wisconsin statutes reviewed for this guide do not require a specific certified anger-management class after a conviction; conditions are set by the sentencing judge. Under Wis. Stat. § 973.09, a court may impose any conditions that appear reasonable and appropriate, and probation for a domestic-abuse misdemeanor runs not less than 6 months nor more than 2 years. A $100 domestic abuse surcharge applies under § 973.055.
Domestic abuse restraining orders and injunctions are issued under § 813.12, and an injunction generally lasts up to 4 years. In custody cases, § 767.41 creates a rebuttable presumption against awarding legal custody to a parent found to have a pattern or serious incident of domestic abuse; rebutting it requires, among other things, completion of a certified batterer treatment program. Confirm exactly what any court order requires before enrolling in any course.
What's the difference between classes?
Parenting vs. co-parenting. Parenting covers general child-development, discipline, and communication skills, and comes up in a wide range of family cases. Co-parenting is built specifically for separated or divorcing parents — coordinating two households, handling custody transitions, and keeping kids out of the middle — and is the more common requirement in a custody or divorce order.
Anger management vs. a certified intervention program. Many states, Wisconsin included, treat general educational anger-management coursework as legally distinct from a state-certified batterer intervention, family-violence intervention, or abuser-treatment program ordered specifically in a domestic-violence case — see “What if a Wisconsin court ordered it?” above for how that distinction works here. If your order names a specific certified program by name, an educational anger-management course usually isn't an automatic substitute — check with your court.
Where can I verify requirements?
The most reliable answer always comes from whoever issued your order — the court clerk, your probation or parole officer, your attorney, or the agency that referred you. Below are free, Wisconsin-specific places to start if you need legal help, counseling, or crisis support along the way.
Legal reference material
For anyone who wants to read the underlying statutes for themselves, here is the reference material this guide is based on — Wisconsin civil and family-law sections first, then criminal law.
Civil & family law
Custody and physical placement: domestic abuseWis. Stat. § 767.41
Evidence of domestic abuse is a best-interest factor and can support sole legal custody. A pattern or serious incident of abuse creates a rebuttable presumption against joint or sole legal custody for the abusive parent, and child and victim-parent safety become paramount.
Domestic abuse restraining orders and injunctionsWis. Stat. § 813.12
An adult can petition against a family or household member, former spouse, dating partner or co-parent. A temporary order can issue without notice, with a hearing within 14 days, and an injunction generally lasts up to 4 years.
Harassment restraining orders and injunctionsWis. Stat. § 813.125
Covers harassment such as threats, abuse, stalking, or a course of conduct that intimidates someone and serves no legitimate purpose. An injunction generally lasts up to 4 years.
Criminal law
Battery and substantial batteryWis. Stat. § 940.60 (§ 939.51, § 939.621)
Battery is a Class A misdemeanor (up to $10,000 and/or 9 months); substantial battery is a Class I felony. A domestic abuse repeater can face up to 2 additional years under § 939.621. Older sources number this offense differently.
Strangulation and suffocationWis. Stat. § 940.235 (§ 939.50)
Intentionally interfering with another person's breathing or blood circulation is a Class H felony, carrying up to $10,000, 6 years of imprisonment, or both. It rises to Class G with certain prior convictions.
StalkingWis. Stat. § 940.32 (§ 939.50)
An intentional course of conduct that would cause a reasonable person serious emotional distress or fear, and does. The base offense is a Class I felony (up to $10,000 and/or 3 years 6 months), with higher classes for factors such as bodily harm or a weapon.
Violating a restraining order or injunctionWis. Stat. § 813.12
Knowingly violating a domestic abuse temporary restraining order or injunction is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000, up to 9 months in jail, or both. Officers must arrest on probable cause when shown a copy of the order.