In re Marriage of LaRocque

Daniel LaRocque (plaintiff), a lawyer and later a judge earning about $60,000 a year, filed for divorce from Rosalie LaRocque (defendant) after 13 years of marriage and five children. Rosalie held a psychology degree and worked occasionally as a substitute teacher, but was primarily a homemaker and caregiver. The trial court gave Rosalie the marital home, furniture, appliances, a car, and other property, but made her responsible for all related repairs and sale costs, and awarded only limited-term spousal support: $1,500/month for five months, then $1,000/month for 13 more months (18 months total), reasoning she could become a certified teacher starting around $12,000 within that window. Rosalie appealed the amount and duration as insufficient; the court of appeals affirmed the amount but reversed the duration, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court took the case.