Marriage counseling or couples therapy is the process of spouses working with a trained professional (usually a psychologist) to resolve problems in their relationship, with the goal of saving the relationship and marriage. Marriage counseling is generally not required before getting divorced, but in some states courts have the discretion to require couples seeking a divorce to engage in marriage counseling—although this is rare. And in some states the court may order the spouses to attend marriage counseling if one spouse requests it. But because a spouse is generally entitled to a divorce on no-fault grounds (without claiming or proving fault in the breakup of the marriage), marriage counseling is not usually a significant factor in the divorce process, and if one spouse wants a divorce, it will be granted.

In Wisconsin, marriage counseling or couples therapy is a voluntary process for couples seeking to resolve issues within their relationship. While it can be a helpful step for those wishing to save their marriage, it is not a legal requirement prior to obtaining a divorce. Wisconsin is a no-fault divorce state, meaning that a divorce can be granted without the need to prove fault or wrongdoing by either spouse. The court typically does not order mandatory marriage counseling as a prerequisite for divorce. However, if both parties are open to it, they may choose to pursue counseling independently. It's important to note that even though the court generally does not require counseling, a judge may consider the efforts made by the spouses to reconcile when deciding on matters related to the divorce, such as property division or spousal support.