Here are some general tips:
There are several court forms that are designed for use in Dane County only. Locate a court form here on our Court Forms page.
Call (608)266-4311 Monday-Friday between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Closed all County holidays.
Online, a substantial amount of Wisconsin legal information can be found by accessing the Wisconsin State Law Library's website and searching its contents. Not all legal information is available on the Internet, nor is it all available for free. You may also visit the Dane County Law Library or WI State Law Library during normal business hours. Another option is emailing your question to dclrc.ref@wicourts.gov or calling (608) 266-6316 for more information and assistance.
The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) investigates grievances about attorney misconduct. OLR provides instructions on how to file a grievance, outlines the grievance process, and explains under what circumstances you may learn whether other grievances have been filed or whether the attorney has been previously disciplined. Information about the OLR is on their website.
A Wisconsin clerk of circuit court may issue a subpoena for an out-of-state litigant who has submitted a properly issued foreign subpoena to the clerk in the county in which the discovery is sought.
Service and Enforcement of Subpoena
A subpoena issued must be served and enforced. In issuing the subpoena, the clerk of circuit court may not collect a fee and should enter it as a group file (GF0000_) case number. The individual responsible for service shall deliver a certificate of service or affidavit to the party that requested the subpoena. The party must retain the certificate of service or affidavit and furnish a copy to any party or to the deponent upon request.
Deposition, Production and Inspection
When a subpoena issued commands a person to attend and give testimony at a deposition; produce designated books, documents, records, electronically stored information, or tangible items; or permit inspection of premises, the time and place and the manner of the taking of the deposition, the production, or the inspection must comply with Wisconsin's rules and statutes relating to discovery.
Application to Court for Protective Order
Ref: Wis. Stats. Chapter 887.24
Revised: 2/16
Contact the Record Center in the Clerk of Courts office for copies of cases and files. A brief description of cases and index of records is contained in the WI Circuit Court Access database at http://wcca.wicourts.gov/index.xsl.
A court interpreter will be provided for hearings UPON REQUEST. You must make the request, in writing, with the office of the court official assigned to your case. You may also make the request at the Clerk of Courts office, located on the first floor of the Courthouse.
There are several ways for you to locate an attorney to assist you. One way is to call the WI State Bar Lawyer Referral and Information Service at (608) 257-4666. You could also search lawyer directories or the yellow pages. For more information, visit this topic on the Wisconsin State Law Library's Legal Topics page.
It might not be possible to reschedule, but you can try calling. The number of the assigned judge hearing your case should be located on the notice of hearing. For Dane County Circuit Court, call 266-4311. Requests to adjourn small claims court hearings must be received, in writing, and a copy of the request MUST be provided to the other parties in the case.
If the ticket was issued by a jurisdiction that has a Municipal Court, you will probably need to appear there to answer an ordinance violation. The City of Madison has a Municipal Court located in the City County Building Room 203 on the Second Floor. Contact the Clerk of Courts if you are unsure which jurisdiction or Court you need to visit.
Yes. The entrance has a ramp. There is a drop-off space for the wheelchair ramp on Doty Street.
Monday - Friday, 7:45 AM - 4:30 PM. Closed all County holidays. Customers should arrive in time to complete all business by 4:30. Branch offices also close from12:00 - 1:00 PM daily.
Local court rules are policies and procedures for court actions tried in Dane County. You need to be familiar with the local court rules if you are involved in court actions, even if you are not an attorney. You can view the Dane County Circuit Court Rules.
You will be required to go through Weapons Screening when you arrive at the Courthouse. You will have to pass through a metal detector and all items will be sent through an X-Ray machine. The whole process is very similar to the security screening at an airport so please plan accordingly. Allow extra time to get through Security prior to your hearing.
There are several alternatives and programs that may be able to assist you. Visit the Court System's Self-Help Center legal assistance page for lists of resources and programs that offer no or low-cost legal aid and information that can help you determine if you can afford a lawyer. You may also choose to represent yourself.
You may petition the court to have filing and service fees waived. You should use the Petition for Waiver of Filing and Service fees form.
2011 Act 69 changed the interest rates applicable to judgments applicable to civil actions under Wisconsin Statutes 807.01(4), 814.04(4), and 815.05(8). This act set the rate of interest under these statutes at 1% plus the prime interest rate in effect on January 1 and July 1 of each year, as reported in federal reserve statistical release H. 15. The interest rate remains in effect from the date of entry of judgment until the judgment is paid.
To view the current and past rates, Please click the following link:
https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/interestrate.pdf
Read Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 75.06. Contact information for the chief judge may be found in the Circuit Court Administrative Districts directory. The Wisconsin Judicial Commission provides an online complaint form.
The Wisconsin Judicial Commission investigates allegations of judicial misconduct. They provide an online complaint form.
Parking can be a problem in the downtown area. There are several public parking ramps close to the downtown area. There is usually little or no street parking available during the work day, but there are handicapped-accessible parking spots or areas to drop people off on Doty Street (around the corner from the main entrance).
The Jury Assembly Room, LL1000 in the lower level of the Courthouse. See the Juror Information page for more juror information.
The Courthouse is located at 215 S Hamilton St and is between the streets of Wilson and Doty running parallel. There is one entrance on Hamilton Street, a one-way street connecting Wilson and Doty streets.
Court staff cannot give legal advice. According to Supreme Court Rule 70.41, services such as legal research or assistance filling out a form can be considered legal advice. The worst case scenario places court staff in violation of unauthorized practice of law, an offense punishable by as much as $500 or a year in jail (according to WI Statute § 757.30(1) or both.
Divorce is hard on children, but there are things you can do to lessen the tension and conflict in your household.
Avoid blaming the other parent, arguing or fighting in front of children, discussing the court proceedings when the children are at home, involving children in decision making or choosing sides, or threatening to send the children to live with the other parent.
Work toward answering children's questions in an age-appropriate manner, making answers simple and clear, reassuring children that the divorce is not their fault, encouraging them to express their feelings such as fear and anger, giving them permission to continue to love both parents and not take sides, reassuring them that they will be taken care of, keeping the children's schedules as normal and typical as possible without major or drastic changes that are unsettling, and preparing the children for changes to their family.
The only basis for divorce in Wisconsin is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken." This means the husband and wife can find no way to work out their differences. A judge usually will find a marriage irretrievably broken even if only one spouse wants a divorce.
To file for a divorce in Dane County, one party must have lived in the State of Wisconsin for six months prior to the time the divorce is filed and in Dane County for at least thirty days before filing for divorce. Generally, you file for divorce in the county in which you are a legal resident.
Unless the court makes an exception for an emergency, which is very rare, at least four months (120 days) must pass between the serving of the initial papers (or filing of the joint petition) and the final hearing. Most divorces take longer than four months. Several factors affect the length of the process, including the complexity of the case, the ability of the spouses to agree on the issues, and the amount of other business before the trial court.
A divorce isn't effective until the final hearing. Even then, a "Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Judgment" form must be filed with the court within 30 days of the final hearing or the case may be dismissed. Once the divorce is final, both parties must wait at least six months before marrying other people.
If a legal separation has been granted by the Court, parties may jointly request to convert the separation into a divorce by completing and submitting Stipulation and Order to Convert Legal Separation to Divorce forms (FA-4162VA and FA-4162VB) to the judge who granted their legal separation. After one year from the date of the legal separation, either spouse may seek to have the separation converted into a divorce without the other spouse’s consent. They may file a Motion & Order to Convert Legal Separation to Divorce forms (FA-4163VA and FA-4163VB) to the judge who granted their legal separation. Both sets of forms may be located online at https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/index.htm or purchased in the Dane County Law Library (Room L1007) for a small fee. You must also submit a completed Divorce/Annulment Worksheet, which can only be obtained at the Courthouse (Room 1000, Room 2000, or the Law Library).
Your husband is legally presumed to be the father of your child. You must notify the Court Commissioner or Judge of your pregnancy so that a lawyer can be appointed to represent the child's best interests. That lawyer, the guardian ad litem, must recommend to the judge whether genetic testing should be undertaken to determine whether your husband or another person is the father of your child, before you can be divorced. This often involves waiting until the child is born, when genetic testing can be performed.
The Judge or Court Commissioner may issue temporary orders that protect your rights during the divorce process. For example, temporary orders may determine child custody and physical placement, who lives in the family home, payment of maintenance and child support, or payment of debts. The parties may also complete a Stipulation for Temporary Order and submit it to the Court for approval. The forms can be found at our Family Court Forms page.
Yes, but you have to show the Court that you made reasonable and diligent efforts to locate your spouse. You also must publish a notice in a newspaper likely to give notice in the area or to the person affected [§985.02(1)], in an attempt to inform your spouse that you have started a divorce. You must also submit an Affidavit of Attempted Service at the last-known address.
Please refer to the Checklist for Contested Divorce/Legal Separation or the Checklist for Uncontested Divorce/Legal Separation. Both forms are located online on the Family Courts form page, under the Divorce Information Documents section. The top section of the checklists outlines which documents must be submitted prior to a final divorce hearing being scheduled. The bottom section of the checklists outlines what documents must be brought to the final divorce hearing.
Yes. Even if the parties have no property to divide, a Marital Settlement Agreement must be filed. The Marital Settlement Agreement available at the Dane County Legal Resource Center or our Family Court Forms page, outlines the potential issues in a divorce. There may be issues that need to be resolved that you have not thought of. As long as both parties sign the MSA and agree on the terms, the Judge will usually accept their agreement.
Your divorce is final on the date of the divorce hearing. Unless the Judge makes an exception for an emergency, at least four months (120 days) must pass between the serving of the initial papers (or filing of the joint petition) and the final divorce hearing. Most divorces take longer than four months. You are not free to marry, in Wisconsin or another State, for six months after the divorce is final. A "Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Judgment" form must be filed with the court within 30 days of the final hearing. If this document is not received, the action may be dismissed.
Call the Child Support Agency at (608) 266-4031.
Either call the Child Support Agency at (608) 266-4031 or write to the office at Room 365, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, City-County Building, Madison, WI 53703.
Check to see if a divorce action has been filed on the Internet at Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, or call (608) 266-4311.
You may contact the Clerk of Courts Record Center in Room 1002 of the Dane County Courthouse or call (608) 266-4311 for information. Requests for copies may be made in person, by mail, by email at dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov, or by fax at (608) 267-8859. No telephone requests are taken. There is a charge of $1.25 per page for copies. The Divorce Certificate can be obtained from the State of Wisconsin Office of Vital Records, PO Box 309, 1 W. Wilson Street, Madison, WI 53701-0309 or by calling (608) 266-1373.
You usually do not need to go through a separate name change court proceeding in order to change certain documents if necessary language regarding use of maiden name is contained in the divorce judgment. Most agencies that hold documents that you need to change, such as the DMV or Social Security Agency, have internal forms for you to fill out. Some may require a certified copy of your divorce Judgment of Divorce (available from the Record Center in Room 1002 of the Dane County Courthouse). The Social Security Agency requires a certified copy of the Judgment of Divorce showing the Judge's signature, not the judge's stamped signature. Contact the individual agencies to see what they require.
There are no Dane County Circuit Court family counseling services available prior to the filing of a divorce or legal separation. You may be able to use private sector providers, which may be covered by your health insurance, or other available family counseling services.
For hearings being held in the Commissioner Center on Family (FA) or Paternity (PA) cases, all requests to appear by telephone must be submitted in writing at least 2 weeks prior to the scheduled court date. Timely requests are forwarded to a commissioner for review. The decision on the request will be noted in the court record in CCAP and a response letter may be sent if time permits.
Requests made less than 2 weeks before a hearing will NOT be forwarded to the commissioner for review. The clerk will scan the request into the court record, note that it is untimely, and then record any telephone number provided on the court’s calendars. The court commissioner may or may not contact the requester at the time of the hearing if they do not appear in person. The Court may proceed without them if they fail to appear and have not received permission to appear by phone.
If your hearing is in front of a Court Commissioner, call or write to the Court Commissioner Center at the address at the top of this page. A new date may be assigned and you can attempt service again.
Dane County Court Rule 124 states: In any type of case, an unrepresented party or attorney requesting that any hearing or trial be set over to a later date shall make diligent efforts to ascertain the position of all other unrepresented parties and attorneys in the case prior to contacting the court. Requests for continuances shall be made in writing only, which may be sent by fax to the court, and shall contain the reason for the request as well as the position on the request of all other unrepresented parties and attorneys or a statement that, despite the described efforts to contact the others, the requestor has been unable to ascertain their positions on the request. Requests for continuance shall be made not less than five (5) working days before a scheduled hearing. Unless the court notifies the parties and attorneys that the request or stipulation for continuance has been granted, they must appear at the originally scheduled time.
Complete the two-part Petition and Order for Waiver of Fees and Costs forms (CV-410A and CV-410B). Instructions for completion of these forms may be found at Family Court Forms page under the Fee Waiver Documents section. Fee waivers typically cover filing and service fees, but not fees for forms or copies.
You can find out where and when the hearing is by accessing the Circuit Court Access System called the Consolidated Court Automation Program (CCAP) or by calling (608) 266-4311.
If your hearing is before a Judge, you can find out where and when the hearing is by accessing the Circuit Court Access System called the Consolidated Court Automation Program (CCAP). You could also call the Judge's office at the number listed in the public phone directory.
Contact the Clerk of Courts Records Center in Room 1002 of the Dane County Courthouse or call (608) 266-4311 for information. Requests must be made in person, by mail, by email at dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov, or by fax at (608) 267-8859. Telephone requests are not allowed. There is a charge of $1.25 per page for copies.
The Family Law Assistance Center is staffed by volunteer attorneys and family law experts who can help you fill out forms and answer general questions about family law. They cannot offer legal advice. It is a drop-in service only; no phone calls. The Center is available Wednesdays from 11:30-1:30 in Room L1022 of the Dane County Courthouse. Spanish speaking volunteers are available on the first and third Wednesdays of each month.
There are no specific court-approved motions to change venue. You may need to consult an attorney. The rules as to when a change in venue is appropriate may be complicated.
No. The Response and Counterclaim is to be used to deny factual statements in the petition or make a counterclaim. If an response and counterclaim is filed, copies must be provided to the spouse or their attorney. If you also want the action to continue, you must file a Counterclaim. Otherwise, if the Petitioner dismisses the Petition, the action will be dismissed too.
You can file a divorce, legal separation or paternity action. If there is already a Dane County court order of any sort related to the child(ren), you may file a Stipulation & Order to Amend Judgment for Support/Custody/Maintenance/Placement. If the parties do not agree, either party may file a Notice of Motion and Motion to Change Custody/Placement/Support/Maintenance. These forms and instructions can be found at our Family Court Forms page. If the child(ren) are not the product of a marriage, and if paternity has not been established, you may file a paternity case or request the assistance of the Child Support Agency, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Room 365, Madison, WI 53703. They are available by telephone at (608) 266-4031. There are no court-approved forms for initiating a paternity action.
The Records Center, located in Room 1002 of the Dane County Courthouse, has the forms to obtain a temporary restraining order and injunction.
Related Documents
The Children First Program is a program for unemployed parents ordered to pay child support. For information, call the Child Support Agency at 266-4031 or write to the office at Room 365, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. City-County Bldg., Madison, WI 53703.
Write to the Court Commissioner Center, 215 S. Hamilton Street, Room 2000, Madison, WI 53703. If there is a support obligation, you must also notify the other party and the Child Support Agency, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 365, Madison, WI 53703.
You may pursue one of the following:
You may contact an attorney because the issues are more complicated when one party resides in another state or contact the Dane County Child Support Agency at (608) 266-4031. That office may be able to begin an interstate child support action on your behalf.
To see payment information, you may register to have online access to your support account. To learn more regarding this process, Click on link to go to the Wisconsin Department of Children and Familes website.
Alternatively, you may call the Wisconsin Support Collections Trust Fund at 1-800-991-5530.
Only the recipient of the child support can agree to erase arrears unless you can prove that the child lived with you or received disability benefits through you, or that you made direct payments to the other parent.
The "Motion to Change Support" form can be adapted to request that a payment on arrears be established. If the person under the support obligation is under an income assignment, they can write to the Court Commissioner Center and request that a Court Commissioner increase the income assignment until the arrears are paid. The Child Support Agency can establish an arrears payment by administrative action.
Call the Child Support Agency at (608) 266-4031. You should provide the arrested person's social security number, case number and the name of the other party to the case. They will advise you what can be done to secure the person's release.
Usually, a person can voluntarily terminate his or her parental rights only if there is another person willing to adopt the child. A Judge will not terminate your rights just so you can avoid paying support. Parental rights can be terminated involuntarily for the reasons specified in WI Stat §48.415. Questions about terminating parental rights are best addressed to an attorney. An informational checklist on what forms need to be filed can be obtained from the Dane County Legal Resource Center. Petitions to terminate parental rights are filed with the Juvenile Court Administration Office, Dane County Courthouse Room 2000, Madison, WI 53703, (608) 266-4407. The forms to terminate parental rights are available here: Termination of Parental Rights (Voluntary or Involuntary).
If both parties are in agreement to make the change, you can file a "Stipulation and Order to Amend Judgment for Support/Maintenance/Custody/Placement." If the parties are not in agreement, you can file a motion to change either custody/placement or court-ordered support. These packets and instructions are available at the Dane County Legal Resource Center (Room L1007 in the Dane County Courthouse) for a small fee or on our Family Court Forms page. The filing fee is $50 for a motion to change custody or placement and $30 for a motion to change child support or maintenance. Stipulations have no filing fee. A copy of any child support modification motion or stipulation must be provided to the Child Support Agency, if public assistance is involved in the case.
According to Wis. Stat. §767.43, "upon petition by a grandparent, greatgrandparent, stepparent or person who has maintained a relationship similar to a parent-child relationship with the child, the court may grant reasonable visitation rights to that person if the parents have notice of the hearing and if the court determines that visitation is in the best interest of the child." However, certain limitations apply to this statute. You can read the entire statute on the State Legislature's website. Since this issue may be complicated, you may want to consult with an attorney. There are no official court forms for this action.
There is nothing in Wisconsin law that changes your rights or responsibilities as a parent just because you are incarcerated. There are often side effects of incarceration that can affect parental rights, however. If there is no one to care for a child, then the county and state could become involved in raising the child. If contact is not maintained with the child, a court could later find that the child was "abandoned" and can terminate parental rights permanently. If a divorce is started while a parent is incarcerated, the Judge can consider the inability to care for the child in deciding who gets custody. Support orders are not automatically reduced when a parent is incarcerated.
If one of the parties has violated an order of the Court, the other party may wish to file an Order to Show Cause for Contempt. If the commissioner finds that the other party has violated an order, the party who violated the order could be made to compensate the other party for his or her loss. For instance, in order to avoid going to jail, the other party could be ordered to pay off a debt, make arrangements to pay a medical bill, or pay a certain amount towards his or her child support arrearages.
A contempt form and instructions can be obtained for a small fee from the Dane County Legal Resource Center, Dane County Courthouse Room L1007, 215 S Hamilton St, Madison, WI 53703, or on our Family Court Forms page.
If you believe the other party has violated a support order, you may wish to request assistance from the Dane County Child Support Agency, Room 365, 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, City County Bldg., Madison, WI 53703, (608) 266-4031. That office could file a contempt action in your case. Please contact the Child Support Agency to obtain an application for their services.
According to Wisconsin Statute §767.481, if the court grants any periods of physical placement with a child to both parents and one parent intends to relocate and reside with the child 100 miles or more from the other parent, the parent who intends to relocate and reside with the child shall file a motion with the court seeking permission for the child’s relocation. The child may not be relocated pending the initial hearing.
You may locate the necessary motions forms (FA-4178V and FA-4179V) and Dane County filing instructions at the Family Courts Forms page under the Post-Judgment Documents section.
Any child present in this state may be adopted if the child's parents are either deceased or have had their parental rights terminated. In the case of adoption by a stepparent, the birth parent to whom the stepparent is not married must be deceased or have had his/her rights terminated.
The parties may jointly complete the Stipulation and Order to Vacate/Revoke the Judgment of Divorce or Legal Separation forms (FA-4164VA and FA-4164VB) and submit the paperwork to the court official who granted the divorce or legal separation. Please see the referenced forms for further information on timelines and conditions. The forms may be located online at https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/index.htm or purchased for a small fee at the Dane County Law Library located in Room L1007 of the Dane County Courthouse.
Both offices deal with children and families. Juvenile Court handles matters such as child or juvenile protective services, crimes committed by children or juveniles, as well as termination of parental rights. Family court handles matters such as divorce, legal separation, annulment, child custody, child support, as well as paternity, counseling and mediation. Another court, probate court, handles adoptions and guardianships. All of these courts assist one another with cases that may cross into another's jurisdiction.
According to WI Statute § 938.02(10m), a person who is less than 18 years of age, except that for purposes of investigating or prosecuting a person who is alleged to have violated a state or federal criminal law or any civil law or municipal ordinance, does not include a person who has attained 17 years of age.
The age of majority for criminal offenses and forfeitures is 17. Wis. Stats. § 938.02(1) provides that " 'Adult' means a person who is 18 years of age or older, except that for purposes of investigating or prosecuting a person who is alleged to have violated any state or federal criminal law or any civil law or municipal ordinance, 'adult' means a person who has attained 17 years of age." See WI Statute § 938.183 "Original adult court jurisdiction for criminal proceedings" for more information regarding age. There are other circumstances in which a person under age 17 could be dealt with in adult court, including: (1) A juvenile age 15 or 16 may be "waived" into adult court by the juvenile court, and (2) there are certain very serious offenses that may be prosecuted in adult court.
Located in room 200 of the City-County Building, the Juvenile Reception Center (JRC) serves as a location for multiple services in Juvenile Court, including being the point of referral for juveniles alleged to have committed a crime for whom the law enforcement agency apprehending the juvenile is unable to release the juvenile to a parent, guardian, or other responsible adult and/or in situations in which the law enforcement officer believes the juvenile should be referred for secure custody. JRC also provides a number of other services related to the physical custody of juveniles and coordinating information with the courts, human services, and law enforcement.
Many Juvenile Court hearings are confidential. There are times, however, when the court proceedings are open to the public, mainly in second or subsequent delinquency cases. You should ask your Social Worker or attorney about the confidentiality of your particular hearing. You may be asked to sign a Release of Information form that allows certain parts of the record to go to other child-serving agencies that will be working with your child and the family. The Court may also issue an order to have certain records and facts released to involved parties.
To hire representation for themselves or their child and to be heard in Court. Parents in CHIPS (Child in Need of Protection or Services) cases are entitled to be represented by an attorney. Upon a finding of indigence, the Court will appoint an attorney to represent the parent(s).
The Supreme Court ruled that juveniles have the right to know the allegations against them, to have legal representation, to question witnesses, protect themselves against self-incrimination, have a transcript of court proceedings on request, and have the right to appeal. In delinquency (law violation) situations, juveniles do not have a right to a jury trial but can have a trial with the judge.
According to WI Statute § 48.40(2), the severing of rights, powers, privileges, immunities, duties and obligations existing between parent and child, pursuant to a court order, voluntarily or involuntarily in the best interests of a child.
Yes. The forms are available in the Legal Resource Center (Room L1007 in the Dane County Courthouse)
First make sure that the crime has been reported to law enforcement. Cooperate with the investigating officer and give as much information as possible regarding the type of damage and other details regarding the crime. They will also give you some information about who to contact if you have questions about your rights, and you will receive contact information for the Victim Witness Unit of the District Attorney's office. If charges are filed against the juvenile, you will be mailed a victim notification letter from the Victim Witness Unit. This is your opportunity to give the Victim Witness Specialist your opinion regarding restitution and consequences. You will also be given the opportunity to request that the Victim Witness Unit of notify you of any scheduled hearings. You have the right to attend some of these hearings and make a statement to the court if you choose. It is important that you provide any documentation that you have regarding the loss incurred. Due to various laws and statutes affecting juveniles, there are only certain costs that are recoverable in juvenile court as well as monetary limits. If you are not satisfied regarding the action taken in juvenile court, victims do have the right to sue the parents and child in civil court. The victim must initiate this process.
When a child is placed on supervision with the Department of Human Services, a variety of programs and services can be made available to the child and family in order to help the child successfully complete supervision and prevent future problems. Such programs range from diversion programs to intensive supervision, as well as a variety of individual and family counseling services. The assigned social worker will aid the family in evaluating their needs and obtaining services.
A case usually begins with a complaint brought against a juvenile through a report filed by law enforcement. The police send most complaints to the Juvenile Intake office after they have contact with a victim of a crime, or a threatened party. The complaint is reviewed by Juvenile Intake staff from Human Services and the District Attorney's Office. Juvenile Intake reviews the accusation (complaint/ referral) and works with the District Attorney's office to decide whether it is suitable for informal action (Deferred Prosecution Agreement) or if it should be filed as a petition in Juvenile Court. If the petition is filed with the Court, the hearing process will ensue. If it is sent to Human Services for further work with the youth/family, a social worker from Human Services will contact the parent(s) for an intake conference.
Unlocked. It is not as restricted as a secure facility, such as detention, and could be the home of a parent, relative or guardian, friend of the family, foster or group home, or a hospital.
In all delinquency, CHIPS/JIPS cases, juveniles/children have the right to be represented by a lawyer. In delinquency/JIPS cases, juveniles/children aged 10 and older, and in CHIPS cases children aged 12 and older, will be appointed an attorney by the State Public Defender's office. The attorney will advocate for the juvenile during all stages of the proceeding unless the juvenile wishes to continue without a lawyer and the Judge permits this. The parents in these cases will be ordered at the conclusion of the case to reimburse the state for the representation of their child. The amount is dependent on whether the charge is a felony or misdemeanor. Parents have the right to appeal this order to show indigence (inability to pay). Information about the appeal process will be provided once the case is concluded. The State Public Defender's Office can be contacted at 266-9150. Children under the age of 10 and alleged to be JIPS and children under the age of 12 and alleged to be CHIPS will be appointed a Guardian ad Litem (GAL), an attorney who will represent the best interest of the child. The GAL is appointed at county expense.
Any child with pending charges in Juvenile Court has the right to be represented by counsel in all stages of Court proceedings. It is important for the child to be able to speak freely and honestly with his/her attorney so the attorney can provide the best counsel possible. It is also important that the attorney be able to respect the client/attorney trust by keeping conversations with the juvenile private. The attorney may only discuss general information with the parents due to this trust obligation.
Three possible circumstances when parents may wish to seek their own representations are:
When your child has been charged with a delinquent act or is alleged to be a Juvenile in need of Protection or Services (JIPS), a Social Worker from the Dane County Department of Human Services will be assigned to your family. This usually takes one or two weeks. The social worker will then contact you by letter or phone to set up an initial meeting, called an Intake Interview. This meeting will take place at either the Social Worker's office or your home depending on the worker's schedule and preference. Family history will be one of the topics that will be discussed so that the Social Worker can get to know you better. This is important because the Social Worker, as the case planner, will be making recommendations to the court about what the conditions of supervision will be, which community services to use, or even which type of out of home placement may be best suited to your child's needs, where necessary.
In most Juvenile Court cases, the Juvenile Justice Code requires several steps in the hearing process, including:
If you are unclear on any point in any of the hearings, be sure to ask the Judge/Commissioner, the assigned Social Worker, or an attorney to explain the order in more detail. In some minor cases, an agreement called a "Consent Decree" may be worked out at the pre-trial hearing thereby avoiding a final dispositional hearing. A consent decree is a form of probation that allows a juvenile to keep their record clean if they follow through with all of the conditions of the consent decree. If they follow through the case will be dismissed. If not, the juvenile can be brought back to court and can be found delinquent based on the plea they entered.
Depending on the facts and circumstances, the final disposition of a juvenile case may or may not include time in a secure facility. Recommendations will be made to the Judge regarding placement of your child. The Judge will make a court order listing the conditions of the juvenile's period of supervision and a determination where the juvenile will reside if placement outside of the parental home is necessary.
If the court orders a youth to make restitution payments or perform community service (unpaid service work), Dane County has a program called the Youth Restitution Program (YRP) that monitors both court ordered restitution and community service hours and reports back to the Court. The juvenile and his/her family will report to the Juvenile Reception Center to sign up for YRP immediately following the hearing in which the community service or restitution is ordered. The juvenile will be notified by YRP when a job site has been arranged. Social workers and parents on occasion may monitor the community service hours if approved by the Court. An adult must keep track of the number of hours completed and give it to the social worker. Discuss the issue with the assigned social worker for more information.
CHIPS stands for Child In need of Protection or Services. It is a proceeding in juvenile court for any person under the age of 18 for noncriminal reasons including abuse, neglect, and abandonment. Similarly, JIPS stands for Juvenile in Need of Protection or Services, and are court proceedings involving a juvenile under the age of 18-(1) whose parent signs a petition requesting the court to take jurisdiction and is unable to control the juvenile; (2) who is habitually truant from school or home; (3) who is a school dropout; (4) who is under the age of 10 and has committed a delinquent (criminal) act; or (5) who has been determined to be not responsible for a delinquent act by reason of mental disease or defect or who has been determined to be not competent to proceed.
Call the Human Service intake office that serves the area in which the family resides as soon as possible. Human Services will investigate. When in doubt, report it to either a law enforcement agency or Human Services office. There are several human Services offices throughout Dane county, and you can look them up in the phone book, on the Internet, of contact you local police department for assistance.
Pursuant to §938.355(4m) a juvenile who has been adjudged delinquent may, on attaining 17 years of age, petition the court to expunge the court's record of the juvenile's adjudication. Expungement will not be approved if the juvenile, even though he/she has reached age 17, is currently under Juvenile Court jurisdiction/supervision. Expungement will only be approved in exceptional circumstances in which the juvenile/adult making the request demonstrates through course of conduct and/or provision of other information that it is in both the best interests of the juvenile and the public that their juvenile record be expunged.
This inter-county agreement corresponds to venue and venue transfers for juvenile court. See the Wisconsin Department of Corrections venue agreement FAQ (Microsoft Word format) for more information about "you place/you pay." Dane County is part of this agreement. See also the Juvenile Court procedure manual for Dane County policies, specifically the section on Venue.
Yes. Go to the juvenile mandatory forms page to find mandatory Juvenile Court forms on the Internet.
There is no assistance currently available in the courthouse specifically for filling out Juvenile Court forms. Court staff may be able to tell you what needs to be filed, but they are not allowed to give out information that could be considered legal advice.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Contact the Clerk of Courts at the location above or the Dane County Legal Resource Center at 266-6316.
Forms are available from the Dane County Legal Resource Center (608-266-6316) for a small fee. You can also download the forms from the Wisconsin Court Systems Website or the Clerk of Court Other Court Forms Page.
Chapter 48 of the Wisconsin Statutes (specifically § 48.81 to 48.978).
No. Adoption hearings are closed to the public. Requests by the parties to allow family and close family friends to attend the hearing are generally granted by the judge.
Any child whose adoption would otherwise be valid under Wisconsin statutes may be readopted in this state. Often a child adopted in a foreign country by Wisconsin residents is readopted in order to obtain a Wisconsin certificate of birth facts for the child. In Dane County, the same adoption forms and procedures are used for a readoption.
The Dane County procedure for adoption and forms are available on the Other Forms page.
After the adoption hearing, a check for the fee for generating a new birth certificate will be collected. The vital records department of the state of birth creates the new birth certificate. If your child was born in a foreign country, Wisconsin will create a certificate of birth facts. (The foreign birth certificate and English translation is required.)
Adoption files are closed to the public. Adopted persons who wish to obtain information about themselves and their birth relatives, or birth parents seeking to give information to their birth children should contact:
Adoption Records Search Program
P.O. Box 8916
Madison WI 53708-8916
(608) 266-7163
Many probate records go back to 1848. Cases commenced prior to 1992 are available only on microfilm. Copies made from microfilm are $1.00 per page. To search for information, you will need the person's first and last name and approximate date of death or date that documents were filed. The State Historical Society has duplicate records for cases filed before 1930 which may be easier to read, retrieve and copy.
The Wisconsin Statutes have several chapters regarding Probate Court actions. Look especially in chapters 851-882.
Yes! A scaled-down version of the information on the court computer docket is available on the internet on Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (CCAP). Here you can find case numbers, the name of the personal representative, the final date to file claims (if it has not yet been passed), and whether any claims have been filed.
The Wisconsin Statutes have several chapters that outline deadlines for Probate Court related actions. Look especially in chapters 851-882.
Check the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association website or the links on the Wisconsin State Law Library's Legal Topic Probate for more resources and information.
For Adults, per Wisconsin statute chapter 54 “Guardianships and Conservatorships”, temporary guardianships last for 60 days and can be extended for another 60 days. "Permanent" guardianships end when someone dies or the Court orders the guardianship to be terminated.
For minors, emergency guardianships are only for 60 days. Temporary guardianships are for 6 months and can be extended for 6 months. Full guardianships end when the child turns 18 or if terminated.
Limited guardianships are as short or long as the Court orders.
A court order for protective placement may be required to authorize a guardian of the person to place or keep someone at a facility with 16 or more beds.. These orders are reviewed each year to determine whether the person is in the least restrictive environment consistent with his or her needs and abilities. This review is known as a "Watts Review." An attorney will be appointed as Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to review reports about the ward and request a full due process hearing before the court if appropriate.
If a ward moves, the guardian MUST notify the court in writing as soon as possible. In all correspondence with the court, please provide the case number, the ward's name and address and the guardian's name and address. Send correspondence to:
Probate Court
215 South Hamilton, Room 100
Dane County Courthouse
Madison, WI 53703
If a ward is being moved to a more restrictive environment (for example, from a group home to a nursing home), the guardian should also explain briefly the reason for the move, file notice of protective placement transfer with the Court, and send a copy of the notice to Dane County's Adult Protective Services at the following address:
Dane County Human Services
Adult Protective Services
1202 Northport Drive
Madison, WI 53704
If a ward objects to this move, he or she is entitled to a hearing within 10 days of filing a petition with the court.
Any interested person can ask the court to end the guardianship at any time by filing a petition to terminate and service to all interested parties. A new examining Physician's or Psychologist’s report will also need to be filed if the person was found incompetent. Sometimes a GAL is appointed and a hearing is usually scheduled.
No. Guardianships are closed cases. Only full parties may view or obtain documents unless authorized by a Court Official.
The Wisconsin Statutes have several chapters that describe guardianships, but look especially in chapters 54 “Guardianships” for estate and 48 "Children's Code" for guardianship of the person 48.977(CHIPS) or 48.9795.
The Wisconsin Statutes have several chapters that describe guardianships, but look especially in 54 “Guardianships and Conservatorships” and 55 "Protective Service System."
You can deposit your own will in the Probate vault for safekeeping for a fee of $10. Only the person who wrote the will, or their written designee with the original receipt, can withdraw it. The written designation must be signed by two witnesses. There is an additional fee of $10 each time you replace a will or file a Codicil.
To file a Health Care Power of Attorney or Declaration to Physicians (also known as a Living Will), an $8 filing fee is necessary. Be sure to let the person you nominate as your agent know where he or she can find the document. Some people keep duplicate originals or copies in another location that is more accessible to close relatives and friends. The Wisconsin Guardianship Support Center can provide more information about advance directives. The Financial Power of Attorney is filed with the Register of Deeds office
Civil actions are noncriminal cases in which one private individual or business sues another to protect, enforce, or redress private or civil rights. A criminal case is the action or suit by a government to penalize a violation of the criminal laws. Both types of cases can be brought to the Dane County Circuit Courts for a decision and judgment.
In Dane County, as a general rule, there must be at least 8 business days from the filing date to the return date in eviction and replevin actions.
Foreign Judgment - Judgments from other states or Federal court (located outside of Wisconsin) are filed as Foreign Judgments [sec. 806.24, Stats.]
Transcript of Judgment - Judgments from another Wisconsin Court, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court, Federal Court (located within Wisconsin), municipal or tribal court are filed with the Clerk of Court's Administrative Office as Transcript from Judgments. [sec. 806 Stats.]
A person entering a foreign judgment must provide the Clerk of Court with the following:
You may refer to Wisconsin Legislature: 816.03 for further information
Transcript of Judgment must provide the Clerk of Court with the following:
All parties’ complete addresses are required for Transcript of Judgment and Foreign Judgment.
Civil actions are noncriminal cases in which one private individual or business sues another to protect, enforce, or redress private or civil rights. A criminal case is the action or suit by a government to penalize a violation of the criminal laws. Both types of cases can be brought to the Dane County Circuit Courts for a decision and judgment.
Contact the Record Center in the Clerk of Courts office for copies of cases and files. Contact the Clerk of Courts Records Center in Room 1000 of the Dane County Courthouse, 215 S Hamilton St, Madison, WI, 53703 or call 266-4311 for information. Requests must be made in person, by mail or by FAX. Telephone requests will not be processed. There is a statutory charge of $1.25 per page for the copies.
A brief description of cases and index of records is contained in the WI Circuit Court Access database.
If you're charged with an ordinance or traffic offense that is not considered a criminal violation, you'll be given a citation. In most cases you won't be taken into custody. The citation will usually give you a choice of paying a fine or going to court. It will state a date for you to appear in court if you choose not to pay the fine.
Statutes 938-961 deal with the Criminal Code and Controlled Substances Act, while 967-980 deal with Criminal Procedure. There may be several other statutes that deal with criminal laws or procedure, such as evidence or other specific crimes. Look at the Statutes Table of Contents for more information on how Statutes are arranged.
If you want to review your case file, go to the Records Center in room Room 1002 of the Dane County Courthouse. If you want to research the crimes with which you are charged, or investigate more information about your upcoming court date, such as reviewing the laws of evidence, or look into other areas of criminal law research, such as defenses or postconviction motions, visit a law library. There are three public law libraries in Madison. The Dane County Legal Resource Center is in room L1007 in the Courthouse. The WI State Law Library is located on the second floor at 120 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The UW Law Library is located in the law school on Bascom Hill off Park Street. Online, you may want to visit the legal topics section of the WI State Law Library's website.
The fees and surcharges that are added to your ticket are set by state statute. The legislature and the Governor have set the amount of these fees. These fees have increased drastically over the past ten years. The officer and the court must abide by state statutes. The officer and the court are not responsible for setting the amount of these fees and surcharges.
On a typical speeding ticket, the minimum ticket amount is broken down as follows:
Tickets issued by the county parking ramps have instructions on them about how payment is to be made.
All other county-issued tickets are to be paid in the Dane County Courthouse at 215 S. Hamilton St. Room 1000 or online at Allpaid.
City of Madison municipal violation tickets can be paid at Room 203, City-County Building. For City of Madison parking tickets and other fees, you can pay at a window at the Police Department (Ground floor, City County Building) or online at MadisonPay.com.
If not Madison or Dane County, contact the issuing agency for other payment or appearance information.
All other hearing date information should be addressed to the Clerk of Courts, Dane County Courthouse Room 1000, (608) 266-4311.
Some questions to consider are: What are your chances of success if you do contest it? How much will it cost you? Will you lose your driving privileges? You may wish to consult an attorney about these issues. If you decide to contest the citation, you're entitled to a trial. If the case is to be resolved in municipal court, a judge will decide the matter. If the case is to be resolved in Dane County Circuit Court, a judge or commissioner will resolve it, unless you immediately request a jury and pay the required fee by the hearing date.
No. Bring criminal complaints to the police department or District Attorney's office. They will in turn choose to proceed or investigate your complaints.
Contact the department of the officer and ask to speak to someone about complaints. The department may have a specific official or office or form for such actions.
There are several ways for you to locate an attorney to assist you. One way is to call the WI State Bar Lawyer Referral and Information Service at (608) 257-4666. You could also search lawyer directories or the yellow pages. For more information, visit this topic on the WI State Law Library's Legal Topics page. If you are being charged with a crime, you may also contact the Office of the State Public Defender for representation at (608) 266-9150.
Unless your friend or relative is a licensed attorney for Wisconsin, representation by a friend or relative may constitute Unauthorized Practice of Law, an offense punishable by as much as $500 or a year in jail (according to WI Statute § 757.30(1)) or both.
In a nutshell, in either a misdemeanor or a felony case, you'll have an initial appearance. At this appearance, you'll be served with a criminal complaint that outlines the charge, the probable cause supporting the charge, and the penalty.
In a misdemeanor case, you'll also enter a plea at the initial appearance. If you plead "not guilty" to a misdemeanor, you'll be given a trial date.
For a felony, the next step is the preliminary hearing. At this hearing the prosecution must present enough evidence to convince the judge that you should stand trial for a felony offense. If it's decided that your case will go to trial, you then attend an arraignment. At the arraignment, the district attorney will serve you with formal charges for a particular felony. At this time, you must enter a plea.
This information is from the Wisconsin State Bar's Legal Q & A.
See WI Statute § 972.10 for the order of a jury trial, as well as more information about criminal trials. There is also an outline of a jury trial in the information for jurors on the WI Court System's website. Specifically, you may want to examine "Step 3: The Trial" for helpful information.
Demerit points are assessed to drivers when convicted of a moving violation, beginning on the date of the violation. The courts send the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles records of all convictions for moving traffic violations. Persons who hold a probationary license are assessed double points for the second and all subsequent points. When 12 or more demerit points are accumulated in one year, a suspension of the driver privilege is required, for a minimum of two months. Convictions remain on the driver records for five years from the date of conviction. However, alcohol related and some commercial violations remain on the record for 10 years to life. This information and much more can be found on the WisDOT web page about the traffic points system in Wisconsin.
Contact the WI Department of Motor Vehicles for application procedures. If you have been revoked as a habitual traffic offender (HTO), the circuit court in your county of residence must approve the issuance of your occupational license. Dane County provides a petition form. There is a filing fee of $40.00 for this process.
Victim Impact Panels provide victims of OWI tragedies an opportunity to share their stories of pain and loss with OWI offenders. The goal of the Victim Impact Panel is not to blame or judge offenders in the audience, but to reach the audience on an emotional level…a level that courts, fines and jail may not be able to reach. Listening to the personal accounts of people who have lived to tell about the grief and despair that occurs "after a crash," can help drivers understand the dangers and consequences of driving after drinking. The ultimate goal of the Victim Impact Panel is to reduce the number of people killed or injured in alcohol related crashes.
TAP, Treatment Alternative Program, provides an alternative to incarceration for the nonassaultive correctional client and is based on the national model entitled "Treatment Alternatives to Street Crime." The program is a service of the Human Services Department of Dane County. TAP is a six-month voluntary program offering the services of screening to determine eligibility, treatment, as well as case management. Eligibility is based on the client's treatment needs, readiness for treatment and availability of appropriate services. The Criminal Justice System must formally agree with the plan before an eligible individual is admitted to the program. For more information about TAP, contact the Mental Health Center of Dane County at (608) 280-2651 or write to TAP at 710 John Nolen Drive, Madison, WI 53713.
You may not be able to expunge your record. Wisconsin law allows a judge to "expunge" a case in only two situations, both involving youthful offenders:
An expunged case is sealed by the clerk of court and is available to be viewed only with a court order. If the judge properly orders a case expunged, any reference to it will be removed from WCCA. A judge has no other authority or power to expunge cases, and there are no similar provisions for other types of cases.
For more information, see this Expunging Court Records brochure.
The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) investigates grievances about attorney misconduct. OLR provides instructions on how to file a grievance, outlines the grievance process, and explains under what circumstances you may learn whether other grievances have been filed or whether the attorney has been previously disciplined. Information about the OLR is on their website.
To complain about a court commissioner, read Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 75.06. Contact information for the chief judge may be found in the Circuit Court Administrative Districts directory. The Wisconsin Judicial Commission provides an online complaint form at this site.
To complain about a judge, contact the WI Judicial Commission. The Wisconsin Judicial Commission investigates allegations of judicial misconduct. They provide an online complaint form.
An appeal of a final circuit court judgment or order can be initiated with the Wisconsin Court of Appeals by filing a notice of appeal with the clerk of the circuit court for the county in which the judgment or order being appealed was entered. There is a filing fee of $195.00 payable to the Court of Appeals and a $15.00 transfer fee, made payable to the county transferring the record. You will need to familiarize yourself with the Rules of Appellate Procedure (WI Statutes Ch. 809). Appeals can be complicated, so may want to consult an attorney for legal advice. You may also consult "A Citizen's Guide to Filing an Appeal" for more information and sample forms.
Didn't find an answer to your question? Contact the Clerk of Courts at the location above or the Dane County Legal Resource Center at 266-6316.
The Joint Petition for Divorce/Legal Separation WITH minor children needs to have the signatures of both parties notarized. The Joint Petition for Divorce/Legal Separation without minor children needs to be signed by both parties, but their signatures do not need to be notarized.
The signature of the Petitioner on a Summons does not need to be notarized. The signature of the Petitioner on a Petition for Divorce/Legal Separation WITH minor children needs to be notarized. The signature of the Petitioner on a Petition for Divorce/Legal Separation without minor children does not need to be notarized.
The Divorce/Annulment Worksheet may also be referred to as a Divorce Certificate or Vital Records form. The form is completed by the parties and brought to their final divorce or annulment hearing where it is presented to the Court for signature. It is then routed by the Court to the State of Wisconsin Vital Records Office for their use in completing a Divorce Certificate. Blank Divorce/Annulment Worksheets may only be obtained at the Courthouse (Room 1000, Room 2000, or Room L1007).
The waiting period can only be waived under rare circumstances defined in the law. You may send a letter to the judge, asking for the waiting period to be waived and listing the grounds under which it should be waived.
Contact the Clerk of Courts Records Center in Room 1002 of the Dane County Courthouse, 215 S Hamilton St, Madison, WI, 53703 or call (608) 266-4311 for information. Requests must be made in person, by mail, by email at dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov, or by fax at (608) 267-8859. . Telephone requests are not accepted. There is a charge of $1.25 per page for the copies.
Vital Records Office, (608) 266-1373, Room 158, 1 W Wilson Street, Madison, WI 53703.
If the form is needed to divide Wisconsin Retirement System benefits, the form is online at the State Employee Trust Funds website. Otherwise, the person's employer may have a specific form. If not, it would be best to consult with an attorney.
You may review Quit Claim Deed forms on the Wisconsin Law Library website.
Yes. The fee waiver covers filing and service fees only. Forms and copies still require a fee.
If you need to make corrections prior to filing, white-out or other correction fluid is acceptable. If the corrections are crossed out, the parties should initial the changes. If you need to make corrections or amendments after filing, a new set will be needed with the word "Amended" written on the top.
It's fine to use a photocopy of a blank form. However, any required copies made from the original must be true photocopies and cannot have information written in later.
No. The court system's official language is English. Court interpreters are available upon request and services are available twice per month to help people fill out forms.
You should search for an appropriate form on the Wisconsin Court System website, contact the appropriate court office or law library for a form, or search the sample form books contained in the collections of law libraries. There may still be a situation where there is no form for your situation. In most cases, the Judge or appropriate court office will allow you to draft a form or letter indicating the facts about the situation, including whether you are trying to do something based on a previous case you've been involved in, what you would like the court to do, and your reasons for asking. Sometimes, you may need to consult with an attorney or legal assistance center to make sure your drafted form or letter is complete and formatted correctly. Please note that the pages of any submitted forms must be no larger or smaller than 8.5" x 11".
Yes! While court staff are generally prohibited from assisting with form completion, there are at least three places where you will be able to get some help. If the assistance you need is family-related, there is the Family Law Assistance Center, available every Wednesday from 11:30-1:30 in Room L1022 of the Courthouse. If assistance you need is small claims-related, there is the Small Claims Assistance Program, available every Tuesday from 9-11 a.m. in Room L1022 of the Courthouse. Both programs are staffed using volunteer attorneys and other experts from the Dane County Bar Association and community. The volunteers will not give legal advice, but will offer assistance with forms and other procedural information. A third place to go for limited assistance with forms and procedures is the Dane County Legal Resource Center, located in Room L1007 of the Courthouse, and open to the public 8:30-4:30 Monday through Friday.
Only the District Attorney, guardian ad litem, social worker or an attorney can file a CHIPS petition in Dane County. The District Attorney's Office approves all CHIPS petitions prior to filing with Juvenile Court.
When a judgment is ordered, for example a money judgment in Small Claims Court, and the money is paid directly to the creditor, the Court needs to know so that the debtor's record is cleared. Form GF-129 (mandatory form) is completed by the creditor and provided to the defendant. The satisfaction is then filed with the Clerk of Courts with a $5 fee. If the satisfaction of judgment is due to discharge in bankruptcy, there is a specific form available for purchase at the Dane County Legal Resource Center (Room L1007 in the Dane County Courthouse), or online on our Small Claims Forms page.
The Court has not produced any mandatory forms for filing a lien. The Legal Resource Center has the Wisconsin Construction Lien Law Handbook (for construction liens) and the Wisconsin Condominium Law Handbook (for condominium liens) that may have sample forms you could use as templates to draft your own legal documents. Visit the WI State Law Library's Legal Topics page on "Liens" for more resources online: http://wilawlibrary.gov/topics/comlaw/liens.php. Otherwise, contact either the Legal Resource Center or WI State Law Library for more information about purchasing lien forms or accessing other research materials.
There are bankruptcy forms on the Western District of WI Bankruptcy Court and US Bankruptcy Court websites.
A person requesting the trial de novo should send a request to the Judge with a copy to your spouse and/or spouse's attorney. You may only request a trial de novo if you appeared at the first hearing and the issues were contested.
Generally, the contempt form should be used to enforce an order. The other motion forms are used to change an order.
The motion to enforce placement can be used by a parent to obtain financial compensation for expenses incurred because the other parent didn't follow the placement order. An injunction may be entered. If you violate the injunction, criminal penalties may apply.
Any defendant who has a fine or fines totaling $100 or more is eligible for a payment plan as long as he/she has a source of income. The source of income can include employment or someone else to make payments for the defendant.
A payment plan should be set up within ten (10) days after the date of case disposition. If some extenuating circumstances exist and the defendant is not able to set up a payment plan within those ten (10) days, the defendant may still be eligible for a payment plan.* Contact the Clerk of Courts Office at (608)266-4311 and ask to speak to a Collection Clerk to address this issue.**
*Late applications may require a down payment.
**Payment plans can not be set up by phone.
Please read about payment plan rules and obtain the necessary forms in the Financial Forms List.
You must pay at least half of the amount due on or before the due date. Along with that payment you can ask for a 30-day extension to pay the other half. You must ask for this extension - it is not automatically given.
If the defendant brings their payment into the Clerk of Court's Office they will receive a receipt. If the defendant mails their payment to the Clerk of Court's Office no receipt will be supplied unless a self-addressed stamped envelope is included with the payment requesting that a receipt be returned.
A number of things can happen if a defendant is late (past due date) with payment of their court ordered obligation:
