Chapter 767

767.61 Annotation Federal law precludes a state court from dividing military nondisability retirement pay pursuant to state community property laws. McCarty v. McCarty, 453 U.S. 210, 101 S. Ct. 2728, 69 L. Ed. 2d 589 (1981).

767.61 Annotation An insured’s beneficiary designation under servicemen’s group life insurance policy prevailed over a constructive trust imposed by a state court. Ridgway v. Ridgway, 454 U.S. 46, 102 S. Ct. 49, 70 L. Ed. 2d 39 (1981).

767.61 Annotation Federal statute provides that a state may treat as community property, and divide at divorce, a military veteran’s retirement pay but exempts from this grant of permission any amount that the federal government deducts “as a result of a waiver” of retirement pay that the veteran must make “in order to receive” disability benefits. A state cannot treat as community property, and divide at divorce, the waived portion of the veteran’s retirement pay, even when the waiver occurs long after the divorce order and results in reduced payments to the receiving spouse. Howell v. Howell, 581 U.S. 214, 137 S. Ct. 1400, 197 L. Ed. 2d 781 (2017). See also Mansell v. Mansell, 490 U.S. 581, 109 S. Ct. 2023, 104 L. Ed. 2d 675 (1989).

767.61 Annotation To receive military disability benefits, federal law requires a retired veteran must give up an equivalent amount of retirement pay. In Mansell, 490 U.S. 581 (1989), the U.S. Supreme Court held that federal law forbade states from treating the waived portion as community property divisible at divorce. In this case, a state court awarded to a veteran’s spouse a portion of the veteran’s total retirement pay upon their divorce. Long after the divorce, the veteran waived a share of the retirement pay in order to receive disability benefits. Under Mansell, the state could not subsequently increase, pro rata, the amount the divorced spouse receives each month from the veteran’s retirement pay in order to indemnify the divorced spouse for the loss caused by the veteran’s waiver. Howell v. Howell, 581 U.S. 214, 137 S. Ct. 1400, 197 L. Ed. 2d 781 (2017).

767.61 Annotation The federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 did not preempt a Wisconsin court order awarding a spouse one-half of a beneficiary’s interest in a pension. Savings & Profit Sharing Fund of Sears Employees v. Gago, 717 F.2d 1038 (1983).

767.61 Annotation Dilemma v. Paradox: Valuation of an Advanced Degree upon Dissolution of a Marriage. Loeb & McCann. 66 MLR 495 (1983).

767.61 Annotation The Recognition and Valuation of Professional Goodwill in the Marital Estate. Wall. 66 MLR 697 (1983).

767.61 Annotation Enhanced Value of a Closely Held Corporation at the Time of Divorce: What Role Will Wisconsin’s Marital Property Act Play? Podell. 69 MLR 82 (1985).

767.61 Annotation No-Fault Divorce: Tax Consequences of Support, Maintenance and Property Settlement. Case. WBB Dec. 1977.

767.61 Annotation Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements. Loeb. WBB Mar. 1981.

767.61 Annotation Drafting enforceable marital agreements. Garczynski. WBB Sept. 1986.

767.61 Annotation The Marital Property Act does not change Wisconsin’s divorce law. Weisberger. WBB May 1987.

767.61 Annotation Transmutation: Finding Extra Property to Divide in Divorce. Kessler. Wis. Law. Aug. 1990.

767.61 Annotation Divorce Provisions in Opt-In Marital Property Agreements. Rasmussen. Wis. Law. Apr. 1994.

767.61 Annotation A Decade Post-Button v. Button: Drafting Prenuptial Agreements. Garczynski. Wis. Law. July 1999.

767.61 Annotation A Primer on Dividing a Military Pension. Halling & Drefahl. Wis. Law. Aug. 1999.

767.61 Annotation When Lovebirds Split: Dividing the Retirement Nest Egg at Divorce — Properly Dividing Pension Benefits. Patel. Wis. Law. Oct. 2006.

767.61 Annotation When Lovebirds Split: Dividing the Retirement Nest Egg at Divorce — Dividing Wisconsin Retirement System Benefits. Dennison. Wis. Law. Oct. 2006.

767.61 Annotation Business Owners in Divorce: A Basic Overview. Krimmer. Wis. Law. June 2008.

767.61 Annotation Valuing Retirement Benefits in Divorce. Dennison. Wis. Law. June 2012.

767.61 Annotation Valuing a Business in Divorce. Herman & Swartzberg. Wis. Law. Jan. 2014.

767.63 767.63 Disposed assets may be subject to division. In an action affecting the family, except an action to affirm marriage under s. 767.001 (1) (a), any asset with a fair market value of $500 or more that would be considered part of the estate of either or both of the parties if owned by either or both of them at the time of the action and that was transferred for inadequate consideration, wasted, given away, or otherwise unaccounted for by one of the parties within one year prior to the filing of the petition or the length of the marriage, whichever is shorter, is rebuttably presumed to be property subject to division under s. 767.61 and is subject to the disclosure requirement of s. 767.127. Transfers that resulted in an exchange of assets of substantially equivalent value need not be specifically disclosed if those assets are otherwise identified in the statement of net worth.

767.63 History History: 1977 c. 105; 1979 c. 32 ss. 50, 92 (4); 1979 c. 352 s. 39; Stats. 1979 s. 767.275; 2005 a. 443 s. 124; Stats. 2005 s. 767.63.

767.63 Annotation Marital Waste: Within the Eye of the Beholding Court. Gehrig. Wis. Law. May 2015.

subch. VIII of ch. 767 SUBCHAPTER VIII

ENFORCEMENT

767.70 767.70 Child support enforcement: notice and service of process.

767.70(1) (1) When satisfied. In an action under s. 767.001 (1) (i) to enforce or modify a judgment or order with respect to child support, due process requirements related to notice and service of process are satisfied if the court finds all of the following:

767.70(1)(a) (a) That a diligent effort was made to ascertain the location of the respondent.

767.70(1)(b) (b) That written notice of the action to the respondent has been delivered to the most recent residential address or employer address provided by the respondent under s. 767.58 (2) to the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).

767.70(2) (2) Rules on locating respondent. The department shall promulgate rules specifying the process that the department will use under sub. (1) (a) to ascertain the location of the respondent. Notwithstanding sub. (1) (b), the process specified in the rules shall utilize all reasonable means to which the department has access, including electronic means, interfaces with other programs, and information provided by the postmaster, for determining the current address of the respondent.

767.70 History History: 1997 a. 191; 2005 a. 443 s. 21; Stats. 2005 s. 767.70.

767.70 Note NOTE: 2005 Wis. Act 443 contains explanatory notes.

767.70 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DWD 142, Wis. adm. code.

767.71 767.71 Reconciling percentage-expressed support orders.

767.71(1) (1) Request for determination.

767.71(1)(a) (a) In this section, “support order” means an order for child support under this chapter or s. 948.22 (7), an order for family support under this chapter, 2019 stats., or a stipulation approved by the court for child support under this chapter.

767.71(1)(b) (b) If a support order is or has been expressed as a percentage of parental income, a party, including the state or a county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) if the state is a real party in interest under s. 767.205 (2) (a), may request a determination under this section of the amount due under the order. The court may determine the amount due and, if ordered by the court, the county child support agency shall reconcile the amount due with payments actually made to determine if an arrearage exists.

767.71(2) (2) Notice and affidavit.

767.71(2)(a) (a) The party seeking the determination under this section shall file with the court a notice of reconciliation of account and a supporting affidavit. No later than 3 business days after filing, the party seeking the determination shall serve the notice and affidavit on all other parties, including the child support agency if the state is a real party in interest, by sending the notice and affidavit by regular mail to the last-known address provided under s. 767.58 (2), pursuant to s. 767.70.

767.71(2)(b) (b) The notice of reconciliation of account shall include all of the following:

767.71(2)(b)1. 1. The period of time for which the reconciliation is sought.

767.71(2)(b)2. 2. A statement that, unless a party requests a hearing no later than 20 business days after the date of the notice, the court may enter an order determining the amount due under the percentage-expressed order and may enter a repayment order that applies if the reconciliation of the amount due with payments made results in an arrearage.

767.71(2)(b)3. 3. The mailing address to which the request for a hearing must be delivered or mailed to schedule a hearing under sub. (3).

767.71(2)(c) (c) The supporting affidavit shall state the facts supporting a reasonable basis for determining the payer’s income during the period of time for which the reconciliation is sought.

767.71(3) (3) If hearing held.

767.71(3)(a) (a) Within 10 business days after receiving a timely request for a hearing, the court shall set the matter for hearing. The court shall send notice of the date, time, and location of the hearing to the parties by regular mail at their last-known addresses.

767.71(3)(b) (b) At the hearing, the court may establish the appropriate charge under the percentage order by determining the amount of the payer’s income that is subject to the percentage-expressed order during the period for which reconciliation is sought and applying the ordered percentage to that amount. The court may enter a repayment order that becomes effective if the reconciliation of the amount due with payments made results in an arrearage.

767.71(4) (4) If no hearing. If no party requests a hearing, the court shall review the supporting affidavit within 60 days of filing. If the court finds that the affidavit contains a reasonable basis for determining the payer’s income during the period for which reconciliation is sought, the court may enter an order determining the amount due under the percentage-expressed order and may enter a repayment order that becomes effective if the reconciliation of the amount due with payments made results in an arrearage. The court shall send the order to the parties by regular mail to their last-known addresses.

767.71(5) (5) Enforcement. Any arrearage that exists as a result of the reconciliation of the amount due with payments made may be enforced under ch. 49 or this chapter.

767.71 History History: 2005 a. 443; 2021 a. 35.

767.73 767.73 Delinquent child or family support; suspension of operating privilege.

767.73(1) (1) Authority to suspend.

767.73(1)(a) (a) In this subsection, “support payment” means a payment ordered for support under s. 767.521, support under s. 767.501, child support or family support under s. 767.225, family support under s. 767.531, 2019 stats., revised child or family support under s. 767.59, or child support under s. 767.511, 767.804 (3), 767.805 (4), 767.85, 767.863 (3), 767.89, or 948.22 (7) or ch. 769.

767.73(1)(b) (b) If a person fails to pay a support payment that is 90 or more days past due and the court finds that the person has the ability to pay the amount ordered, the court may suspend the person’s operating privilege, as defined in s. 340.01 (40), until the person pays all arrearages in full or makes payment arrangements that are satisfactory to the court, except that the suspension period may not exceed 2 years. If otherwise eligible, the person is eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 at any time.

767.73(2) (2) Notice of suspension to department of transportation. If a court orders suspension of a person’s operating privilege under sub. (1) (b), the court shall notify the department of transportation, in the form and manner prescribed by the department. The notice to the department shall include the name and last-known address of the person against whom the support order was entered, certification by the court that the person has been notified of the entry of the support order and that there are arrearages in support payments that are 90 or more days past due, and the place where the arrearages may be paid. The notice shall also state that the person’s operating privilege remains suspended until the person pays all arrearages in full or makes payment arrangements that are satisfactory to the court, except that the suspension period may not exceed 2 years.

767.73(3) (3) Notice of payment to department. If the person subsequently pays the full amount of the arrearages or makes payment arrangements that are satisfactory to the court, the court shall immediately notify the department of transportation of the payment in the form and manner prescribed by the department.

767.73(4) (4) Application to past arrearages. This section applies to support arrearages existing on or after October 1, 1996, regardless of when the arrearages accrued or when the order or judgment requiring the payment of support was entered.

767.73(5) (5) Relationship to other remedies. The remedy permitted under this section is in addition to any other remedies authorized by law.

767.73 History History: 1995 a. 401; 1997 a. 84, 191; 1999 a. 9, 32; 2005 a. 443 ss. 139, 140, 141, 236; Stats. 2005 s. 767.73; 2019 a. 95; 2021 a. 35.

767.75 767.75 Assignment of income for payment obligations.

767.75(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

767.75(1)(a) (a) “Employer” includes the state and its political subdivisions.

767.75(1)(b) (b) “Payment order” means an order for child support under this chapter, for maintenance payments under s. 767.225 or 767.56, for family support under this chapter, 2019 stats., for costs ordered under s. 767.804 (3), 767.805 (4), or 767.89 (3), for support by a spouse under s. 767.001 (1) (f), or for maintenance payments under s. 767.001 (1) (g); an order for or obligation to pay the annual receiving and disbursing fee under s. 767.57 (1e) (a); an order for a revision in a judgment or order with respect to child support, maintenance, or family support payments under s. 767.59; a stipulation approved by the court for child support under this chapter; and an order for child or spousal support entered under s. 948.22 (7).

767.75(1f) (1f) Payment order as assignment of income. A payment order constitutes an assignment of all commissions, earnings, salaries, wages, pension benefits, income continuation insurance benefits under s. 40.62, duty disability benefits under s. 40.65, benefits under ch. 102 or 108, lottery prizes that are payable in installments, and other money due or to be due in the future to the department or its designee. The assignment shall be for a fixed sum regardless of whether the court-ordered obligation on which the assignment is based is expressed in the court order as a percentage of the payer’s income, and shall be for an amount sufficient to ensure payment under the order, obligation, or stipulation and to pay any arrearages due at a periodic rate not to exceed 50 percent of the amount of support due under the order, obligation, or stipulation so long as the addition of the amount toward arrearages does not leave the party at an income below the poverty line established under 42 USC 9902 (2).

767.75(1m) (1m) Obligation continuing. If a party’s current obligation to pay maintenance, child support, spousal support, or family support terminates but the party has an arrearage in the payment of one or more of those payments or in the payment of the annual receiving and disbursing fee, any assignment under sub. (1f) continues in effect, in an amount up to the amount of the assignment before the party’s current obligation terminated, until the arrearage is paid in full.

767.75(2h) (2h) Delayed withholding; failure to pay. If a court-ordered assignment, including the assignment specified under sub. (1f) for the payment of any arrearages due, does not require immediately effective withholding and a payer fails to make a required maintenance, child support, spousal support, family support, or annual receiving and disbursing fee payment within 10 days after its due date, within 20 days after the payment’s due date the court or county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) shall cause the assignment to go into effect by providing notice of the assignment in the manner provided under sub. (2r) and shall send a notice by regular mail to the last-known address of the payer. The notice sent to the payer shall inform the payer that an assignment is in effect and that the payer may, within a 10-day period after the notice is mailed, by motion request a hearing on the issue of whether the assignment should remain in effect. The court shall hold a hearing requested under this subsection within 10 working days after the date of receipt of the request. If at the hearing the payer establishes that the assignment is not proper because of a mistake of fact, the court may direct that the assignment be withdrawn. Either party may, within 15 working days after the date of a decision by a circuit court commissioner under this subsection, seek review of the decision by the court with jurisdiction over the action.

767.75(2m) (2m) Unpaid receiving and disbursing fees; assignment.

767.75(2m)(a) (a)

767.75(2m)(a)1. 1. An obligation to pay unpaid fees under s. 767.57 (1e) (b) 1m. constitutes an assignment of all commissions, earnings, salaries, wages, pension benefits, income continuation insurance benefits under s. 40.62, duty disability benefits under s. 40.65, benefits under ch. 102 or 108, lottery prizes that are payable in installments, and other money due or to be due in the future to the department or its designee.

767.75(2m)(a)2. 2. An obligation to pay unpaid fees under s. 767.57 (1e) (b) 2m. constitutes an assignment of all commissions, earnings, salaries, wages, pension benefits, income continuation insurance benefits under s. 40.62, duty disability benefits under s. 40.65, benefits under ch. 102 or 108, lottery prizes that are payable in installments, and other money due or to be due in the future to the clerk of court to whom the fees are owed, or to his or her successor.

767.75(2m)(b) (b) The county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) may cause an assignment under par. (a) to go into effect by providing notice of the assignment in the manner provided under sub. (2r) and sending a notice by regular mail to the last-known address of the payer. The notice sent to the payer shall inform the payer that an assignment is in effect and that the payer may, within a 10-day period after the notice is mailed, by motion request a hearing on the issue of whether the assignment should remain in effect. The court shall hold a hearing requested under this paragraph within 10 working days after the date of receipt of the request. If at the hearing the payer establishes that the assignment is not proper because of a mistake of fact, the court may direct that the assignment be withdrawn. The payer or the county child support agency may, within 15 working days after the date of a decision by a circuit court commissioner under this paragraph, seek review of the decision by the court with jurisdiction over the action.

767.75(2r) (2r) Notice of assignment to income source. Upon entry of each order for child support, maintenance, family support, support by a spouse, or the annual receiving and disbursing fee, and upon approval of each stipulation for child support, unless the court finds that income withholding is likely to cause the payer irreparable harm or unless s. 767.76 applies, the court or county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) shall provide notice of the assignment by regular mail or by facsimile machine, as defined in s. 134.72 (1) (a), or other electronic means to the last-known address of the person from whom the payer receives or will receive money. The notice shall provide that the amount withheld may not exceed the maximum amount that is subject to garnishment under 15 USC 1673 (b) (2). If the department or its designee does not receive the money from the person notified, the court or county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) shall provide notice of the assignment to any other person from whom the payer receives or will receive money. Notice under this subsection may be a notice of the court, a copy of the executed assignment, or a copy of that part of the court order directing payment.

767.75(3h) (3h) Duties of person receiving assignment notice. A person who receives notice of assignment under this section or s. 767.225 (1) (L) or 767.513 (3) or similar laws of another state shall withhold the amount specified in the notice from any money that person pays to the payer later than one week after receipt of notice of assignment. Within 5 days after the day the person pays money to the payer, the person shall send the amount withheld to the department or its designee or, in the case of an amount ordered withheld for health care expenses, to the appropriate health care insurer, provider, or plan. With each payment sent to the department or its designee, the person from whom the payer receives money shall report to the department or its designee the payer’s gross income or other gross amount from which the payment was withheld. Except as provided in sub. (3m), for each payment sent to the department or its designee, the person from whom the payer receives money shall receive an amount equal to the person’s necessary disbursements, not to exceed $3, which shall be deducted from the money to be paid to the payer. Section 241.09 does not apply to assignments under this section.

767.75(3m) (3m) Assignment of unemployment compensation benefits. Benefits under ch. 108 may be assigned and withheld only in the manner provided in s. 108.13 (4). Any order to withhold benefits under ch. 108 shall be for a fixed sum regardless of whether the court-ordered obligation on which the withholding order is based is expressed in the court order as a percentage of the payer’s income. When money is to be withheld from these benefits, no fee may be deducted from the amount withheld and no fine may be levied for failure to withhold the money.

767.75(4) (4) Assignment priority. A withholding assignment or order under this section or s. 767.225 (1) (L) or 767.513 (3) has priority over any other assignment, garnishment, or similar legal process under state law.

767.75(6) (6) Failure to comply with assignment obligations.

767.75(6)(a) (a) Except as provided in sub. (3m), if after receipt of notice of assignment the person from whom the payer receives money fails to withhold the money or send the money to the department or its designee or the appropriate health care insurer, provider, or plan as provided in this section or s. 767.225 (1) (L) or 767.513 (3), the person may be proceeded against under the principal action under ch. 785 for contempt of court or may be proceeded against under ch. 778 and be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than an amount, if the amount exceeds $50, that is equal to 1 percent of the amount not withheld or sent.

767.75(6)(b) (b) If an employer who receives an assignment under this section or s. 767.225 (1) (L) or 767.513 (3) fails to notify the department or its designee within 10 days after an employee is terminated or otherwise temporarily or permanently leaves employment, the employer may be proceeded against under the principal action under ch. 785 for contempt of court.

767.75(6)(c) (c) No employer may use an assignment under this section or s. 767.225 (1) (L) or 767.513 (3) as a basis for the denial of employment to a person, the discharge of an employee, or any disciplinary action against an employee. An employer who denies employment or discharges or disciplines an employee in violation of this paragraph may be fined not more than $500 and may be required to make full restitution to the aggrieved person, including reinstatement and back pay. Except as provided in this paragraph, restitution shall be in accordance with s. 973.20. An aggrieved person may apply to the district attorney or to the department for enforcement of this paragraph.

767.75(6m) (6m) Conversion of certain support orders to fixed amount. A county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) may convert a support amount in an order for income withholding under this section that is expressed as a percentage of income to the equivalent sum certain amount for purposes of enforcing a child support order in another state under subch. V or VI of ch. 769. Nothing in this subsection authorizes a change, or may be construed to change, the support obligation specified in the underlying child support order.

767.75(7) (7) Receipt of more than one notice of assignment. A person who receives more than one notice of assignment under sub. (3h) may send all money withheld to the department or its designee, whichever is appropriate, in a combined payment, accompanied by any information the department or its designee requires.

767.75(7m) (7m) Change in payroll period.

767.75(7m)(a) (a) In this subsection, “payroll period” has the meaning given in s. 71.63 (5).

767.75(7m)(b) (b) If after an assignment is in effect the payer’s employer changes its payroll period, or the payer changes employers and the new employer’s payroll period is different from the former employer’s payroll period, the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) may, unless otherwise ordered by a judge, amend the withholding assignment or order so that all of the following apply:

767.75(7m)(b)1. 1. The withholding frequency corresponds to the new payroll period.

767.75(7m)(b)2. 2. The amounts to be withheld reflect the adjustment to the withholding frequency.

767.75(7m)(c) (c) The county child support agency shall provide notice of the amended withholding assignment or order by regular mail to the payer’s employer and to the payer.

767.75 History History: 1971 c. 110; 1975 c. 94 s. 91 (3); 1975 c. 199; 1977 c. 105; 1979 c. 32 ss. 50, 92 (4); 1979 c. 196, 221; Stats. 1979 s. 767.265; 1981 c. 20, 186; 1983 a. 27, 384; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 38 s. 136; 1987 a. 332 s. 64; 1987 a. 398, 403; 1989 a. 31, 56, 212, 336; 1991 a. 287; 1993 a. 16, 326, 389, 481; 1995 a. 27 s. 9130 (4); 1995 a. 279, 404; 1997 a. 27, 191; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16, 61, 105; 2005 a. 443 ss. 116 to 118, 237; Stats. 2005 s. 767.75; 2015 a. 55, 172; 2017 a. 365; 2019 a. 95; 2021 a. 35.