Chapter 815

815.21 815.21 Homestead, how set apart after levy.

815.21(1) (1) Whenever a levy shall be made upon lands of any person, the landowner may notify the officer making such levy, at any time before the sale, that the landowner claims an exempt homestead in such lands, giving a description thereof, and the landowner’s estimate of the value thereof; and the remainder alone shall be subject to sale under such levy, unless the plaintiff in the execution shall deny the right to such exemption or be dissatisfied with the quantity or estimate of the value of the land selected.

815.21(2) (2) If such plaintiff is dissatisfied with the quantity selected or the estimate of the value thereof, the officer shall cause such lands to be surveyed, beginning at a point to be designated by the owner and set off in compact form. After the lands are surveyed and set off, if in the opinion of the plaintiff, the same shall be of greater value than $75,000, the officer may still advertise and sell the premises so set off, and out of the proceeds of such sale pay to the exempt homestead claimant the sum of $75,000 and apply the balance of the proceeds of such sale on the execution; but no sale shall be made in the case last mentioned unless a greater sum than $75,000 is paid for said premises. The expenses of such survey and sale shall be collected on the execution if the owner claimed as the owner’s homestead a greater quantity of land or land of greater value than the owner was entitled to; otherwise such expenses shall be borne by the plaintiff.

815.21(3) (3) If such survey be made the land not exempt shall be sold, but if any person shall neglect or refuse to select the person’s exempt homestead and notify such officer, such officer shall, upon request of the plaintiff, and may without such request, give notice to such person that at a time and place to be therein named such officer will survey and locate the exempt homestead; and unless such person shall on or before the time so fixed select such exempt homestead, such officer shall survey and locate and set the same off in a compact form. If the owner after such notice selects the owner’s exempt homestead, this section shall apply the same as if the owner had selected it before such notice.

815.21(4) (4) A homestead so selected and set apart by such officer shall be the exempt homestead of such person. The costs of such notice and survey shall be collected upon the execution. A failure of the officer to set apart such homestead shall affect such levy, only as to such homestead; and the failure of such person to select that person’s homestead shall not impair that person’s right thereto, but only that person’s right to select the same when such selection is lawfully made by such officer. After such homestead is thus set off by such officer, if, in the officer’s opinion or in the opinion of the plaintiff, the premises are of greater value than $75,000 the officer may sell the same as where the owner makes the selection.

815.21(5) (5) If the land claimed as an exempt homestead exceeds in value $75,000, the officer shall not be bound to set off any portion thereof but may sell the same, unless the debtor shall make the debtor’s selection of such a portion thereof as shall not exceed $75,000 in value.

815.21 History History: 1973 c. 168; Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.21; 1985 a. 153; 1993 a. 486; 2009 a. 80.

815.21 Annotation There is a strong public policy to protect the homestead exemption, even in the face of inaction. Sub. (1) provides that when there is a levy upon the lands of any person, that person can claim a homestead exemption at any time before sale. Anchor Savings & Loan Ass’n v. Week, 62 Wis. 2d 169, 213 N.W.2d 737 (1974).

815.24 815.24 Indemnity may be required. If there is any reasonable doubt as to the ownership of the property or as to its liability to be taken on the execution the officer may require sufficient security to indemnify the officer for levying upon such property.

815.24 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.24; 1993 a. 486.

815.24 Annotation The term “reasonable” requires that the officer provide a reason for requiring security. Ter Maat v. Barnett, 156 Wis. 2d 737, 457 N.W.2d 551 (Ct. App. 1990).

815.25 815.25 Money applied; negotiable instruments sold. Upon executions against property the officer shall levy upon any current money of the United States and shall pay and return the same without exposing it for sale, and the officer may also levy upon and sell any evidences of debt circulated as money, or a bond or other instrument for the payment of money which is negotiable or payable to the bearer or holder.

815.25 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.25; 1993 a. 486.

815.26 815.26 Equities sold. When personal property is subject to a security interest, the right and interest of the debtor in such property may be sold on execution against the debtor, subject to the rights, if any, of the secured party.

815.26 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.26; 1993 a. 486.

815.29 815.29 Notice of sale of personal property, manner, adjournment.

815.29(1) (1) No execution sale of personal property shall be made unless 20 days previous notice of such sale has been given by posting a notice thereof in one public place of the town or municipality where such sale is to be had and, if the county where such sale is to be had maintains a website, by posting a notice on the website. If the town or municipality where such sale is to be had maintains a website, the town or municipality may also post a notice on its website. The notice shall specify the time and place of sale but when any property seized is likely to perish or depreciate in value before the expiration of the 20 days the court or a judge may order the same to be sold in such manner and upon such terms as the best interests of the parties demand. Every such sale shall be made at auction between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and no property shall be sold unless it is in view of those attending the sale, except as provided in ss. 71.91 (5) (c) 2. and 108.22 (3) (b) and in the case of the sale of the interest of the judgment debtor in property in the possession of a secured party. It shall be offered for sale in such lots and parcels as is calculated to bring the highest price.

815.29(2) (2) Such sale may be adjourned as provided in s. 815.31 for sale of real estate.

815.29 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761, 781 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.29; 2009 a. 325; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 157; 2017 a. 365 s. 112.

815.31 815.31 Notice of sale of realty; manner; adjournment.

815.31(1) (1) The time and place of holding any sale of real estate on execution shall be publicly advertised by posting a written notice describing the real estate to be sold with reasonable certainty in one public place in the town or municipality where such real estate is to be sold and, if the county where such real estate is to be sold maintains a website, by posting a notice on the website, at least 3 weeks prior to the date of sale; and also in one public place of the town or municipality in which the real estate is situated, if it is not in the town or municipality where the sale is to be held and, if the county where such real estate is situated maintains a website, also posting a notice on the website. If the town or municipality where such real estate is situated or is to be sold maintains a website, the town or municipality may also post a notice on its website.

815.31(2) (2) A copy of the notice of sale shall be printed each week for 3 successive weeks in a newspaper of the county prior to the date of sale.

815.31(3) (3) If there be no newspaper published in the county and the premises are not occupied by any person against whom the execution is issued or by some person holding as tenant or purchaser under the person against whom the execution is issued, such notice shall be so published in a paper printed at Madison.

815.31(4) (4) The court, or a judge, upon application of the party issuing the execution shall direct, by order, the newspaper in which the publication of the notice is to be made.

815.31(5) (5) If at the time appointed for any such sale the sheriff considers it in the interest of all persons concerned, the sheriff may adjourn the sale from time to time, not exceeding in all 3 months. In case of such adjournment public notice thereof shall be given at the time and place fixed for the sale. If the adjournment shall be for more than one day further notice shall be given by posting or publishing the same, or both, as the time and circumstances may admit.

815.31(6) (6) Every sale shall be at auction between 9 o’clock in the forenoon and 5 o’clock in the afternoon.

815.31 History History: 1973 c. 189; Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.31; 1993 a. 486; 2009 a. 325; 2011 a. 136; 2017 a. 365 s. 112.

815.33 815.33 Execution; sale in parcels; limitation. When real estate offered for sale on execution consists of several lots, tracts or parcels they shall be separately offered for sale; and if any person claiming to be the owner of any of such lots or parcels or an interest or estate therein or claiming to be entitled to redeem the same shall require it to be offered for sale separately, the sheriff shall offer the same for sale accordingly. No more shall be sold than shall appear necessary to satisfy the execution.

815.33 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.33.

815.34 815.34 Execution sale without notice. Any officer who shall sell real estate upon execution without having given the previous notices directed by s. 815.31, or otherwise than in the manner prescribed by law, shall be liable to the party injured in the sum of $1,000 damage and also for the actual damages sustained.

815.34 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761, 781 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.34.

815.35 815.35 Execution; taking down notice. If any person shall take down or deface any notice of a sale upon execution put up by any officer, previous to the day of sale therein specified, unless upon satisfaction of the execution or upon the consent of the parties to the action, such person shall be liable to the party suing out such execution in the sum of $50.

815.35 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.35.

815.36 815.36 Execution sale, want of notice, when immaterial. The omission of any officer to give the notice of execution sale required or the taking down or defacing of any such notice shall not affect the validity of any sale made to a purchaser in good faith, without notice of any such omission or offense.

815.36 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.36.

815.37 815.37 Execution sale; officer not to purchase. The officer to whom any execution shall be directed and the officer’s deputy holding any execution and conducting any sale in pursuance thereof shall not, directly or indirectly, purchase any property at such sale; and every purchase made by such officer or deputy, or to the officer’s or deputy’s use, shall be void.

815.37 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.37; 1993 a. 486.

815.38 815.38 Execution, certificate of sale, recording.

815.38(1) (1) Upon the sale of real estate on execution the officer making the same shall make out and subscribe duplicate certificates of such sale containing a particular description of the premises sold; the price bid for each distinct lot or parcel; the whole consideration money paid; and the time when such sale will become absolute and the purchaser will be entitled to a conveyance pursuant to law and shall record one of the duplicate certificates within 10 days after the sale in the office of the register of deeds and shall deliver the other to the purchaser. If there are 2 or more purchasers a certificate shall be delivered to each.

815.38(2) (2) Promptly following every execution sale the sheriff shall return the execution into court and record with it a detailed report of his or her doings upon the execution.

815.38 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.38; 1993 a. 301.

815.38 Cross-reference Cross-references: See s. 59.32 (2) for provision that sheriff is to collect his fees on execution in the same manner as the sum collected under the writ.

815.39 815.39 Execution sale; redemption of real estate.

815.39(1) (1) Except as provided in sub. (2), within one year after an execution sale the real estate sold, or any lot, tract or portion that was separately sold, may be redeemed by the payment to the purchaser, to the purchaser’s personal representatives or assigns, or to the sheriff of the county where the real estate is situated, for the use of such purchaser, of the sum paid on the sale thereof, together with the interest from the time of the sale.

815.39(2) (2) If an execution sale is for a lien filed under s. 823.23 (5), the period of redemption under sub. (1) is 2 months.

815.39 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.39; 1993 a. 486; 2001 a. 86.

815.40 815.40 Execution sale; who may redeem.

815.40(1) (1) Redemption from execution sale of real estate may be made by a person whose right and title was sold or, if the person is dead, by the person’s devisee of the premises sold, and if the same shall not have been devised, by the deceased’s heirs; or, by any grantee of such person who shall have acquired an absolute title to the premises sold, or to any lot, parcel or portion separately sold.

815.40(2) (2) Any such heir or devisee or grantee who shall have acquired an absolute title to a portion of the estate sold or a portion of any lot, tract or parcel that shall have been separately sold may redeem the portion on the same terms and in the same manner as if the heir, devisee or grantee were grantee of the whole lot or parcel, and shall have the same remedy to enforce contributions from those who shall own the residue thereof as if the sum required to be paid by the heir, devisee or grantee to effect such redemption had been collected by a sale of the portion belonging to such grantee, heir or devisee.

815.40(3) (3) If there be joint tenants or tenants in common in premises sold each tenant may redeem the share or interest belonging to that tenant by paying to the purchaser or officer, a sum that will bear the same proportion to the whole sum bid therefor as the redeemed share bears to the whole number of shares in such premises together with the interest.

815.40 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.40; 1993 a. 486.

815.43 815.43 Execution sale; redemption makes sale void. Upon redemption of any real estate sold on execution, the sale of the premises redeemed and the certificates of such sale, so far as they relate thereto, shall be null and void.

815.43 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.43.

815.44 815.44 Execution; purchaser’s interest.

815.44(1) (1) Who may acquire. In case the premises sold on execution or any part of them are not redeemed within the year prescribed by ss. 815.39 (1) and 815.40 then the interest of the purchaser may be acquired within 3 months after the expiration of the redemption period by the persons and on the terms prescribed in this section.

815.44(2) (2) Creditors, mortgagees, interest. Any creditor of the person against whom such execution issued having a judgment or a recorded mortgage which is a lien upon the premises sold, or upon any lot or parcel or portion separately sold, may within fifteen months from the time of such sale by paying the sum paid on the sale thereof, together with interest from the time of such sale, thereby acquire all the rights of the original purchaser, subject to be defeated in the manner mentioned in s. 815.48.

815.44(3) (3) Sales of undivided interests. Any owner of such judgment or mortgage which is a lien upon any undivided share or interest in any real estate sold under execution, may, within the same time, on the same terms and in the same manner, acquire the title of the original purchaser to such share or interest by paying such part of the whole purchase money of such real estate as shall be in a just proportion to the amount of such share or interest.

815.44 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761, 781 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.44; 1997 a. 254; 2001 a. 86.

815.48 815.48 Execution sale; creditors may acquire title of preceding creditor. Whenever any creditor shall acquire the title of the original purchaser, pursuant to s. 815.44, any other creditor who might have acquired such title may become a purchaser thereof from the first creditor who acquired the same upon the following conditions:

815.48(1) (1) By paying to such first creditor, the first creditor’s personal representatives or assigns the sum which the first creditor paid to acquire such title, together with interest thereon from the time of the first creditor’s payment.

815.48(2) (2) If the judgment or mortgage by virtue of which the first creditor acquired the title of the original purchaser be prior to the judgment or mortgage of such 2nd creditor and is still a lien as to such 2nd creditor the 2nd creditor shall also pay to such first creditor the amount due on the first creditor’s judgment or mortgage.

815.48(3) (3) In the same manner any third or other creditor who might have acquired the title of the original purchaser may become a purchaser thereof from the second, third or other creditor who may have become such purchaser from any other creditor, upon the terms and conditions before specified in this section.

815.48(4) (4) If the original purchaser of any premises shall also be a creditor of the defendant against whom the execution issued, and as such might acquire the title of any purchaser according to the preceding provisions, the original purchaser may avail himself or herself of his or her judgment or mortgage, in the manner and on the terms prescribed, to acquire the title which any creditor may have obtained.

815.48(5) (5) But the judgment creditor, under whose execution the real estate was sold cannot acquire the title of the original purchaser or of any creditor to the premises so sold by virtue of the judgment on which such execution issued.

815.48 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761, 781 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.48; 1993 a. 486.

815.52 815.52 Payment on acquisition of purchaser’s or creditor’s interest. The sums required to be paid to acquire the title of the original purchaser at the execution sale or to become a purchaser from any creditor may be paid to such purchaser or creditor, to the purchaser’s or creditor’s representative or assigns or to the then sheriff of the county where the real estate is situated; upon such payment being made the title of the original purchaser shall be thereby transferred to the creditor acquiring the same and from such creditor to any other creditor becoming a purchaser thereof.

815.52 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.52; 1993 a. 486.

815.53 815.53 Execution sale; evidences of right of creditor to acquire title. To entitle any creditor to acquire the title of the original purchaser on the execution sale or to become a purchaser from any other creditor, the creditor shall exhibit to such purchaser or other creditor or to the sheriff the following evidences of the creditor’s right:

815.53(1) (1) A certified copy of the creditor’s judgment or of the record of the creditor’s mortgage.

815.53(2) (2) A certified copy of all assignments of such judgment or mortgage which are necessary to establish the creditor’s claim.

815.53(3) (3) A certified copy of the creditor’s letters testamentary or other letters authorizing the administration of the decedent’s estate, in the case of a personal representative.

815.53(4) (4) An affidavit of such creditor or his or her attorney, or agent stating the sum due on such judgment or the sum owing on such mortgage at the time of claiming such right to purchase. Within 3 days after making such acquisition such creditor shall record such evidences of his or her right in the office of the register of deeds of the county where the original certificate of sale is filed.

815.53 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.53; 1993 a. 301, 486; 1995 a. 224; 2001 a. 102.

815.54 815.54 Execution sale, title when divested, action for injury to premises. The right and title of the person against whom the execution was issued, to any real estate which shall be sold thereby, shall not be divested by such sale until the expiration of fifteen months from the time of sale; and if such real estate shall not have been redeemed and a deed shall be executed in pursuance of a sale the grantee shall be vested with the legal estate from the time of the sale for the purpose of an action for an injury to such real estate.

815.54 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.54.

815.55 815.55 Execution sale; deed when to issue; limitation. If after the expiration of 15 months from the time of the sale of any real estate upon execution any part of the premises sold shall remain unredeemed, the sheriff of the county in which the real estate is situated shall, on demand, execute a deed for the unredeemed premises to the person entitled to the deed. The deed shall convey all of the right, title and interest which was sold upon the execution, except that no deed shall be issued after 20 years from the date of the sale.

815.55 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.55; 1997 a. 254.

815.56 815.56 Sheriff’s deed; grantee if purchaser dead. If the person who would be entitled to a deed of real estate sold on execution dies before the delivery of that deed, the sheriff shall execute a deed to the decedent’s personal representative who shall either hold the real estate in trust for the use of the heirs or devisees of the decedent, subject to the surviving spouse’s right to elect under s. 861.02 (1), or sell the real estate for the payment of debts in the same manner as lands owned by the decedent.

815.56 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); 1975 c. 94 s. 91 (5); 1975 c. 199; Stats. 1975 s. 815.56; 1983 a. 186; 1985 a. 37; 1987 a. 393 s. 53; 1997 a. 188; 2001 a. 102.

815.57 815.57 Sheriff’s deed, recovery of purchase price on eviction. If the purchaser of real estate sold on execution, the purchaser’s heirs or assigns shall be evicted from such real estate, or if in an action for the recovery thereof judgment shall be rendered against the purchaser or the purchaser’s heirs or assigns in consequence of any irregularity in such sale, or of the judgment upon which such execution issued being vacated or reversed, the purchaser or the purchaser’s heirs or assigns may recover of the party for whose benefit such real estate was sold the amount paid on the purchase thereof, with interest.

815.57 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.57; 1993 a. 486.

815.58 815.58 Execution sale; judgment, creditor’s further remedy. The party for whose benefit real estate was sold on execution and the party’s personal representatives, upon recovery being had against him or her under s. 815.57 in consequence of any irregularity in such sale, may have further execution upon the judgment to levy the sum paid on such sale, with interest. Such judgment shall be effectual for that purpose against the defendant, the defendant’s personal representative, heirs and devisees; but not against any purchaser in good faith or any encumbrancer whose title or whose encumbrance accrued before the levy of such execution.

815.58 History History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761, 781 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.58; 1993 a. 486; 1995 a. 225.

815.59 815.59 Contribution when lands of several are sold on execution.

815.59(1) (1) When lands of several persons shall be liable to satisfy any final judgment and the whole of such judgment or more than a due proportion thereof shall be paid by one of such persons or shall be levied upon the lands of any one or more of such persons, the persons so aggrieved or their personal representatives may compel a just contribution by all the persons whose lands ought to contribute to said satisfaction.

815.59(2) (2) Such lands are liable to contribution in the following order:

815.59(2)(a) (a) If they were conveyed by the defendant in the execution, they are liable in succession, commencing with the lands last conveyed.

815.59(2)(b) (b) If they were sold under execution against the defendant, they are liable in succession, commencing with the lands sold under the youngest judgment.

815.59(2)(c) (c) If there be lands so liable, which were conveyed by the defendant in execution, and also lands which were sold under execution against the defendant the lands are liable in succession, according to the order herein prescribed.