Chapter 49

49.854(5)(f) (f) Hearings. A hearing requested under par. (d) 6. shall be conducted before the circuit court rendering the order to pay support. Within 45 business days after receiving a request for hearing under par. (d) 6., the court shall conduct the hearing. A circuit court commissioner may conduct the hearing. The hearing shall be limited to a review of whether the account holder owes the amount of support certified and whether any alternative payment arrangement offered by the department or the county child support agency is reasonable. If the court or circuit court commissioner makes a written determination that an alternative payment arrangement offered by the department or county child support agency is not reasonable, the court or circuit court commissioner may order an alternative payment arrangement. If the court or circuit court commissioner orders an alternative payment arrangement, the court or circuit court commissioner shall order the department to instruct the financial institution to release all or a portion of the funds. If the court or circuit court commissioner determines that the account holder does not owe support or owes less than the amount claimed by the department, the court shall order the department to instruct the financial institution to release the funds in the account or the excess of those funds over the amount of the delinquency to the account holder. If a circuit court commissioner conducts the hearing under this paragraph, the department or the obligor may, within 15 business days after the date that the circuit court commissioner makes his or her decision, request review of the decision by the court with jurisdiction over the action.

49.854(6) (6) Levying against other personal property.

49.854(6)(a) (a) When notice of seizure required. If the department has enforced a lien under this section by levying against personal property, the department shall immediately notify the obligor that the property has been seized. The department shall provide the notice of seizure under this paragraph to any person having an ownership interest in the property or any other person with an interest of record in the property. If the property is titled, the department shall also send a copy of the notice of seizure to the state agency that titles the property. A state agency receiving a notice under this paragraph may not transfer title to the personal property described in the notice, except on the instructions of a court or the department.

49.854(6)(b) (b) Content of notice of seizure. The notice provided under par. (a) shall include all of the following:

49.854(6)(b)1. 1. The name of the obligor and the amount of the support owed.

49.854(6)(b)2. 2. A description of the personal property seized.

49.854(6)(b)3. 3. A statement that the obligor may, within 20 business days after the date of the notice, request a hearing on the questions of whether past-due support is owed and whether the property was wrongfully seized.

49.854(6)(b)3m. 3m. A statement that a person, other than the obligor, who holds the personal property jointly with the obligor may request a hearing within 20 business days after the date of the notice, to protect the portion of the jointly held personal property that is attributable to his or her net contributions to the jointly held personal property.

49.854(6)(b)4. 4. A statement that the hearing may be requested by submitting the request in writing and by mailing or delivering a copy of the request to the county child support agency.

49.854(6)(c) (c) Hearing. If a hearing is requested under par. (b) 4., the court or circuit court commissioner shall schedule a hearing within 10 business days after receiving the request under par. (b) 4. The hearing shall be limited to a review of whether the obligor owes the amount of support owed that is stated in the notice of seizure and whether any alternative payment arrangement offered by the department or the county child support agency is reasonable. If the court or circuit court commissioner makes a written determination that an alternative payment arrangement offered by the department or county child support agency is not reasonable, the court or circuit court commissioner may order an alternative payment arrangement. If the court or circuit court commissioner orders an alternative payment arrangement, the court or circuit court commissioner shall order the department to return the seized property within 15 business days. If the court or circuit court commissioner determines that the obligor does not owe support or owes less than the amount claimed by the department, the court shall order the department to return the seized property within 15 business days or specify the amount which may be retained by the department after the sale of the seized property. If a circuit court commissioner conducts the hearing under this paragraph, the department or the obligor may, within 15 business days after the date that the circuit court commissioner makes his or her decision, request review of the decision by the court with jurisdiction over the action. The court reviewing the decision may order the department to return the seized property or may authorize the sale of the property by the department. If the department is ordered to return seized property under this paragraph, the court shall instruct any state agency responsible for titling the property that it may transfer title to the property without receiving instructions from a court or the department under par. (a).

49.854(6)(d) (d) Notice of sale. As soon as practicable after seizing the personal property and after any requested hearings are conducted under par. (c), the department shall send a notice to the obligor stating that the department intends to issue an execution requiring the sheriff to sell the property within 90 days of the date of the execution. The final notice shall include a notice of the obligor’s right to redeem the property under par. (e) 8.

49.854(6)(e) (e) Execution and sale. After the department has sent the notice under par. (d), the department may issue an execution on any personal property identified in the notice to enforce a lien contained in the statewide support lien docket. The department shall provide a copy of an execution under this paragraph to the obligor and to any other person having an interest in the property. The provisions of ch. 815 apply to the executions issued by the department, except as follows:

49.854(6)(e)1. 1. References to judgments shall be read as references to liens entered in the statewide support lien docket, references to debtors shall be read as references to obligors and references to the court or a judge shall be read as references to the department.

49.854(6)(e)2. 2. Sections 815.01 to 815.04 do not apply. The department may not issue an execution more than 5 years after the date on which the lien was entered in the statewide support lien docket.

49.854(6)(e)3. 3. Section 815.05 does not apply. If the department has delegated under sub. (17) its authority under this subsection, the execution shall be signed by the director of the child support agency that is initiating the property seizure on behalf of the department. The execution shall include all of the following information:

49.854(6)(e)3.a. a. The date that a lien against the obligor was first entered on the child support lien docket.

49.854(6)(e)3.b. b. The amount of past due child support that is owed at the time the execution is issued.

49.854(6)(e)3.c. c. A description of the personal property.

49.854(6)(e)3.d. d. A directive to the officer to whom the execution is addressed to sell the property within 90 days of the date of the execution.

49.854(6)(e)4. 4. The execution shall be made returnable under s. 815.06 to the department within 90 days, rather than 60 days, after its receipt by the officer.

49.854(6)(e)5. 5. Sections 815.07, 815.09 to 815.12, 815.14, 815.15, 815.18 to 815.21, 815.25 and 815.26 do not apply.

49.854(6)(e)6. 6. Notwithstanding s. 815.29, the officer may not sell the personal property without 20 days advance notice. In addition to the notice required under s. 815.29, the officer to whom the execution is issued shall notify the obligor of the time and place of the sale of the personal property.

49.854(6)(e)7. 7. If, prior to the sale of the personal property, the department or child support agency notifies the officer that the obligor has paid the amount owed together with any levy fees and costs under sub. (11) or that the custodial parent to whom the support is owed has died, the officer shall discontinue the execution.

49.854(6)(e)8. 8. Sections 815.52 to 815.55 do not apply. The obligor may redeem the property prior to the date of the sale by payment of the full amount of support owed together with any levy fees and costs under sub. (11). The property may not be redeemed after it is sold. If the property is redeemed, the county child support agency shall issue a certificate upon redemption that includes the date of redemption, the amount of money paid and a description of the property redeemed. The certificate of redemption may be recorded in the office of the register of deeds. If titled property is redeemed, the department shall instruct the titling agency that the agency may transfer title to the property without receiving instructions from a court or the department under par. (a). Upon the sale of personal property on execution, the officer shall issue a certificate of sale to the purchaser within 10 days of the sale. If titled property is sold, the department shall instruct the titling agency to transfer title of the sold property to the purchaser.

49.854(6)(f) (f) Updating the lien docket. The department shall update the statewide support lien docket to remove a lien that is satisfied by an execution or sale under this subsection.

49.854(7) (7) Levying against real property.

49.854(7)(a) (a) When notice of intent to levy required. To enforce a lien under this section by levying against real property, the department shall provide the obligor and all owners of the real property with a notice of intent to levy under par. (b) 1. A copy of the notice under par. (b) 1. shall be provided to the register of deeds in the county where the real property is located. A register of deeds receiving a notice of intent to levy under this paragraph shall file the notice of intent to levy. The department shall provide a notice of intent to levy under par. (b) 2. to any person having an interest of record in the real property.

49.854(7)(b) (b) Content of notice of intent.

49.854(7)(b)1. 1. The notice provided under par. (a) to the obligor, to owners of the property and to the register of deeds shall include all of the following:

49.854(7)(b)1.a. a. The name of the obligor and the amount of the support owed.

49.854(7)(b)1.b. b. A description of the real property against which the department intends to levy.

49.854(7)(b)1.c. c. A statement that the obligor may, within 20 business days after the date of the notice, request a hearing on the question of whether past-due support is owed.

49.854(7)(b)1.d. d. A statement that a person, other than the obligor, who holds the real property jointly with the obligor may request a hearing within 20 business days after the date of the notice, to protect the portion of the jointly held real property that is attributable to his or her net contributions to the jointly held real property.

49.854(7)(b)1.e. e. A statement that the hearing may be requested by submitting the request in writing and by mailing or delivering a copy of the request to the county child support agency.

49.854(7)(b)2. 2. In addition to the information included under subd. 1. a. to c., the notice provided under par. (a) to a person having an interest of record in the real property shall include a request that the interest holder notify the department, within 10 business days after receiving the notice, of the amount and nature of the person’s interest in the property.

49.854(7)(c) (c) Hearing. If a hearing is requested under par. (b) 1. c., the court or circuit court commissioner shall schedule a hearing within 10 business days after receiving the request under par. (b) 1. c. The hearing shall be limited to a review of whether the obligor owes the amount of support owed that is stated in the notice of intent under par. (b) and whether any alternative payment arrangement offered by the department or the county child support agency is reasonable. If the court or circuit court commissioner makes a written determination that an alternative payment arrangement offered by the department or county child support agency is not reasonable, the court or circuit court commissioner may order an alternative payment arrangement. If the court or circuit court commissioner orders an alternative payment arrangement, the court or circuit court commissioner shall order the department not to proceed with the levy. If the court or circuit court commissioner determines that the obligor does not owe support or owes less than the amount claimed by the department, the court shall order the department not to proceed with the levy or specify the amount that may be retained by the department after the sale of the seized property. If a circuit court commissioner conducts the hearing under this paragraph, the department or the obligor may, within 15 business days after the date that the circuit court commissioner makes his or her decision, request review of the decision by the court with jurisdiction over the action. The court reviewing the decision may order the department not to proceed with the levy of the property or may authorize the sale of the property by the department.

49.854(7)(d) (d) Final notice. Unless the department has been directed not to proceed with the levy in a hearing under par. (c) or unless the support owed and any levy fees and costs under sub. (11) have been paid, the department may send to the obligor a final notice of intent to seize and sell the property. The final notice may not be sent until 20 business days after the date of the notice of intent to levy under par. (a) or after any requested hearings under par. (c) have been completed. The final notice shall state that the department intends to issue an execution requiring the sheriff to seize and sell the property within 90 days of the date of the execution and that the obligor must vacate the property by the time of sale. The final notice shall include a notice of the obligor’s right to redeem the property under par. (e) 8. The department shall provide a copy of any final notice under this paragraph to the register of deeds in the county where the real property is located. A register of deeds receiving a final notice under this paragraph shall file the final notice.

49.854(7)(e) (e) Execution and sale. After the department has sent the final notice under par. (d), the department may issue an execution on any real property identified in the notice to enforce a lien contained in the statewide support lien docket. The department shall provide a copy of an execution under this paragraph to the obligor and to any other person having an interest in the property. The provisions of ch. 815 apply to the executions issued by the department, except as follows:

49.854(7)(e)1. 1. References to judgments shall be read as references to liens entered in the statewide support lien docket, references to debtors shall be read as references to obligors and references to the court or a judge shall be read as references to the department.

49.854(7)(e)2. 2. Sections 815.01 to 815.04 do not apply. The department may not issue an execution more than 5 years after the date on which the lien was entered in the statewide support lien docket.

49.854(7)(e)3. 3. Section 815.05 does not apply. If the department has delegated under sub. (17) its authority under this subsection, the execution shall be signed by the director of the child support agency that is initiating the real property seizure on behalf of the department. The execution shall include all of the following information:

49.854(7)(e)3.a. a. The date that a lien against the obligor was first entered on the child support lien docket.

49.854(7)(e)3.b. b. The amount of past due child support that is owed at the time the execution is issued.

49.854(7)(e)3.c. c. A legal description of the property against which the lien is to be executed. Including the location, of the property against which the lien is to be executed.

49.854(7)(e)3.d. d. The street address or location of the property against which the lien is to be executed.

49.854(7)(e)3.e. e. A directive to the officer to whom the execution is addressed to seize and sell the property within 90 days of the date of the execution.

49.854(7)(e)4. 4. The execution shall be made returnable under s. 815.06 to the department within 90 days, rather than 60 days, after its receipt by the officer.

49.854(7)(e)5. 5. Sections 815.07, 815.09 to 815.12, 815.14, 815.15, 815.18 to 815.21, 815.25 and 815.26 do not apply.

49.854(7)(e)6. 6. In addition to the notice required under s. 815.31, the officer to whom the execution is issued shall notify the obligor of the time and place of the sale of the real property.

49.854(7)(e)7. 7. If, prior to the sale of the real property, the department or child support agency notifies the officer that the obligor has paid the amount owed together with any levy fees and costs under sub. (11) or that the custodial parent to whom the support is owed has died, the officer shall discontinue the execution.

49.854(7)(e)8. 8. Sections 815.38 to 815.55 do not apply. The obligor may redeem the property prior to the date of the sale by payment of the full amount of support owed together with any levy fees and costs under sub. (11). The property may not be redeemed after it is sold. If the property is redeemed, the county child support agency shall issue a certificate upon redemption that includes the date of redemption, the amount of money paid and a description of the property redeemed. The certificate of redemption may be recorded in the office of the register of deeds. Upon the sale of the real estate on execution, the officer shall issue a deed and a certificate of sale to the purchaser within 10 days of the sale.

49.854(7)(e)9. 9. The department may issue an administrative order directing a local law official to remove the obligor from the property if property is not vacated before the time of sale. A person occupying the property under claim of ownership, lease or month-to-month tenancy may not be removed except by proceedings under ch. 799 or 843.

49.854(7)(e)10. 10. Sections 815.59 to 815.64 do not apply.

49.854(7)(f) (f) Updating the lien docket. The department shall update the statewide support lien docket to remove a lien that is satisfied by an execution or sale under this subsection.

49.854(7m) (7m) Jointly held property. A person, other than the obligor, who holds a joint interest in property levied against under this section may request a hearing, as provided in subs. (5) (d) 6m., (6) (b) 3m. or (7) (b) 1. d., to determine the proportion of the value of the property that is attributable to his or her net contribution to the property. If a hearing is requested under this subsection, the court or circuit court commissioner shall schedule a hearing within 10 days after receiving the request. The hearing shall be limited to determining the proportion of the value of the property that is attributable to the person’s net contribution to the property. If more than one person requests a hearing under this subsection, or if the obligor requests a hearing under sub. (5) (f), (6) (c) or (7) (c), with respect to the same property, the court or circuit court commissioner may schedule the hearings together. The person requesting the hearing shall have the burden of proving his or her net contribution by clear and convincing evidence. If the court determines that a portion of the jointly held property is attributable to the contributions of the person, the court shall direct the department or the county child support agency to pay the person, from the net balance of the jointly held account or the net proceeds of the sale of the jointly held real or personal property, the proportion of the gross value of the account or real or personal property that is attributable to that person. If a circuit court commissioner conducts the hearing under this subsection, the person may, within 15 business days after the date that the circuit court commissioner makes his or her decision, request review of the decision by the court with jurisdiction over the action.

49.854(8) (8) Duties to surrender; generally. Any person in possession of or obligated with respect to property or rights to property that is subject to levy under this section and upon which a levy has been made shall, upon demand of the department, surrender the property or rights or discharge the obligation to the department, except that part of the property or rights that is, at the time of the demand, subject to any prior attachment, execution under any judicial process, claim of ownership, lease or month-to-month tenancy.

49.854(9) (9) Notice. Any notice required to be provided under this section may be provided by sending the notice by regular mail to the last-known address of the person to whom notice is to be sent.

49.854(11) (11) Levy fees and costs.

49.854(11)(a) (a) Third parties. Any 3rd party is entitled to a levy fee of $5 for each levy in any case where property is secured through the levy. The 3rd party shall deduct the fee from the proceeds of the levy.

49.854(11)(b) (b) The department. The department may assess a collection fee to recover the department’s costs incurred in levying against property under this section. The department shall determine its costs to be paid in all cases of levy. The obligor is liable to the department for the amount of the collection fee authorized under this paragraph. Fees collected under this paragraph shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (2) (ja).

49.854(12) (12) Priorities and use of proceeds.

49.854(12)(a) (a) Priorities. A lien under this section has the same priority, from the date that the lien is effective, as a judgment docketed under s. 806.15. The lien is effective for a period of 5 years from the date the lien becomes effective.

49.854(12)(b) (b) Use of proceeds. After paying any liens on a property that have priority over a lien under this section, the department shall apply all proceeds from a sale of that property under this section first against the support in respect to which the levy was made and then against levy fees and costs under sub. (11).

49.854(12)(c) (c) Refunds or credits. The department may refund or credit any amount left after the applications under par. (a), upon submission of a claim therefor and satisfactory proof of the claim, to the person entitled to that amount.

49.854(13) (13) Release of levy; suspension of proceedings to enforce lien.

49.854(13)(a) (a) Release. The department may release the levy upon all or part of property levied upon to facilitate the collection of the liability or to grant relief from a wrongful levy, but that release does not prevent any later levy.

49.854(13)(b) (b) Settlement. If the obligor enters in to an alternative payment arrangement in accordance with guidelines established under s. 49.858 (2) (a), the department shall suspend all actions to enforce a lien under this section as long as the obligor remains in compliance with the alternative payment arrangement.

49.854(14) (14) Wrongful levy. If the department determines that property has been wrongfully levied upon, the department shall return the property or, if the property has been sold, shall return an amount of money equal to the amount of money, or value of the property, levied upon. This subsection does not prevent a person whose property has been wrongfully levied upon from seeking relief, under other provisions of the statutes, against the state for damages that have not been compensated for under this subsection.

49.854(15) (15) Actions against this state.

49.854(15)(a) (a) Commencement of actions. If the department has levied upon property, any person, other than the obligor who is liable to pay the support out of which the levy arose, who claims an interest in or lien on that property and claims that that property was wrongfully levied upon may bring a civil action against the state in the circuit court for Dane County. If the county child support agency has levied upon property pursuant to delegated authority under sub. (17), any person, other than the obligor who is liable to pay the support out of which the levy arose, who claims an interest in or lien on that property and claims that that property was wrongfully levied upon may bring a civil action against the county child support agency in the circuit court for the county where the court order for the payment of support, upon which the seizure is based, was first entered or last modified. That action may be brought whether or not that property has been surrendered to the department or the county child support agency. The court may grant only the relief under par. (b). No other action to question the validity of or restrain or enjoin a levy by the department or a county child support agency may be maintained.

49.854(15)(b) (b) Remedies. In an action under par. (a), prior to the sale of the property, if the court determines that property has been improperly levied upon, the court may enjoin the enforcement of the levy and order the return of the property, or may grant a judgment for the amount of money obtained by levy. The court may also order relief necessary to protect the interests of owners of the property, other than the obligor, including, when appropriate, partition of the property. After the sale of the property, if the court determines that the property has been wrongfully levied upon, it may grant a judgment for the amount of money obtained by levy.

49.854(15)(c) (c) Validity of determination. For purposes of an adjudication under this subsection, there is a rebuttable presumption that the support obligation upon which the lien is based is valid.

49.854(17) (17) Delegation and power to contract. The department may delegate any duties or powers given to the department under this section to county child support agencies, except that the department must approve the initiation of any levy proceedings under sub. (7). The department shall promulgate rules prohibiting a county child support agency from using the powers delegated under this subsection to enforce a child support lien, if the value of the property that is subject to the lien is below the dollar amount specified in the rules.

49.854(18) (18) Preservation of remedies. The availability of the remedies under this section does not abridge the right of the department to pursue other remedies.

49.854 History History: 1997 a. 191; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 61; 2003 a. 33; 2007 a. 20; 2013 a. 170; 2015 a. 55.

49.854 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. DCF 152, Wis. adm. code.

49.854 Annotation The Child Support Lien Docket. Chesnik & Petersen. Wis. Law. June 2001.

49.855 49.855 Certification of delinquent payments.

49.855(1) (1) 

49.855(1)(a) (a) If a person obligated to pay child support, family support, maintenance, or the receiving and disbursing fee under s. 767.57 (1e) (a) is delinquent in making any of those payments or owes an outstanding amount that has been ordered by the court for past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses, for cases in which the payee is receiving services under s. 49.22 or the state is a real party in interest under s. 767.205 (2), the department of children and families shall certify the delinquent payment or outstanding amount to the department of revenue.

49.855(1)(b) (b) At least annually, the department of children and families shall certify to the department of revenue delinquent payments of the receiving and disbursing fee under s. 767.57 (1e) (a) not certified under par. (a) and shall provide to the department of revenue any certifications of delinquencies or outstanding amounts that it receives from another state because the obligor resides in this state.

49.855(2m) (2m) At least annually, the department of health services shall certify to the department of revenue any obligation owed to the department of health services under s. 46.10 if the obligation is rendered to a judgment.

49.855(2p) (2p) At least annually, the department of corrections shall certify to the department of revenue any obligation owed to the department of corrections under s. 301.12 if the obligation is rendered to a judgment.

49.855(2r) (2r) At least annually, the department of children and families shall certify to the department of revenue any obligation owed to that department under s. 49.345 if the obligation is rendered to a judgment.

49.855(3) (3) Receipt of a certification by the department of revenue shall constitute a lien, equal to the amount certified, on any state tax refunds or credits owed to the obligor. The lien shall be foreclosed by the department of revenue as a setoff under s. 71.93 (3), (6), and (7). When the department of revenue determines that the obligor is otherwise entitled to a state tax refund or credit, it shall notify the obligor that the state intends to reduce any state tax refund or credit due the obligor by the amount the obligor is delinquent under the support, maintenance, or receiving and disbursing fee order or obligation, by the outstanding amount for past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses under the court order, or by the amount due under s. 46.10 (4), 49.345 (4), or 301.12 (4). The notice shall provide that within 20 days the obligor may request a hearing before the circuit court rendering the order under which the obligation arose. Within 10 days after receiving a request for hearing under this subsection, the court shall set the matter for hearing. Pending further order by the court or a circuit court commissioner, the department of children and families or its designee, whichever is appropriate, is prohibited from disbursing the obligor’s state tax refund or credit. A circuit court commissioner may conduct the hearing. The sole issues at that hearing shall be whether the obligor owes the amount certified and, if not and it is a support or maintenance order, whether the money withheld from a tax refund or credit shall be paid to the obligor or held for future support or maintenance, except that the obligor’s ability to pay shall also be an issue at the hearing if the obligation relates to an order under s. 767.804 (3) (d) 1., 767.805 (4) (d) 1., or 767.89 (3) (e) 1. and the order specifies that the court found that the obligor’s income was at or below the poverty line established under 42 USC 9902 (2).

49.855(4) (4) 

49.855(4)(a) (a) The department of revenue shall send the portion of any state tax refunds or credits withheld for delinquent child or family support or maintenance or past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses to the department of children and families or its designee for deposit in the support collections trust fund under s. 25.68 and shall send the portion of any state tax refunds or credits withheld for delinquent receiving and disbursing fees to the department of children and families or its designee for deposit in the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (2) (ja). The department of children and families shall make a settlement at least annually with the department of revenue. The settlement shall state the amounts certified, the amounts deducted from tax refunds and credits, and the administrative costs incurred by the department of revenue.

49.855(4)(b) (b) The department of administration shall send the portion of any federal tax refunds or credits received from the internal revenue service that was withheld for delinquent child or family support or maintenance or past support, medical expenses, or birth expenses to the department of children and families or its designee for deposit in the support collections trust fund under s. 25.68 and shall send the portion of any federal tax refunds or credits received from the internal revenue service that was withheld for delinquent receiving and disbursing fees to the department of children and families or its designee for deposit in the appropriation account under s. 20.437 (2) (ja).

49.855(4m) (4m)