SB123, s. 200 4Section 200 . 767.459 of the statutes is renumbered 767.865 (1) (a) and
5amended to read:.
SB123,110,116 767.865 (1) (a) The personal representative or an attorney, if there is no
7personal representative, a guardian ad litem in accordance with par. (b)
may appear
8for a deceased respondent who is the alleged father whenever an appearance by the
9respondent is required. The summons and petition shall be served on the personal
10representative of and guardian ad litem for the deceased respondent under s.
11767.813 (3).
Note: See the note to Sec. 257 of this bill.
SB123, s. 201 12Section 201. 767.46 of the statutes is renumbered 767.88, and 767.88 (1), as
13renumbered, is amended to read:
SB123,110,1814 767.88 (1) Procedure; evidence. A pretrial hearing shall be held before the
15court or a circuit or supplemental court commissioner under s. 757.675 (2) (g). A
16record or minutes of the proceeding shall be kept. At the pretrial hearing the parties
17may present and cross-examine witnesses, request genetic tests, and present other
18evidence relevant to the determination of paternity.
SB123, s. 202 19Section 202. 767.463 of the statutes is renumbered 767.855 and amended to
20read:
SB123,111,4 21767.855 Dismissal if adjudication not in child's best interest. Except as
22provided in s. 767.458 767.863 (1m), at any time in an action to establish the
23paternity of a child, upon the motion of a party or guardian ad litem, the court or
24circuit or supplemental court commissioner under s. 757.675 (2) (g) may, with respect

1to a man male, refuse to order genetic tests, if genetic tests have not yet been taken,
2and dismiss the action if the court or circuit or supplemental court commissioner
3determines that a judicial determination of whether the man male is the father of
4the child is not in the best interest of the child.
SB123, s. 203 5Section 203. 767.465 (title), (1), (1m), (2) and (2m) (title) and (a) of the statutes
6are renumbered 767.893 (title), (1), (1m), (2) and (2m) (title) and (a), and 767.893
7(1m), (2) (a) and (b) and (2m) (a), as renumbered, are amended to read:
SB123,111,138 767.893 (1m) Judgment when mother fails to appear. Notwithstanding sub.
9(1), a court may enter an order adjudicating the alleged father, or man male alleging
10that he is the father, to be the father of the child under s. 767.51 767.89 if the mother
11of the child fails to appear at the first appearance, unless the first appearance is not
12required under s. 767.457 (2),
scheduled genetic test, pretrial hearing, or trial if
13sufficient evidence exists to establish the man male as the father of the child.
SB123,111,24 14(2) (a) Except as provided in sub. (2m), if a respondent is the alleged father and
15fails to appear at the first appearance, unless the first appearance is not required
16under s. 767.457 (2),
scheduled court-ordered genetic test, pretrial hearing, or trial,
17the court shall enter an order adjudicating the respondent to be the father and
18appropriate orders for support, legal custody, and physical placement. The orders
19shall be either served on the respondent or mailed by regular, registered, or certified
20mail, to the last-known address of the respondent. The orders shall take effect 30
21days after service or 30 days after the date on which the orders were mailed unless,
22within that time, the respondent presents to the court or a circuit or supplemental
23court commissioner under s. 757.675 (2) (g) evidence of good cause for failure to
24appear or failure to have undergone a court-ordered genetic test.

Note: Amended to delete language requiring a delay in the effective date of default
judgment orders in paternity actions. The paternity reform committee recommended
that default judgments in paternity cases take effect immediately.
SB123,112,31 (b) A default judgment may not be entered under par. (a) if there is more than
2one person alleged in the petition to be the father, unless only any of the following
3applies:
SB123,112,5 41. Only one of those persons fails to appear and all of the other male
5respondents have been excluded as the father.
Note: See Sec. 262 in this bill for subd. 2.
SB123,112,13 6(2m) (a) At any time after service of the summons and petition, a respondent
7who is the alleged father may, with or without appearance in court and subject to the
8approval of the court, in writing acknowledge that he has read and understands the
9notice under s. 767.455 767.813 (5g) and stipulate that he is the father of the child
10and for child support payments, legal custody, and physical placement. The court
11may not approve a stipulation for child support unless it provides for payment of
12child support determined in a manner consistent with s. 767.25 767.511 or 767.51
13767.89.
SB123, s. 204 14Section 204 . 767.465 (2m) (b) of the statutes is repealed.
Note: Repeals s. 767.465 (2m) (b), relating to waiver of first appearance. See the
note to Sec. 188 in this bill.
SB123, s. 205 15Section 205. 767.465 (2m) (c), (3) and (4) of the statutes are renumbered
16767.893 (2m) (c), (3) and (4).
SB123, s. 206 17Section 206. 767.466 of the statutes is renumbered 767.895.
SB123, s. 207 18Section 207. 767.47 of the statutes is renumbered 767.87, and 767.87 (1) (c),
19(1m) (d) and (3), as renumbered, are amended to read:
SB123,112,2020 767.87 (1) (c) Genetic test results under ss. s. 49.225, 767.48 767.84, or 885.23.
SB123,112,21 21(1m) (d) Prior to the entry of the judgment under s. 767.51 767.89.
SB123,113,7
1(3) Evidence of identified male not under jurisdiction. Except as provided
2in s. 767.48 767.84 (4), in an action against an alleged father, evidence offered by him
3with respect to an identified man male who is not subject to the jurisdiction of the
4court concerning that man's male's sexual intercourse with the mother at or about
5the presumptive time of conception of the child is admissible in evidence only after
6the alleged father has undergone genetic tests and made the results available to the
7court.
SB123, s. 208 8Section 208. 767.475 of the statutes is renumbered 767.82, and 767.82 (1) (b),
9(2m) and (7m), as renumbered, are amended to read:
SB123,113,1210 767.82 (1) (b) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for the child if s.
11767.045 767.407 (1) (a) or (c) applies or if the court has concern that the child's best
12interest is not being represented.
SB123,113,15 13(2m) Custody pending court order. If there is no presumption of paternity
14under s. 891.41 (1) or if paternity is acknowledged under s. 767.805 (1), the mother
15shall have sole legal custody of the child until the court orders otherwise.
Note: Creates language specifying that if paternity is acknowledged under s.
767.805 (1) [renumbered from s. 767.62 (1)], the mother has sole legal custody of the child
until the court orders otherwise. Current law is silent on legal custody where paternity
is acknowledged and the court has not ordered otherwise.
SB123,113,19 16(7m) When action has priority. The court shall give priority to an action
17brought under s. 767.45 whenever 767.80 if the petition under s. 767.45 767.80 (5)
18indicates that the matter was referred under s. 48.299 (6) (a) or 938.299 (6) (a) by a
19court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under chs. 48 and 938.
SB123, s. 209 20Section 209. 767.477 of the statutes is renumbered 767.85, and 767.85 (2), as
21renumbered, is amended to read:
SB123,114,422 767.85 (2) Considerations. Before making any temporary order under sub. (1),
23the court shall consider those factors that the court is required to consider when

1granting a final judgment on the same subject matter. If the court makes a
2temporary child support order that deviates from the amount of support that would
3be required by using the percentage standard established by the department under
4s. 49.22 (9), the court shall comply with the requirements of s. 767.25 767.511 (1n).
SB123, s. 210 5Section 210. 767.48 (title) of the statutes is renumbered 767.84 (title).
SB123, s. 211 6Section 211. 767.48 (1) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 767.84 (1) (a) 1. and
7amended to read:
SB123,114,198 767.84 (1) (a) 1. The Except as provided in subd. 2., the court may, and upon
9request of a party
shall, require the child, mother, any male for whom there is
10probable cause to believe that he had sexual intercourse with the mother during a
11possible time of the child's conception, or any male witness who testifies or will testify
12about his sexual relations with the mother at a possible time of conception to submit
13to genetic tests. Probable cause of sexual intercourse during a possible time of
14conception may be established by a sufficient petition or affidavit of the child's
15mother or an alleged father, filed with the court, or after an examination under oath
16of a party or witness, when the court determines such that an examination is
17necessary. The court is not required to order a person who has undergone a genetic
18test under s. 49.225 to submit to another test under this paragraph subdivision
19unless a party requests additional tests under sub. (2).
Note: Requires genetic tests in every case except defaults, voluntary
acknowledgements, and some deceased father cases. Based on a recommendation of the
paternity reform committee. The reform committee cited as its reason for the change:
"To reduce the number of paternity cases being reopened. Some
cases are reopened after 15 or more years. Such reopenings are very
expensive for the courts and very detrimental to children.".
See, also, Sec. 250 of this bill.
SB123, s. 212
1Section 212. 767.48 (1) (b) and (1m) to (7) of the statutes are renumbered
2767.84 (1) (b) and (1m) to (7), and 767.84 (4) and (5) (b), as renumbered, are amended
3to read:
SB123,115,174 767.84 (4) Tests excluding paternity; refusal to submit to test. Whenever
5the results of genetic tests exclude
Genetic test results excluding an alleged father
6as the father of the child, this evidence shall be are conclusive evidence of
7nonpaternity and the court shall dismiss any paternity action with respect to that
8alleged father. Whenever the results of genetic tests exclude Genetic test results
9excluding
any male witness from possible paternity, the tests shall be are conclusive
10evidence of nonpaternity of the male witness. Testimony relating to sexual
11intercourse or possible sexual intercourse of the mother with any person excluded as
12a possible father, as a result of a genetic test, is inadmissible as evidence. If any party
13refuses
Refusal of a party to submit to a genetic test, this fact shall be disclosed to
14the fact finder. Refusal to submit to a genetic test ordered by the court is a contempt
15of the court for failure to produce evidence under s. 767.47 767.87 (5). If the action
16was brought by the child's mother but she refuses to submit herself or the child to
17genetic tests, the action shall be dismissed.
SB123,115,22 18(5) (b) If 2 or more identical series of genetic tests are performed upon the same
19person, regardless of whether the tests were ordered under this section or s. 49.225
20or 767.458 767.863 (2), the court shall require the person requesting the 2nd or
21subsequent series of tests to pay for it the series in advance, unless the court finds
22that the person is indigent.
SB123, s. 213 23Section 213. 767.481 (8) of the statutes is created to read:
SB123,115,2524 767.481 (8) Not applicable to paternity actions. This section does not apply
25to paternity actions under subch. IX.

Note: New sub. (8) codifies a court of appeals decision clarifying that s. 767.327,
stats., does not apply to paternity actions. [In re the Paternity of Kaila, 241 Wis. 2d 50,
622 N.W.2d 770 (Ct. App. 2000).] In that case, the court, citing a recent law journal
article, noted:
"Wisconsin Stat. s. 767.51 (6) expressly applies Wis. Stat. 767.325
to paternity actions and not s. 767.327. This omission of s. 767.327 from
paternity actions was not accidental:
When the 1995 amendment [1995 Wisconsin Act 70} was being
drafted, adding removal to s. 767.51 (6) was included in the initial drafts.
It was removed, however, prior to the final draft. This decision was not
without a debate. Those in favor of inclusion argued that removal
statutes were designed with the best interest of the child as the primary
objective . . . . The other side of the issue argued that inclusion of
paternity would be confusing and unnecessary. Many paternity mothers
are relatively unsophisticated, whereas many of the respondents have
little interest in their children. For those men seriously interested in
their relationship with the child, the general modification statute, [s.
767.325, stats.], provides ample opportunity to contest a move.
Judith Hartig-Osanka and Gregg Herman, Removal After
Kerkvliet
, Wisconsin Journal of Family Law, Vol. 20 at 33 (Apr. 2000).
Thus, the legislature did not intend s. 767.327, stats., to apply to
paternity actions.".
SB123, s. 214 1Section 214. 767.50 of the statutes is renumbered 767.883, and 767.883 (1),
2as renumbered, is amended to read:
SB123,117,103 767.883 (1) Two parts. The trial shall be divided into 2 parts. The, the first
4part shall deal dealing with the determination of paternity. The and the 2nd part
5shall deal dealing with child support, legal custody, periods of physical placement,
6and related issues. At the first part of the trial, the The main issue at the first part
7shall be whether the alleged or presumed father is or is not the father of the mother's
8child, but if the child was born to the mother while she was the lawful wife of a
9specified man there shall first be determined, as provided in s. 891.39, male the prior
10issue of whether the husband was not the father of the child shall be determined first,
11as provided under s. 891.39
. The first part of the trial shall be by jury only if the
12defendant verbally requests a jury trial either at the initial appearance or pretrial
13hearing or requests a jury trial in writing prior to the pretrial hearing. The court may
14direct, and, if requested by either party, before the introduction of any testimony in

1the party's behalf, shall direct the jury, in cases where there is a jury, to find a special
2verdict as to any of the issues specified in this section, except that the court shall
3make all of the findings enumerated in s. 767.51 767.89 (2) to (4). If the mother is
4dead, becomes insane, cannot be found within the jurisdiction, or fails to commence
5or pursue the action, the proceeding does not abate if any of the persons under s.
6767.45 767.80 (1) makes a motion to continue. The testimony of the mother taken
7at the pretrial hearing may in any such case be read in evidence if it is competent,
8relevant, and material. The issues of child support, custody and visitation, and
9related issues shall be determined by the court either immediately after the first part
10of the trial or at a later hearing before the court.
SB123, s. 215 11Section 215. Subchapter VI (title) of chapter 767 [precedes 767.501] of the
12statutes is created to read:
SB123,117,1313 Chapter 767
SB123,117,1514 Subchapter vi
15 support and maintenance
SB123, s. 216 16Section 216. 767.501 (1) (title) and (2) (title) of the statutes are created to read:
SB123,117,1717 767.501 (1) (title) Definitions.
SB123,117,18 18(2) (title) Who may commence; support determination.
SB123, s. 217 19Section 217 . 767.501 (4) of the statutes is created to read:
SB123,117,2320 767.501 (4) Legal custody and physical placement. Upon request of a party
21to an action under this section, the court may make orders concerning the legal
22custody and physical placement of any minor child of the parties in accordance with
23s. 767.41.
Note: Expressly authorizes a request for and determination of legal custody and
physical placement in conjunction with an action to compel support and maintenance
under renumbered s. 767.501 (former s. 767.08). See, also, Sec. 96 of this bill.
SB123, s. 218
1Section 218. 767.51 of the statutes is renumbered 767.89, and 767.89 (2), (3)
2(b), (c) and (f), (4) (a) (intro.) and (6), as renumbered, are amended to read:
SB123,118,93 767.89 (2) Report to state registrar. The clerk of court or county child support
4agency under s. 59.53 (5)
shall file with the state registrar, within 30 days after the
5entry of a judgment or order determining paternity, a report showing the names,
6dates, and birth places of the child and the father, the social security numbers of the
7mother, father, and child, and the maiden name of the mother on a form designated
8by the state registrar, along with the fee set forth in s. 69.22 (5), which the clerk of
9court or county child support agency shall collect.
Note: This is a technical change. 2001 Wisconsin Act 16 amended s. 69.15 (1) (b),
stats., to permit the state registrar to change information on a birth certificate if, among
other things, for a paternity action, a clerk of court or county child support agency sends
certain information to the state registrar. Prior law referred only to a clerk of court
providing such information. The bill amends s. 767.89 (2) [renumbered from s. 767.51 (2),
stats.] to incorporate that change, which was inadvertently not made in Act 16.
SB123,118,11 10(3) (b) Orders for the legal custody of and periods of physical placement with
11the child, determined in accordance with s. 767.24 767.41.
SB123,118,1612 (c) An order requiring either or both of the parents to contribute to the support
13of any child of the parties who is less than 18 years old, or any child of the parties who
14is less than 19 years old if the child is pursuing an accredited course of instruction
15leading to the acquisition of a high school diploma or its equivalent, determined in
16accordance with s. 767.25 767.511.
SB123,118,1917 (f) An order requiring either or both parties to pay or contribute to the costs of
18the guardian ad litem fees, genetic tests as provided in s. 767.48 767.84 (5), and other
19costs.
SB123,119,2 20(4) (a) (intro.) Subject to par. (b), liability for past support of the child shall be
21is limited to support for the period after the day on which the petition in the action

1under s. 767.45 767.80 is filed, unless a party shows, to the satisfaction of the court,
2all of the following:
SB123,119,6 3(6) Other applicable provisions. Sections 767.24, 767.245, 767.263, 767.265,
4767.267, 767.29, 767.293, 767.30, 767.305, 767.31, 767.32 and 767.325
767.41,
5767.43, 767.451, 767.57, 767.58, 767.59, 767.71, 767.75, 767.76, 767.77, and 767.78
,
6where applicable, shall apply to a judgment or order under this section.
SB123, s. 219 7Section 219 . 767.511 (1) (c), (1g) (title), (1j) (title), (1m) (title), (1n) (title), (2)
8(title), (3) (title) and (4) (title) of the statutes are created to read:
SB123,119,119 767.511 (1) (c) In addition to ordering child support for a child under par. (a),
10assign as a support obligation responsibility for, and direct the manner of payment
11of, the child's health care expenses under s. 767.513.
Note: Health care expenses for a child are now dealt with in a section separate
from the general child support section. (This bill renumbers current s. 767.25 (4m) and
makes it a separate section; see Sec. 104 of the bill.) The above provision, which is located
in the general child support section (renumbered s. 767.511), is intended to clarify that
an order regarding health care expenses is to be considered a support obligation. In
addition, it is intended to clarify that statutory cross-references to child support under
s. 767.511 include a child's health care expenses under s. 767.513.
SB123,119,12 12(1g) (title) Consideration of financial information.
SB123,119,13 13(1j) (title) Percentage standard generally required.
SB123,119,14 14(1m) (title) Deviation from standard; factors.
SB123,119,15 15(1n) (title) Deviation from standard; record.
SB123,119,16 16(2) (title) Separate fund or trust.
SB123,119,17 17(3) (title) Effect of physical placement violation.
SB123,119,18 18(4) (title) Age of child eligible for support.
SB123, s. 220 19Section 220. 767.513 (title), (4) (title) and (5) (title) of the statutes are created
20to read:
SB123,119,21 21767.513 (title) Child health care expenses.
SB123,120,1
1(4) (title) Health benefit plan; employer obligation.
SB123,120,2 2(5) (title) Recovery by state of 3rd party payments.
SB123, s. 221 3Section 221. 767.52 of the statutes is renumbered 767.83, and 767.83 (1), (2m)
4and (3), as renumbered, are amended to read:
SB123,120,125 767.83 (1) Generally. At the pretrial hearing, at the trial, and in any further
6other proceedings in any paternity action, any party may be represented by counsel.
7If the male respondent is indigent and the state is the petitioner under s. 767.45
8767.80 (1) (g), the petitioner is represented by a government attorney as provided in
9s. 767.45 767.80 (6), or the action is commenced on behalf of the child by an attorney
10appointed under s. 767.045 767.407 (1) (c), counsel shall be appointed for the
11respondent as provided in ch. 977, and subject to the limitations under sub. (2m),
12unless the respondent knowingly and voluntarily waives the appointment of counsel.
SB123,120,17 13(2m) When appointed representation provided. Representation by an
14attorney appointed under sub. (1) shall be provided only after the results of any
15genetic tests have been completed and only if all of the results fail to show that the
16alleged father is excluded and fail to give rise to the rebuttable presumption under
17s. 767.48 767.84 (1m) that the alleged father is the father of the child.
SB123,120,21 18(3) Appearance by state's attorney not affected. This section does not
19prevent an attorney responsible for support enforcement under s. 59.53 (6) (a) or any
20other attorney employed under s. 49.22 or 59.53 (5) from appearing in any paternity
21action as provided under s. 767.45 767.80 (6).
SB123, s. 222 22Section 222. 767.53 of the statutes is renumbered 767.853, and 767.853 (3)
23(intro.), as renumbered, is amended to read:
SB123,120,2524 767.853 (3) Past proceedings. (intro.) Subject to s. 767.19 767.13, a record of
25a past proceeding is open to public inspection if all of the following apply:
SB123, s. 223
1Section 223. 767.55 (title), (2) (title) and (3) (title) of the statutes are created
2to read:
SB123,121,3 3767.55 (title) Child support: employment-related orders.
SB123,121,4 4(2) (title) Noncustodial parent.
SB123,121,5 5(3) (title) Absent parent.
SB123, s. 224 6Section 224. 767.553 (1) (title), (4) (title) and (5) (title) of the statutes are
7created to read:
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