LRB-4358/1
EAW:jld
2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
October 18, 2017 - Introduced by Senators Olsen, Darling, Johnson and
Marklein, cosponsored by Representatives Rodriguez, Ballweg, Billings,
Born, R. Brooks, Duchow, Knodl, Mursau, Quinn, Skowronski, C. Taylor
and Tusler. Referred to Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety.
SB474,1,3 1An Act to amend 767.461; and to create 767.34 (3), 767.41 (5m) and 767.451
2(3r) of the statutes; relating to: modifications to legal custody or physical
3placement contingent upon a future event.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill authorizes a court to approve a stipulation for modifications to legal
custody or physical placement that are contingent upon the occurrence of a specified
future event.
According to case law, a court's authority in actions affecting the family, such
as annulments, divorces, legal separations, and paternity actions, is based entirely
on the statutes, which with respect to determining legal custody and physical
placement “embody a sense of contemporaneity...." In re Marriage of Koeller v.
Koeller
, 195 Wis. 2d 660, 666 (1995). Therefore, the court lacks the authority to
include in a custody or physical placement order a prospective modification of
custody or physical placement that is contingent upon the occurrence of a future
event or a change in current conditions.
Under this bill, in an action affecting the family, the court may approve a
stipulated agreement between the parties for modifications to legal custody or
physical placement upon the occurrence of a specified future event that is reasonably
certain to occur within two years of the date of the parties' stipulation. The bill
authorizes the court to approve a stipulation for future modifications filed in an
action initially determining legal custody and physical placement, filed for the

purpose of modifying an initial order of legal custody or physical placement, or filed
in an action revising a legal custody or physical placement order.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB474,1 1Section 1. 767.34 (3) of the statutes is created to read:
SB474,2,62 767.34 (3) Approval of modifications contingent on future event. A court
3may approve a stipulation for legal custody and physical placement that includes
4modifications to legal custody or physical placement upon the occurrence of a
5specified future event that is reasonably certain to occur within 2 years of the date
6of the stipulation.
SB474,2 7Section 2. 767.41 (5m) of the statutes is created to read:
SB474,2,138 767.41 (5m) Approval of stipulation for modifications contingent on future
9event.
In making an order of legal custody under sub. (2) or (3) or physical placement
10under sub. (4), the court may approve a stipulation for modifications to legal custody
11or physical placement upon the occurrence of a specified future event that is
12reasonably certain to occur within 2 years of the date of the stipulation and
13incorporate the terms of the stipulation into the order.
SB474,3 14Section 3. 767.451 (3r) of the statutes is created to read:
SB474,2,2115 767.451 (3r) Approval of stipulation for modifications contingent on future
16event.
Notwithstanding sub. (1), in an action to modify a legal custody or physical
17placement order, the court may approve a stipulation for further modifications to
18legal custody or physical placement upon the occurrence of a specified future event
19that is reasonably certain to occur within 2 years of the date of the stipulation and
20incorporate the terms of the stipulation into any revised legal custody or physical
21placement order granted by the court.
SB474,4
1Section 4. 767.461 of the statutes is amended to read:
SB474,3,9 2767.461 Revisions agreed to by stipulation. If after an initial order is
3entered under s. 767.41 the parties agree to a modification in an order of physical
4placement or legal custody and file a stipulation with the court that specifies the
5agreed upon modification, including a modification to physical placement or legal
6custody upon the occurrence of a specified future event that is reasonably certain to
7occur within 2 years of the date of the stipulation,
the court shall incorporate the
8terms of the stipulation into a revised order of physical placement or legal custody
9unless the court finds that the modification is not in the best interest of the child.
SB474,5 10Section 5 . Initial applicability.
SB474,3,1411 (1) The treatment of sections 767.34 (3), 767.41 (5m), and 767.451 (3r) of the
12statutes first applies to actions or proceedings, including actions or proceedings to
13modify a judgment or order previously granted, that are commenced on the effective
14date of this subsection.
SB474,3,1615 (2) The treatment of section 767.461 of the statutes first applies to stipulations
16filed with the court on the effective date of this subsection.
SB474,3,1717 (End)
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