767.33(3)(b)
(b) The stipulation form must be signed by all parties, including the state if the state is a real party in interest under
s. 767.075 (1), and filed with the court. If the stipulation is approved, the order shall be signed by a judge or circuit court commissioner and implemented in the same manner as an order for a revision under
s. 767.32. An adjustment under this subsection shall be effective as of the date on which the order is signed by the judge or circuit court commissioner.
767.33(4)(a)(a) Any party, including the state if the state is a real party in interest under
s. 767.075 (1), may file a motion, petition, or order to show cause for implementation of an annual adjustment under this section if any of the following applies:
767.33(4)(a)2.
2. The payer's income changes, but a party refuses to sign the stipulation for an adjustment in the amount of child or family support.
767.33(4)(b)
(b) If the court or circuit court commissioner determines after a hearing that an adjustment should be made, the court or circuit court commissioner shall enter an order adjusting the child or family support payments by the amount determined by the court or circuit court commissioner, subject to
sub. (1) (b). An adjustment under this subsection may not take effect before the date on which the party responding to the motion, petition, or order to show cause received notice of the action under this subsection.
767.33(4)(c)
(c) Notwithstanding
par. (b), the court or circuit court commissioner may direct that all or part of the adjustment not take effect until such time as the court or circuit court commissioner directs, if any of the following applies:
767.33(4)(c)1.
1. The payee was seeking an adjustment and the payer establishes that extraordinary circumstances beyond his or her control prevent fulfillment of the adjusted child or family support obligation.
767.33(4)(c)2.
2. The payer was seeking an adjustment and the payee establishes that the payer voluntarily and unreasonably reduced his or her income below his or her earning capacity.
767.33(4)(c)3.
3. The payer was seeking an adjustment and the payee establishes that the adjustment would be unfair to the child.
767.33(4)(d)
(d) If in an action under this subsection the court or circuit court commissioner determines that a party has unreasonably failed to provide the information required under
sub. (1) (c) or to provide the information on a timely basis, or unreasonably failed or refused to sign a stipulation for an annual adjustment, the court or circuit court commissioner may award to the aggrieved party actual costs, including service costs, any costs attributable to time missed from employment, the cost of travel to and from court, and reasonable attorney fees.
767.33(5)(a)(a) Nothing in this section affects a party's right to file at any time a motion, petition, or order to show cause under
s. 767.32 for revision of a judgment or order with respect to an amount of child or family support.
767.33(5)(b)
(b) Nothing in this section affects a party's right to move the court for a finding of contempt of court or for remedial sanctions under
ch. 785 if the other party unreasonably fails to provide or disclose information required under this section or unreasonably fails or refuses to sign a stipulation for an annual adjustment.
767.37
767.37
Effect of judgment. 767.37(1)(a)(a) In any action affecting the family, if the court orders maintenance payments or other allowances for a party or children or retains jurisdiction in such matters, the written judgment shall include a provision that disobedience of the court order with respect to the same is punishable under
ch. 785 by commitment to the county jail or house of correction until such judgment is complied with and the costs and expenses of the proceedings are paid or until the party committed is otherwise discharged, according to law. The written judgment in any action affecting the family shall include the social security numbers of the parties and of any child of the parties. The findings of fact and conclusions of law and the written judgment shall be drafted by the attorney for the moving party, and shall be submitted to the court and filed with the clerk of the court within 30 days after judgment is granted; but if the respondent has been represented by counsel, the findings, conclusions and judgment shall first be submitted to respondent's counsel for approval and if the circuit court commissioner has appeared at the trial of the action, such papers shall also be sent to the circuit court commissioner for approval. After any necessary approvals are obtained, the findings of fact, conclusions of law and judgment shall be submitted to the court. Final stipulations of the parties may be appended to the judgment and incorporated by reference therein.
767.37(1)(c)
(c) At the time of filing any judgment for an annulment, divorce or legal separation, the attorney for the moving party shall present to the clerk of court 2 true copies thereof in addition to the original judgment, and until such copies are presented the clerk may refuse to accept such judgment for filing. After the judgment is filed, the clerk shall mail a copy forthwith to each party to the action at the last-known address, and the court record shall show such mailing.
767.37(2)
(2) So far as a judgment of divorce affects the marital status of the parties the court has the power to vacate or modify the judgment for sufficient cause shown, upon its own motion, or upon the application of both parties to the action, at any time within 6 months from the granting of such judgment. No such judgment shall be vacated or modified without service of notice of motion on the office of family court commissioner. The court may direct a circuit court commissioner or appoint some other attorney, to bring appropriate proceedings for the vacation of the judgment. The compensation of the circuit court commissioner when not on a salaried basis or other attorney for performing such services shall be at the rate of $50 per day, which shall be paid out of the county treasury upon order of the presiding judge and the certificate of the clerk of the court. If the judgment is vacated it shall restore the parties to the marital relation that existed before the granting of such judgment. If after vacation of the judgment either of the parties brings an action in this state for divorce against the other the court may order the petitioner in such action to reimburse the county the amount paid by it to the circuit court commissioner or other attorney in connection with such vacation proceedings. Whenever a judgment of divorce is set aside under this subsection, the court shall order the record in the action impounded without regard to
s. 767.19; and thereafter neither the record nor any part of the record shall be offered or admitted into evidence in any action or proceeding except by special order of the court of jurisdiction upon good cause shown in any paternity proceedings under this chapter or by special order of any court of record upon a showing of necessity to clear title to real estate.
767.37(3)
(3) When a judgment of divorce is granted it shall be effective immediately except as provided in
s. 765.03 (2). Every judge who grants a judgment of divorce shall inform the parties appearing in court that the judgment is effective immediately except as provided in
s. 765.03 (2).
767.37 Annotation
Sub. (2) does not authorize vacating or modifying a finding of paternity of children determined in the original divorce judgment. E. v. E.
57 Wis. 2d 436,
204 N.W.2d 503 (1973).
767.37 Annotation
Sub. (2) provides no authority for reopening a divorce judgment as it relates to a property division. Conrad v. Conrad,
92 Wis. 2d 407,
284 N.W.2d 674 (1979).
767.37 Annotation
The death of party within 6 months of a divorce judgment did not void the judgment or divest the court of jurisdiction to order property division. Roeder v. Roeder,
103 Wis. 2d 411,
308 N.W.2d 904 (Ct. App. 1981).
767.38
767.38
Judgment revoked on remarriage. When a judgment of divorce has been granted and the parties shall afterwards intermarry, the court, upon their joint application and upon satisfactory proof of such marriage, shall revoke all judgments and any orders which will not affect the right of 3rd persons and order the record impounded without regard to
s. 767.19 and neither the record nor any part of the record shall be offered or admitted into evidence in any action or proceeding except by special order of the court of jurisdiction upon good cause shown in any paternity proceedings under this chapter or by special order of any court of record upon a showing of necessity to clear title to real estate.
767.38 History
History: 1977 c. 105;
1979 c. 32 ss.
50,
92 (4);
1979 c. 352; Stats. 1979 s. 767.38.
767.39
767.39
Maintenance payments or other allowances pending appeal. 767.39(1)(1) In actions affecting the family pending in an appellate court, no allowance for suit money, counsel fees or disbursements in the court, nor for temporary maintenance payments to the spouse or the children during the pendency of the appeal will be made in the court.
767.39(2)
(2) Allowances specified in
sub. (1), if made at all, shall be made by the proper trial court upon motion made and decided after the entry of the order or judgment appealed from and prior to the return of the record to an appellate court, provided, that if the allowance is ordered before the appeal is taken the order shall be conditioned upon the taking of the appeal and shall be without effect unless and until the record is transmitted to the court of appeals.
767.39 History
History: 1975 c. 94;
1977 c. 105;
1977 c. 187 s.
89;
1979 c. 32 s.
50;
1979 c. 352 s.
39; Stats. 1979 s. 767.39; Sup. Ct. Order, 146 Wis. 2d xiii (1988).
767.40
767.40
Contempt proceedings. All contempt orders in which confinement is imposed shall be issued by a judge.
767.40 History
History: 1977 c. 323;
1979 c. 32 s.
50; Stats. 1979 s. 767.40.
767.42
767.42
Abandonment; seizure of property. 767.42(1)
(1) If a person absconds or is about to abscond from his or her children or spouse, or is about to remove permanently from the municipality in which he or she resides leaving a spouse or children, or both, chargeable or likely to become chargeable upon the public for support or neglects or refuses to support or provide for the spouse or children, the county where the spouse or children may be, by the official or agency designated to administer public assistance, may apply to the circuit court for any county in which any real or personal property of the parent or spouse is situated for a warrant to seize the property.
767.42(2)
(2) Upon due proof of the facts the court shall issue a warrant authorizing the county to seize the property of that person wherever found in the county; and they shall, respectively, be vested with all the rights and title, as limited in this section, to that property which the person had at the time of his or her departure. They shall immediately make an inventory of the property and return it with the warrant and their proceedings thereon to the circuit court. All sales and transfers of any real or personal property left in that county made by the person after the issuing of the warrant is void.
767.42(3)
(3) Upon the return the circuit court may inquire into the facts and circumstances and may confirm the seizure or discharge the same. If the seizure is confirmed, the court shall from time to time direct what part of the personal property shall be sold and how much of the proceeds of the sales and the rents and profits of the real estate shall be applied toward the maintenance of the spouse or children of the person. All such sales shall be at public auction in accordance with the laws relating to execution sales of personalty and realty as provided in
ss. 815.29 and
815.31.
767.42(4)
(4) The county shall receive the proceeds of all property so sold and the rents and profits of the real estate of such person and apply the same to the maintenance and support of the spouse or children of such person; and it shall account to the court for the moneys so received and for the application thereof from time to time.
767.42(5)
(5) If the person whose property has been seized under this section returns and supports the abandoned spouse or children or gives security to the county, with its approval, that the spouse or children shall not thereafter be chargeable to the county, the court shall discharge the warrant and order the restoration of the property seized and remaining unappropriated, or the unappropriated proceeds, after deducting the expenses of the proceedings.
767.45
767.45
Determination of paternity. 767.45(1)
(1) The following persons may bring an action or motion, including an action or motion for declaratory judgment, for the purpose of determining the paternity of a child or for the purpose of rebutting the presumption of paternity under
s. 891.405 or
891.41 (1):
767.45(1)(d)
(d) A man alleged or alleging himself to be the father of the child.
767.45(1)(e)
(e) The personal representative of a person specified under
pars. (a) to
(d) if that person has died.
767.45(1)(f)
(f) The legal or physical custodian of the child.
767.45(1)(g)
(g) This state whenever the circumstances specified in
s. 767.075 (1) apply, including the delegates of the state as specified in
sub. (6).
767.45(1)(j)
(j) A parent of a person listed under
par. (b),
(c) or
(d), if the parent is liable or is potentially liable for maintenance of a child of a dependent person under
s. 49.90 (1) (a) 2.
767.45(1)(k)
(k) In conjunction with the filing of a petition for visitation with respect to the child under
s. 767.245 (3), a parent of a person who has filed a declaration of paternal interest under
s. 48.025 with respect to the child or a parent of a person who, before April 1, 1998, signed and filed a statement acknowledging paternity under
s. 69.15 (3) (b) 3. with respect to the child.
767.45(2)
(2) Regardless of its terms, an agreement made after July 1, 1981, other than an agreement approved by the court between an alleged or presumed father and the mother or child, does not bar an action under this section. Whenever the court approves an agreement in which one of the parties agrees not to commence an action under this section, the court shall first determine whether or not the agreement is in the best interest of the child. The court shall not approve any provision waiving the right to bring an action under this section if this provision is contrary to the best interests of the child.
767.45(3)
(3) If an action under this section is brought before the birth of the child, all proceedings shall be stayed until after the birth, except that service of process, service and filing of pleadings, the first appearance and the taking of depositions to preserve testimony may be done before the birth of the child.
767.45(4)
(4) The child may be a party to any action under this section.
767.45(5)(a)(a) In this subsection, "any alleged father" includes any male who has engaged in sexual intercourse with the child's mother during a possible time of conception of the child.
767.45(5)(b)
(b) An action under this section may be joined with any other action for child support and shall be governed by the procedures specified in
s. 767.05 relating to child support, except that the title of the action shall be "In re the paternity of A.B." The petition shall state the name and date of birth of the child if born or that the mother is pregnant if the child is unborn, the name of any alleged father, whether or not an action by any of the parties to determine the paternity of the child or rebut the presumption of paternity to the child has at any time been commenced, or is pending before any judge or circuit court commissioner, in this state or elsewhere. If a paternity judgment has been rendered, or if a paternity action has been dismissed, the petition shall state the court which rendered the judgment or dismissed the action, and the date and the place the judgment was granted if known. The petition shall also give notice of a party's right to request a genetic test under
s. 49.225 or
767.48.
767.45(5m)
(5m) Except as provided in
ss. 767.458 (3),
767.465 (2) and
(2m),
767.477,
767.62 and
769.401, unless a man is presumed the child's father under
s. 891.41 (1), is adjudicated the child's father either under
s. 767.51 or by final order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction in another state or has acknowledged himself to be the child's father under
s. 767.62 (1) or a substantially similar law of another state, no order or temporary order may be entered for child support, legal custody or physical placement until the man is adjudicated the father using the procedure set forth in
ss. 767.45 to
767.60. Except as provided in
ss. 767.477,
767.62 and
769.401, the exclusive procedure for establishment of child support obligations, legal custody or physical placement rights for a man who is not presumed the child's father under
s. 891.41 (1), adjudicated the father or acknowledged under
s. 767.62 (1) or a substantially similar law of another state to be the father is by an action under
ss. 767.45 to
767.60 or under
s. 769.701. No person may waive the use of this procedure. If a presumption under
s. 891.41 (1) exists, a party denying paternity has the burden of rebutting the presumption.
767.45(6)(a)(a) The attorney responsible for support enforcement under
s. 59.53 (6) (a) shall provide the representation for the state as specified under
s. 767.075 (1) in cases brought under this section.
767.45(6)(b)
(b) The attorney under
s. 59.53 (6) (a) is the only county attorney who may provide representation when the state delegates its authority under
sub. (1) (g).
767.45(6)(c)
(c) The attorney under
s. 59.53 (6) (a) or any state attorney acting under
par. (b) may not represent the state as specified under
s. 767.075 (1) in an action under this section and at the same time act as guardian ad litem for the child or the alleged child of the party.
767.45(6m)
(6m) The attorney designated under
sub. (6) (a) shall commence an action under this section on behalf of the state within 6 months after receiving notification under
s. 69.03 (15) that no father is named on the birth certificate of a child who is a resident of the county if paternity has not been acknowledged under
s. 767.62 (1) or a substantially similar law of another state or adjudicated, except in situations under
s. 69.14 (1) (g) and
(h) and as provided by the department by rule.
767.45(6r)(a)1.
1. Give priority to matters referred under
s. 48.299 (6) (a) or
938.299 (6) (a), including priority in determining whether an action should be brought under this section and, if the determination is that such an action should be brought, priority in bringing the action and in establishing the existence or nonexistence of paternity.
767.45(6r)(a)2.
2. As soon as possible, but no later than 30 days after the date on which the referral is received, notify the court that referred the matter of one of the following:
767.45(6r)(a)2.a.
a. The date on which an action has been brought under this section or the approximate date on which such an action will be brought.
767.45(6r)(a)2.b.
b. That a determination has been made that an action should not be brought under this section or, if such a determination has not been made, the approximate date on which a determination will be made as to whether such an action should be brought.
767.45(6r)(a)3.
3. If an action is brought under this section, notify the court that referred the matter as soon as possible of a judgment or order determining the existence or nonexistence of paternity.
767.45(6r)(b)
(b) The attorney designated under
sub. (6) (a) who receives a referral under
s. 48.299 (7) or
938.299 (7) may bring an action under this section on behalf of the state and may give priority to the referral and notify the referring court in the same manner as is required under
par. (a) when a matter is referred under
s. 48.299 (6) (a) or
938.299 (6) (a).
767.45(7)
(7) The clerk of court shall provide without charge, to each person bringing an action under this section, except to the state under
sub. (1) (g) or
(6m), a document setting forth the percentage standard established by the department under
s. 49.22 (9) and listing the factors which a court may consider under
s. 767.25 (1m).
767.45 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also ch.
DWD 41, Wis. adm. code.
767.45 Annotation
Under the facts of the case, the nonbiological father was not equitably estopped from denying paternity or child support. Marriage of A. J. N. & J. M. N.
141 Wis. 2d 99,
414 N.W.2d 68 (Ct. App. 1987).
767.45 Annotation
A posthumous paternity action is allowable if it is brought by the putative father's personal representative. Le Fevre v. Schreiber,
167 Wis. 2d 733,
482 N.W.2d 904 (1992).
767.45 Annotation
A paternity action may not be used to challenge paternity previously decided in a divorce action. That paternity was not challenged in the divorce is irrelevant if it could have been litigated. Paternity of Nathan T.
174 Wis. 2d 352,
497 N.W.2d 740 (Ct. App. 1993).
767.45 Annotation
The full faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution did not bar a petition to determine paternity when a paternity decree of another state would have been subject to collateral attack in that state. Paternity of R.L.L.
176 Wis. 2d 224, N.W.2d (Ct. App. 1993).
767.45 Annotation
Because a child has a right to bring an independent action for paternity under sub. (1) (a), if the child was not a party to an earlier paternity action, it would be a violation of the child's due process rights to preclude the child from litigating the paternity issue. Mayonia M.M. v. Kieth N.
202 Wis. 2d 460,
551 N.W.2d 34 (Ct. App. 1996),
95-2838.
767.45 Annotation
An alleged father has a statutory right to a determination of paternity. A hearing to determine whether the child's best interests would be served by a paternity proceeding is not authorized by statute. Thomas M.P. v. Kimberly J.L.
207 Wis. 2d 390,
558 N.W.2d 897 (Ct. App. 1996).
767.45 Annotation
Section 893.88, limiting only an action for the establishment of paternity, does not preclude a motion for the purpose of determining paternity in a probate proceeding. DiBenedetto v. Jaskolski, 2003 WI App 70,
261 Wis. 2d 723,
661 N.W.2d 869,
01-2189.
767.45 Annotation
Construing he discretionary authority of a personal representative under sub. (1) (e) in a way that allows preventing the definitive determination of heirs would undermine the principle that property of intestate deceased persons should descend to kindred of the blood and defeat a court's responsibility under s. 863.23 that persons who are the heirs of the decedent shall be determined by the court. DiBenedetto v. Jaskolski, 2003 WI App 70,
261 Wis. 2d 723,
661 N.W.2d 869,
01-2189.
767.45 Annotation
In order for a putative biological father to have the necessary foundation for a constitutionally protected liberty interest in his putative paternity, he must have taken affirmative steps to assume his parental responsibilities for the child. Randy A. J. v. Norma I. J. 2004 WI 41,
270 Wis. 2d 384,
677 N.W.2d 630,
02-0469.
767.45 Annotation
The competing interests of finality and fairness coalesce when considering sub. (1) (h) and principles of res judicata. Res judicata and collateral estoppel are founded on principles of fundamental fairness and should not deprive a party of the opportunity to have a full and fair determination of an issue. When the record demonstrated that an adjudicated father never had an opportunity for a full and fair determination of the question of paternity, res judicata should not have barred relief. Shanee Y. v. Ronnie J. 2004 WI App 58,
271 Wis. 2d 242,
677 N.W.2d 684,
03-1228.
