CHAPTER 812
GARNISHMENT
SUBCHAPTER I
GARNISHMENT OF PROPERTY
OTHER THAN EARNINGS
812.01 Commencement of garnishment.
812.02 Garnishment before and after judgment.
812.04 Garnishment actions; how commenced; summons.
812.05 Garnishee complaint before and after judgment; several garnishees.
812.06 Garnishee fees, costs.
812.07 Service on garnishee and defendant.
812.13 Payments by garnishee; releases.
812.14 Answer conclusive if no reply by plaintiff; procedure following reply.
812.15 Defendant or garnishee may defend both actions.
812.16 Principal action tried first; judgment.
812.18 Liability of garnishee.
812.19 Nonliability as garnishee; judgment when rendered.
812.20 Action by defendant against garnishee stayed.
812.21 Release of garnishment; bond.
SUBCHAPTER II
EARNINGS GARNISHMENT
812.32 Earnings garnishment generally.
812.35 Commencement of action.
812.39 Payment to creditor.
812.40 Stipulated extension.
812.41 Garnishee liability.
812.42 Garnishment of earnings of public officers and employees.
812.43 Retaliation by garnishee for earnings garnishment forbidden.
GARNISHMENT OF PROPERTY
OTHER THAN EARNINGS
Subch. I of ch. 812 Note
NOTE: 1993 Wis. Act 80, which affected subch. I and created subch. II, contains extensive judicial council notes.
812.01
812.01
Commencement of garnishment. 812.01(1)
(1) Any creditor may proceed against any person who is indebted to or has any property in his or her possession or under his or her control belonging to such creditor's debtor or which is subject to satisfaction of an obligation described under
s. 766.55 (2), as prescribed in this subchapter. "Plaintiff" as used in this subchapter includes a judgment creditor and "defendant", a judgment debtor or the spouse or former spouse of a judgment debtor if the judgment is rendered in connection with an obligation described under
s. 766.55 (2).
812.01(2)
(2) The procedures in this subchapter govern all garnishments except the garnishment of earnings. Except as otherwise provided in this subchapter, the general rules of practice and procedure in
chs. 750 to
758 and
801 to
847 apply to actions under this subchapter.
812.01(2a)
(2a) A garnishment action is a separate action.
812.01(3)
(3) An individual may commence a garnishment action in the individual's own person and in the individual's own behalf, or by an attorney licensed to practice in the courts of this state, but not otherwise. Garnishment actions on behalf of any other party shall be commenced only by attorneys licensed to practice in the courts of this state.
812.01(4)
(4) No garnishment action shall be brought to recover the price or value of alcohol beverages sold at retail.
812.01 History
History: Sup. Ct. Order,
67 Wis. 2d 585, 759 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 812.01;
1981 c. 79 s.
17;
1985 a. 37;
1993 a. 80,
486.
812.01 Annotation
The doctrine of marshaling assets is discussed. Moser Paper Co. v. North Shore Pub. Co.
83 Wis. 2d 852,
266 N.W.2d 411 (1978).
812.01 Annotation
To be subject to garnishment, a debt must be owing absolutely at the time of the service of process, even if payable later. When the question of indebtedness depends entirely upon future contingencies, there is no liability. Hometown Bank v. Acuity Insurance, 2008 WI App 48,
308 Wis. 2d 503,
748 N.W.2d 203,
07-1048.
812.01 Annotation
Notwithstanding sub. (2), procedures in ch. 799 are used in small claims garnishment actions. Wisconsin Natural Gas Co. v. Kletsch,
95 Wis. 2d 691,
291 N.W.2d 640 (Ct. App. 1980).
812.01 Annotation
The state is immune from suit in any garnishment action not involving a state employee or officer.
77 Atty. Gen. 17.
812.01 Annotation
Garnishment of corporate bank accounts must comply with due process protections of Fuentes and Sniadach. North Georgia Finishing, Inc. v. Di-Chem, Inc.
419 U.S. 601 (1975).
812.01 Annotation
A proposal for monitoring the impact of increased wage garnishment exemptions under the Wisconsin consumer act. 1974 WLR 466.
812.02
812.02
Garnishment before and after judgment. 812.02(1)
(1) A plaintiff may commence a garnishment action at any time after:
