767.803 Determination of marital children.
767.804 Genetic test results.
767.805 Voluntary acknowledgment of paternity.
767.814 Names on pleadings after paternity determined.
767.815 Enlargement of time in a paternity proceeding.
767.82 Paternity procedures.
767.84 Genetic tests in paternity actions.
767.853 Paternity hearings and records; confidentiality.
767.855 Dismissal if adjudication not in child's best interest.
767.86 Time of first appearance.
767.863 First appearance.
767.865 Deceased respondent.
767.87 Testimony and evidence relating to paternity.
767.88 Pretrial paternity proceedings.
767.89 Paternity judgment.
767.893 Default and stipulated judgments.
767.895 Motion to reopen judgment based on statement acknowledging paternity.
Ch. 767 Note
NOTE: Chapter 767 was substantially renumbered and revised by
2005 Wis. Act 443. Explanatory notes are contained in the Act.
DEFINITIONS, SCOPE, JURISDICTION, AND
RECOGNITION OF JUDGMENTS
767.001
767.001
Definitions. In this chapter:
767.001(1)
(1) “Action affecting the family" means any of the following actions:
767.001(1)(d)
(d) Legal separation (formerly divorce from bed and board).
767.001(1)(k)
(k) Concerning periods of physical placement or visitation rights to children, including an action to relocate and reside with a child under s.
767.481.
767.001(1b)
(1b) “Court" includes the circuit court commissioner when the circuit court commissioner has been authorized by law to exercise the authority of the court or has been delegated that authority as authorized by law.
767.001(1d)
(1d) “Department" means the department of children and families.
767.001(1f)
(1f) “Divorce" means dissolution of the marriage relationship.
767.001(1g)
(1g) “Electronic communication" means time during which a parent and his or her child communicate by using communication tools such as the telephone, electronic mail, instant messaging, video conferencing or other wired or wireless technologies via the Internet, or another medium of communication.
767.001(1m)
(1m) “Genetic test" means a test that examines genetic markers present on blood cells, skin cells, tissue cells, bodily fluid cells or cells of another body material for the purpose of determining the statistical probability of an alleged father's paternity.
767.001(1s)
(1s) “Joint legal custody" means the condition under which both parties share legal custody and neither party's legal custody rights are superior, except with respect to specified decisions as set forth by the court or the parties in the final judgment or order.
767.001(2)(a)
(a) With respect to any person granted legal custody of a child, other than a county agency or a licensed child welfare agency under par.
(b), the right and responsibility to make major decisions concerning the child, except with respect to specified decisions as set forth by the court or the parties in the final judgment or order.
767.001(2)(b)
(b) With respect to the department or a county agency specified in s.
48.56 (1) or a licensed child welfare agency granted legal custody of a child, the rights and responsibilities specified under s.
48.02 (12).
767.001(2m)
(2m) “Major decisions" includes, but is not limited to, decisions regarding consent to marry, consent to enter military service, consent to obtain a motor vehicle operator's license, authorization for nonemergency health care and choice of school and religion.
767.001(5)
(5) “Physical placement" means the condition under which a party has the right to have a child physically placed with that party and has the right and responsibility to make, during that placement, routine daily decisions regarding the child's care, consistent with major decisions made by a person having legal custody.
767.001(6)
(6) “Sole legal custody" means the condition under which one party has legal custody.
767.001 Annotation
Sub. (2m) confers the right to choose a child's religion on the custodial parent. Lange v. Lange,
175 Wis. 2d 373, N.W.2d (Ct. App. 1993).
767.001 Annotation
A custodial parent's right to make major decisions for the children does not give that parent the right to decide whether the actions of the noncustodial parent are consistent with those decisions. Wood v. DeHahn,
214 Wis. 2d 221,
571 N.W.2d 186 (Ct. App. 1997),
96-3642.
767.001 Annotation
Sub. (1) (i) allows all actions to modify a judgment in an action affecting marriage to be commenced in any court having jurisdiction under s. 767.01. 68 Atty. Gen. 106.
767.001 Annotation
Family Court or Not? Raising Child Abuse Allegations Against a Parent. Kornblum & Pollack. Wis. Law. Mar. 2020.
767.005
767.005
Scope. This chapter applies to actions affecting the family.
767.005 History
History: 2005 a. 443.
767.01(1)(1)
Generally. The circuit courts have jurisdiction of all actions affecting the family and have authority to do all acts and things necessary and proper in those actions and to carry their orders and judgments into execution as prescribed in this chapter. Except as provided in subs.
(2) and
(2m), jurisdiction may be exercised as provided under ch.
801.
767.01(2)
(2)
Paternity and child support. In an action to establish paternity or to establish or enforce a child support obligation, in regard to a child who is the subject of the action, a person is subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of this state as provided in s.
769.201 (1m) or
801.05.
767.01(2m)
(2m)
Child custody. All proceedings relating to the custody of children shall comply with the requirements of ch.
822.
767.01 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See s.
765.001 for provision as to intent and construction of this chapter.
767.01 Annotation
The trial court has broad authority to enforce its family court judgments and may employ any remedy customarily available to courts of equity. It was appropriate to direct the defendant to pay the plaintiff's medical expenses when the defendant had not converted an insurance policy as ordered under a divorce decree. Rotter v. Rotter,
80 Wis. 2d 56,
257 N.W.2d 861 (1977).
767.01 Annotation
When a husband complied with the original court order to make property division installment payments, the court had no authority to order the husband to pay the wife's income tax on installments. Wright v. Wright,
92 Wis. 2d 246,
284 N.W.2d 894 (1979).
767.01 Annotation
When possession of the party's homestead was awarded by the divorce judgment to the wife to be sold upon her death with the proceeds divided between the parties, the family court and probate court had concurrent jurisdiction. Morrissette v. Morrissette,
99 Wis. 2d 467,
299 N.W.2d 590 (Ct. App. 1980).
767.01 Annotation
A circuit court does not have subject matter jurisdiction in a divorce action to determine attorney fees between an attorney and client that the attorney continues to represent in the divorce action. Stasey v. Stasey,
168 Wis. 2d 37,
483 N.W.2d 221 (1992).
767.01 Annotation
The joinder of divorce and contract actions between spouses is not required. Caulfield v. Caulfield,
183 Wis. 2d 83,
515 N.W.2d 278 (Ct. App. 1994).
767.01 Annotation
When one party to a divorce dies during the action, the court loses jurisdiction, including jurisdiction to enforce prior orders. Socha v. Socha,
183 Wis. 2d 390,
515 N.W.2d 337 (Ct. App. 1994).
767.01 Annotation
An injunction against a man, whose petition to establish himself as father of two children had been denied, to stay away from the children until they reach age 18 was within the court's power to enforce its judgments and orders. Paternity of C.A.S. & C.D.S.,
185 Wis. 2d 468,
518 N.W.2d 285 (Ct. App. 1994).
767.01 Annotation
A divorce action terminates on the death of a spouse. After the death, an order prohibiting an act in regard to marital property entered in the divorce may not be enforced under this chapter. As the parties are legally married at the time of death, the sole remedy for resolving disputes over marital property lies under s. 766.70. Socha v. Socha,
204 Wis. 2d 474,
555 N.W.2d 152 (Ct. App. 1996),
95-1641.
767.01 Annotation
A family court has jurisdiction to hear equitable claims against third parties that affect the rights of parties to a divorce, such as a claim against a third-party title holder of property claimed to actually be part of the marital estate. Zabel v. Zabel,
210 Wis. 2d 336,
565 N.W.2d 240 (Ct. App. 1997),
96-3092.
767.01 Annotation
There is no authority in this chapter to allow a name change for children in a divorce action. Jocius v. Jocius,
218 Wis. 2d 103,
580 N.W.2d 708 (Ct. App. 1998),
96-2746.
767.01 Annotation
A cause of action under s. 766.70 requires that the complained of conduct arise as a result of the marital relationship and a breach of the good faith duty between spouses. Once a divorce is commenced, the claim must be resolved in divorce court. A cause of action between spouses arising outside the marital relationship, such as a stockbroker-client relationship, does not fall within s. 766.70 and may be maintained independent of the divorce. Knafelc v. Dain Bosworth, Inc.,
224 Wis. 2d 346,
591 N.W.2d 611 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-0067.
767.01 Annotation
Chapter 822, the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act, does not, in and of itself, establish a sufficient statutory basis for personal jurisdiction over a nonresident defendant in a paternity proceeding. Paula M.S. v. Neal A.R.,
226 Wis. 2d 79,
593 N.W.2d 486 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-1158.
767.041
767.041
Full faith and credit; comity. 767.041(1)(a)
(a) Full faith and credit shall be given in all courts of this state to a judgment in any action affecting the family, except an action relating to child custody, by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state, territory, or possession of the United States, when both spouses personally appear or when the respondent has been personally served. Full faith and credit shall also be given in all courts of this state to the amount of arrearages owed for nonpayment or late payment of a child support, family support, or maintenance payment under an order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction in another state, territory, or possession of the United States. A court in this state may not adjust the amount of arrearages owed except as provided in s.
767.59 (1m).
767.041(1)(b)
(b) Full faith and credit shall be given in all courts of this state to a determination of paternity made by any other state, whether established through voluntary acknowledgment or an administrative or judicial process.
767.041(2)
(2)
Actions in courts of foreign countries. Any court of this state may recognize a judgment in any action affecting the family involving Wisconsin domiciliaries, except an action relating to child custody, by a court of competent jurisdiction in a foreign country, in accordance with the principles of international comity.
767.041(3)
(3)
Child custody actions. All matters relating to the effect of the judgment of another court concerning child custody are governed by ch.
822.
767.041 History
History: 1977 c. 105;
1979 c. 32 s.
50;
1979 c. 352 s.
39; Stats. 1979 s. 767.21;
1989 a. 212;
1993 a. 481;
2005 a. 443 s.
82; Stats. 2005 s. 767.041.
767.041 Annotation
Full faith and credit is not applicable when a decree or judgment is obtained in a jurisdiction outside of the United States. Estate of Steffke,
65 Wis. 2d 199,
222 N.W.2d 628.
