813.12(5)(a)(a) The petition shall allege facts sufficient to show the following:
813.12(5)(a)1.
1. The name of the petitioner and that the petitioner is the alleged victim.
813.12(5)(a)2.
2. The name of the respondent and that the respondent is an adult.
813.12(5)(a)3.
3. That the respondent engaged in, or based on prior conduct of the petitioner and the respondent may engage in, domestic abuse of the petitioner.
813.12(5)(a)4.
4. If the petitioner knows of any other court proceeding in which the petitioner is a person affected by a court order or judgment that includes provisions regarding contact with the respondent, any of the following that are known by the petitioner:
813.12(5)(a)4.c.
c. The types of provisions regarding contact between the petitioner and respondent.
813.12(5)(am)
(am) The petition shall request that the respondent be restrained from committing acts of domestic abuse against the petitioner, that the respondent be ordered to avoid the petitioner's residence, or that the respondent be ordered to avoid contacting the petitioner or causing any person other than the respondent's attorney to contact the petitioner unless the petitioner consents to the contact in writing, or any combination of these requests.
813.12(5)(b)
(b) The clerk of circuit court shall provide the simplified forms provided under s.
49.165 (3) (c) to help a person file a petition.
813.12(5)(c)
(c) A judge or circuit court commissioner shall accept any legible petition for a temporary restraining order or injunction.
813.12(5)(d)
(d) A petition may be prepared and filed by the person who alleges that he or she has been the subject of domestic abuse or by the guardian of an individual adjudicated incompetent in this state who has been the subject of domestic abuse.
813.12(5b)
(5b)
Elder person petitioner. If the petitioner is an elder person, the court shall permit the petitioner to participate in hearings under this section by telephone or live audiovisual means.
813.12(5g)
(5g)
Stipulation. If the parties enter into a stipulation to convert a petition under this section to a petition for a temporary restraining order or injunction under s.
813.125, the court may not approve that stipulation unless all of the following occur:
813.12(5g)(a)
(a) Either or both parties submit an oral request on the record for the conversion explaining why the conversion of the petition is requested.
813.12(5g)(b)
(b) The court addresses the petitioner personally and determines that the petitioner entered into the stipulation voluntarily and with an understanding of the differences between the orders issued under subs.
(4) and
(4m) and s.
813.125 (4) and
(4m).
813.12(5m)
(5m)
Confidentiality of victim's address. The petition under sub.
(5) and the court order under sub.
(3),
(4), or
(4g) may not disclose the address of the alleged victim. The petitioner shall provide the clerk of circuit court with the petitioner's address when he or she files a petition under this section. The clerk shall maintain the petitioner's address in a confidential manner.
813.12(6)(a)(a) If an order is issued under this section, upon request by the petitioner the court or circuit court commissioner shall order the sheriff to accompany the petitioner and assist in placing him or her in physical possession of his or her residence.
813.12(6)(ag)1.1. The clerk of the circuit court shall forward to the sheriff any temporary restraining order, injunction, or other document or notice that must be served on the respondent under this section and the sheriff shall assist the petitioner in executing or serving the temporary restraining order, injunction, or other document or notice on the respondent. The petitioner may, at his or her expense, elect to use a private server to effect service.
813.12(6)(ag)2.
2. If the petitioner elects service by the sheriff, the clerk of circuit court shall provide a form supplied by the sheriff to the petitioner that allows the petitioner to provide information about the respondent that may be useful to the sheriff in effecting service. The clerk shall forward the completed form to the sheriff. The clerk shall maintain the form provided under this subdivision in a confidential manner.
813.12(6)(am)1.1. If an injunction is issued or extended under sub.
(4) or if a tribal injunction is filed under s.
813.128 (3g), the clerk of the circuit court shall notify the department of justice of the injunction and shall provide the department of justice with information concerning the period during which the injunction is in effect and information necessary to identify the respondent for purposes of responding to a request under s.
165.63 or for purposes of a firearms restrictions record search under s.
175.35 (2g) (c) or a background check under s.
175.60 (9g) (a).
813.12(6)(am)2.
2. Except as provided in subd.
3., the department of justice may disclose information that it receives under subd.
1. only to respond to a request under s.
165.63 or as part of a firearms restrictions record search under s.
175.35 (2g) (c) or a background check under s.
175.60 (9g) (a).
813.12(6)(am)3.
3. The department of justice shall disclose any information that it receives under subd.
1. to a law enforcement agency when the information is needed for law enforcement purposes.
813.12(6)(b)
(b) Within one business day after an order or injunction is issued, extended, modified or vacated under this section, the clerk of the circuit court shall send a copy of the order or injunction, or of the order extending, modifying or vacating an order or injunction, to the sheriff or to any other local law enforcement agency which is the central repository for orders and injunctions and which has jurisdiction over the petitioner's premises.
813.12(6)(c)
(c) No later than 24 hours after receiving the information under par.
(b), the sheriff or other appropriate local law enforcement agency under par.
(b) shall enter the information concerning an order or injunction issued, extended, modified or vacated under this section into the transaction information for management of enforcement system. The sheriff or other appropriate local law enforcement agency shall also make available to other law enforcement agencies, through a verification system, information on the existence and status of any order or injunction issued under this section. The information need not be maintained after the order or injunction is no longer in effect.
813.12(6)(d)
(d) The issuance of an order under s.
813.12 (3) or
(4) is enforceable despite the existence of any other criminal or civil order restricting or prohibiting contact.
813.12(6)(e)
(e) A law enforcement agency and a clerk of circuit court may use electronic transmission to facilitate the exchange of documents under this section. Any person who uses electronic transmission shall ensure that the electronic transmission does not allow unauthorized disclosure of the documents transmitted.
813.12(7)(am)(am) A law enforcement officer shall arrest and take a person into custody if all of the following occur:
813.12(7)(am)1.
1. A petitioner under sub.
(5) presents the law enforcement officer with a copy of a court order issued under sub.
(3) or
(4), or the law enforcement officer determines that such an order exists through communication with appropriate authorities.
813.12(7)(am)2.
2. The law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe that the person has violated the court order issued under sub.
(3) or
(4) by any circuit court in this state.
813.12(7)(c)
(c) A respondent who does not appear at a hearing at which the court orders an injunction under sub.
(4) but who has been served with a copy of the petition and notice of the time for hearing under sub.
(4) (a) 2. has constructive knowledge of the existence of the injunction and shall be arrested for violation of the injunction regardless of whether he or she has been served with a copy of the injunction.
813.12(7m)
(7m)
Transcripts. The judge or circuit court commissioner shall record the temporary restraining order or injunction hearing upon the request of the petitioner.
813.12(8)(a)(a) Whoever knowingly violates a temporary restraining order or injunction issued under sub.
(3) or
(4) shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.
813.12(8)(b)
(b) The petitioner does not violate the court order under sub.
(3) or
(4) if he or she admits into his or her residence a person ordered under sub.
(3) or
(4) to avoid that residence.
813.12(9)
(9)
Notice of full faith and credit. An order or injunction issued under sub.
(3) or
(4) shall include a statement that the order or injunction may be accorded full faith and credit in every civil or criminal court of the United States, civil or criminal courts of any other state and Indian tribal courts to the extent that such courts may have personal jurisdiction over nontribal members.
813.12 History
History: 1983 a. 204,
540;
1985 a. 29,
135;
1989 a. 193;
1993 a. 319;
1995 a. 71,
306;
1999 a. 162;
2001 a. 61,
109;
2003 a. 321;
2005 a. 387;
2005 a. 443 s.
265;
2007 a. 20,
124;
2009 a. 262;
2011 a. 35,
266;
2013 a. 223,
311,
321,
322;
2015 a. 109,
195,
253,
349,
352,
353;
2021 a. 76,
256.
813.12 Annotation
Sub. (3) (am) provides for a limited-term injunction as an alternative to a restraining order under sub. (3) (a) when three stated conditions are met. Johnson v. Miller,
157 Wis. 2d 482,
459 N.W.2d 886 (Ct. App. 1990).
813.12 Annotation
A person convicted of violating a harassment injunction may not collaterally attack the validity of the injunction in a criminal prosecution to enforce the injunction. State v. Bouzel,
168 Wis. 2d 642,
484 N.W.2d 362 (Ct. App. 1992).
813.12 Annotation
This section does not authorize granting an injunction without filing a formal petition, thus precluding an injunction against the petitioner. Laluzerne v. Stange,
200 Wis. 2d 179,
546 N.W.2d 182 (Ct. App. 1996),
95-1718.
813.12 Annotation
The definition of “household member" requires a continuous residential living arrangement between the parties. They need not reside in only one place, but must reside together on a continuous basis. Petrowsky v. Krause,
223 Wis. 2d 32,
588 N.W.2d 318 (Ct. App. 1998),
97-2205.
813.12 Annotation
It is error to grant an injunction under this section for other than the length of time requested or to refuse to order the sheriff to place the petitioner in possession of his or her residence. The requirement that the injunction granted be for the length of time requested is constitutional. Hayen v. Hayen,
2000 WI App 29,
232 Wis. 2d 447,
606 N.W.2d 606,
99-1361.
813.12 Annotation
Only a true threat is constitutionally punishable under statutes criminalizing threats. The constitutional boundaries for a true threat apply in domestic abuse injunction cases under this section. Acts underlying an earlier vacated domestic abuse injunction were relevant to a prediction of what the defendant would do if the domestic abuse injunction were not granted, and whether recent threats were true threats. Wittig v. Hoffart,
2005 WI App 198,
287 Wis. 2d 353,
704 N.W.2d 415,
04-1653.
813.12 Annotation
If the initial injunction was for less than four years, but expired, and the petitioner states that an extension is necessary to protect him or her, sub. (4) (c) 2. requires the court to extend the injunction for up to four years from the date the injunction was first granted. Because the court is required to extend an injunction under the proper circumstances, even after it has expired, it follows that a court has the authority and jurisdiction to grant the extension request after the injunction has expired. Switzer v. Switzer,
2006 WI App 10,
289 Wis. 2d 83,
709 N.W.2d 871,
04-2943.
813.12 Annotation
Applicable law allows electronic transmission of certain confidential case information among clerks of circuit court, county sheriff's offices, and the Department of Justice through electronic interfaces involving the Department of Administration's Office of Justice Assistance, specifically including electronic data messages regarding a domestic abuse protection order issued under this section in an action that the court has ordered sealed.
OAG 2-10.
813.12 Annotation
Construing this section to include a requirement of showing imminent danger, it is constitutional. Blazel v. Bradley,
698 F. Supp. 756 (1988).
813.12 Annotation
Using Restraining Orders to Protect Elder Victims. Meuer. Wis. Law. Sept. 2000.
813.12 Annotation
Trouble Ahead: Wisconsin's New Domestic Abuse Laws. Birdsall. Wis. Law. Feb. 2004.
813.122
813.122
Child abuse restraining orders and injunctions. 813.122(1)(b)
(b) “Child" means any person under 18 years of age.
813.122(1)(c)
(c) “Child victim" means the child who is the victim or the alleged victim of abuse.
813.122(1)(d)
(d) “Child victim advocate" means any person who counsels child victims, assists child victims in coping with the impact of the crime or otherwise acts in support of child victims.
813.122(1)(e)
(e) “Household pet" means a domestic animal that is not a farm animal, as defined in s.
951.01 (3), that is kept, owned, or cared for by a child victim or by a family member or a household member of a child victim.
813.122(2)
(2)
Commencement of action and response. 813.122(2)(a)
(a) No action under this section may be commenced by complaint and summons. An action under this section may be commenced only by a petition described under sub.
(6) (a). The action commences with service of the petition upon the respondent if a copy of the petition is filed before service or promptly after service. Notwithstanding s.
803.01 (3) (a), the child victim or a parent, stepparent or legal guardian of the child victim may be a petitioner under this section. Section
813.06 does not apply to an action under this section. The respondent may respond to the petition either in writing before or at the hearing on the issuance of the injunction or orally at that hearing. The court shall inform the petitioner in writing that, if the petitioner chooses to have the documents in the action served by the sheriff, the petitioner should contact the sheriff to verify the proof of service of the petition.
813.122(2)(b)
(b) When the respondent is served with the petition under this subsection, the person who serves the respondent shall also provide the respondent with all of the following information:
813.122(2)(b)1.
1. Notice of the requirements and penalties under s.
941.29 and notice of any similar applicable federal laws and penalties.
813.122(2)(b)2.
2. An explanation of s.
813.1285, including the procedures for surrendering a firearm and the circumstances listed under s.
813.1285 under which a respondent must appear at a hearing to surrender firearms.
813.122(3)(a)(a) Procedure for an action under this section is in 2 parts. First, if the petitioner requests a temporary restraining order, the court or circuit court commissioner shall issue or refuse to issue that order. Second, the court shall hold a hearing under sub.
(5) on whether to issue an injunction, which is the final relief. If the court or circuit court commissioner issues a temporary restraining order, the order shall set forth the date for the hearing on an injunction. If the court or circuit court commissioner does not issue a temporary restraining order, the date for the hearing shall be set upon motion by either party.
813.122(3)(b)1m.1m. Except as provided in subd.
2m., the court or circuit court commissioner, on its or his or her own motion or the motion of any party, may order that a guardian ad litem be appointed for the child victim in accordance with s.
48.235.
813.122(3)(b)2m.
2m. The court or circuit court commissioner shall appoint a guardian ad litem if the respondent is a parent of the child.
813.122(3)(bp)
(bp) All persons, other than the parties, their attorneys, witnesses, child victim advocates, service representatives, as defined in s.
895.45 (1) (c), court personnel and any guardian ad litem, shall be excluded from any hearing under this section.
813.122(3)(bq)
(bq) Any record of an action under this section is confidential and is available only to the parties, their attorneys, any guardian ad litem, court personnel, the child victim, law enforcement, and any applicable court upon appeal, except that a record may be available to any other person as required by law, as necessary to effect service, or upon a court order for good cause shown.
813.122(3)(c)
(c) An action under this section may pertain to more than one child victim.
813.122(4)(a)
(a) A judge or circuit court commissioner shall issue a temporary restraining order ordering the respondent to avoid the child victim's residence or any premises temporarily occupied by the child victim or both, to avoid contacting or causing any person other than a party's attorney to contact the child victim unless the petitioner consents in writing and the judge or circuit court commissioner agrees that the contact is in the best interests of the child victim, to refrain from removing, hiding, damaging, harming, or mistreating, or disposing of, a household pet, and to allow the petitioner or a family member or household member of the petitioner acting on his or her behalf to retrieve a household pet, if all of the following occur:
813.122(4)(a)1.
1. The petitioner submits to the judge or circuit court commissioner a petition alleging the elements set forth under sub.
(6) (a).
813.122(4)(a)2.
2. The judge or circuit court commissioner finds reasonable grounds to believe that the respondent has engaged in, or based on prior conduct of the child victim and the respondent may engage in, abuse of the child victim.
813.122(4)(b)
(b) Notice need not be given to the respondent before issuing a temporary restraining order under this subsection. A temporary restraining order may be entered only against the respondent named in the petition.
813.122(4)(c)
(c) The temporary restraining order is in effect until a hearing is held on issuance of an injunction under sub.
(5), except that the court may extend the temporary restraining order under s.
813.1285. A judge shall hold a hearing on issuance of an injunction within 14 days after the temporary restraining order is issued, unless the time is extended upon the written consent of the parties, extended under s.
801.58 (2m), or extended once for 14 days upon a finding that the respondent has not been served with a copy of the temporary restraining order although the petitioner has exercised due diligence. A judge or court commissioner may not extend the temporary restraining order in lieu of ruling on the issuance of an injunction.
813.122(5)(a)(a) A judge may grant an injunction ordering the respondent to avoid the child victim's residence or any premises temporarily occupied by the child victim or both, to avoid contacting or causing any person other than a party's attorney to contact the child victim unless the petitioner consents to that contact in writing and the judge agrees that the contact is in the best interests of the child victim, to refrain from removing, hiding, damaging, harming, or mistreating, or disposing of, a household pet, and to allow the petitioner or a family member or household member of the petitioner acting on his or her behalf to retrieve a household pet, if all of the following occur:
813.122(5)(a)2.
2. The petitioner serves upon the respondent a copy of the petition and notice of the time for hearing on the issuance of the injunction, or the respondent serves upon the petitioner notice of the time for hearing on the issuance of the injunction.
813.122(5)(a)3.
3. After hearing, the judge finds reasonable grounds to believe that the respondent has engaged in, or based upon prior conduct of the child victim and the respondent may engage in, abuse of the child victim.
813.122(5)(b)
(b) If the respondent is the parent of the child victim, the judge shall modify the order under par.
(a) to provide the parent reasonable visitation rights, unless the judge finds that visitation would endanger the child's physical, mental or emotional health. The judge may provide that any authorized visitation be supervised.
813.122(5)(c)
(c) The injunction may be entered only against the respondent named in the petition.
813.122(5)(d)1.1. An injunction under this subsection is effective according to its terms, but, except as provided in par.
(dm), for not more than 2 years or until the child victim attains 18 years of age, whichever occurs first.
