Wis. Stat. § 813.123 — WI Code / Chapter 813 / Section 813.123
Restraining orders and injunctions for individuals at risk.
Status: in_force

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Abuse” has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (a) .

(ae) “Adult at risk” has the meaning given in s. 55.01 (1e) .

(am) “Adult-at-risk agency” has the meaning given in s. 55.01 (1f) .

(b) “Bodily harm” has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (aj) .

(br) “Caregiver” has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (an) .

(cg) “Elder adult at risk” has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (br) .

(d) “False representation” includes a promise that is made with the intent not to fulfill the promise.

(dm) “Financial exploitation” has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (ed) .

(e) “Great bodily harm” has the meaning given in s. 939.22 (14) .

(eg) “Harassment” has the meaning given in s. 813.125 (1) (am) 4.

(ek) “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 an individual at risk or an elder adult at risk or by a family member or a household member of an individual at risk or an elder adult at risk.

(ep) “Individual at risk” means an elder adult at risk or an adult at risk.

(fm) “Mistreatment of an animal” means cruel treatment of any animal owned by or in service to an individual at risk.

(g) “Neglect” has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (f) .

(gr) “Self-neglect” has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (g) .

(gs) “Stalking” means engaging in a course of conduct, as defined in s. 940.32 (1) (a) .

(2) Commencement of action and response.

(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) . 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. The individual at risk, any person acting on behalf of an individual at risk, an elder-adult-at-risk agency, or an adult-at-risk agency may be a petitioner under this section. If the petition is filed by a person other than the individual at risk, the petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition on the individual at risk. 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.

(b) The court may go forward with a petition filed under sub. (6) if the individual at risk has been adjudicated incompetent under ch. 880 , 2003 stats., or ch. 54 , notwithstanding an objection by an individual at risk who is the subject of the petition, or an objection by the guardian of the individual at risk.

(3) General procedure.

(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.

(b) The court or circuit court commissioner, on its or his or her own motion or the motion of any party, shall order that a guardian ad litem be appointed for the individual at risk, if the petition under sub. (6) was filed by a person other than the individual at risk, and may order that a guardian ad litem be appointed in other instances when justice so requires.

(c) The court or circuit court commissioner, on its or his or her own motion or the motion of any party, may order any of the following:

1. That all persons, other than the individual at risk, the parties, their attorneys, a representative of the adult-at-risk agency or elder-adult-at-risk agency, witnesses, court personnel, and any guardian or any guardian ad litem, be excluded from any hearing under this section.

2. That access to any record of an action under this section be available only to the individual at risk, the parties, their attorneys, any guardian or any guardian ad litem, the adult-at-risk agency or elder-adult-at-risk agency, court personnel, and, upon appeal, any applicable court.

(4) Temporary restraining order.

(a) Unless the individual at risk, guardian, or guardian ad litem consents in writing and the judge or circuit court commissioner agrees that the contact is in the best interests of the individual at risk, a judge or circuit court commissioner shall issue a temporary restraining order, as specified in par. (ar) , if all of the following occur:

1. The petitioner submits to the judge or circuit court commissioner a petition alleging the elements set forth under sub. (6) .

2. The judge or circuit court commissioner finds reasonable grounds to believe any of the following:

a. That the respondent has interfered with or, based on prior conduct of the respondent, may interfere with an investigation of the individual at risk, the delivery of protective services to or a protective placement of the individual at risk under ch. 55 , or the delivery of services to an elder adult at risk under s. 46.90 (5m) ; and that the interference complained of, if continued, would make it difficult to determine whether abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect has occurred, is occurring, or may recur.

b. That the respondent engaged in or threatened to engage in the abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, harassment, or stalking of an individual at risk or the mistreatment of an animal.

(ar) A temporary restraining order issued under par. (a) shall order the respondent to do one or more of the following:

1. Avoid interference with an investigation of the elder adult at risk under s. 46.90 or the adult at risk under s. 55.043 , the delivery of protective services to or a protective placement of the individual at risk under ch. 55 , or the delivery of services to the elder adult at risk under s. 46.90 (5m) .

2. Cease engaging in or threatening to engage in the abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, harassment, or stalking of an individual at risk or mistreatment of an animal.

2m. Refrain from removing, hiding, damaging, harming, or mistreating, or disposing of, a household pet and allow the individual at risk or a guardian, guardian ad litem, family member, or household member of the individual at risk acting on his or her behalf to retrieve a household pet.

3. Avoid the residence of the individual at risk or any other location temporarily occupied by the individual at risk, or both.

4. Avoid contacting or causing any person other than a party’s attorney or a law enforcement officer to contact the individual at risk.

5. Engage in any other appropriate remedy not inconsistent with the remedies requested in the petition.

(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.

(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.

(5) Injunction.

(a) Unless the individual at risk, guardian, or guardian ad litem consents in writing to a contact and the judge agrees that the contact is in the best interests of the individual at risk, a judge may grant an injunction ordering the respondent as specified in par. (ar) , if all of the following occur:

1. The petitioner files a petition alleging the elements set forth under sub. (6) .

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. The notice served under this subdivision shall inform the respondent that, if the judge or circuit court commissioner issues an injunction, the judge or circuit court commissioner may also order the respondent not to possess a firearm while the injunction is in effect. The person who serves the respondent with the notice shall also provide the respondent with all of the following information:

a. Notice of the requirements and penalties under s. 941.29 and notice of any similar applicable federal laws and penalties.

b. 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.

c. A firearm possession form developed under s. 813.1285 (5) (a) , with instructions for completing and returning the form.

3. After hearing, the judge finds reasonable cause to believe any of the following:

a. That the respondent has interfered with or, based upon prior conduct of the respondent, may interfere with an investigation of the elder adult at risk under s. 46.90 or the adult at risk under s. 55.043 and that the interference complained of, if continued, would make it difficult to determine if abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, harassment, or stalking of an individual at risk or mistreatment of an animal is occurring or may recur.

b. That the respondent has interfered with the delivery of protective services to or a protective placement of the individual at risk under ch. 55 after the offer of protective services or protective placement has been made and the individual at risk or his or her guardian, if any, has consented to receipt of the protective services or protective placement; or that the respondent has interfered with the delivery of services to an elder adult at risk under s. 46.90 (5m) .

c. That the respondent has engaged in or threatened to engage in the abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, harassment, or stalking of an individual at risk or the mistreatment of an animal.

(ar) An injunction granted under par. (a) shall order the respondent to do one or more of the following:

1. Avoid interference with an investigation of the elder adult at risk under s. 46.90 or the adult at risk under s. 55.043 , the delivery of protective services to or a protective placement of the individual at risk under ch. 55 , or the delivery of services to the elder adult at risk under s. 46.90 (5m) .

2. Cease engaging in or threatening to engage in the abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, harassment, or stalking of an individual at risk or the mistreatment of an animal.

2m. Refrain from removing, hiding, damaging, harming, or mistreating, or disposing of, a household pet and allow the individual at risk or a guardian, guardian ad litem, family member, or household member of the individual at risk acting on his or her behalf to retrieve a household pet.

3. Avoid the residence of the individual at risk or any other location temporarily occupied by the individual at risk, or both.

4. Avoid contacting or causing any person other than a party’s attorney or a law enforcement officer to contact the individual at risk.

5. Any other appropriate remedy not inconsistent with the remedies requested in the petition.