2023 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations › Chapter 812 - Garnishment. › 812.04 - Garnishment actions; how commenced; summons.

812.04
Garnishment actions; how commenced; summons.
(1)
Upon payment to the clerk of court of the fee prescribed in s. 814.62 (1), the clerk shall issue a garnishee summons together with sufficient copies to the plaintiff or his or her attorney; the summons form may be in blank, but must carry the court seal.
(2)
The garnishee summons shall be substantially in the following form:
STATE OF WISCONSIN
.... COURT
.... COUNTY
A. B., Plaintiff
vs.
C. D., Defendant
and
E. F., Garnishee
The State of Wisconsin, to the garnishee:
You are hereby summoned, as garnishee of the defendant, C. D., and required, within 20 days after the service of this summons and the annexed complaint upon you, exclusive of the day of service, to answer, whether you are indebted to or have in your possession or under your control any property belonging to the defendant.
IF YOU ARE INDEBTED TO THE DEFENDANT FOR PAYMENT FOR THE SALE OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, YOU ARE ORDERED TO PAY THE PRESCRIBED AMOUNT TO THE DEFENDANT. YOU ARE ORDERED TO RETAIN FROM THE BALANCE THE AMOUNT OF THE PLAINTIFF'S CLAIM AND DISBURSEMENTS, AS STATED IN THE ANNEXED COMPLAINT PENDING THE FURTHER ORDER OF THE COURT. ANY EXCESS INDEBTEDNESS SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO THE GARNISHMENT. IF YOU HAVE PROPERTY BELONGING TO THE DEFENDANT AND THE AMOUNT OF INDEBTEDNESS RETAINED IS LESS THAN THE AMOUNT CLAIMED AND DISBURSEMENTS, YOU ARE TO RETAIN THE PROPERTY PENDING THE FURTHER ORDER OF THE COURT, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 812.18 (3) OF THE WISCONSIN STATUTES. THE AMOUNT RETAINED BY YOU FOR THE PLAINTIFF'S DISBURSEMENTS MAY NOT EXCEED $40.
You are further required to serve a copy of your answer to the garnishee complaint on the undersigned attorney and to file your original answer with the clerk of this court, within the 20-day period. In case of your failure to answer, judgment will be entered against you for the amount of plaintiff's judgment against the defendant and costs, of which the defendant will also take notice.
If the property which is the subject of this garnishment action is the proceeds from the sale of crops, livestock, dairy products or another product grown or produced by a person or by his or her minor children, you must pay over to the principal defendant the appropriate amount under section 812.18 (2m) (b) of the Wisconsin Statutes.
Dated this .... day of ...., .... (year)
Clerk of .... Court
(Seal)
Attorney for Plaintiff:
....
P. O. Address
....
....
(3)
A garnishment action shall be commenced by the filing of a garnishee summons and annexed complaint, except no action shall be deemed commenced as to any defendant upon whom service of authenticated copies of the summons and the complaint has not been made within 60 days after filing.
History:  Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 759, 778 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 812.04; 1977 c. 80; 1979 c. 32 s. 92 (16); 1979 c. 228, 355; 1981 c. 317; 1983 a. 92, 257, 538; 1985 a. 135; 1987 a. 221; 1993 a. 80; 1997 a. 250.
Judicial Council Committee Note, 1974: S. 812.04 (3) is amended to comport with the new rules. There are 2 modifications: the complaint need not be verified and the mode of commencement is changed to comport with s. 801.02. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1976]