2023 Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations › Chapter 813 - Injunctions, ne exeat and receivers. › 813.12 - Domestic abuse restraining orders and injunctions.

813.12
Domestic abuse restraining orders and injunctions.
(1)
Definitions. In this section:
(ad)
“Caregiver" means an individual who is a provider of in-home or community care to an individual through regular and direct contact.
(ag)
“Dating relationship" means a romantic or intimate social relationship between 2 adult individuals but “dating relationship" does not include a casual relationship or an ordinary fraternization between 2 individuals in a business or social context. A court shall determine if a dating relationship existed by considering the length of the relationship, the type of the relationship, and the frequency of the interaction between the adult individuals involved in the relationship.
(am)
“Domestic abuse" means any of the following engaged in by an adult family member or adult household member against another adult family member or adult household member, by an adult caregiver against an adult who is under the caregiver's care, by an adult against his or her adult former spouse, by an adult against an adult with whom the individual has or had a dating relationship, or by an adult against an adult with whom the person has a child in common:
1.
Intentional infliction of physical pain, physical injury or illness.
2.
Intentional impairment of physical condition.
3.
A violation of s. 940.225 (1), (2) or (3).
4.
A violation of s. 940.32.
5.
A violation of s. 943.01, involving property that belongs to the individual.
6.
A threat to engage in the conduct under subd. 1., 2., 3., 4., or 5.
(ar)
“Elder person” means any individual who is 60 years of age or older.
(b)
“Family member" means a spouse, a parent, a child or a person related by blood or adoption to another person.
(c)
“Household member" means a person currently or formerly residing in a place of abode with another person.
(ce)
“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 the petitioner or by a family member or a household member of the petitioner.
(cg)
“Reasonable grounds" means more likely than not that a specific event has occurred or will occur.
(cj)
“Regular and direct contact" means face-to-face physical proximity to an individual that is planned, scheduled, expected, or periodic.
(d)
“Tribal court" means a court established by any federally recognized Wisconsin Indian tribe or band, except the Menominee Indian tribe of Wisconsin.
(e)
“Tribal order or injunction" means a temporary restraining order or injunction issued by a tribal court under a tribal domestic abuse ordinance adopted in conformity with this section.
(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. (5) (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. If the judge or a circuit court commissioner extends the time for a hearing under sub. (3) (c) and the petitioner files an affidavit with the court stating that personal service by the sheriff or a private server under s. 801.11 (1) (a) or (b) was unsuccessful because the respondent is avoiding service by concealment or otherwise, the judge or circuit court commissioner shall inform the petitioner that he or she may serve the respondent by publication of a summary of the petition as a class 1 notice, under ch. 985, and by mailing or sending a facsimile if the respondent's post-office address or facsimile number is known or can with due diligence be ascertained. The mailing or sending of a facsimile may be omitted if the post-office address or facsimile number cannot be ascertained with due diligence. A summary of the petition published as a class 1 notice shall include the name of the respondent and of the petitioner, notice of the temporary restraining order, and notice of the date, time, and place of the hearing regarding the injunction. 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)
A petition may be filed in conjunction with an action affecting the family commenced under ch. 767, but commencement of an action affecting the family or any other action is not necessary for the filing of a petition or the issuance of a temporary restraining order or an injunction. A judge or circuit court commissioner may not make findings or issue orders under s. 767.225 or 767.41 while granting relief requested only 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.
(c)
When the respondent is served with the petition under this subsection, the person who serves the respondent shall also provide the respondent all of the following information:
1.
Notice of the requirements and penalties under s. 941.29 and notice of any similar applicable federal laws and penalties.
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.
3.
A firearm possession form developed under s. 813.1285 (5) (a), with instructions for completing and returning the form.
(2m)
Two-part procedure. Procedure for an action under this section is in 2 parts. First, if the petitioner requests a temporary restraining order the court shall issue or refuse to issue that order. Second, the court shall hold a hearing under sub. (4) on whether to issue an injunction, which is the final relief. If the court issues a temporary restraining order, the order shall set forth the date for the hearing on an injunction. If the court does not issue a temporary restraining order, the date for the hearing shall be set upon motion by either party.
(3)
Temporary restraining order.
(a)
A judge or circuit court commissioner shall issue a temporary restraining order ordering the respondent to refrain from committing acts of domestic abuse against the petitioner, to avoid the petitioner's residence, except as provided in par. (am), or any other location temporarily occupied by the petitioner or both, or to avoid contacting or causing any person other than a party's attorney or a law enforcement officer to contact the petitioner unless the petitioner consents in writing, to refrain from removing, hiding, damaging, harming, or mistreating, or disposing of, a household pet, 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, or any combination of these remedies requested in the petition, or any other appropriate remedy not inconsistent with the remedies requested in the petition, 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. (5) (a).
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 petitioner and the respondent may engage in, domestic abuse of the petitioner.
(aj)
In determining whether to issue a temporary restraining order, the judge or circuit court commissioner shall consider the potential danger posed to the petitioner and the pattern of abusive conduct of the respondent but may not base his or her decision solely on the length of time since the last domestic abuse or the length of time since the relationship ended. The judge or circuit court commissioner may grant only the remedies requested or approved by the petitioner. The judge or circuit court commissioner may not dismiss or deny granting a temporary restraining order because of the existence of a pending action or of any other court order that bars contact between the parties, nor due to the necessity of verifying the terms of an existing court order.
(am)
If the petitioner and the respondent are not married, the respondent owns the premises where the petitioner resides and the petitioner has no legal interest in the premises, in lieu of ordering the respondent to avoid the petitioner's residence under par. (a) the judge or circuit court commissioner may order the respondent to avoid the premises for a reasonable time until the petitioner relocates and shall order the respondent to avoid the new residence for the duration of the order.
(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. (4), except that the court may extend the temporary restraining order under s. 813.1285. The temporary restraining order is not voided if the respondent is admitted into a dwelling that the order directs him or her to avoid. A judge or circuit court commissioner 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.
(d)
The judge or circuit court commissioner shall advise the petitioner of the right to serve the respondent the petition by published notice if with due diligence the respondent cannot be served as provided under s. 801.11 (1) (a) or (b). The clerk of circuit court shall assist the petitioner with the preparation of the notice and filing of the affidavit of printing.
(4)
Injunction.
(a)
A judge or circuit court commissioner may grant an injunction ordering the respondent to refrain from committing acts of domestic abuse against the petitioner, to avoid the petitioner's residence, except as provided in par. (am), or any other location temporarily occupied by the petitioner or both, or to avoid contacting or causing any person other than a party's attorney or a law enforcement officer to contact the petitioner unless the petitioner consents to that contact in writing, to refrain from removing, hiding, damaging, harming, or mistreating, or disposing of, a household pet, 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, or any combination of these remedies requested in the petition, or any other appropriate remedy not inconsistent with the remedies requested in the petition, if all of the following occur:
1.
The petitioner files a petition alleging the elements set forth under sub. (5) (a).
2.
The petitioner serves upon the respondent a copy or summary 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.
3.
After hearing, the judge or circuit court commissioner finds reasonable grounds to believe that the respondent has engaged in, or based upon prior conduct of the petitioner and the respondent may engage in, domestic abuse of the petitioner.
(aj)
In determining whether to issue an injunction, the judge or circuit court commissioner shall consider the potential danger posed to the petitioner and the pattern of abusive conduct of the respondent but may not base his or her decision solely on the length of time since the last domestic abuse or the length of time since the relationship ended. The judge or circuit court commissioner may grant only the remedies requested by the petitioner. The judge or circuit court commissioner may not dismiss or deny granting an injunction because of the existence of a pending action or of any other court order that bars contact between the parties, nor due to the necessity of verifying the terms of an existing court order.
(am)
If the petitioner and the respondent are not married, the respondent owns the premises where the petitioner resides and the petitioner has no legal interest in the premises, in lieu of ordering the respondent to avoid the petitioner's residence under par. (a) the judge or circuit court commissioner may order the respondent to avoid the premises for a reasonable time until the petitioner relocates and shall order the respondent to avoid the new residence for the duration of the order.
(b)
The judge or circuit court commissioner may enter an injunction only against the respondent named in the petition. No injunction may be issued under this subsection under the same case number against the person petitioning for the injunction. The judge or circuit court commissioner may not modify an order restraining the respondent based solely on the request of the respondent.
(c)
1.
An injunction under this subsection is effective according to its terms, for the period of time that the petitioner requests, but not more than 4 years, except as provided in par. (d). An injunction granted under this subsection is not voided if the petitioner allows or initiates contact with the respondent or by the admittance of the respondent into a dwelling that the injunction directs him or her to avoid.
2.
When an injunction expires, the court shall extend the injunction if the petitioner states that an extension is necessary to protect him or her. This extension shall remain in effect until 4 years after the date the court first entered the injunction, except as provided in par. (d).
4.
Notice need not be given to the respondent before extending an injunction under subd. 2. The clerk of courts shall notify the respondent after the court extends an injunction under subd. 2.
(d)
1.
A judge or circuit court commissioner may, upon issuing an injunction or granting an extension of an injunction issued under this subsection, order that the injunction is in effect for not more than 10 years, if the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence stated on the record, that any of the following is true:
a.
There is a substantial risk that the respondent may commit first-degree intentional homicide under s. 940.01, or 2nd-degree intentional homicide under s. 940.05, against the petitioner.
b.
There is a substantial risk that the respondent may commit sexual assault under s. 940.225 (1), (2), or (3), or under s. 948.02 (1) or (2), against the petitioner.
1m.
Upon request by the petitioner, a judge or circuit court commissioner may order that the injunction is in effect permanently if the respondent has been convicted of a violation of s. 940.225 (1) to (3) in which the petitioner was the crime victim. An order based on a finding under this subdivision is subject to review and modification under s. 813.126 (1m).
2.
This paragraph does not prohibit a petitioner from requesting a new temporary restraining order under sub. (3) or injunction under this subsection before or at the expiration of a previously entered order or injunction.
(4g)
Order; telephone services.
(a)
Unless a condition described in par. (b) exists, a judge or circuit court commissioner who issues an injunction under sub. (4) may, upon request by the petitioner, order a wireless telephone service provider to transfer to the petitioner the right to continue to use a telephone number or numbers indicated by the petitioner and the financial responsibility associated with the number or numbers, as set forth in par. (c). The petitioner may request transfer of each telephone number he or she, or a minor child in his or her custody, uses. The order shall contain all of the following:
1.
The name and billing telephone number of the account holder.
2.
Each telephone number that will be transferred.
3.
A statement that the provider transfers to the petitioner all financial responsibility for and right to the use of any telephone number transferred under this subsection. In this subdivision, “financial responsibility" includes monthly service costs and costs associated with any mobile device associated with the number.
(b)
A wireless telephone service provider shall terminate the respondent's use of, and shall transfer to the petitioner use of, the telephone number or numbers indicated in par. (a) unless it notifies the petitioner, within 72 hours after it receives the order, that one of the following applies:
1.
The account holder named in the order has terminated the account.
2.
A difference in network technology would prevent or impair the functionality of a device on a network if the transfer occurs.
3.
The transfer would cause a geographic or other limitation on network or service provision to the petitioner.
4.
Another technological or operational issue would prevent or impair the use of the telephone number if the transfer occurs.
(c)
The petitioner assumes all financial responsibility for and right to the use of any telephone number transferred under this subsection. In this paragraph, “financial responsibility" includes monthly service costs and costs associated with any mobile device associated with the number.
(d)
A wireless telephone service provider may apply to the petitioner its routine and customary requirements for establishing an account or transferring a number, including requiring the petitioner to provide proof of identification, financial information, and customer preferences.
(e)
A wireless telephone service provider is immune from civil liability for its actions taken in compliance with a court order issued under this subsection.
(4m)
Notice of restriction on firearm possession; surrender of firearms.
(a)
An injunction issued under sub. (4) shall do all of the following:
1.
Inform the respondent named in the petition of the requirements and penalties under s. 941.29 and any similar applicable federal laws and penalties.
2.
Except as provided in par. (ag), require in writing the respondent to surrender any firearms that he or she owns or has in his or her possession to the sheriff of the county in which the action under this section was commenced, to the sheriff of the county in which the respondent resides or to another person designated by the respondent and approved by the judge or circuit court commissioner, in accordance with s. 813.1285.
(ag)
If the respondent is a peace officer, an injunction issued under sub. (4) may not require the respondent to surrender a firearm that he or she is required, as a condition of employment, to possess whether or not he or she is on duty.
(5)
Petition.
(a)
The petition shall allege facts sufficient to show the following:
1.
The name of the petitioner and that the petitioner is the alleged victim.
2.
The name of the respondent and that the respondent is an adult.
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.
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:
a.
The name or type of the court proceeding.
b.
The date of the court proceeding.
c.
The types of provisions regarding contact between the petitioner and respondent.
(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.
(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.
(c)
A judge or circuit court commissioner shall accept any legible petition for a temporary restraining order or injunction.
(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.
(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.
(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:
(a)
Either or both parties submit an oral request on the record for the conversion explaining why the conversion of the petition is requested.
(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).
(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.
(6)
Enforcement assistance.
(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.
(ag)
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.
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.
(am)
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).
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).
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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(7)
Arrest.
(am)
A law enforcement officer shall arrest and take a person into custody if all of the following occur:
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.
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.
(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.
(7m)
Transcripts. The judge or circuit court commissioner shall record the temporary restraining order or injunction hearing upon the request of the petitioner.
(8)
Penalty.
(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.
(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.
(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.
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.
This section is constitutional. Schramek v. Bohren, 145 Wis. 2d 695, 429 N.W.2d 501 (Ct. App. 1988).
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).
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. Bouzek, 168 Wis. 2d 642, 484 N.W.2d 362 (Ct. App. 1992).
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.
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.
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 the petitioner's 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.
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.
If the initial injunction was for less than four years, but expired, and the petitioner states that an extension is necessary to protect the petitioner, 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.
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.
Construing this section to include a requirement of showing imminent danger, it is constitutional. Blazel v. Bradley, 698 F. Supp. 756 (1988).
Using Restraining Orders to Protect Elder Victims. Meuer. Wis. Law. Sept. 2000.
Trouble Ahead: Wisconsin's New Domestic Abuse Laws. Birdsall. Wis. Law. Feb. 2004.