Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 766 - Property rights of married persons; marital property.
766.555 - Obligations of spouses under open-end plans.

766.555 Obligations of spouses under open-end plans.
(1) In this section:
(a) “Open-end plan" means credit extended on an account pursuant to a plan under which the creditor may permit a spouse to make purchases or obtain loans, from time to time, directly from the creditor or indirectly by use of a credit card, check or other device, as the plan may provide.
(b) “Open-end plan" includes only those open-end plans entered into by a person whose spouse is not a party to the account.
(2)
(a) This subsection applies to spouses for whom the determination date is 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 1986.
(b) Unless additional property is available under par. (c), an obligation incurred by a spouse on or after January 1, 1986, under an open-end plan entered into by that spouse before January 1, 1986, may be satisfied only from property of that spouse that is not marital property and from that part of marital property that would have been the property of that spouse but for the enactment of this chapter.
(c)
1. An obligation described under s. 766.55 (2) (b) incurred by a spouse on or after January 1, 1986, under an open-end plan entered into by that spouse before January 1, 1986, may be satisfied only from property of that spouse that is available under par. (b) and, if the creditor gives written notice complying with this paragraph to both spouses prior to the date the obligation is incurred, from all marital property.
2. The notice under subd. 1. shall describe the nature of the open-end plan and state that an obligation described under s. 766.55 (2) (b) that is incurred under the open-end plan may be satisfied from all marital property of the spouses, including the income of both spouses, and from the property of the incurring spouse that is not marital property.
3. The notice under subd. 1. is considered given on the date it is mailed by the creditor.
4. The notice under subd. 1. may be enclosed in an envelope addressed to the incurring spouse at the last-known address of that spouse appearing on the records of the creditor if a statement appears on the face of the envelope alerting both spouses that the envelope contains important information for both spouses.
(3)
(a) This subsection applies to persons for whom the determination date is after 12:01 a.m., January 1, 1986.
(b) Except as provided under par. (c), an obligation incurred by a spouse after the determination date for that spouse, under an open-end plan entered into by that spouse before that determination date, may be satisfied only from all property of that spouse that is not marital property and from that part of marital property which would have been the property of that spouse but for the enactment of this chapter.
(c) An obligation described under s. 766.55 (2) (b) incurred by a spouse after the determination date for that spouse under an open-end plan entered into by that spouse before that determination date may be satisfied from all marital property and all other property of the incurring spouse.
History: 1985 a. 37.