Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 767 - Actions affecting the family.
767.35 - Judgment of divorce or legal separation.

767.35 Judgment of divorce or legal separation.
(1) When granted. A court shall grant a judgment of divorce or legal separation if all of the following conditions are met:
(a) The requirements of this chapter as to residence and attendance at an educational program under s. 767.401 have been complied with.
(b)
1. In connection with a judgment of divorce or legal separation, the court finds that the marriage is irretrievably broken under s. 767.315 (1) (a) or (b) 1. or 2., unless subd. 2. applies.
2. In connection with a judgment of legal separation, the court finds that the marital relationship is broken under s. 767.315 (2).
(c) To the extent that it has jurisdiction to do so, the court has considered and approved or made provision for legal custody and physical placement, the support of any child of the marriage entitled to support, the maintenance of either spouse, and the disposition of property.
(2) Granting divorce or legal separation. When a party requests a legal separation rather than a divorce, the court shall grant a judgment of legal separation unless the other party requests a divorce, in which case the court shall hear and determine which judgment shall be granted.
(3) When divorce judgment effective. A judgment of divorce is effective when granted. A court granting a judgment of divorce shall inform the parties appearing in court that the judgment is effective when granted but that it is unlawful under s. 765.03 (2) for a party to marry again until 6 months after the judgment is granted. This section does not prevent application of enforceable orders prior to the divorce judgment as set forth in s. 767.333.
(4) Revocation of legal separation judgment upon reconciliation. A judgment of legal separation shall provide that, if a reconciliation occurs at any time after the judgment, the parties may apply for a revocation of the judgment. Upon application for a revocation of the judgment, the court shall make such orders as may be just and reasonable.
(5) Conversion of legal separation to divorce. By stipulation of both parties, or upon motion of either party not earlier than one year after entry of a judgment of legal separation, the court shall convert the judgment to a judgment of divorce.
(6) Vacating or modifying divorce judgment as it affects marital status. So far as a judgment of divorce affects the marital status of the parties, the court may vacate or modify the judgment for sufficient cause shown, upon its own motion, or upon the application of both parties to the action, at any time within 6 months from the granting of the judgment. If the judgment is vacated it shall restore the parties to the marital relation that existed before the granting of the judgment. If a judgment of divorce is set aside under this subsection, the court shall order the record in the action impounded without regard to s. 767.13. After the record is impounded, the record may not be offered or admitted in whole or in part into evidence in any action or proceeding except by special order of the court of jurisdiction upon good cause shown in any paternity proceedings under this chapter or by special order of a court of record upon a showing of necessity to clear title to real estate.
(7) Divorce judgment revoked on remarriage of parties. When a judgment of divorce has been granted and the parties subsequently intermarry, the court, upon their joint application and upon satisfactory proof of the marriage, shall revoke all judgments and any orders that will not affect the right of 3rd persons. If the judgment is revoked, the court shall order the record impounded without regard to s. 767.13, and the record may not be offered or admitted, in whole or in part, into evidence in any action or proceeding except by special order of the court of jurisdiction upon good cause shown in a paternity proceeding under this chapter or by special order of a court of record upon a showing of necessity to clear title to real estate.
History: 1971 c. 220; 1977 c. 105; 1979 c. 32 ss. 50, 92 (4); Stats. 1979 s. 767.07; 1987 a. 355; 1989 a. 132; 2005 a. 443 ss. 35, 36, 53, 172, 173, 174; Stats. 2005 s. 767.35; 2009 a. 180; 2021 a. 35, 204.
NOTE: 2005 Wis. Act 443 contains explanatory notes.
Sub. (2) [now sub. (6)] does not authorize vacating or modifying a finding of paternity of children determined in the original divorce judgment. E. v. E., 57 Wis. 2d 436, 204 N.W.2d 503 (1973).
Sub. (2) [now sub. (6)] provides no authority for reopening a divorce judgment as it relates to a property division. Conrad v. Conrad, 92 Wis. 2d 407, 284 N.W.2d 674 (1979).
The death of a party within 6 months of a divorce judgment did not void the judgment or divest the court of jurisdiction to order property division. Roeder v. Roeder, 103 Wis. 2d 411, 308 N.W.2d 904 (Ct. App. 1981).
A divorce judgment did not bar a wife's action against her former husband for torts allegedly committed during the marriage. Stuart v. Stuart, 143 Wis. 2d 347, 421 N.W.2d 505 (1988).
If the requirements of sub. (2) [now sub. (5)] are met, conversion to a divorce decree is mandatory. Bartz v. Bartz, 153 Wis. 2d 756, 452 N.W.2d 160 (Ct. App. 1989).
A judgment of legal separation does not terminate a marriage—only divorce proceedings do. There are rights and obligations remaining in the marriage after a legal separation. Although s. 766.01 (7) contemplates that the “dissolution" of a marriage may involve a judgment of legal separation, ch. 766 is not intended to change the law of divorce or other forms of dissolution under this chapter. Kemper Independence Insurance Co. v. Islami, 2021 WI 53, 397 Wis. 2d 394, 959 N.W.2d 912, 19-0488.

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