Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 778 - Collection of forfeitures.
778.30 - Collection of forfeitures and related charges by assignment.

778.30 Collection of forfeitures and related charges by assignment.
(1) In addition to the procedures under s. 23.795 or 345.47 or under this chapter for the collection of forfeitures, costs, assessments, surcharges, municipal court judgments, or restitution payments if a defendant fails to pay the forfeiture, costs, assessment, surcharge, municipal court judgment, or restitution payment within the period specified by the circuit court, the court may do any of the following:
(a) Issue a judgment for the unpaid amount and direct the clerk of circuit court to file and docket a transcript of the judgment, without fee. If the court issues a judgment for the unpaid amount, the clerk of circuit court shall send to the defendant at his or her last-known address written notification that a civil judgment has been issued for the unpaid forfeiture, costs, assessment, surcharge or restitution payment. The judgment has the same force and effect as judgments docketed under s. 806.10.
(b) Issue an order assigning not more than 25 percent of the defendant's commissions, earnings, salaries, wages, pension benefits, benefits under ch. 102, and other money due or to be due in the future to the clerk of circuit court for payment of the unpaid forfeiture, costs, or restitution fees or surcharges. In this paragraph, “employer" includes the state and its political subdivisions.
(c) Issue an order assigning lottery prizes won by a defendant whose name is on the list supplied to the clerk of circuit court under s. 565.30 (5r) (a), for payment of the unpaid forfeiture, costs, assessment, surcharge or restitution payment.
(d) A child support withholding assignment or order listed under s. 767.75 (4) has priority over any assignment under this section.
(2)
(a)
1. Upon entry of the assignment under sub. (1) (b), unless the court finds that income withholding is likely to cause the defendant irreparable harm, the clerk of circuit court shall provide notice of the assignment by regular mail to the last-known address of the person from whom the defendant receives or will receive money. If the clerk of circuit court does not receive the money from the person notified, the clerk of circuit court shall provide notice of the assignment to any other person from whom the defendant receives or will receive money. Notice of an assignment under sub. (1) (b) shall inform the intended recipient that, if a prior assignment under sub. (1) (b) has been received relating to the same defendant, the recipient is required to notify the clerk of circuit court that sent the subsequent notice of assignment that another assignment has already been received. A notice of assignment shall include a form permitting the recipient to designate on the form that another assignment has already been received.
2. If, after receiving the annual list under s. 565.30 (5r) (a), the clerk of circuit court determines that a person identified in the list may be subject to an assignment under sub. (1) (c), the clerk shall inform the court of that determination. If the court issues an order under sub. (1) (c), the clerk of circuit court shall send the notice of that order to the administrator of the lottery division of the department of revenue, including a statement of the amount owed under the judgment and the name and address of the person owing the judgment. The court shall notify the administrator of the lottery division of the department of revenue when the judgment that is the basis of the assignment has been paid in full.
3. Notice under this paragraph may be a notice of the court, a copy of the executed assignment or a copy of that part of the court order which directs payment.
(b) For each payment made under the assignment under sub. (1) (b), the person from whom the defendant under the order receives money shall receive an amount equal to the person's necessary disbursements, not to exceed $3, which shall be deducted from the money to be paid to the defendant.
(c) A person who receives notice of the assignment under sub. (1) (b) shall withhold the amount specified in the notice from any money that person pays to the defendant later than one week after receipt of the notice of assignment. Within 5 days after the day on which the person pays money to the defendant, the person shall send the amount withheld to the clerk of circuit court that provided the notice. If the person has already received a notice of an assignment under sub. (1) (b) related to the same defendant, the person shall retain the later assignment and withhold the amount specified in that assignment after the last of any prior assignments is paid in full. Within 10 days of receipt of the later notice, the person shall notify the clerk of circuit court that sent the notice that the person has received a prior notice of an assignment under sub. (1) (b). Section 241.09 does not apply to assignments under this section.
(d) If after receipt of notice of assignment under par. (a) 1. the person from whom the defendant receives money fails to withhold the money or send the money to the clerk of circuit court as provided in this subsection, the person may be proceeded against under the principal action under ch. 785 for contempt of court or may be proceeded against under this chapter and be required to forfeit not less than $50 nor more than an amount, if the amount exceeds $50, that is equal to 1 percent of the amount not withheld or sent.
(e) If an employer who receives notice of an assignment under sub. (1) (b) fails to notify the clerk of circuit court within 10 days after an employee is terminated or after the employee temporarily or permanently leaves the employer's employment, the employer may be proceeded against under the principal action under ch. 785 for contempt of court.
(3) Compliance by the person from whom the defendant receives money with the order under sub. (1) (b) operates as a discharge of the person's liability to the defendant as to that portion of the defendant's commissions, earnings, salaries, wages, benefits or other money so affected.
(4) No employer may use an assignment under sub. (1) (b) as a basis for the denial of employment to a defendant, the discharge of an employee or any disciplinary action against an employee. An employer who denies employment or discharges or disciplines an employee in violation of this subsection may be fined not more than $500 and may be required to make full restitution to the aggrieved person, including reinstatement and back pay. Restitution shall be in accordance with s. 973.20. An aggrieved person may apply to the district attorney or to the department of workforce development for enforcement of this subsection.
(5)
(a) In this subsection, “payroll period" has the meaning given in s. 71.63 (5).
(b) If after an assignment of earnings is in effect the defendant's employer changes its payroll period, or the defendant changes employers and the new employer's payroll period is different from the former employer's payroll period, the clerk of circuit court may, unless otherwise ordered by a judge, amend the withholding assignment or order so that all of the following apply:
1. The withholding frequency corresponds to the new payroll period.
2. The amounts to be withheld reflect the adjustment to the withholding frequency.
(c) The clerk of circuit court shall provide notice of the amended withholding assignment or order under this subsection by regular mail to the defendant's employer and to the defendant.
History: 1997 a. 148; 2003 a. 139; 2005 a. 253; 2005 a. 443 s. 265; 2009 a. 402.