Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 813 - Injunctions, ne exeat and receivers.
813.122 - Child abuse restraining orders and injunctions.

813.122 Child abuse restraining orders and injunctions.
(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Abuse" has the meaning given in s. 48.02 (1) (a) and (b) to (gm) and, in addition, includes a threat to engage in any conduct under s. 48.02 (1), other than conduct under s. 48.02 (1) (am).
(b) “Child" means any person under 18 years of age.
(c) “Child victim" means the child who is the victim or the alleged victim of abuse.
(d) “Child victim advocate" means any person who counsels child victims, assists child victims in coping with the impact of the crime or otherwise acts in support of child victims.
(e) “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 a child victim or by a family member or a household member of a child victim.
(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. (6) (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. Notwithstanding s. 803.01 (3) (a), the child victim or a parent, stepparent or legal guardian of the child victim may be a petitioner 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. 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) When the respondent is served with the petition under this subsection, the person who serves the respondent shall also provide the respondent with 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.
(3) General procedure.
(a) Procedure for an action under this section is in 2 parts. First, if the petitioner requests a temporary restraining order, the court or circuit court commissioner shall issue or refuse to issue that order. Second, the court shall hold a hearing under sub. (5) on whether to issue an injunction, which is the final relief. If the court or circuit court commissioner issues a temporary restraining order, the order shall set forth the date for the hearing on an injunction. If the court or circuit court commissioner does not issue a temporary restraining order, the date for the hearing shall be set upon motion by either party.
(b)
1m. Except as provided in subd. 2m., the court or circuit court commissioner, on its or his or her own motion or the motion of any party, may order that a guardian ad litem be appointed for the child victim in accordance with s. 48.235.
2m. The court or circuit court commissioner shall appoint a guardian ad litem if the respondent is a parent of the child.
(bp) All persons, other than the parties, their attorneys, witnesses, child victim advocates, service representatives, as defined in s. 895.45 (1) (c), court personnel and any guardian ad litem, shall be excluded from any hearing under this section.
(bq) Any record of an action under this section is confidential and is available only to the parties, their attorneys, any guardian ad litem, court personnel, the child victim, law enforcement, and any applicable court upon appeal, except that a record may be available to any other person as required by law, as necessary to effect service, or upon a court order for good cause shown.
(c) An action under this section may pertain to more than one child victim.
(4) Temporary restraining order.
(a) A judge or circuit court commissioner shall issue a temporary restraining order ordering the respondent to avoid the child victim's residence or any premises temporarily occupied by the child victim or both, to avoid contacting or causing any person other than a party's attorney to contact the child victim unless the petitioner consents in writing and the judge or circuit court commissioner agrees that the contact is in the best interests of the child victim, to refrain from removing, hiding, damaging, harming, or mistreating, or disposing of, a household pet, and 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, 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. (6) (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 child victim and the respondent may engage in, abuse of the child victim.
(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. (5), except that the court may extend the temporary restraining order under s. 813.1285. A judge 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.
(5) Injunction.
(a) A judge may grant an injunction ordering the respondent to avoid the child victim's residence or any premises temporarily occupied by the child victim or both, to avoid contacting or causing any person other than a party's attorney to contact the child victim unless the petitioner consents to that contact in writing and the judge agrees that the contact is in the best interests of the child victim, to refrain from removing, hiding, damaging, harming, or mistreating, or disposing of, a household pet, and 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, if all of the following occur:
1. The petitioner files a petition alleging the elements set forth under sub. (6) (a).
2. The petitioner serves upon the respondent a copy 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 finds reasonable grounds to believe that the respondent has engaged in, or based upon prior conduct of the child victim and the respondent may engage in, abuse of the child victim.
(b) If the respondent is the parent of the child victim, the judge shall modify the order under par. (a) to provide the parent reasonable visitation rights, unless the judge finds that visitation would endanger the child's physical, mental or emotional health. The judge may provide that any authorized visitation be supervised.
(c) The injunction may be entered only against the respondent named in the petition.
(d)
1. An injunction under this subsection is effective according to its terms, but, except as provided in par. (dm), for not more than 2 years or until the child victim attains 18 years of age, whichever occurs first.
2. When an injunction expires, the court shall extend the injunction if the petitioner states that an extension is necessary to protect the child victim. This extension shall remain in effect until 6 months after the date the court first entered the injunction or until the child attains 18 years of age, whichever occurs first, except as provided in par. (dm).
3. If the petitioner states that an extension is necessary to protect the child victim, the court may extend the injunction for not more than 2 years or until the child attains 18 years of age, whichever occurs first, except as provided in par. (dm).
4. Notice need not be given to the respondent before extending an injunction under subd. 2. or 3. The clerk of courts shall notify the respondent after the court extends an injunction under subd. 2. or 3.
(dm)
1. A judge 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 5 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 child victim.
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 child victim.
1m. Upon request by the petitioner, a judge may order that the injunction is in effect permanently if the respondent has been convicted of a violation of s. 948.02 or 948.025 in which the child victim 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. (4) or injunction under this subsection before or at the expiration of a previously entered order or injunction.
(e) An injunction under this section may direct the payment of child support using a method of calculation authorized under s. 767.511.
(5c) Order; telephone services.
(a) Unless a condition described in par. (b) exists, a judge or circuit court commissioner who issues an injunction under sub. (5) 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.
(5g) Confidentiality of addresses. The petition under sub. (6) and the court order under sub. (4), (5), or (5c) may not disclose the address of the petitioner or of the alleged child victim. The petitioner shall provide the clerk of circuit court with the address of the petitioner and of the alleged child victim when he or she files a petition under this section. The clerk shall maintain the addresses in a confidential manner.
(5m) Notice of restriction on firearm possession; surrender of firearms.
(a) An injunction issued under sub. (5) 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. (5) 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.
(6) Petition.
(a) The petition shall allege facts sufficient to show the following:
1. The name of the petitioner and the child victim.
2. The name of the respondent.
3. That the respondent engaged in, or based on prior conduct of the respondent and the child victim may engage in, abuse of the child victim.
4. If the payment of child support is requested, that the payment of child support is reasonable or necessary based on criteria provided under s. 767.511.
5. 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.
(b) Upon request, the clerk of circuit court shall provide, without cost, the simplified forms obtained under s. 48.47 (7) (d) to a petitioner.
(7) Contact. Any order under this section directing a person to avoid contact with a child victim prohibits the person from knowingly touching, meeting, communicating or being in visual or audio contact with the child victim, except as provided in any modifications of the order under sub. (5) (b).
(9) Enforcement assistance.
(a)
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. (5), 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 child victim's premises.
(c) The sheriff or other appropriate local law enforcement agency under par. (b) shall enter the information received under par. (b) concerning an order or injunction issued, extended, modified or vacated under this section into the transaction information for management of enforcement system no later than 24 hours after receiving the information and shall 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) 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.
(10) 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. (6) (a) presents the law enforcement officer with a copy of an order issued under sub. (4) or (5), 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 order issued under sub. (4) or (5).
(c) A respondent who does not appear at a hearing at which the court orders an injunction under sub. (5) but who has been served with a copy of the petition and notice of the time for hearing under sub. (5) (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.
(11) Penalty. Whoever knowingly violates a temporary restraining order or injunction issued under this section shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both.
(12) Notice of full faith and credit. An order or injunction issued under sub. (4) or (5) 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: 1985 a. 234; 1987 a. 332 s. 64; Sup. Ct. Order, 151 Wis. 2d xxv (1989); 1991 a. 276; 1993 a. 227, 318; 1995 a. 71, 275, 306, 456; 1997 a. 292; 2001 a. 61; 2005 a. 155, 272; 2005 a. 443 s. 265; 2007 a. 20, 124; 2009 a. 262; 2011 a. 35; 2013 a. 223, 311, 321, 322; 2015 a. 109, 195, 253, 349, 353; 2021 a. 256.
This section implicitly envisions a change of placement and custody if the trial court issues a child abuse injunction against a parent who has custody or placement of a child under a divorce order or judgment. Scott M.H. v. Kathleen M.H., 218 Wis. 2d 605, 581 N.W.2d 564 (Ct. App. 1998), 97-0814.
Construing s. 48.02 (1) (gm) and this section as allowing a trial court to consider evidence of the treatment a respondent obtained or steps a respondent took to ameliorate a child's symptoms of emotional damage after the filing of the petition but prior to the injunction hearing would undercut the purpose of the injunction, which is to protect a child from an abusive situation. In light of Wisconsin's strong and long-standing interest in the protection and well-being of its minors, interpreting these statutes in a manner that would allow a respondent to undercut the purpose of the statute would be unreasonable. S.O. v. T.R., 2016 WI App 24, 367 Wis. 2d 669, 877 N.W.2d 408, 15-0548.
Evidence of the treatment obtained or steps taken by a parent, guardian, or legal custodian to address and remedy his or her actions can benefit the child within the meaning of s. 48.02 (1) (gm) and this section. However, when evidence of such actions is introduced to establish that the parent, guardian, or legal custodian has not “neglected, refused or been unable ... to obtain the necessary treatment or to take steps to ameliorate the symptoms," there must also be testimony or other evidence showing an actual benefit to the child in terms of treating the child and ameliorating the child's symptoms of emotional abuse. S.O. v. T.R., 2016 WI App 24, 367 Wis. 2d 669, 877 N.W.2d 408, 15-0548.
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 child abuse protection orders and individual at risk protection orders in actions in which the court has ordered, under sub. (3) (b) 3. [now sub. (3) (bq)] and s. 813.23 (3) (c) 2., respectively, that access to any record of the case be available only to the individual at risk, parties, their attorneys, any guardian or guardian ad litem, court personnel, and any applicable appellate court. OAG 2-10.
Family Court or Not? Raising Child Abuse Allegations Against a Parent. Kornblum & Pollack. Wis. Law. Mar. 2020.