Subch. III: General Procedure · Last amended 2007 · Current through 2025 Wisconsin Act 247 · Last verified September 8, 2026
In one sentenceSection 767.217 requires a party receiving public assistance to notify the Child Support Program of any support motion or appeal, and bars judgment until that is done.
(1)NOTICE OF PLEADING OR MOTION. In an action affecting the family in which either party is a recipient of benefits under ss. 49.141 to 49.161 or aid under s. 48.645, 49.19, or 49.45, each party shall, either within 20 days after serving the opposite party with a motion or pleading requesting the court to order or to modify a previous order relating to child support, maintenance, or family support, or before filing the motion or pleading in court, serve a copy of the motion or pleading on the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) of the county in which the action is begun.
(2)NOTICE OF APPEAL. In an appeal of an action affecting the family in which support or maintenance of a child of any party is at issue, the person who initiates the appeal shall notify the department of the appeal by sending a copy of the notice of appeal to the department.
(3)NONCOMPLIANCE. A judgment in an action affecting the family may not be granted unless this section is complied with or a court orders otherwise.
End
Amendment History
Wisconsin prints each section’s legislative history as a single “History” line naming every act that created or amended it, and every renumbering. It is reproduced verbatim below.
History: 1977 c. 418; 1979 c. 32 s. 50; 1979 c. 196; 1979 c. 352 s. 39; Stats. 1979 s. 767.15; 1983 a. 27; 1987 a. 413; 1995 a. 27 s. 9126 (19); 1995 a. 201, 289, 404; 1997 a. 27, 35; 2001 a. 61; 2005 a. 443 s. 72; Stats. 2005 s. 767.217; 2007 a. 20.
Plain-English Summary
Where either party receives the benefits or aid this section names, the public purse has a stake in what the court orders. So each party must give notice — within 20 days after serving the other party with a motion or pleading asking the court to order or modify support.
Appeals carry the same duty. Where support or maintenance of a child is at issue, whoever brings the appeal must notify the department by sending it a copy of the notice of appeal.
The sanction is blunt and effective: a judgment in an action affecting the family may not be granted unless this section has been complied with, or the court orders otherwise.
Frequently Asked Questions
When must I notify the Child Support Program?
Within 20 days after serving the other party with a motion or pleading asking the court to order or modify support, where either party receives the benefits or aid this section names.
What happens if I do not give notice?
A judgment may not be granted unless this section is complied with or the court orders otherwise.
Do I have to give notice of an appeal?
Yes, where support or maintenance of a child is at issue. The person who initiates the appeal sends the department a copy of the notice of appeal.
Source & verification. The statutory text, official notes and history are reproduced verbatim from the
Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 767 (Wis. Stat. § 767.217), published by the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Current through 2025 Wisconsin Act 247. The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified September 8, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:notice to child support program Wisconsin20 days notice departmentpublic assistance divorce notice