767.511.Child support.

Subch. VI: Support and Maintenance · Last amended 2021 · Current through 2025 Wisconsin Act 247 · Last verified September 8, 2026

In one sentenceSection 767.511 is the child support section — it requires an order whenever the court enters a family judgment, sets the amount by the state percentage standard, and charges interest on arrears.

Full Text of Section 767.511

Text sizeJump to: (1) (1g) (1j) (1m) (1n) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (6m) (7)

(1) WHEN ORDERED. When the court approves a stipulation for child support under s. 767.34, enters a judgment of annulment, divorce, or legal separation, or enters an order or a judgment in a paternity action or in an action under s. 767.001 (1) (f) or (j), 767.501, 767.804 (2), or 767.805 (3), the court shall do all of the following:

(a) Order either or both parents to pay an amount reasonable or necessary to fulfill a duty to support a child. The support amount must be expressed as a fixed sum unless the parties have stipulated to expressing the amount as a percentage of the payer’s income and the requirements under s. 767.34 (2) (am) 1. to 3. are satisfied.

(b) Ensure that the parties have stipulated which party, if either is eligible, will claim each child as an exemption for federal income tax purposes under 26 USC 151 (c) or as an exemption for state income tax purposes under the laws of another state. If the parties are unable to reach an agreement about the tax exemption for each child, the court shall make the decision in accordance with state and federal tax laws. In making its decision, the court shall consider whether the parent who is assigned responsibility for the child’s health care expenses under s. 767.513 is covered under a health insurance policy or plan, including a self-insured plan, that is not subject to s. 632.897 (10) and that conditions coverage of a dependent child on whether the child is claimed by the insured parent as an exemption for purposes of federal or state income taxes.

(c) In addition to ordering child support for a child under par. (a), assign as a support obligation responsibility for, and direct the manner of payment of, the child’s health care expenses under s. 767.513.

(1g) CONSIDERATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION. In determining child support payments, the court may consider all relevant financial information or other information relevant to the parent’s earning capacity, including information reported under s. 49.22 (2m) to the department or the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5).

(1j) PERCENTAGE STANDARD GENERALLY REQUIRED. Except as provided in sub. (1m), the court shall determine child support payments by using the percentage standard established by the department under s. 49.22 (9).

(1m) DEVIATION FROM STANDARD; FACTORS. Upon request by a party, the court may modify the amount of child support payments determined under sub. (1j) if, after considering the following factors, the court finds by the greater weight of the credible evidence that use of the percentage standard is unfair to the child or to any of the parties:

(a) The financial resources of the child.

(b) The financial resources of both parents.

(bj) Maintenance received by either party.

(bp) The needs of each party in order to support himself or herself at a level equal to or greater than that established under 42 USC 9902 (2).

(bz) The needs of any person, other than the child, whom either party is legally obligated to support.

(c) If the parties were married, the standard of living the child would have enjoyed had the marriage not ended in annulment, divorce or legal separation.

(d) The desirability that the custodian remain in the home as a full-time parent.

(e) The cost of child care if the custodian works outside the home, or the value of custodial services performed by the custodian if the custodian remains in the home.

(ej) The award of substantial periods of physical placement to both parents.

(em) Extraordinary travel expenses incurred in exercising the right to periods of physical placement under s. 767.41.

(f) The physical, mental, and emotional health needs of the child, including any costs for health insurance as provided for under s. 767.513.

(g) The child’s educational needs.

(h) The tax consequences to each party.

(hm) The best interests of the child.

(hs) The earning capacity of each parent, based on each parent’s education, training and work experience and the availability of work in or near the parent’s community.

(i) Any other factors which the court in each case determines are relevant.

(1n) DEVIATION FROM STANDARD; RECORD. If the court finds under sub. (1m) that use of the percentage standard is unfair to the child or the requesting party, the court shall state in writing or on the record the amount of support that would be required by using the percentage standard, the amount by which the court’s order deviates from that amount, its reasons for finding that use of the percentage standard is unfair to the child or the party, its reasons for the amount of the modification and the basis for the modification.

(2) SEPARATE FUND OR TRUST. The court may protect and promote the best interests of the minor children by setting aside a portion of the child support which either party is ordered to pay in a separate fund or trust for the support, education and welfare of such children.

(3) EFFECT OF PHYSICAL PLACEMENT VIOLATION. Violation of physical placement rights by the custodial parent does not constitute reason for failure to meet child support obligations.

(4) AGE OF CHILD ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT. The court shall order either party or both to pay for the support of any child of the parties who is less than 18 years old, or any child of the parties who is less than 19 years old if the child is pursuing an accredited course of instruction leading to the acquisition of a high school diploma or its equivalent.

(5) LIABILITY FOR PAST SUPPORT. Subject to ss. 767.804 (4), 767.805 (4m), and 767.89 (4), liability for past support is limited to the period after the birth of the child.

(6) INTEREST ON ARREARAGE. Subject to sub. (6m), a party ordered to pay child support under this section shall pay simple interest at the rate of 1 percent per month on any amount in arrears that is equal to or greater than the amount of child support due in one month. Subject to sub. (6m), if the party no longer has a current obligation to pay child support, interest at the rate of 1 percent per month shall accrue on the total amount of child support in arrears, if any. Interest under this subsection is in lieu of interest computed under s. 807.01 (4), 814.04 (4), or 815.05 (8) and is paid to the department or its designee under s. 767.57. Except as provided in s. 767.57 (1m) and except as required under federal statutes or regulations, the department or its designee shall apply all payments received for child support as follows:

(a) First, to payment of child support due within the calendar month during which the payment is received.

(b) Second, to payment of unpaid child support due before the payment is received.

(6m) PILOT PROGRAM ON INTEREST RATE. The department may conduct a pilot program under which the interest that accrues on the amounts in arrears specified in s. 767.531, 2019 stats., and in sub. (6) shall be at the rate of 0.5 percent per month instead of 1 percent per month. If the department conducts a pilot program under this subsection, the program may begin at any time after December 31, 2013, and the new rate shall apply to interest that accrues during that time.

(7) EFFECT OF JOINT LEGAL CUSTODY. An order of joint legal custody under s. 767.41 does not affect the amount of child support ordered.

End

Official Notes

Wisconsin prints certain labelled notes with the statute — effective-date notes, cross-references, and notes of the Judicial Council. They are reproduced verbatim below. The unlabelled digest of court decisions that the Legislative Reference Bureau prints after them is annotation rather than statute, and is not reproduced.

Cross-reference: See also ch. DCF 150, Wis. adm. code.

Cross-reference: See also Wisconsin Administrative Code Citations published in the Wisconsin Administrative Code for a list of citations to cases citing chs. DCF 150, HSS 80, HFS 80, and DWD 40, the child support percentage of income standard.

Cross-reference: See also notes to s. 767.59 for decisions regarding postjudgment modifications.

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: 1971 c. 157; 1977 c. 29, 105, 418; 1979 c. 32 ss. 50, 92 (4); 1979 c. 196; Stats. 1979 s. 767.25; 1981 c. 20; 1983 a. 27; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27, 37, 355, 413; 1989 a. 31, 212; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 481; 1995 a. 27 ss. 7101, 7102, 9126 (19); 1995 a. 201, 279, 404; 1997 a. 27, 35, 191; 1999 a. 9, 32; 2001 a. 16, 61; 2005 a. 253, 342; 2005 a. 443 ss. 103, 105, 219; Stats. 2005 s. 767.511; 2009 a. 185; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20; 2017 a. 366; 2019 a. 95; 2021 a. 35, 127.

Plain-English Summary

Whenever a court approves a support stipulation, enters an annulment, divorce or legal separation judgment, or enters an order in a paternity or support action, this section tells it what it must do.

Three things, always. Order either or both parents to pay an amount reasonable or necessary to fulfil the duty to support a child, expressed as a fixed sum unless a percentage stipulation qualifies. Ensure the parties have stipulated which of them, if eligible, claims each child as a tax exemption, and decide it under state and federal tax law if they cannot agree. And assign responsibility for the child's health care expenses under the next section.

The percentage standard. The court determines support by using the percentage standard the department establishes, unless a party asks it to deviate. It may deviate only if, after considering the listed factors — the financial resources of the child and of both parents, maintenance received, each party's own needs, the standard of living the child would have had, child care, the child's health and educational needs, tax consequences, the best interests of the child, earning capacity, and anything else relevant — it finds by the greater weight of the credible evidence that the standard is unfair to the child or a party. When it does deviate, it must state on the record what the standard would have produced, how far the order departs from it, and why.

How long. Support runs for a child who is less than 18 years old, or less than 19 if the child is pursuing an accredited course of instruction leading to a high school diploma or its equivalent.

Arrears. A party in arrears by at least one month's support pays simple interest at 1 percent per month; once the current obligation ends, interest accrues on the whole arrearage. Payments are applied in a fixed order — first to the support due this month, then to unpaid support from before, then to interest. The department may run a pilot programme charging 0.5 percent per month instead, beginning at any time after December 31, 2013.

Two rules worth knowing. Violating placement rights is not a reason to stop paying support, and joint legal custody does not by itself change the amount.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is child support calculated in Wisconsin?

By the percentage standard the department establishes, unless a party requests a deviation and the court finds by the greater weight of the credible evidence that the standard is unfair to the child or to a party.

Until what age does Wisconsin child support run?

Until the child is 18, or 19 if the child is pursuing an accredited course of instruction leading to a high school diploma or its equivalent.

What interest is charged on unpaid child support?

Simple interest at 1 percent per month on any arrears equal to or greater than one month's support. The department may run a pilot programme at 0.5 percent per month instead.

How are my payments applied?

First to support due within the calendar month the payment is received, then to unpaid support due before that, then to interest accruing on unpaid support.

Can I stop paying if I am being denied placement?

No. Violation of physical placement rights by the custodial parent does not constitute a reason for failing to meet child support obligations.

Source & verification. The statutory text, official notes and history are reproduced verbatim from the Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 767 (Wis. Stat. § 767.511), 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: Wisconsin child support percentage standardchild support age 19 Wisconsin1 percent interest child support arrearsdeviation from percentage standard767.511 child support