767.73.Delinquent child or family support; suspension of operating privilege.
Subch. VIII: Enforcement · Last amended 2021 · Current through 2025 Wisconsin Act 247 · Last verified September 8, 2026
In one sentenceSection 767.73 lets the court suspend the driver's licence of a payer who is 90 or more days behind and can afford to pay, for up to 2 years.
(1)AUTHORITY TO SUSPEND. (a) In this subsection, “support payment” means a payment ordered for support under s. 767.521, support under s. 767.501, child support or family support under s. 767.225, family support under s. 767.531, 2019 stats., revised child or family support under s. 767.59, or child support under s. 767.511, 767.804 (3), 767.805 (4), 767.85, 767.863 (3), 767.89, or 948.22 (7) or ch. 769.
(b)If a person fails to pay a support payment that is 90 or more days past due and the court finds that the person has the ability to pay the amount ordered, the court may suspend the person’s operating privilege, as defined in s. 340.01 (40), until the person pays all arrearages in full or makes payment arrangements that are satisfactory to the court, except that the suspension period may not exceed 2 years. If otherwise eligible, the person is eligible for an occupational license under s. 343.10 at any time.
(2)NOTICE OF SUSPENSION TO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. If a court orders suspension of a person’s operating privilege under sub. (1) (b), the court shall notify the department of transportation, in the form and manner prescribed by the department. The notice to the department shall include the name and last-known address of the person against whom the support order was entered, certification by the court that the person has been notified of the entry of the support order and that there are arrearages in support payments that are 90 or more days past due, and the place where the arrearages may be paid. The notice shall also state that the person’s operating privilege remains suspended until the person pays all arrearages in full or makes payment arrangements that are satisfactory to the court, except that the suspension period may not exceed 2 years.
(3)NOTICE OF PAYMENT TO DEPARTMENT. If the person subsequently pays the full amount of the arrearages or makes payment arrangements that are satisfactory to the court, the court shall immediately notify the department of transportation of the payment in the form and manner prescribed by the department.
(4)APPLICATION TO PAST ARREARAGES. This section applies to support arrearages existing on or after October 1, 1996, regardless of when the arrearages accrued or when the order or judgment requiring the payment of support was entered.
(5)RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER REMEDIES. The remedy permitted under this section is in addition to any other remedies authorized by law.
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: 1995 a. 401; 1997 a. 84, 191; 1999 a. 9, 32; 2005 a. 443 ss. 139, 140, 141, 236; Stats. 2005 s. 767.73; 2019 a. 95; 2021 a. 35.
Plain-English Summary
One of the sharper tools in the chapter, and one of the more carefully limited.
The trigger. The person has failed to pay a support payment that is 90 or more days past due, and the court finds that they have the ability to pay the amount ordered. Both. A licence is not taken from someone who simply cannot pay.
The consequence. The court may suspend the operating privilege until all arrearages are paid in full or payment arrangements satisfactory to the court are made — and in no event for more than 2 years. Even while suspended, the person remains eligible, if otherwise qualified, for an occupational licence. The tool is meant to squeeze, not to destroy the ability to earn.
The paperwork. The court notifies the department of transportation, with the person's name and last-known address, a certification that they were notified of the support order and that arrearages of 90 or more days exist, and the place where the arrearages may be paid. Once the person pays in full or makes satisfactory arrangements, the court notifies the department immediately.
The section reaches arrearages existing on or after October 1, 1996, whenever they accrued and whenever the order was entered, and it sits alongside every other remedy rather than replacing any.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Wisconsin suspend my licence for unpaid child support?
Yes, if the payment is 90 or more days past due and the court finds you have the ability to pay the amount ordered.
How long does the suspension last?
Until all arrearages are paid in full or you make payment arrangements satisfactory to the court — and the suspension period may not exceed 2 years.
Can I still drive to work?
If otherwise eligible, you are eligible for an occupational licence at any time.
Does this apply to old arrears?
It applies to support arrearages existing on or after October 1, 1996, regardless of when they accrued or when the order was entered.
Source & verification. The statutory text, official notes and history are reproduced verbatim from the
Wisconsin Statutes, Chapter 767 (Wis. Stat. § 767.73), 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:driver licence suspension child support Wisconsin90 days past due support licenceoccupational licence child support767.73 suspension