Every judgment and decree requiring the payment of money rendered in a district court of the United States within this state shall be a lien upon the real property of the judgment debtor situated in the county in which it is entered, the same as a judgment of the state court. A transcript of the judgment may be filed with the clerk of circuit court of any other county and shall be entered in the office of the clerk of circuit court as in the case of judgments and decrees of the state courts and with like effect, on payment of fees as provided in s. 814.61 (5).
806.17.Entering federal judgments.
Ch. 806: Judgment · Last amended 1995 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 806.17 gives a federal district court money judgment rendered in Wisconsin the same lien effect on the debtor’s real property as a state court judgment, and lets it be extended to other counties by filing a transcript and paying the standard fee.
Full Text of Section 806.17
Plain-English Summary
Section 806.17 treats a federal money judgment the same as a state one for lien purposes. Every judgment and decree requiring payment of money, rendered in a United States district court within Wisconsin, becomes a lien on the judgment debtor’s real property in the county where it is entered, the same as a judgment of a state court.
A transcript of that federal judgment may be filed with the clerk of circuit court of any other county, where it is entered the same way state court judgments and decrees are entered, with the same effect, upon payment of the fees the statute specifies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a federal court money judgment create a lien on real estate the same way a state judgment does?
Yes. Section 806.17 states that a federal district court’s money judgment or decree rendered within Wisconsin becomes a lien on the debtor’s real property in the county where it is entered, the same as a state court judgment.
Can I extend a federal judgment’s lien to property in other Wisconsin counties?
Yes. A transcript of the judgment may be filed with the clerk of circuit court of another county and entered there.
Which federal court judgments does this section cover?
Judgments and decrees requiring payment of money, rendered in a United States district court within Wisconsin.
What do I have to pay to extend a federal judgment to another county?
The fees specified by the statute governing fees payable to the clerk of circuit court.
Is the process different from extending a state court judgment to another county?
No. Section 806.17 has the federal judgment entered in the office of the clerk of circuit court the same way judgments and decrees of the state courts are entered, with like effect.
Amendment History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 734 (1975); 1975 c. 218; 1981 c. 317 s. 2202; 1995 a. 224.
Source & verification. Section text and official notes are
reproduced verbatim from the Wisconsin Statutes, published by the
Wisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau). Last verified July 15, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: wisconsin federal court judgment lien806.17 docketing federal judgmentextending federal judgment other counties wisconsin