If a judgment is satisfied in whole or in part or as to any judgment debtor and the satisfaction is entered in the judgment and lien docket, the judgment shall, to the extent of the satisfaction, cease to be a lien. Any execution issued after the satisfaction is entered in the judgment and lien docket shall contain a direction to collect only the residue of the judgment, or to collect only from the judgment debtors remaining liable.
806.21.Judgment satisfied not a lien; partial satisfaction.
Ch. 806: Judgment · Last amended 1995 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 806.21 says that once a judgment’s satisfaction is entered on the docket, the judgment stops being a lien to the extent satisfied, and any execution issued after that entry must be limited to collecting only the unpaid balance or only from the debtors who remain liable.
Full Text of Section 806.21
Plain-English Summary
Once a judgment is satisfied in whole, in part, or as to any judgment debtor, and that satisfaction is entered in the judgment and lien docket, Section 806.21 provides that the judgment ceases to be a lien to the extent of the satisfaction. The lien does not shrink on its own; the docket entry is what triggers the change.
The section also limits any execution issued after that entry. It must direct collection of only the remaining, unsatisfied portion of the judgment, or must direct collection only from the judgment debtors who remain liable, protecting released debtors and satisfied amounts from being collected again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Once part of my judgment is satisfied, does the whole lien go away?
No. The judgment ceases to be a lien only to the extent of the satisfaction entered on the judgment and lien docket.
If a judgment is satisfied as to one debtor but not another, can execution still reach the released debtor’s property?
No. Any execution issued after the satisfaction is entered must direct collection only from the judgment debtors who remain liable.
If only part of the debt was paid, can the creditor still collect the full original amount?
No. Execution issued after the satisfaction is entered must direct collection of only the residue of the judgment.
Does the satisfaction need to be entered on the docket for this to take effect?
Yes. Section 806.21 ties the lien-ending effect to the satisfaction being entered in the judgment and lien docket, not merely to payment being made.
Does this section protect a partially released debtor from further collection?
Yes. Execution issued after the satisfaction is entered cannot be directed at collecting from a debtor the satisfaction released.
Amendment History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 737 (1975); 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 partial satisfaction judgment lien806.21 execution after partial satisfactionjudgment ceases to be a lien wisconsin