No action shall be brought upon a judgment rendered in any court of this state between the same parties, without leave of the court, for good cause shown, on notice to the adverse party.
806.23.Action on judgment, when brought.
Ch. 806: Judgment · Last amended 1975 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 806.23 bars filing a new lawsuit on an existing Wisconsin judgment between the same parties unless the court first grants leave for good cause shown, after notice to the adverse party.
Full Text of Section 806.23
Plain-English Summary
Section 806.23 keeps a party from suing again on a judgment already rendered between the same parties. No action may be brought upon a judgment rendered in any court of this state between the same parties without first obtaining leave of the court.
Getting that leave requires two things: good cause shown, and notice to the adverse party before the court rules on the request. Both requirements protect the party who would face the new action from being sued a second time on the same judgment without a chance to be heard on why leave should not be granted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue again on a judgment I already won in Wisconsin?
Only with leave of court, obtained for good cause shown and after notice to the adverse party.
Do I need to notify the other party before asking for permission to sue on an existing judgment?
Yes. Section 806.23 requires notice to the adverse party as part of obtaining leave of court.
What standard does the court use to decide whether to allow a new action on the judgment?
Good cause shown.
Does this restriction apply to judgments from any Wisconsin court?
Yes. It applies to a judgment rendered in any court of this state, as long as the new action would be between the same parties.
What happens if I file a new suit on the judgment without getting leave first?
Section 806.23 states that no action shall be brought upon such a judgment without leave of the court, so filing without first obtaining leave is not permitted under the section’s terms.
Amendment History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 738 (1975).
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 suing on an existing judgment806.23 leave of court new action judgmentaction on a judgment wisconsin rule