An interpreter shall act in a civil proceeding, including a trial, by telephone or live audiovisual means, except that if any party objects to the interpreter acting by telephone or live audiovisual means, the court shall decide whether the interpreter is required to act in person. An interpreter under contract with the county who is readily available or an interpreter employed by the county shall be allowed to act in person in a civil proceeding. This section does not apply to a proceeding under ch. 48, 51, 54, or 55, except that on request of any party, the court may permit an interpreter to act in any proceeding under ch. 48, 51, 54, or 55, other than trial, by telephone or live audiovisual means. The court shall inform the parties prior to any civil proceeding that they may object to an interpreter acting by telephone or live audiovisual means, as provided under this section. In the event of a temporary technical problem in the videoconferencing technology used by the court, an interpreter may be allowed to act in person or by telephone.
807.14.Interpreters.
Ch. 807: Miscellaneous Provisions · Last amended 2025 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 807.14 has interpreters act by telephone or live audiovisual means in civil proceedings by default, lets any party force an in-person decision by objecting, guarantees an in-person interpreter who is readily available or county-employed, and largely exempts proceedings under Chapters 48, 51, 54, and 55.
Full Text of Section 807.14
Official Notes
Judicial Council Note, 1988: This section [created] allows interpreters to serve by telephone or live audio-visual means in civil proceedings other than trials, on request of any party and approval by the court. [Re Order effective Jan. 1, 1988]
NOTE: The above annotations relate to interpreters under s. 807.14, stats., before the repeal and recreation of this section by 2025 Wis. Act 179.
Plain-English Summary
Section 807.14 sets the default and the exceptions for how interpreters appear in civil proceedings. By default, an interpreter acts in a civil proceeding, including a trial, by telephone or live audiovisual means. But if any party objects to the interpreter acting that way, the court must decide whether the interpreter is required to act in person instead. An interpreter under contract with the county who is readily available, or an interpreter employed by the county, must be allowed to act in person.
The section does not apply to a proceeding under Chapter 48, 51, 54, or 55, except that on request of any party, the court may permit an interpreter to act in such a proceeding, other than trial, by telephone or live audiovisual means. The court must inform the parties before any civil proceeding that they may object to a remote interpreter under this section. And if a temporary technical problem arises in the videoconferencing technology the court uses, an interpreter may be allowed to act in person or by telephone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an interpreter normally appear in person or remotely for a civil proceeding?
Remotely, by default. The section provides that an interpreter shall act in a civil proceeding, including a trial, by telephone or live audiovisual means.
Can I insist on having an interpreter appear in person instead of by phone or video?
Yes. If any party objects to the interpreter acting by telephone or live audiovisual means, the court must decide whether the interpreter is required to act in person.
Is there a category of interpreter guaranteed to appear in person?
Yes. An interpreter under contract with the county who is readily available, or an interpreter employed by the county, must be allowed to act in person.
Does this section apply to proceedings under Chapters 48, 51, 54, or 55?
Not generally. The section does not apply to those proceedings, except that on request of any party, the court may permit an interpreter to act in such a proceeding, other than trial, by telephone or live audiovisual means.
What happens if there is a technical problem with the video connection during a hearing?
The section allows the interpreter to act in person or by telephone in the event of a temporary technical problem in the videoconferencing technology the court uses.
Amendment History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 141 Wis. 2d xiii (1987); 1997 a. 252; 2025 a. 179.
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 court interpreter by phone or videoobjecting to a remote interpreter wisconsinin person interpreter wisconsin courtinterpreter chapter 48 51 54 55 wisconsin