A sheriff who executes or serves, or who assists a petitioner in executing or serving, a temporary restraining order, injunction, or other document or notice under s. 813.12, 813.122, 813.123, or 813.125 may use the Wisconsin Statewide Victim Notification service or another service notification system administered by the department of corrections that enables the petitioner to receive an automated notification of the service of the temporary restraining order, injunction, or other document or notice that must be served on the respondent. A sheriff for a county that uses the system shall enter each order for service into the system as soon as practicable so that the petitioner receives timely notification of the service. The clerk of court for a county that uses a service notification system shall, at the time a petition is filed under s. 813.12, 813.122, 813.123, or 813.125, make available to the petitioner information on how to gain access to the system.
813.115.Service notification system.
Ch. 813: Injunctions, Ne Exeat and Receivers · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 813.115 lets sheriffs use a statewide victim notification service when they serve domestic abuse, child abuse, individuals-at-risk, or harassment restraining orders, so petitioners learn automatically once the respondent has been served, and it requires clerks of court to explain the system to petitioners.
Full Text of Section 813.115
Plain-English Summary
Knowing exactly when a restraining order has reached the respondent can matter as much as getting the order in the first place. Section 813.115 lets a sheriff who executes or serves, or who assists a petitioner in executing or serving, a temporary restraining order, injunction, or other document or notice under section 813.12, 813.122, 813.123, or 813.125 use the Wisconsin Statewide Victim Notification service, or another service notification system the department of corrections administers, so the petitioner receives an automated notification once service is complete.
For a county that uses the system, the sheriff must enter each order for service into it as soon as practicable, so the petitioner gets timely notice. And the clerk of circuit court for a county using the system must, at the time a petition is filed under one of the covered sections, make available information on how the petitioner can access it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will I know when a restraining order has been served on the respondent?
If the sheriff uses the Wisconsin Statewide Victim Notification service or another system the department of corrections administers, you receive an automated notification once service is complete.
Which types of orders does this notification system cover?
Orders and documents under sections 813.12, 813.122, 813.123, or 813.125 — the domestic abuse, child abuse, individuals-at-risk, and harassment restraining order provisions.
Who is responsible for entering the order into the notification system?
The sheriff for a county that uses the system, who must enter each order for service into it as soon as practicable.
Will the clerk of court tell me about this system when I file my petition?
Yes. The clerk of circuit court for a county that uses a service notification system must make information about accessing it available when the petition is filed.
Does this section apply when a private process server, rather than the sheriff, serves the order?
Section 813.115 addresses a sheriff who executes, serves, or assists a petitioner in executing or serving the order, so it speaks to the sheriff’s role in that process.
Amendment History
History: 2015 a. 349; 2017 a. 365.
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
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