Sections 813.22 to 813.34 shall be so construed as to make uniform the law of those states which enact it.
813.32.Uniformity of interpretation.
Ch. 813: Injunctions, Ne Exeat and Receivers · Last amended 1975 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 813.32 directs that sections 813.22 to 813.34 be construed so as to make the law uniform among the states that enact the same act.
Full Text of Section 813.32
Plain-English Summary
Wisconsin’s absentee property provisions are drawn from a uniform act adopted, with variations, in more than one state. Section 813.32 is a standard interpretive instruction that comes with that kind of legislation: sections 813.22 to 813.34 are to be construed so as to make uniform the law of the states that enact them.
In practice, that means a court working through an ambiguous provision in this set of sections should favor a reading consistent with how other states applying the same uniform act have construed comparable language, rather than developing an interpretation unique to Wisconsin alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this section tell courts how to interpret the absentee property act?
Because sections 813.22 to 813.34 come from a uniform act other states have also enacted, and section 813.32 directs courts to construe them so as to keep the law uniform among those states.
Does this section create any new substantive rights?
No. It is an interpretive instruction directing how the surrounding sections are to be construed, not a rule that itself grants or limits any right.
Which sections does this uniformity instruction cover?
Sections 813.22 to 813.34, the full set making up the Uniform Absence as Evidence of Death and Absentee’s Property Act as adopted in Wisconsin.
Can Wisconsin courts look to other states’ interpretations of this act?
Section 813.32's uniformity directive supports doing so, since the goal is to keep the law consistent among the states that have enacted the same act.
Is a uniformity-of-interpretation clause a common feature of uniform acts?
Yes, provisions like section 813.32 are a standard feature that legislatures include when adopting model or uniform legislation shared across states.
Amendment History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 760, 780 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 813.32.
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 uniform act interpretationuniformity absentee property act wisconsinsections 813.22 to 813.34 wisconsinconstruing uniform absentee law wisconsin