A judgment which requires the payment of money or the delivery of property may be enforced in those respects by execution. Where it requires the performance of any other act a certified copy of the judgment may be served upon the party, person or officer who is required to obey the same, and if he or she refuse he or she may be punished for contempt, and his or her obedience enforced.
815.02.Judgments, enforced by execution.
Ch. 815: Executions · Last amended 1993 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 815.02 lets a court enforce a money or property judgment through execution, and lets it enforce any other kind of judgment by serving a certified copy on the person required to obey it and holding that person in contempt if they refuse.
Full Text of Section 815.02
Plain-English Summary
Section 815.02 splits judgment enforcement into two tracks. A judgment that requires the payment of money or the delivery of property is enforced, in those respects, by execution — the process chapter 815’s later sections detail. That covers most ordinary civil judgments.
For anything else a judgment might require, the section provides a different route: a certified copy of the judgment may be served on the party, person, or officer who’s required to obey it, and if that person refuses, they may be punished for contempt, with their obedience enforced that way.
This split explains why chapter 815’s execution provisions focus so heavily on money and property — writs directing an officer to seize assets or deliver goods — while other kinds of judicial commands, like an order to do or stop doing something, rely on the court’s contempt power instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a Wisconsin court enforce a money judgment?
Through execution, per section 815.02.
How is a judgment enforced when it orders someone to do something other than pay money or deliver property?
A certified copy of the judgment is served on the person required to obey it, and that person may be punished for contempt if they refuse.
Can a property-delivery judgment be enforced by execution?
Yes, section 815.02 covers judgments requiring the delivery of property, not just judgments requiring payment of money.
What happens if someone refuses to comply with a non-money judgment after being served?
They may be punished for contempt, and their obedience enforced that way.
Does chapter 815 spell out the contempt process in detail?
No, section 815.02 identifies contempt as the enforcement mechanism for judgments requiring something other than payment or delivery, but the chapter’s later sections focus on execution instead.
Amendment History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.02; 1993 a. 486.
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 judgment execution enforcement815.02 wisconsin statutecontempt for non money judgment wisconsinenforce judgment for delivery of property wisconsin