Upon executions against property the officer shall levy upon any current money of the United States and shall pay and return the same without exposing it for sale, and the officer may also levy upon and sell any evidences of debt circulated as money, or a bond or other instrument for the payment of money which is negotiable or payable to the bearer or holder.
815.25.Money applied; negotiable instruments sold.
Ch. 815: Executions · Last amended 1993 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 815.25 requires an officer executing against property to seize any U.S. currency found and apply it directly to the judgment without a sale, while allowing the officer to levy on and sell negotiable instruments or bearer paper that circulates like money.
Full Text of Section 815.25
Plain-English Summary
Section 815.25 treats cash differently from other kinds of property reached in an execution against property. Current money of the United States is levied on, paid, and returned without exposing it for sale — there is no need to auction actual currency, since its value is already fixed and certain.
The officer’s authority extends further to items that function like money without being currency itself. The officer may also levy on and sell any evidences of debt circulated as money, or a bond or other instrument for the payment of money that is negotiable or payable to the bearer or holder. Those instruments, unlike cash, are sold to convert them into money applied against the execution.
Frequently Asked Questions
If the officer finds actual cash while executing on property, does it get sold at auction?
No. Section 815.25 requires current money of the United States to be paid and returned without exposing it for sale.
Can an officer seize items like promissory notes or bonds payable to the bearer?
Yes. The officer may levy on and sell evidences of debt circulated as money, or bonds or other instruments negotiable or payable to the bearer or holder.
Why does cash get treated differently from negotiable instruments?
Section 815.25 directs cash to be paid and returned without a sale, while separately authorizing the officer to levy on and sell negotiable instruments and bearer paper, so the two categories follow different procedures under the text itself.
Does this rule apply to any execution, or only executions against a person?
It applies to executions against property.
What kinds of instruments qualify as sellable under this section?
Evidences of debt circulated as money, or a bond or other instrument for the payment of money that is negotiable or payable to the bearer or holder.
Amendment History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 761 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 815.25; 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 execution seizing cashlevy on negotiable instruments wisconsinwis stat 815.25selling bearer bonds execution wisconsinofficer levy on money execution wisconsin