The order for arrest may be made at any time before judgment. It shall direct the sheriff of a particular county or generally the sheriff of any county where the defendant may be found, and require the sheriff forthwith to arrest the defendant and hold the defendant to bail in a specified sum.
818.06.Order for arrest, what to contain.
Ch. 818: Arrest and Bail · Last amended 1993 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 818.06 lets the order for arrest issue at any point before judgment, directing a named or any county’s sheriff to arrest the defendant right away and hold the defendant to bail in a stated sum.
Full Text of Section 818.06
Plain-English Summary
Section 818.06 sets the timing and content of the order for arrest itself. The order may be made at any time before judgment, so a plaintiff is not confined to a narrow window early in the case to seek it. It can direct the sheriff of one particular county, or more broadly the sheriff of whatever county the defendant happens to be found in.
Whichever way it is addressed, the order requires the sheriff to arrest the defendant right away, and to hold the defendant to bail in a sum the order specifies. That bail figure is what section 818.10 lets the defendant satisfy through a bail bond, and what section 818.11 lets the defendant satisfy instead through a cash deposit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How late in a Wisconsin civil case can an order for arrest be made?
Section 818.06 allows the order to be made at any time before judgment.
Does the order have to name a specific county’s sheriff?
Not necessarily. Section 818.06 lets the order direct either the sheriff of a particular county or, generally, the sheriff of any county where the defendant may be found.
What must the sheriff do once the order is issued?
Section 818.06 requires the sheriff to forthwith arrest the defendant and hold the defendant to bail in a specified sum.
Where does the bail amount come from?
Section 818.06 requires the order for arrest itself to specify the sum in which the defendant is held to bail.
What can the defendant do to be released after this kind of arrest?
Section 818.10 lets the defendant give a bail bond, and section 818.11 lets the defendant instead deposit the specified amount with the sheriff.
Amendment History
History: Sup. Ct. Order, 67 Wis. 2d 585, 758 (1975); Stats. 1975 s. 809.06; Sup. Ct. Order, 83 Wis. 2d xiiiv (1978); Stats. 1977 s. 818.06; 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 order for arrest before judgmentsheriff directed to arrest defendant wisconsinhold defendant to bail wisconsin civil casecontent of arrest order wisconsin statute