If a question of existence or exercise of jurisdiction under this chapter is raised in a child custody proceeding, the question, upon request of a party, shall be given priority on the calendar and handled expeditiously.
822.07.Priority.
Ch. 822: Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act · Last amended 2005 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 822.07 requires a Wisconsin court to give priority calendar treatment and handle a chapter 822 jurisdiction dispute quickly whenever a party asks it to.
Full Text of Section 822.07
Plain-English Summary
Section 822.07 is a short procedural directive. When the existence or exercise of jurisdiction under chapter 822 is raised as a question in a custody proceeding, and a party requests it, that question must be given priority on the calendar and handled expeditiously.
The speed requirement matters because jurisdiction fights can stall a custody case for months while a child’s living arrangement stays unsettled. Prompt resolution of a jurisdiction question serves the child’s interest that section 822.01 identifies as the chapter’s guiding concern.
Section 822.07 does not decide who has jurisdiction; it only sets the pace at which that question gets resolved once a party asks for priority treatment. The substantive jurisdiction rules the court applies come from sections 822.21 through 822.28.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if the parties disagree about which state has custody jurisdiction in a Wisconsin case?
If a party requests it, section 822.07 requires the court to give that jurisdiction question priority on the calendar and handle it expeditiously.
Does the court automatically expedite a jurisdiction dispute without anyone asking?
The section conditions priority treatment on a party’s request; it applies upon request of a party rather than as an automatic step the court takes on its own.
Why does chapter 822 require quick handling of jurisdiction disputes?
Uncertainty over which court has authority can leave a child’s custody arrangement unresolved for an extended period, which cuts against the chapter’s stated purpose of protecting the child’s well-being.
Does section 822.07 decide who has jurisdiction over a custody case?
No. It is a procedural rule about calendar priority and speed, not a substantive jurisdiction rule.
Which sections decide the jurisdiction question that section 822.07 says must be handled quickly?
Sections 822.21 through 822.28 in subchapter II set out the substantive rules for initial jurisdiction, continuing jurisdiction, modification jurisdiction, and related issues like inconvenient forum.
Amendment History
History: 2005 a. 130.
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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