In this subchapter: (1) “Judicial day” means each day except Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday under s. 995.20. (2) “Petitioner” means a person who seeks enforcement of an order for the return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination. (3) “Respondent” means a person against whom a proceeding has been commenced for enforcement of an order for the return of a child under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction or enforcement of a child custody determination.
822.31.Definitions.
Ch. 822: Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act · Last amended 2007 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 822.31 defines judicial day, petitioner, and respondent for chapter 822’s enforcement subchapter, covering both proceedings to enforce a custody determination and proceedings to enforce a Hague Convention return order.
Full Text of Section 822.31
Plain-English Summary
Section 822.31 opens subchapter III, the enforcement portion of chapter 822, with three defined terms. Judicial day means each day except Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday under section 995.20, a definition enforcement provisions in the subchapter rely on when computing time. Petitioner means a person seeking enforcement of an order for a child’s return under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, or seeking enforcement of a child custody determination. Respondent means the person a proceeding for either kind of enforcement has been brought against.
The pairing of Hague Convention enforcement with ordinary custody-determination enforcement in a single set of definitions reflects how the subchapter works: section 822.32 lets a Wisconsin court enforce a Hague return order as if it were a child custody determination, so the same petitioner and respondent terms cover both kinds of proceedings throughout the rest of the subchapter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does judicial day mean in chapter 822’s enforcement subchapter?
Section 822.31(1) defines it as each day except Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday under section 995.20.
Who counts as a petitioner under this subchapter?
Section 822.31(2) defines petitioner as a person who seeks enforcement of an order for a child’s return under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, or who seeks enforcement of a child custody determination.
Who counts as a respondent under this subchapter?
Section 822.31(3) defines respondent as a person against whom a proceeding has been commenced to enforce a Hague Convention return order or a child custody determination.
Does this subchapter cover enforcement of Hague Convention return orders as well as ordinary custody orders?
Yes. Both the petitioner and respondent definitions in section 822.31 expressly cover proceedings to enforce a Hague Convention return order alongside proceedings to enforce a child custody determination.
Why does the enforcement subchapter need its own definitions section separate from section 822.02?
Because subchapter III introduces terms, petitioner, respondent, and judicial day, that are specific to enforcement proceedings and were not needed for the jurisdiction rules defined in section 822.02.
Amendment History
History: 2005 a. 130; 2007 a. 97.
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 child custody enforcement definitionswho is a petitioner respondent custody enforcement wisconsinwis stat 822.31hague convention child abduction wisconsin enforcement