Under this subchapter, a court of this state may enforce an order for the return of the child made under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction as if it were a child custody determination.
822.32.Enforcement under Hague Convention.
Ch. 822: Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act · Last amended 2005 · Last verified July 15, 2026
In one sentenceSection 822.32 lets a Wisconsin court enforce a Hague Convention order for a child’s return the same way it would enforce any other custody determination under subchapter III.
Full Text of Section 822.32
Plain-English Summary
Section 822.32 is a short but consequential rule. It lets a Wisconsin court, under subchapter III, enforce an order for a child’s return made under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction as if it were a child custody determination.
That treatment matters because it folds Hague return orders into the enforcement tools the rest of subchapter III supplies, including registration under section 822.35 and enforcement of a registered determination under section 822.36, rather than requiring a separate enforcement mechanism just for Hague orders. It also explains why section 822.31 defines petitioner and respondent broadly enough to cover both Hague enforcement proceedings and ordinary custody-determination enforcement proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a Wisconsin court enforce an order for a child’s return issued under the Hague Convention?
Yes. Section 822.32 lets a court enforce that kind of order as if it were a child custody determination.
Does Wisconsin need a separate enforcement process for Hague Convention orders?
No. Section 822.32 folds Hague return orders into the existing enforcement framework for child custody determinations instead of creating a separate process.
What enforcement tools become available once a Hague order is treated as a custody determination?
The registration and enforcement mechanisms elsewhere in subchapter III, including registration under section 822.35 and enforcement of a registered determination under section 822.36.
Where are petitioner and respondent defined for a Hague enforcement proceeding?
Section 822.31 defines both terms to cover a person seeking, or a person defending against, enforcement of a Hague Convention return order.
Does section 822.32 create the underlying Hague Convention return order, or just enforce it?
Just enforce it. The return order itself comes from the Hague Convention proceeding; section 822.32 addresses how a Wisconsin court treats that order for enforcement purposes.
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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