Legal Question in Family Law in Wisconsin

I posted the following in California: My ex owes me a substantial amount ($60K+) in community property separation dollars that were agreed to in our divorce settlement in California. He stopped making any kind of payments (partial/full), stopped answering emails and went into hiding in Wisconsin. I believe I have found him there in Milwaukee and he has since remarried. Can I go after him for the money I am owed? I fear that I may spook him further into hiding if I were to try to communicate with him. This stems from a divorce in 2001. He stopped communicating with me in 2005. I have emails showing his understanding that he owes the money as well as payment records.

I received an answer from an attorney in California and he suggested that I re-post this on the Wisconsin section to see what can be domesticated there and enforced since I am not aware of assets that he has that I could attach to for payment. Again, I know that any type of movement that he were to get wind of would spook him further into hiding.


Asked on 6/25/13, 8:07 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Maxwell Livingston Law Offices of Maxwell Charles Livingston

Essentially, the answer is "yes". In Wisconsin, a properly filed "foreign judgement" from another county or state is treated the same as a judgement from the county of your ex's residence. What this means is that you have 20 years to enforce the judgement, with a renewable 20 years under First Wisconsin Nat. Bank of Milwauke v. Rische OR 10 years to act on a lien of real property interest acquired after the judgement with a renewable 10 years under Meier v. Purdin.

If you have further questions, or need further assistance, I welcome you to call or email me.

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Answered on 6/26/13, 3:14 am


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