Which Wisconsin court hears your civil case
Civil jurisdiction thresholds with statutory authority. Source: 1Court Directory, verified 2026-08-20 (official source).
| Tier | Court | Amount in controversy | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small claims | Circuit Court: Small Claims $5,000 for tort/personal-injury and third-party claims; no cap for eviction. | Up to $10,000 | Wis. Stat. § 799.01 |
| General civil | Circuit Court Over $10,000. | No limit | Wis. Const. art. VII |
Answer deadline after service
A defendant generally has 20 days after service of the summons and complaint to file an answer (Wis. Stat. § 802.06(1)).
15 Wisconsin forms SimpleCase prepares
Generated from your uploaded complaint, with captions and terminology matched to Wisconsin practice. Every document is a draft for attorney review.
- SummonsWis. Stat. §§ 801.09/801.095: 20-day answer (45 for state defendants/publication)
- Civil Case Cover SheetWisconsin Circuit Court: case class code (e.g. 30301 Money Judgment)
- Affidavit of ServiceWis. Stat. § 801.10: authenticated copy served within 90 days (§ 801.02(1))
- Petition for Waiver of Fees and Costs (CV-410A)Wis. Stat. § 814.29: with CV-410B order
- Notice of Voluntary DismissalWis. Stat. § 805.04: voluntary dismissal
- Motion for Default JudgmentWis. Stat. § 806.02: after § 801.09(2)(a) answer period
- Affidavit of Non-Military ServiceSCRA: 50 U.S.C. § 3931
- Default JudgmentWis. Stat. § 806.02: prime + 1% interest (§ 815.05(8)); docketed per § 806.10
- Earnings Garnishment Notice (CV-421)MANDATORY: served on debtor at/before commencement (§ 812.35(4))
- Earnings Garnishment (CV-422)Wis. Stat. § 812.35: separate action, 13 weeks, 20% cap, $15 garnishee fee
- Earnings Garnishment: Exemption Notice (CV-423)MANDATORY: accompanies service with two debtor answer blanks (§ 812.37)
- Earnings Garnishment: Debtor's Answer (CV-424)Served in duplicate: debtor's exemption claim (§ 812.37)
- Non-Earnings GarnishmentWis. Stat. §§ 812.01-812.19: attorney-drafted; no statewide form
- Supplemental Proceedings: ExaminationWis. Stat. § 816.03: post-judgment asset discovery
- Satisfaction of Judgment (GF-129)Releases the docketed judgment and lien
Filing packages
One click assembles the forms a Wisconsin matter typically needs at each stage.
General Civil
Summons · Civil Case Cover Sheet · Affidavit of Service
Collections: File & Serve
Summons · Civil Case Cover Sheet · Affidavit of Service
Collections: Default Judgment
Motion for Default Judgment · Affidavit of Non-Military Service · Default Judgment
Collections: Enforce Judgment
Earnings Garnishment Notice (CV-421) · Earnings Garnishment (CV-422) · Earnings Garnishment: Exemption Notice (CV-423) · Earnings Garnishment: Debtor's Answer (CV-424) · Non-Earnings Garnishment · Supplemental Proceedings: Examination · Satisfaction of Judgment (GF-129)
Fee Waiver
Petition for Waiver of Fees and Costs (CV-410A)
Voluntary Dismissal
Notice of Voluntary Dismissal
County-level court details
Filing fees, clerk contacts, e-filing portals, and courthouse addresses for every Wisconsin county are in the 1Court Directory: Wisconsin.
How it works
Upload your case document
PDF, Word, image, or text. SimpleCase extracts parties, claims, amounts, and dates.
Confirm venue and court
For unfiled cases, SimpleCase suggests the county, court level, and courthouse, with the statutory basis shown.
Generate the package
Every required form, filled and assembled as a ZIP, ready for attorney review and filing.
Turn a complaint into a filing-ready case
Your first 3 cases are free. No card required.
Try SimpleCase freeSimpleCase prepares document drafts for attorney review; it is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created by using it. Court data on this page is sourced from the 1Court Directory with the verification date shown, and statutes and court rules change: always confirm current requirements, deadlines, and fees with the clerk of the court before filing.