Short answer. Cases go to the Small claims court. All parties must attend the first court date (the return date). Who carries out a lockout: sheriff.
At a glance
- Court
- Small claims court. All eviction actions are heard in small claims court, in the county where the rental is.
"The statutes require all eviction actions to be heard in small claims court"
Source 1 - Filing fee
- $94.50 to file a small claims eviction in both county clerk pages read (Clark and Jefferson); personal service is required and its cost is extra.
"If this is an eviction action the fee is $94.50 and personal service is required."
Source 6 - Hearing after filing
- In an eviction the summons sets the return date (the first court date) 5 to 25 days after the summons is issued, and it must be served at least 5 days before that date (the dates here count from filing).
"not less than 5 days nor more than 25 days from the issue date"
Source 4 - Time to answer or appear
- All parties must attend the first court date (the return date).
"All parties are required to attend the first court date."
Source 2 - Judgment to writ
- The court orders the writ at judgment; in hardship cases it can stay issuance up to 30 days, on condition the tenant pays the rent due.
"the court shall immediately order that a writ of restitution be issued"
Source 3 - Writ to lockout
- The landlord delivers the writ to the sheriff within 30 days of issuance; the sheriff executes it within 10 days of receiving it.
"within 10 days of receiving the writ"
Source 1 - Who carries out the lockout
- Sheriff. Only the sheriff can execute the writ of restitution.
"Only the sheriff has the authority to execute the writ of restitution."
Source 1 - Paying to stop the case
- The tenant may have the option to pay the outstanding rent to stop the eviction process.
"the tenant may have the option to pay the outstanding rent to stop the eviction process."
Source 1 - Right to counsel (statewide)
- No statewide right to counsel for tenants in eviction cases (as of November 2026, per the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel): its tracker of enacted laws lists no statewide law here.
"An eviction right to counsel is created by an enacted law that, at a minimum:"
Source 5, National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel (secondary source)
Sample timeline: filed Monday, December 7, 2026
Earliest under the statute; courts' calendars often take longer.
Need the other side served? Process serving with an affidavit of service.
- Answer or appear: Saturday, December 12, 2026
- Hearing or trial: Saturday, December 12, 2026
- Judgment: Saturday, December 12, 2026
- Writ or warrant of possession: Saturday, December 12, 2026
- Earliest lockout: Saturday, December 12, 2026
Another date: open the estimator.
Want us to handle it?
A runner files your papers in person at the clerk's window and sends you a scan of the stamped copy. We file what you prepared; we don't give legal advice.
Price: Outside New Jersey it goes through our contractor network: quote-based, confirmed before any work starts, and booked once a local contractor accepts. In New Jersey it is from $75 per filing, court fees at cost. Starting rates. Your exact price is quoted after we confirm a local notary/runner, before you pay.
Help the official pages point to
- The tenant may have the option to pay the outstanding rent to stop the eviction process.
Not stated on the pages we read: diversion or mediation (statewide).
Sources
- Wisconsin Legislative Council: Eviction of a Residential Tenant (IM-2024-12, rev. Dec. 16, 2024) (checked November 2026)
- Wisconsin Court System: Basic Steps for Handling Small Claims for Eviction Actions (SC-6010V, 09/24) (checked November 2026)
- Wisconsin Statutes 799.44 and 799.45 (checked November 2026)
- Wis. Stat. § 799.05 Summons (Wisconsin State Legislature) (checked November 2026)
- National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel (secondary source): National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel: Enacted Eviction Right to Counsel and Eviction Defense Programs (last modified November 2026) (checked November 2026)
- Clark County, Wisconsin: Small Claims Information (checked November 2026)
- Jefferson County, Wisconsin Clerk of Courts: Small Claims (checked November 2026)
Sourced from official pages; a few facts from vetted secondary sources, marked "(secondary source)".
General information, not legal advice; we are not lawyers. Not a court form. Earliest under the statute; courts' calendars often take longer.
Common questions
Which court hears eviction cases in Wisconsin?
Small claims court. All eviction actions are heard in small claims court, in the county where the rental is.
How long does a tenant in Wisconsin have to respond?
All parties must attend the first court date (the return date).
How soon after filing is the Wisconsin hearing?
In an eviction the summons sets the return date (the first court date) 5 to 25 days after the summons is issued, and it must be served at least 5 days before that date (the dates here count from filing). That's the statute's window; the court's own calendar decides the actual date.
When can a Wisconsin landlord get the writ after winning?
The court orders the writ at judgment; in hardship cases it can stay issuance up to 30 days, on condition the tenant pays the rent due.
How long between the writ and a lockout in Wisconsin?
The landlord delivers the writ to the sheriff within 30 days of issuance; the sheriff executes it within 10 days of receiving it.
Who carries out an eviction in Wisconsin?
Sheriff. Only the sheriff can execute the writ of restitution. The officer acts on the court's order.
Can paying the rent stop a Wisconsin eviction case?
The tenant may have the option to pay the outstanding rent to stop the eviction process.
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