Basic Guide to Wisconsin Small Claims Actions
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SC-6000V, 10/07 Basic Guide to Wisconsin Small Claims Actions
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This guide is provided by the Wisconsin court system to give you general
information about Wisconsin small claims actions. For additional information,
please see the Pre-Judgment and Post-Judgment Basic Steps Documents.
These basic steps documents and any forms mentioned in this basic guide may
be
obtained
from
the
Clerk
of
Court
or
online
at
http://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit.htm.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT
SMALL CLAIMS COURT
What is Small Claims court?
Small claims court is a special court where disputes are resolved more quickly
and inexpensively than in other court proceedings. The rules in small claims
court also are simpler and less formal. The person who sues is called the
plaintiff. The person who is sued is called the defendant.
What kinds of cases go to Small Claims court?
The three most common types of small claims cases are:
• Claim for money: civil actions where the amount claimed is $5,000 or less,
if the actions or proceedings are:
• For money judgments only, or
• For garnishment of wages.
• Eviction actions: Actions for eviction regardless of the amount of rent
claimed.
• Replevins:
• Non-consumer credit actions for replevin (return of personal
property) if the property claimed does not exceed $5,000, or
• Consumer credit transactions (for return of personal property that
was the subject of a lease or credit from a dealer) when the amount
financed is $25,000 or less.
Two less common types of small claims cases are:
• Return of earnest money for purchase of real property
• Action on an arbitration award for the purchase of real property
See also §799.01(1), Wisconsin Statutes, the Legal Glossary (page 13 of this
document), Pre-Judgment: Basic Steps for Handling a Small Claims Case for
Basic Guide to
Wisconsin Small Claims Actions
Basic Guide to Wisconsin Small Claims Actions
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