EVERY DEADLINE
34 periods Wisconsin law measures, gathered out of the file and put in order, shortest first. Each one says what starts it, whose period it is, and what the law attaches to it. The shortest here is 48 hours. The longest is 6 years.
Every period on this page is stated by a section of the file and carries that section's own authority. None of it is a calculation: a period that turns on facts, on service, or on a court's discretion is described the way the section describes it and no further.
34 deadlines
Being stopped2
5 days
Executing and returning a search warrant
- From
- The warrant's issue
- Whose
- The officers
A search warrant has to be executed and returned not more than 5 days after it was issued.
At least 7 days
The wait before an arrest after a child's accidental shooting
- From
- The shooting
- Whose
- The officers
Where the person alleged to have committed either of two offenses the section names is the parent or guardian of a child injured or killed in an accidental shooting, no officer may make that arrest until at least 7 days after the shooting.
Court and money29
48 hours
Changing the locks for a tenant under threat
- From
- The tenant's request with a certified copy of the order or complaint
- Whose
- The landlord
On the tenant's request, the landlord changes the locks, or permits the tenant to, within 48 hours.
3 business days
Cancelling a sale made at home
- From
- The merchant giving the required notice
- Whose
- The customer
The customer may cancel until midnight of the 3rd business day after the merchant gives the required notice.
5 business days
Demanding a written denial of a records request
- From
- An oral denial
- Whose
- The requester
An oral denial becomes written if the requester demands it within 5 business days.
At least 5 days
Ending the tenancy of a tenant who threatens another
- From
- The landlord's written notice
- Whose
- The landlord
A landlord may end the tenancy of a tenant who threatens another tenant in the same building or community and is named in such an order or complaint, on written notice of at least 5 days, which the tenant can contest in the eviction action.
At least 5 days
Remedying another breach under a lease of a year or less
- From
- The written notice
- Whose
- The tenant
For another breach under a lease of one year or less, the notice is remedy or vacate, at least 5 days; for a second breach within one year, vacate on at least 14 days.
At least 5 days
The notice to pay or vacate on a month to month or week to week tenancy
- From
- The written notice
- Whose
- The tenant
For unpaid rent on a month to month or week to week tenancy, the notice is pay or vacate, at least 5 days.
At least 5 days
The notice to pay or vacate under a lease of a year or less
- From
- The written notice
- Whose
- The tenant
For unpaid rent under a lease of one year or less, the notice is pay or vacate, at least 5 days; for a second default within one year, vacate on at least 14 days.
At least 5 days
The notice to vacate for criminal or drug related activity
- From
- The written notice
- Whose
- The tenant
For criminal activity that threatens others, or drug related criminal activity on or near the premises, the notice is vacate, at least 5 days, with no chance to remedy.
6 days
Wages missed at the set time
- From
- The employee's demand
- Whose
- The employer
An employee who was absent or otherwise not paid at the set time is paid at any time after that upon 6 days' demand.
7 days
Medication and medical equipment left behind
- From
- The landlord discovering them
- Whose
- The landlord
Prescription medication and prescription medical equipment are held for 7 days from the day the landlord discovers them, and returned promptly if the tenant asks before the landlord disposes of them.
14 days
The injunction hearing after a temporary restraining order
- From
- The temporary order issuing
- Whose
- The court
The temporary order lasts until the injunction hearing, which is held within 14 days after the order issues unless extended.
At least 14 days
The notice to vacate a month to month tenancy in default
- From
- The written notice
- Whose
- The tenant
On a month to month tenancy while the tenant is in default on rent, the notice may instead be to vacate, at least 14 days.
20 days
Answering the department's certified mail
- From
- The department's certified mail
- Whose
- The person who filed the complaint
The department dismisses a complaint when the person who filed it does not respond within 20 days to its certified mail.
21 days
Returning the security deposit
- From
- The rental agreement ending, when the tenant leaves that day
- Whose
- The landlord
The landlord delivers or mails the full deposit, less what the statute allows to be withheld, within 21 days; when the tenant leaves earlier the days run from the agreement's end or a new tenancy, and when the tenant leaves later, from the day the landlord learns the tenant has gone.
At least 28 days
Ending a periodic tenancy or a tenancy at will
- From
- The written notice
- Whose
- The landlord or the tenant
A month to month or other periodic tenancy, or a tenancy at will, ends on written notice from either side of at least 28 days, and a periodic tenancy only at the end of a rental period.
At least 30 days
Notice of a default under a lease of more than a year
- From
- The written notice
- Whose
- The tenant
For any default under a lease of more than one year, the notice is pay, repair or comply, at least 30 days.
30 days
Notice of a work injury
- From
- The injury, or knowing the disability and its link to the work
- Whose
- The employee
A compensation claim needs actual notice to the employer, or an officer, manager or designated representative, within 30 days after the injury or after the employee knew or ought to have known the disability and its link to the work.
30 days
The lemon law refund
- From
- The consumer offering to transfer title
- Whose
- The manufacturer
A refund is due no later than 30 days after the consumer offers to transfer title.
31 days
How far a payday can lag the work it pays for
- From
- The last day the payday covers
- Whose
- The employer
An employer pays every employee at least monthly all wages earned to a day not more than 31 days before the payday.
120 days
The wait before a final divorce hearing
- From
- Service of the summons and petition, or filing a joint petition
- Whose
- The court
A divorce or legal separation cannot go to final hearing or trial, or be granted, until 120 days after the summons and petition were served on the other spouse, or 120 days after a joint petition was filed.
300 days
A discrimination complaint to the department
- From
- The alleged discrimination
- Whose
- The person aggrieved
The department may receive and investigate a complaint filed no more than 300 days after the alleged discrimination.
The warranty term or 1 year after first delivery, whichever is sooner
Reporting a defect under the lemon law
- From
- First delivery of the new vehicle
- Whose
- The consumer
A nonconformity the consumer reports, with the vehicle made available for repair, before the warranty ends or one year after first delivery, whichever is sooner, has to be repaired.
Two dates and a comparison, so this one is not worked out for you.The whole of it: Lemon Law →1 year
Suing over housing discrimination
- From
- The violation occurring or ending
- Whose
- The person aggrieved
A person alleging a violation may bring a civil action for an injunction and damages, including punitive damages, with costs and reasonable attorney fees to a prevailing plaintiff, within one year.
2 years
Applying to the department for compensation
- From
- The injury, or knowing the disability and its link to the work
- Whose
- The employee
If no compensation other than medical treatment or burial expense has been paid, and no application is filed within 2 years, the right is barred, unless the employer knew or should have known of the injury within those 2 years.
36 months
Suing under the lemon law
- From
- First delivery
- Whose
- The consumer
A consumer may sue for damages from a violation within 36 months after first delivery, and a consumer who wins recovers the pecuniary loss with costs and reasonable attorney fees.
3 years
Suing for personal injury or wrongful death
- From
- The claim accruing
- Whose
- The person injured, or the family
An action for injury to the person, including in a car accident, or for wrongful death is brought within 3 years; wrongful death arising from a motor vehicle accident has 2 years after the claim accrues.
3 years
Suing over a deceptive practice
- From
- The act or practice
- Whose
- The person harmed
No action may begin more than 3 years after the act or practice.
4 years
How long a domestic abuse injunction lasts
- From
- The injunction
- Whose
- The court
After the hearing an injunction can run as long as the petitioner asks, up to 4 years, and in the cases the section lists up to 10 years.
6 years
Suing on a contract
- From
- The claim accruing
- Whose
- The party suing
An action on a contract, obligation or liability, express or implied, is brought within 6 years after the claim accrues.
Carrying a firearm2
48 hours
Presenting a carry license after not displaying it
- From
- The officer's request
- Whose
- The licensee
Not displaying the license and identification on request is a forfeiture of not more than $25, excused if the licensee presents them to the officer's agency within 48 hours.
21 days
The decision on a license to carry
- From
- A complete application
- Whose
- The department
Within 21 days after a complete application the department issues the license or denies it in writing with the reason.
Charges and penalties1
10 days
Returning leased property after the lease expires
- From
- The written lease expiring
- Whose
- The person holding the property
Intentionally not returning personal property held under a written lease after it expires falls under the theft section, but returning it, other than a motor vehicle, within 10 days after expiry is outside that.
MyRightz is legal education, not legal advice. Nothing here creates an attorney client relationship. Applying the law to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.