Section 814.62. Fees in garnishment, wage earner and small claims actions.

  The clerk of court shall collect the fees provided in this section. Unless a specific exemption is provided, a governmental unit, as defined in s. 108.02 (17) , shall pay fees under this section. The clerk shall collect the following fees:

(1)   Garnishment actions. The fee for commencing a garnishment action under ch. 812 , including actions under s. 799.01 (1) (d) 2. , is $20, except that there is no fee for commencing a garnishment action to satisfy an order for victim restitution under s. 973.20 (1r) . Of the fees received by the clerk under this subsection, the county treasurer shall pay $12.50 to the secretary of administration for deposit in the general fund and shall retain the balance for the use of the county. The secretary of administration shall credit $5 of the $12.50 to the appropriation under s. 20.680 (2) (j) .

(2)   Wage earner actions. The fee for commencing wage earner amortization proceedings under s. 128.21 is $10.

(3)   Small claims actions.

(a) In a small claims action under ch. 799 , at the time of issuance of a summons or other process in a proceeding not commenced by a summons, the plaintiff shall pay to the clerk of court a fee of $22.

(b) If a counterclaim or cross complaint is filed under s. 799.02 (1) , the person filing the same shall pay a fee equal to the difference between the fee under s. 814.61 (1) (a) and the fee under par. (a) .

(c) For all other services of the clerk in a small claims action, the clerk shall collect the fees prescribed in s. 814.61 .

(d)

2. Of the fees received by the clerk under par. (a) , the county treasurer shall pay $11.80 to the secretary of administration for deposit in the general fund and shall retain the balance for the use of the county. The secretary of administration shall credit the $11.80 to the appropriation under s. 20.680 (2) (j) .

3. Of the fees received by the clerk under par. (b) , the county treasurer shall pay $27.20 to the secretary of administration for deposit in the general fund and shall retain the balance for the use of the county. The secretary of administration shall credit $10 of the $27.20 to the appropriation under s. 20.680 (2) (j) .

(e) If any party files a demand for a jury trial in any action under ch. 799 , the party demanding the jury trial shall pay a fee equal to the difference between the fee under s. 814.61 (1) (a) and the fee under par. (a) , in addition to the fee under s. 814.61 (4) .

(4)   Mailing fee. For service by mail under s. 799.12 , the clerk shall collect $2 for each defendant to cover the expense of mailing. If service by certified mail return receipt requested is required, the clerk shall collect for each defendant $2 plus the cost for the certified mailing, rounded up to the nearest dollar.

1981 c. 317 ; 1983 a. 27 ; 1985 a. 29 ; 1987 a. 208 , 399 ; 1989 a. 31 , 359 ; 1991 a. 39 ; 1993 a. 16 ; 1995 a. 27 ; Sup. Ct. Order No. 95-10 , 195 Wis. 2d xv (1996); 2003 a. 33 ; 2015 a. 355 .