Crawford County Circuit Court, Wisconsin
Court-Level Rules, Filing Procedures & Policies
- Rules last changed:
Adjournments
- A continuance request must be in writing with signed consent or made on the record with the parties present, must show good cause, and requires court approval.
- A party or counsel seeking a continuance of a scheduled proceeding for good cause must immediately notify the court and opposing counsel in the prescribed manner.
- Unilateral calls or letters to avoid a scheduled proceeding are not a substitute for proper continuance procedure; emergency messages may be used only for just cause when there is insufficient time for a motion and notice, and remain provisional.
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Request must include
Document Format Requirements2 rules
Unrepresented parties in divorce proceedings shall use the pro se divorce forms available at wicourts.gov or forms that are identical in content.
The order submitted with a family-case guardian ad litem's fee-approval petition must be in Word format.
Court's wording
When the guardian ad litem in a family case petitions the court for approval of his/her bill, in addition to providing the necessary information regarding the number of hours and the types of activities, the guardian ad litem shall also submit an order in Word format for the Judge's signature providing for responsibility for the payment of the fees.
Document Filing Requirements10 rules
104 Orders adopting rules shall specify an effective date.
- Document
- Order adopting rules
Must include
- •Specify an effective date
A copy of the note and mortgage must be attached to affidavit of default or in support of summary judgment.
Any additions to principal must be fully supported by proof of appropriate affidavit.
Affidavits of default or in support of summary judgment must clearly set forth period of default, amount of default and full amount of interest, principal, late charges, etc. due on hearing date.
No motion shall be filed without a date and time shown for hearing obtained from the court.
Pleadings and affidavits of default or support of summary judgment must clearly set forth the factual basis for the application of Sec. 846.101, 846.102 or 846.103 Wis. Stats. and set forth which statute section applies.
The defendant must appear or file a written answer which is sufficiently detailed to inform the plaintiff as to the nature of the dispute.
If a juror is asking to be excused for a medical reason, a letter from a doctor is required in addition to their written request to be excused.
When seeking approval of a bill, a family-case guardian ad litem must submit an order for the Judge's signature addressing responsibility for fees and ensure that payment responsibility is addressed no later than the final hearing.
Court's wording
When the guardian ad litem in a family case petitions the court for approval of his/her bill, in addition to providing the necessary information regarding the number of hours and the types of activities, the guardian ad litem shall also submit an order in Word format for the Judge's signature providing for responsibility for the payment of the fees. It shall be the obligation of the guardian ad litem to ensure that the issue of responsibility for payment is addressed at or prior to the final hearing.
All requests to be excused from jury duty must be submitted in writing and forwarded to the Clerk of Court or to the Judge for approval or denial of the request.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Parties in a court-authorized video proceeding may file papers necessary to complete the proceeding by facsimile.
Parties to a video proceeding authorized by the court may file by facsimile or Filing any papers necessary for the completion of the proceeding.
Page 10 | Part 7: The Use of Videoconferencing in Court
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
A party seeking to close proceedings that are legally public must notify the court and media coordinator in writing, if possible, at least 72 hours before the hearing, unless the Judge finds good cause for a shorter period.
Unless good cause for a shorter time period has been shown to the Judge, a party moving that any judicial proceedings, required by law to be public, be closed to the news media must notify the court and the media coordinator in writing, if possible, at least 72 hours prior to the time set to hear the motion.
Page 3 | Part 2: Closure of Proceedings to the News Media
Motions, affidavits, briefs, and supporting papers must be filed with the Clerk of Court before the day of the hearing.
Motions, affidavits, briefs and supporting papers shall be filed with the Clerk of Court prior to the day of hearing.
Page 7 | Part 5: Civil Practice
Any objections must be filed within five business days after service or mailing.
Objections, if any, shall be filed with the court and a copy mailed to opposing counsel within five (5) business days after such service or mailing.
Page 9 | Part 5: Civil Practice
Service and Proof of Service Rules
In the specified foreclosure matters, notice of hearing must be given to all interested parties, and proof of service must be filed before the hearing date.
Notice of hearing must be given to all interested partics; proof of service must be filed prior to hearing date.
Page 7 | Part 5: Civil Practice
A copy must be served or mailed to opposing counsel with a letter or notation stating that the original was forwarded to the court; this rule does not apply to trial briefs.
verdict, a copy shall be served upon or mailed to opposing counsel with a letter or notation informing counsel that the original has been forwarded to the court. Objections, if any, shall be filed with the court and a copy mailed to opposing counsel within five (5) business days after such service or mailing. In the event counsel does not file particularized objections to the form of said documents, the court may deem objections to form to be waived. This rule does not apply to trial briefs.
Page 9 | Part 5: Civil Practice
A copy of any objections must be mailed to opposing counsel within five business days after service or mailing.
Objections, if any, shall be filed with the court and a copy mailed to opposing counsel within five (5) business days after such service or mailing.
Page 9 | Part 5: Civil Practice
Documents that other parties must examine must be provided before the hearing with adequate time for review.
In addition, it is imperative that any documents requiring examination by other parties must be provided prior to the hearing so as to allow adequate time for review.
Page 10 | Part 7: The Use of Videoconferencing in Court
Service on the resident defendants in all non-eviction and non-replevin actions may be made by US mail as set forth in §799.12 in lieu of personal or substituted service under §801.11, Wis. Stats.
Service on the resident defendants in all non-eviction and non-replevin actions may be made by US mail as set forth in §799.12 in lieu of personal or substituted service under §801.11, Wis. Stats.
Page 11 | Part 8: Small Claims Practice
A nonresident defendant, defined as an individual residing outside Crawford County, must be served personally.
However, when the defendant is a nonresident, service must be personal. For purposes of this subsection, "nonresident" means an individual residing outside Crawford County.
Page 11 | Part 8: Small Claims Practice
All defendants in eviction and replevin actions must be served personally.
In eviction and replevin actions, service on all defendants must be personal.
Page 11 | Part 8: Small Claims Practice
Should counsel for any party fail to give timely notice, deliver supporting papers or serve a briet, the motion may be decided against his/her client for such cause or the motion hearing may be adjourned with costs and attorney's fees being awarded to the inconvenienced party.
Should counsel for any party fail to give timely notice, deliver supporting papers or serve a briet, the motion may be decided against his/her client for such cause or the motion hearing may be adjourned with costs and attorney's fees being awarded to the inconvenienced party.
Page 7 | Part 5: Civil Practice
Filing Fees and Waivers
Each parent must deposit $1,000 within 30 days toward guardian ad litem fees unless the court authorizes another amount; on petition, the court may waive some or all of the deposit but may still order the parents to pay the full fees.
Each parent shall then deposit the sum of $1,000.00 with the Crawford County Clerk of Court within 30 days as an initial contribution to the guardian ad litem fees unless the court authorizes a different amount. Upon petition to the court, the obligation of a parent to make such deposit may be waived in part or full provided, however, the court shall make such orders as are appropriate to require the parents of the minor children to pay the guardian ad litem fees in total which payments shall be allocated between the parents by the court.
Page 11 | Part 9: Family Law Practice
The first mediation meeting is free; later meetings carry a fee set by the Circuit Judge, payable to the Clerk by mail or in person using an accepted payment method, and indigent individuals may request a reduction.
The first meeting of the parties with the mediator appointed by the Crawford County Department of Human Services shall be without charge. Subsequent meetings with the mediator shall be at a fee set by the Circuit Judge. The fees for mediation are made payable directly to the Crawford County Clerk of Court, 220 N. Beaumont Road, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821, by mail or in person. The Clerk of Court will accept cashier checks, cash or money orders but no personal checks. Individuals who are indigent may request to have their obligations reduced.
Page 11 | Part 9: Family Law Practice
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
A continuance request must be in writing with signed consent or made on the record with the parties present, must show good cause, and requires court approval.
All requests for continuance shall be in writing with the signed consent of the parties or the attorneys, or on the record with the parties present and must be for good cause shown. All requests for continuance are subject to approval of the court.
Page 8 | Part 5: Civil Practice
Attorneys must be prepared to immediately advise the court of scheduling conflicts when dates are set from the bench or in conference.
To avoid scheduling conflict as a reason for continuance, attorneys shall be prepared to immediately advise the court of such conflicts when the court sets dates from the bench or in conference.
Page 8 | Part 5: Civil Practice
Continuance motions must be made in accordance with §802.10.
Motions for continuance shall be made in accordance with §802.10
Page 8 | Part 5: Civil Practice
A party or counsel seeking a continuance of a scheduled proceeding for good cause must immediately notify the court and opposing counsel in the prescribed manner.
If counsel or a party has good cause to request a continuance offany pretrial, trial, motion or other proceeding which has been scheduled by the court, he shall immediately notify the court and opposing counsel in the manner provided.
Page 8 | Part 5: Civil Practice
As an alternative to a §802.10 motion, counsel may request a continuance by letter to the presiding judge while representing that all other parties consent; court approval is still required.
As an alternative to a motion under §802.10, counsel for a party may, having and representing that he or she has the consent of all other parties, request a continuance by letter to the presiding Judge. The request for continuance is still subject to the approval of the court.
Page 8 | Part 5: Civil Practice
The court may waive hearing time limitations for adequate reason.
For adequate reason, the time limitations for hearing may be waived by the court.
Page 8 | Part 5: Civil Practice
Unilateral calls or letters to avoid a scheduled proceeding are not a substitute for proper continuance procedure; emergency messages may be used only for just cause when there is insufficient time for a motion and notice, and remain provisional.
Unilateral phone calls or letters to the Clerk or Judge directly to avoid a time fixed for a pretrial, trial motion or other proceedings are attempts to secure the consideration of the court without reference to the rights of other parties in interest and their attorneys. Although phone messages and letters may be used from time to time when there exists just cause for a continuation without sufficient time for communication thereof by proper motion and notice, such emergency messages are provisional only and do not supersede a motion under §802.10.
Page 8 | Part 5: Civil Practice
Chambers Communication Rules
Email correspondence about a case must be sent to the appropriate judge’s judicial assistant, not directly to the judge.
In order to preserve impartiality and fairness in all judicial proceedings, all email correspondence regarding cases before the court shall be addressed and sent to the appropriate Judge's judicial assistant, and not to the judge directly.
Page 7 | Part 4: Rules of Decorum
An attorney appointed to represent a defendant must advise the court of the appointment at disposition so repayment of fees can be addressed.
When an attorney is appointed, by the court, to represent a defendant, at the time of disposition, it will be the obligation of the attorney to advise the court he/she was appointed so that repayment of the fees can be addressed.
Page 9 | Part 6: Criminal Law Practice
A party objecting to a video hearing must notify the court and all counsel or unrepresented parties, orally on the record or in writing, state the reason, and do so a reasonable time before the hearing.
If any party objects to conducting a hearing via video, they shall orally (on the record) or in writing notify the court the reason why and all counsel of record and/or parties not represented by counsel of record of such objection within a reasonable time prior to the hearing.
Page 10 | Part 7: The Use of Videoconferencing in Court
A party or attorney may file case documents or correspondence, but a third party may not communicate ex parte with the Court by letter or by filing documents in the case.
In all cases, a party or their attorney may file documents/correspondence in the case. However, third parties are not permitted to engage in ex parte communication with the Court by writing a letter to the Court or filing documents in a case.
Page 13 | Part 13: Submission of Documents by Third Parties
A third party seeking to submit material for the Court's consideration must provide it to a party or attorney in the case, who may file it at their discretion.
Any third party wanting documents/correspondence submitted for the Court's consideration shall provide the document/correspondence to a party or attorney involved in the case who may file the document/correspondence at their discretion.
Page 13 | Part 13: Submission of Documents by Third Parties
Attorneys with conflicts in other courts are expected to notify the court as early as possible.
Attorneys with time conflicts in other courts are expected to notify the court of such conflicts at the earliest possible date.
Page 5 | Part 4: Rules of Decorum
A party requesting video for an upcoming event should attempt to make the request a reasonable time before the hearing or trial and, where applicable, before physical transport.
Any party (including the court) requesting the use of video for an upcoming court event should attempt to do so within a reasonable amount of time prior to the hearing/trial and/or to the physical transport of the prisoner/patient/detainee, witness, etc.
Page 10 | Part 7: The Use of Videoconferencing in Court
Requests for Court Commissioner hearings must be made to the Clerk of Court or the Judge.
All requests for hearings by a Court Commissioner shall be made to the Clerk of Court or Judge.
Page 12 | Part 10: Court Commissioners
Lawyers are to advise the Judge or the bailiff of any security threat, in any case in which they are involved. This information should include names, nature of the threat, times, and other pertinent information.
Lawyers are to advise the Judge or the bailiff of any security threat, in any case in which they are involved. This information should include names, nature of the threat, times, and other pertinent information.
Page 12 | Part 11: Court Security
Documents or correspondence sent or dropped off by third parties without following the required submission procedure will be returned with a copy of the policy.
Any documents/correspondence dropped off or sent to the Court by third parties without following the above procedure will be returned with a copy of this policy attached.
Page 13 | Part 13: Submission of Documents by Third Parties