Waukesha County Circuit Court Document Format Requirements

CRITICALCivil cases

Self-represented paper filers must submit sealed documents in an envelope marked “SEALED.”

Pro Se Paper Filers: Document(s) must be filed with the Clerk of Circuit Court’s office in an envelope marked “SEALED”.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed order findings or similar

Proposed orders, findings, and similar documents must be filed in Word format and have a three-inch top margin on the first page.

Proposed orders, findings, or similar documents must be filed in Word format with a three-inch top margin on the first page to allow for the Court’s signature block.

CRITICALCivil cases

The prescribed default-judgment notice must be formatted in all capital letters and bold type.

The notice of motion must include the following language in all capital letters and bold type:

CRITICAL

Parties are responsible for displaying exhibits using the Court’s audio/visual technology.

It is the responsibility of the parties to display exhibits using the Court’s audio/visual technology.

CRITICAL

Telephone or video appearances require a written request and Court approval.

Telephone or video appearances must be requested in writing and approved by the Court.

CRITICAL

Motions must be filed in writing and scheduled with the Juvenile Court unless the court exempts them.

All Motions must be filed in writing, unless exempted by the Juvenile Court, and scheduled with the Juvenile Court.

CRITICAL

Only forms adopted under Wis. Stat. §758.18 or approved by the Juvenile Court may be used.

Only forms adopted under the authority of, Wis. Stat. §758.18 or approved by the Juvenile Court may be used.

CRITICAL

Format

PAPER

Unless the Court orders otherwise, paper filers must have proposed exhibits other than rebuttal or impeachment documents available in hard copy on the morning of trial, with additional copies for the opposing side and the Court.

(2) Paper Filers. Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, all proposed exhibits (other than documents used for rebuttal or impeachment) must be available in hard copy form the morning of the trial, with additional copies for the opposing side and the Court.

CRITICAL

Unless the Court orders otherwise, the offering party must produce all exhibits in electronic form.

(5) The Clerk of Circuit Court must maintain a complete and accurate electronic or digital copy of all evidence received at trial and, unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the offering party is responsible for producing all exhibits in electronic form.

CRITICAL

Format

PAPER

Unless the court orders otherwise, paper filers must deliver proposed exhibits in hard copy to the Register in Probate at least 48 hours before trial begins.

Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, all proposed exhibits must be received in hard copy form no later than 48 hours before the beginning of the trial by the Register in Probate.

CRITICALCivil cases

Margins

top 3 in

Proposed orders, findings, and similar documents must be filed in Word format with a three-inch first-page top margin.

Proposed orders, findings, or similar documents must be filed in Word format with a three inch top margin on the first page to allow for the Court’s signature block.

CRITICAL

After faxing a document, do not mail the original to the Clerk; the signing party or attorney must retain it.

If correspondence or a document is transmitted by facsimile machine, original documents are not to be mailed to the Clerk of Juvenile Court office for filing. Original documents are to be maintained by the signing party or their attorney.

CRITICAL

Proposed orders, findings, and similar documents must be filed in Word format and have a three-inch top margin on the first page.

Proposed orders, findings, or similar documents must be filed in Word format with a three-inch top margin on the first page to allow for the Court’s signature block.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Proposed exhibit

Format

PDF

Exhibits must be pre-marked and use the specified number ranges for each party or participant; each exhibit must be paginated, have at least a half-inch top margin, and be in PDF format.

All exhibits must be pre-marked before the hearing. Petitioner/Joint Petitioner A/Movant must utilize exhibit numbers 1-99. Respondent/Joint Petitioner B must utilize exhibit numbers 100-199. The GAL (if any) must utilize number 200-299. The State of Wisconsin, if participating, must utilize exhibit numbers 300-399. Each proposed exhibit must be paginated for ease of reference, must have at least one-half inch top margin and must be in PDF format.

CRITICAL

Remote-hearing participants must follow courtroom conduct and identification requirements, use video and audio unless excused, ensure suitable lighting and audio, avoid inappropriate backgrounds and distractions, and not record except through official court systems.

Remote hearings are formal court proceedings, and participants are subject to contempt of court for non-compliance with Court rules. All parties must dress and conduct themselves as if physically present in the courtroom. Parties must appear by both video and audio means unless otherwise approved by the Court. Parties, witnesses and attorneys must display their full first and last name electronically so that the Court can clearly identify each participant. Parties are responsible for ensuring appropriate lighting and audio during the hearing, and that there are no inappropriate backgrounds or distractions. Any recording of a remote hearing, other than by the court reporter or official court audio recording system is prohibited.

CRITICAL

The Clerk must maintain an electronic or digital copy of trial evidence, and the offering party must produce exhibits electronically unless the Court orders otherwise.

The Clerk of Circuit Court must maintain a complete and accurate electronic or digital copy of all evidence received at trial and, unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the offering party is responsible for producing all exhibits in electronic form.

CRITICALCivil cases

Unless the Court orders otherwise, the offering party must produce all exhibits electronically.

Unless otherwise ordered by the Court, the offering party is responsible for producing all exhibits in electronic form.

CRITICAL

Margins

top 3 in

Proposed orders, findings, and similar documents must be filed in Word format with a three-inch first-page top margin.

Proposed orders, findings, or similar documents must be filed in Word format with a three-inch top margin on the first page to allow for the Court’s signature block.

CRITICAL

Pro se paper filers must submit sealed documents to the Clerk in an envelope marked “SEALED.”

Pro Se Paper Filers: Document(s) must be filed with the Clerk of Circuit Court’s office in an envelope marked “SEALED”.

WARNING

Submitted papers must be typed or legibly handwritten.

All papers submitted will be typed or legibly handwritten.

WARNING

Format

PAPER

A will filed for safekeeping must be placed in a sealed envelope labeled with the testator’s name, address, date of deposit, and date of birth.

Wills filed for safekeeping under Wis. Stat. §853.09 must be filed in a sealed envelope. On the envelope the filer must write the name and address of the testator, the date of deposit, and the date of birth of the testator.

WARNING

Format

PAPER

Papers must use 8½-by-11-inch paper and be printed on one side, except for the listed documents and two-sided model court forms.

All papers will be filed on 8 1/2" by 11" paper with the exception of Wills, deeds, certified death certificates or exhibits. All papers will have printing on only one side with the exception of two-sided model court forms.

WARNINGCivil cases

The Court may disregard briefs that exceed the page limit or use nonstandard typeface or margins to evade it.

The Court may disregard any briefs exceeding the permitted length, or ones that contain non-standard typeface or margins to avoid compliance with this rule.

WARNING

After filing a document by fax, do not file additional copies; the transmitting party or attorney must retain the originals.

(4) If a document is transmitted by facsimile machine, no additional copies may be filed with the Clerk of Circuit Court. The Clerk of Circuit Court will discard all duplicate papers subsequently received by the Clerk of Circuit Court, Court, or court commissioner. Original documents are to be maintained by the transmitting party or his/her attorney.

WARNING

Placement providers only are granted the option to appear by zoom, unless they are providing testimony.

Placement providers only are granted the option to appear by zoom, unless they are providing testimony.

WARNING

The Court may disregard briefs that exceed the page limits or use nonstandard typeface or margins to evade them.

The Court may disregard any briefs exceeding the permitted length, or ones that contain non-standard typeface or margins to avoid compliance with this rule.

WARNING

Court staff will not play media or connect technology to courtroom computers.

Court staff will not play any type of media or otherwise connect any technology to courtroom computers.

INFOCivil cases

The Court may order original exhibits and specified physical evidence to be maintained in their filed condition by the offering party or another custodian.

The Court in its discretion may order that originals of any exhibit, including, but not limited to, large exhibit(s) (charts, models, maps, etc.), original deposition transcripts, and non-documentary physical evidence received at trial be maintained in the condition filed by the party offering the exhibit(s) or by some other person or vendor.