Circuit court eFiling - eFiling a Temporary Restraining Order

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Purpose: Petitions for Temporary Restraining Orders can be electronically filed for Civil (CV) and Juvenile Injunction (JI) cases. This article covers how to file a Temporary Restraining Order through the eFiling site.

Applicable Users: eCourts users

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eFiling a Temporary Restraining Order

1. Visit the eFiling website at http://efiling.wicourts.gov. Enter your eFiling User name and Password and select [Log in]. For detailed instructions, see Log into an existing eCourts account.
2. Select file new case from the main navigation or [File new case] button from the bottom menu.
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4. Select the County in which you plan to file. Select the appropriate temporary restraining order/injunction class code. Select your Email address if it does not default in. Answer the question “Does this filing involve a child victim with a pending CHIPS action or is the respondent a child?” when filing class codes 30710 and 30711. Then, select the [Continue] button.
   
   Note: If you are filing a Petition for Temporary Restraining Order in Milwaukee County, you may need to file the new case filing using a Family class code (only available for class codes 30709 through 30712).
5. Select the [Add party] button to add parties. When all parties have been added, review them for accuracy and select the [Continue] button.
   Note: The yellow banner will tell you what parties are required for the selected class code.
   
6. At least one Petitioner and one Respondent party is required on all temporary restraining order new case filings. A Child party is also required for Child Abuse Restraining Order (30710). If you are an attorney filing the new case, you must add yourself to represent at least one of the petitioner or child parties using the [Add attorney] button. Select the [Save, and Add next party] button to add the Respondent party.
   Note: The Petitioner party should be the first party type entered.
   
7. When adding the Respondent party, additional demographic information is required for the Court and Sheriff. For some required demographic fields, “unknown” is an acceptable response.
   
8. If a party you entered requires an interpreter, select [Yes] and select the language needed form the [Language] dropdown.
   
9. All parties added will display for review on the Parties list page. Use the Edit link to make any changes. Select the [Continue] button to upload documents.
   
10. Select the [Upload documents] button to browse for and choose your Petition for Temporary Restraining Order document. Review the bulleted list to ensure your document is eFiling ready.
    Note: The yellow banner will tell you what filing document is required for the selected class code.
    
11. Select the applicable filing Document type from the dropdown that initiates your case type.  Enter a descriptive title in the Document title entry field. Upload any additional documents associated with the case. Select the [Continue] button.
    
12. On the Review page, review the filing for accuracy. Select a document link to open and view the uploaded file. Select the [Continue] button when you are ready to proceed.
    
    Note: The Notes to Clerk entry field functions like a sticky note on your filing. Anything entered in this box displays to the clerk while processing your filing, but is deleted once your filing is accepted. These notes are not permanently saved to the case.
13. On the Ready to file page, select the checkbox next to filing(s) you wish to submit, or select the checkbox next to a county name to submit all filings for that county. Select the [File] button.
    
14. On the Filings submitted page, select the [Return to main menu].
15. Once submitted to the court, the clerk will send the petition for your new case filing to a court official to review and make a ruling. When the ruling is made, the clerk will finish processing your new case filing:
    
    1. If your petition is granted or granted without a filing fee, a new case will be created and a temporary restraining order will be generated with the Injunction Hearing set. An email notification will be delivered to you giving you electronic access to both your petition and the order that was generated on the My cases page of the eFiling website.
    2. If your petition is granted with a filing fee (class code 30711 - Harassment), a temporary restraining order will be generated with the Injunction Hearing set, but a new case will not be created. An email notification will be delivered to you informing you that your Temporary Restraining Order Petition has been granted but a filing fee is due. The email will also let you know the timeframe to visit the courthouse and pay the fee in order to open your case.
    3. If your petition is denied, an email notification will be delivered to you with the reason for the denial. You may still visit the courthouse to request an injunction hearing.