Circuit court eFiling - eFiling a new earnings garnishment case

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Purpose: This article walks through how to file a new earnings garnishment case.

Applicable Users: eFilers

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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 the article Log into an existing eCourts account.
2. On the Wisconsin Circuit Court eFiling home page. Select file new case from the main navigation or [File a new case] button from the bottom menu.
   
3. Select the county you are filing in from the County dropdown menu and the applicable class code from the Class code dropdown menu. Then, select the Yes or No radio button beneath "Is this earnings garnishment for the collection of restitution?" Select [Continue].
   
4. Select the [Add party] button to add party information to the case. 
   Note: The yellow banner will tell you what party types are required for the selected class codes. 
   
5. Complete the New party window. Start by choosing the Party type, beginning with the filing party. Select the [Add attorney] button to add the attorney representing the filing party on the case.
   
6. Select the [Save, and Add next party] button to add additional parties to the case.
   
7. If the party you entered requires an interpreter, select [Yes] and select the language needed form the [Language] dropdown.
   
8. When all parties have been added, review them for accuracy and select [Continue].
   
9. Select [Upload documents] to browse for and upload your Earnings Garnishment documents. Review the bulleted list to ensure your documents are correctly formatted.
   Note: The yellow banner will display the filing document required based on the class code selected.
   
10. From the Document type dropdown menu, select both the CV-421 - Earnings Garnishment and the CV-422 - Earnings Garnishment documents. Enter a descriptive title in the Document title text entry field. Select [Continue].
    
    Note: An accurate and descriptive title is beneficial for identifying documents. The title entered here is displayed in the View documents list on the My cases page and is visible to the courts.
    After selecting the Document type, an alert appears, reminding you of your responsibility to service the debtor and the garnishee. A red error message displays if a CV-422: Earnings Garnishment is not uploaded along with the CV-421: Earnings Garnishment Notice or the Earnings Garnishment Notice for Small Claims.
    
11. On the Review page, review the filing for accuracy. Select a document link to open and view any of your uploaded files. When you are ready to proceed, select [Continue].
    
    Note: The Notes to Clerk text entry field functions like a virtual sticky note on your filing. Anything you type in this box will display to the clerk while they process your filing but will be deleted once your filing is accepted. These notes are not permanently saved to the case.
12. On the Ready to file page, select the checkbox next to the filing(s) you wish to submit, or select the checkbox next to a county name to submit all filings in that county. Choose a Payment type (if applicable) and select [File] or [File and Pay].
    
    Note: If you have set up a court debit account (CDA) with the circuit court you are filing in, you can choose a payment method. To learn how to set up a CDA, see the article Creating and managing a court debit account. It is your responsibility to ensure sufficient funds are available in the account when filing.
    A transaction fee is applied to the total when paying with a credit/debit card or eCheck via the US Bank ePayment website.
    If filing on behalf of a county agency, the $35 eFiling fee is waived and the selection of a payment type is not required. Select [File] to submit the new case filing.
13. On the Filings submitted page, select [Make payment with US Bank] to proceed to the US Bank ePayment website and pay associated filing fees. If fees were not assessed, the [Make payment with US Bank] button displays as [Return to main menu] instead.
    
    Note: Once you have advanced to this page, do not close your browser window or take a break. Selecting [File and pay] at the bottom of the previous page initiates a connection with the US Bank ePayment website that lasts for 10-15 minutes.
    If you wait longer than that to complete your payment or exit the system before the payment process is complete, you will need to select the $ payment needed link in the main navigation to make payment. You may need to wait 1-2 hours for the filing in need of payment to appear. Your filing will not be processed by the county until payment has been made. Filings will expire after 48 hours without payment.
    
    US Bank is the vendor that processes circuit court credit card and electronic check transactions. You do not need a US Bank checking or savings account to pay for filings on the US Bank ePayment website. You can pay using a Visa card, MasterCard, or electronic check.
14. The circuit court processes the new case once payment is received. Only the filer receives an email notification and can access the CV-422- Earnings Garnishment on the My cases page of the eFiling website. The CV-422 - Earnings Garnishment will have the clerk of court’s seal applied but will not be filed stamped and will not be saved to the case. As previously noted, you are required to print and serve all documents traditionally on the debtor.
    Note: Unlike a non-earnings garnishment, this document is not visible on the Courthouse Public Access website.