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SC-6050V

Pre-Judgment: Basic Steps to Small Claims Service

Wisconsin · Wisconsin Court System · Effective September 12, 2024

This guide gives general information about the basic steps for small claims service in Wisconsin. It lists different types of service, the required time limits, and the forms needed for various small claims actions.

The court describes it as: Basic steps to small claims service. Voluntary form.

Open the official PDFfrom Wisconsin Court System

Where this fits in a case

Judgment

Stage: Judgment

This guide is used by anyone needing general information about how to properly serve legal papers in a small claims case in Wisconsin.

Either party may file.

Common questions

What is 'service' in this guide?
'Service' is the legal term for giving notice of a lawsuit or court hearing to another person. Proper service is required for the court to hear or decide the case.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 10, 2026. The current version took effect September 12, 2024.

Related forms

  • SC-301

    Summons and Complaint Non-Earnings Garnishment Small Claims

    This form starts a small claims case to take money from property that is not the debtor's wages. It asks the court to order the garnishee (an entity that might have the debtor's property) to provide information about the debtor's assets.

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  • SC-500

    Summons and Complaint (Small Claims)

    This form is used to start a small claims case in Wisconsin. It asks the court to officially notify the defendant(s) that they are being sued and details what the plaintiff is asking for, such as money or property return.

    Word1 translation
  • SC-500I

    Summons and Complaint (Small Claims) with Instructions

    This form is used to start a small claims case in Wisconsin. It asks the person filing the case (the plaintiff) to state who they are suing (the defendant) and what they are asking the court for, such as money or the return of property.

    Word
  • SC-507A

    Motion and Request for Hearing on Contempt (Small Claims)

    This form is used to ask the court to schedule a hearing to find out why a person who owes money has not followed a court order about providing financial information.

    Word
  • SC-507B

    Order for Hearing on Contempt (Small Claims)

    This form is a court order that sets a date and time for a hearing about contempt in a small claims case. It tells the person who owes money (the judgment debtor) that they must appear to explain why they did not follow the court's order for a financial disclosure statement.

    Word
  • SC-511A

    Petition to Answer or to Reopen Small Claims Action with Mail Service (799.14(1), Wis. Stats.)

    This form is used by a defendant in a small claims case to ask the court for a hearing. It is used if the defendant claims they never actually received the official notice by mail.

    Word
  • SC-511B

    Order on Petition to Answer or to Reopen Small Claims Action with Mail Service

    This form is used by the court to issue an order regarding a request to answer or reopen a small claims case. It tells the parties what the court has decided about the case, such as if further action is stopped or if a hearing is scheduled.

    Word
  • SC-515A

    Motion to Reopen Small Claims Judgment

    This form is used to ask the court to reopen a judgment from small claims court. It is for people who did not show up at a hearing even though they were supposed to be there.

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