Carlo Esqueda

Clerk of Circuit Court and Register in Probate

Dane County Courthouse
Room 1000
215 S Hamilton St.
Madison, WI 53703
Map to the Courthouse

Phone: (608) 266-4311
Fax: (608) 267-8859
TTY: Call Wisconsin Relay 711

Hours:
7:45 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed all County holidays

Customers should arrive in time to complete all business by 4:30 PM

All filings and requests through the mail require a self addressed stamped envelope to return incorrect and/or processed paperwork and receipts to you. Please ensure all required documents are properly notarized before filing with the court.

Small Claims Forms

Dane County requires certain information to be on the Small Claims Summons and Complaint form, SC-500. Dane County has made filing of this document easier by providing form SC-500 with the required information already added to the form. Click here Summons and Complaint Form to download this form or go to the Dane County Legal Resource Center to obtain a copy. It is requested that the SC-500 on the Dane County Clerk of Courts website be used as opposed to the blank version on the state website. Filing the version on the state website will only delay the processing time, as you will be required to fill in that information at the time of filing, and make your copies after you have the form completed.

Note to users: Forms in PDF format are not fillable and need to be printed out to be completed. Forms in Word format are fillable, but fields expand as you type. Make sure you print out all pages of the forms as text may have added more pages than the original format.

Printed copies of these forms are also available from the Dane County Legal Resource Center for a small fee. Call (608) 266-6316 for more information.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

If you file an action WITHOUT an attorney, you are responsible for details. These responsibilities include:

  • Reading the Small Claims Guide
  • Properly naming all parties
  • Securing all party addresses
  • Properly submitting the claim
  • Making sure the action was properly, and timely, served
  • Making court appearances
  • Complying with statutory and local court rules and procedures
  • Taking post-judgment action to enforce collection of any judgment
  • Satisfying paid judgments
    •

The Clerk of Courts office serves record keeping functions and is available to assist you with non-legal, procedural, information.

Small Claims Information Documents

Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-6000: Basic Guide to Wisconsin Small Claims Actions
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-6010: Pre-Judgment: Basic Steps for Handling a Small Claims Case for Eviction

Note on Writs of Eviction: If you are awarded a writ for eviction, it is suggested that you check with the Dane County Sheriff’s Office prior to obtaining the writ if you are going to arrange the move independently, not through the Dane County Sheriff’s Office. If you obtain a writ and take it directly to the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, you should advise them at that time whether or not you will be arranging the move yourself or having the Sheriff's Department do the move. If you plan on doing it yourself, request instructions from the Sheriff’s Department on what you need to do. In part, this will include instructing you to return to the Clerk of Circuit Court Office with the original writ and the bond, once you obtain it.

Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-6020: Pre-Judgment: Basic Steps for Handling a Small Claims Case for Recovery of Money ($5,000 or less)
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-6050: Pre-Judgment Basic Steps to Small Claims Service
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-6060: Post-Judgment: Basic Steps for Docketing a Judgment for Collection
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-6090: Post-Judgment: Basic Steps in Collecting on a Judgment for Money
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-6100: Post-Judgment: Basic Steps in Collecting on a Judgment for Replevin

Small Claims Documents

Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Small Claims Instruction Sheet
Adobe Acrobat format SC-500 Summons and Complaint
Adobe Acrobat format Summary of Form GF-175 Affidavit of Nonmilitary Service
Adobe Acrobat format Filling out the Affidavit of Nonmilitary Service
Microsoft Word format Web page format GF-175 Affidavit of Nonmilitary Service
Microsoft Word format Web page format SC-516 Summons for Consumer Replevin
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Deficiency Claim
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Answer and Counterclaim

Service Documents

Adobe Acrobat format Instructions for Service of Summons and Complaint
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Published Notice

Post-Judgment Documents

Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Demand for Trial/SC-517 Demand for Trial and Instructions
Microsoft Word format Adobe pdf format Garnishment Process & Fees
Web Page CV-425 Earnings Garnishment - Objection to Debtor's Answer & Demand for Hearing
Microsoft Word format Adobe pdf format SC-505/CV-416 Garnishee Answer for Non-Earnings
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-503 Small Claims Garnishment Summons and Complaint for Non-Earnings
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Affidavit of Default (For use in Eviction Cases Only)
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-5420 Affidavit of Noncompliance and Order for Money Judgment
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Rent and Damages Claim
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Instructions for Motion to Reopen Small Claims Judgment
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-515 Motion to Reopen Small Claims Judgment & Order
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-511 Petition to Answer or to Reopen Small Claims Judgment & Order
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-507 Motion & Order for Hearing on Contempt
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format SC-514 Writ of Replevin
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Application for Order of Satisfaction of Judgment Due to Discharge in Bankruptcy
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Motion to Amend Judgment/Caption

Other Documents

Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Fee Waiver Instructions
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Procedimiento: Solicitud para Exención de Honorarios, Declaración de Indigencia y Orden (Formulario CV-410)
Microsoft Word format Adobe Acrobat format Change of Address form
Government of Dane County